As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6, 2014
Registration No. 333-194980
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 3084 | 51-0105665 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
4640 Trueman Boulevard
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
(614) 658-0050
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Joseph A. Chlapaty
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
4640 Trueman Boulevard
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
(614) 658-0050
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Stephen C. Mahon, Esq. Fredric L. Smith, Esq. Aaron A. Seamon, Esq. Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP 41 South High Street, Suite 2000
Columbus, Ohio 43215
|
Kirk A. Davenport II, Esq.
Ian D. Schuman, Esq.
New York, New York 10022 (212) 906-1200 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated June 6, 2014
PROSPECTUS
Shares
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
Common Stock
This is the initial public offering of common stock of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
We are offering shares of common stock in this offering. The selling stockholder identified in this prospectus is offering shares of common stock in this offering. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by the selling stockholder. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock.
It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $ and $ . We intend to apply to list our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMS.
Investing in our common stock involves risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 18 of this prospectus.
Per Share | Total | |||||||
Price to the public |
$ | $ | ||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1) |
$ | $ | ||||||
Proceeds to us (before expenses) |
$ | $ | ||||||
Proceeds to the selling stockholder (before expenses) |
$ | $ |
(1) | We refer you to Underwriting beginning on page 161 of this prospectus for additional information regarding total underwriter compensation. |
The underwriters also may purchase up to additional shares of common stock from us and up to additional shares of common stock from the selling stockholder at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of common stock on or about , 2014.
Barclays | Deutsche Bank Securities |
Citigroup | RBC Capital Markets |
Prospectus dated , 2014
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Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders |
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F-1 |
We, the selling stockholder and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby but only in circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.
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We use various trademarks, service marks and brand names that we deem particularly important to the marketing activities and operation of our various lines of business, and some of these marks are registered in the United States and, in some cases, other jurisdictions. This prospectus also refers to the brand names, trademarks or service marks of other companies. All brand names and other trademarks or service marks referenced in this prospectus, including N-12 ® , SaniTite ® , StormTech ® , Nyloplast ® , Inserta Tee ® , BaySeparator, BayFilter and FleXstorm, are the property of their respective holders. Solely for convenience, we refer to trademarks, service marks and brand names in this prospectus without , SM and ® symbols. We do not intend our use or display of other parties trademarks, service marks or brand names to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.
This prospectus includes estimates regarding market and industry data and forecasts, which are based on publicly-available information, industry publications and surveys, reports from government agencies, reports by market research firms and our own estimates based on our managements knowledge of and experience in the market sectors in which we compete. These estimates and forecasts are based on data from third-party sources, including certain market and industry data provided on a subscription basis by the Freedonia Group, Inc., an independent research firm and industry consultant based in Cleveland, Ohio, which we refer to as Freedonia. We also base certain estimates and forecasts related to stormwater retention/detention and water quality on a special study that we commissioned for a fee specifically for the purpose of this offering by Freedonia Custom Research, Inc., an affiliate of Freedonia, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Freedonia Special Report. We have not independently verified market and industry data provided by Freedonia, or by other third-party sources such as McGraw Hill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Reed Construction Data, the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Association of Realtors, the St. Louis Federal Reserve, HIRI / IHS Global Insight, The Ohio State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, although we believe such market and industry data included in this prospectus is reliable. This information cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to the limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in surveys of market size.
Unless the context otherwise indicates or requires, as used in this prospectus, the terms we, our, us, ADS and the Company refer to Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and its directly- and indirectly-owned subsidiaries as a combined entity, except where it is clear that the terms mean only Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. exclusive of its subsidiaries.
Because our fiscal year ends on March 31, any reference to a fiscal year means the fiscal year ended March 31 of the same calendar year. For example, references to fiscal year 2014 mean the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014 and references to fiscal year 2013, fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2011 mean the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, respectively.
Our consolidated financial statements include our ownership interests in various consolidated joint ventures through which we conduct operations in Mexico and Central America. We also have an ownership interest in an unconsolidated joint venture through which we conduct operations in South America, which we refer to in this prospectus as our South American Joint Venture, and an unconsolidated joint venture through which we conduct certain operations in the United States, which we refer to in this prospectus as our BaySaver Joint Venture. Our equity interest in the operating results of both the South American Joint Venture and the BaySaver Joint Venture
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is presented in our consolidated financial statements as equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Although not consolidated under GAAP, we treat the South American Joint Venture and the BaySaver Joint Venture as if they are consolidated subsidiaries for internal reporting purposes. Throughout this prospectus, when we refer to our financial results or operations, we are referring to our financial results and operations as presented in our consolidated financial statements under GAAP, which do not consolidate our South American Joint Venture or our BaySaver Joint Venture, unless the context otherwise indicates.
We also sponsor a tax-qualified employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, that covers our employees who meet certain service requirements. The ESOP was originally funded with a 30-year term loan from us as well as shares of our convertible preferred stock through a transfer of assets from our profit sharing retirement plan. The loan is secured by a pledge of unallocated shares of convertible preferred stock purchased by the ESOP that has not yet been released from the pledge and allocated to ESOP accounts. The 2.50% Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred Stock held by the ESOP is referred to in this prospectus as our convertible preferred stock. The ESOP operates as a leveraged ESOP and was designed to enable eligible employees to acquire stock ownership interests in their accounts under the ESOP. See Description of Employee Stock Ownership Plan for a description of the ESOP.
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes the following:
| a -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part; |
| no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares; |
| the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws immediately prior to the closing of this offering; and |
| an initial public offering price of $ per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus. |
PRESENTATION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL MEASURES
For purposes of calculating the weighted average number of shares outstanding and net income per share in this prospectus, we divide net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. These items are described below in Summary Consolidated Financial Data and Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data.
We refer in this prospectus to Redeemable Common Stock, which represents shares of our common stock that are held by certain stockholders who hold in excess of 15% of our common stock. These stockholders entered into an amended and restated stockholders agreement, which provides such stockholders with the right to cause the shares to be repurchased by us at fair value in certain specified circumstances as described in Note 16 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. As this right is considered for purposes of GAAP to be a redemption right, which is outside our control, we have classified the shares of common stock held by such stockholders in the mezzanine section of our consolidated balance sheets and changes in fair value are recorded in retained earnings. We anticipate that the stockholders agreement will be terminated upon completion of this offering and the rights associated with these shares, which require them to be classified in mezzanine equity, will no longer be in effect. Accordingly, we anticipate reclassifying these balances to total stockholders equity upon the completion of this offering. Our Redeemable Common Stock is also described below in Summary Consolidated Financial Data and Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data.
We also refer in this prospectus to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, which represents our convertible preferred stock held by our ESOP. Prior to this offering, the trustee of our ESOP has the ability to
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require us to repurchase the shares of convertible preferred stock at fair value in the event that it needs cash to pay for distributions, pre-retirement diversification, or other expenses, causing the shares to be repurchased at the option of the holder as described in Note 16 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. As this right is considered for purposes of GAAP to be a redemption right, which is outside our control, we have classified the shares of convertible preferred stock in the mezzanine section of our consolidated balance sheets and changes in fair value are recorded in retained earnings. Upon completion of this offering, the rights associated with these shares, which require them to be classified in mezzanine equity, will no longer be in effect. Accordingly, we anticipate reclassifying these balances to total stockholders equity upon completion of this offering. Our Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock is also described below in Summary Consolidated Financial Data and Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data.
Certain financial measures presented in this prospectus, such as System-Wide Net Sales, Net Income Per Share As AdjustedBasic and Diluted, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Segment EBITDA and Segment Adjusted EBITDA, are not recognized under GAAP. For definitions of System-Wide Net Sales, Net Income Per Share As AdjustedBasic and Diluted, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Segment EBITDA and Segment Adjusted EBITDA and reconciliations of those measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, see Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsComponents of Results of Operations.
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The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, especially the information set forth under Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and the financial statements and notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before making an investment decision.
Our Company
We are the leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe, providing a comprehensive suite of water management products and superior drainage solutions for use in the construction and infrastructure marketplace. Our innovative products are used across a broad range of end markets and applications, including non-residential, residential, agriculture and infrastructure applications. We have established a leading position in many of these end markets by leveraging our national sales and distribution platform, our overall product breadth and scale and our manufacturing excellence. In North America, our national footprint combined with our strong local presence and broad product offering makes us the leader in an otherwise highly fragmented sector comprised of many smaller competitors. We believe the markets we serve in the United States represent approximately $10.1 billion of annual revenue opportunity. In addition, we believe the increasing acceptance of thermoplastic pipe products in international markets represents an attractive growth opportunity. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, we generated net sales of $1,069.0 million, net income of $12.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $147.0 million and, as of March 31, 2014, we had $454.0 million of total outstanding debt. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, see Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data.
Our products are generally lighter, more durable, more cost effective and easier to install than comparable alternatives made with traditional materials. Following our entrance into the non-residential construction market with the introduction of N-12 corrugated polyethylene pipe in the late 1980s, our pipe has been displacing traditional materials, such as reinforced concrete, corrugated steel and polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, across an ever expanding range of end markets. This has allowed us to consistently gain share and achieve above market growth throughout economic cycles. We expect to continue to drive conversion to our products from traditional products as contractors, civil design engineers and municipal agencies increasingly acknowledge the superior physical attributes and compelling value proposition of our thermoplastic products. In addition, we believe that overall demand for our products will benefit as the regulatory environment continues to evolve.
Our broad product line includes corrugated high density polyethylene (or HDPE) pipe, polypropylene (or PP) pipe and related water management products. Building on our core drainage businesses, we have aggressively pursued attractive ancillary product categories such as storm and septic chambers, PVC drainage structures, fittings and filters, and water quality filters and separators. We refer to these ancillary product categories as Allied Products. Given the scope of our overall sales and distribution platform, we have been able to drive growth within our Allied Products and believe there are significant growth opportunities going forward.
We have an extensive domestic network of 48 manufacturing plants and 19 distribution centers allowing us to effectively serve all major markets in the United States, which we define as the largest 100 metropolitan statistical areas based on population. The effective shipping radius for our pipe products is approximately 200 miles, thus competition in our industry tends to be on a regional and local basis with minimal competition from distant markets and imports. We are the only supplier of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe in our industry with a national footprint, thereby allowing us to efficiently service those customers that value having one source of supply throughout their entire distribution network. We believe our extensive national footprint creates a cost and service advantage versus our HDPE pipe producing competitors, the largest of which has only 10 domestic HDPE pipe manufacturing plants. Internationally, we have two manufacturing plants and three distribution centers in Canada, four manufacturing plants in Mexico, four manufacturing plants and five distribution centers in South America and one distribution center in Europe.
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We have long-standing distribution relationships with many of the largest national and independent waterworks distributors, including Ferguson, HD Supply and WinWholesale, who sell primarily to the storm sewer and sanitary sewer markets. We also utilize a network of hundreds of small to medium-sized independent distributors across the United States. We have strong relationships with major national retailers that carry drainage products, including The Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, Menards and Do it Best, and also sell to buying groups and co-ops in the United States that serve the plumbing, hardware, irrigation and landscaping markets. The combination of our large sales force, long-standing retail and contractor customer relationships and extensive network of manufacturing and distribution facilities complements and strengthens our broad customer and market coverage.
We believe the ADS brand has long been associated with quality products and market-leading performance. Our trademarked green stripe, which is prominently displayed on many of our products, serves as clear identification of our commitment to the customers and markets we serve.
As illustrated in the charts below, we provide a broad range of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and related water management products to a highly diversified set of end markets and geographies.
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Our Strengths
We believe that we benefit significantly from the following competitive strengths:
Market leader with unmatched scale. We are the leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and a leading manufacturer of related water management products. We believe our extensive national footprint of 48 manufacturing plants and 19 distribution centers creates a cost and service advantage versus our HDPE pipe producing competitors, the largest of which has only 10 domestic HDPE pipe manufacturing plants. We maintain an in-house fleet of approximately 625 tractor-trailers and approximately 1,100 trailers that are specially designed to haul our lightweight pipe and fittings products. Our effective shipping radius is approximately 200 miles from one of our manufacturing plants or distribution centers. Our world-class manufacturing expertise and extensive national distribution and fleet network allow us to service customers across the United States on a cost-effective and timely basis. Our long-standing customer relationships also provide us with visibility to attractive market opportunities.
Well positioned to drive continued material conversion. Our products are generally lighter, more durable, more cost effective and easier to install than comparable alternatives made with traditional materials. For example, concrete pipe generally weighs more than 20 times as much per foot as our thermoplastic pipe, resulting in the significant handling advantages that our product line enjoys during installation by contractors. These advantages typically provide our thermoplastic pipe with an installed cost advantage of approximately 20% over concrete pipe. High performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe represented approximately 25% of the total storm sewer market in 2012, up from what we believe was less than 10% ten years ago and less than 1% twenty years ago. We believe the penetration rate will continue to increase over time, as contractors, engineers and municipal agencies increasingly acknowledge the superior attributes and compelling value proposition of our thermoplastic products. We believe the recent introduction of our PP pipe products will also help accelerate this conversion given the additional applications for which our PP pipe products can be used. We continue to drive this material conversion through extensive sales force training and education of our customers. We have been at the forefront of educating an industry undergoing significant change in the regulatory environment, while pushing for expanded approvals of our products in new markets and geographies. Since 2006, 32 states have enhanced their approval of our pipe products, and an average of approximately 60 state, county and municipal approvals have been added or enhanced each year over the past five years.
Broad portfolio of Allied Products. Our Allied Products include storm and septic chambers, PVC drainage structures, fittings and filters and water separators. These products complement our pipe product lines and allow us to offer a comprehensive water management solution to our customers and drive organic growth. We have a long history of leveraging our broad distribution platform to develop or acquire, and market, complementary Allied Products that provide new technologies and product capabilities. Given our strong brand recognition, network of customer and distributor relationships and large team of trained salespeople, we believe we are the acquirer of choice for many providers of ancillary products who wish to partner with an industry leader. Our broad product line and reputation for quality provide our sales force with a competitive advantage in sourcing new opportunities and cross-selling products.
Industry-leading manufacturing and technical expertise. We believe we have developed a reputation in the industry for products that deliver technically-superior performance with lower installation and maintenance costs versus competing products. Our products are lightweight and flexible, strong, resistant to corrosion and resistant to abrasion. These characteristics allow for easy and low-cost installation, provide strength comparable to much heavier materials (as a result of the corrugated profile design of our thermoplastic pipe products) and provide an excellent service life expectancy. Our significant investment in custom-designed mold and die tooling ($173 million investment over the last nine years) allows us to manufacture a variety of corrugated pipe sizes and provides us with the flexibility to meet demand fluctuations in local regions. In addition, we rotate these setups across our network of manufacturing plants as needed to meet demand, which provides us with a unique
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competitive advantage. We employ proprietary resin blending technology to minimize raw material cost and optimize production efficiency, while maintaining a consistent level of product performance. Utilizing this technology has allowed us to increase our ratio of recycled resin as a percent of total resin from approximately 24% in fiscal year 2005 to approximately 58% in fiscal year 2014, resulting in significant cost savings and reduced exposure to fluctuations in raw material costs.
Long-term customer relationships. We believe we have the largest and most experienced sales force in the industry, which allows us to maintain strong, long-standing relationships with key distributors, contractors and engineers. The combination of our technical expertise, product selection and customer delivery capabilities allows us to meet our customers critical installation schedules and positions us as a strategic partner. We strive to educate the regulatory and design community while offering the distributor and contractor network a comprehensive product suite. Our products are manufactured, assembled, delivered and serviced from a network of plants and yards that are strategically positioned in close proximity to most major domestic geographic markets. Our national scale combined with our local presence, dedication to service and broad product offering has enabled us to maintain our long-standing customer relationships.
Highly diversified across end markets, channels and geographies. We are strategically diversified across a broad range of end markets, distribution channels and geographies. Our products are used globally in a diverse range of end markets across non-residential construction, residential construction, agriculture and infrastructure. These end markets include storm sewer systems, agriculture, retail, stormwater retention/detention, on-site septic systems and structures. We maintain and service these end markets through strong product distribution relationships with many of the largest national and independent waterworks distributors, a network of hundreds of small to medium-sized distributors across the United States, major national retailers that carry drainage products and a broad variety of buying groups and co-ops in the United States. We serve our customers in all 50 U.S. states as well as approximately 90 other countries. Our domestic sales, which represented approximately 88% of our net sales in fiscal year 2014, are diversified across all regions of the United States. Approximately 12% of our net sales in fiscal year 2014 were generated outside of the United States.
Experienced management team with successful operating record and significant equity ownership. Our management team, led by our Chief Executive Officer, Joe Chlapaty, has an average of over 23 years of industry experience. We have a long history of generating profitable growth, attractive margins and cash flow. During periods of weaker economic conditions, we believe we have benefitted from an increased market focus on our products as a cost effective alternative to traditional materials. In stronger economic cycles, we have delivered profitable growth and an ability to leverage our scale and excess production capacity to meet rapid increases in demand.
After the completion of this offering, our management and directors will own approximately % of our common stock on a fully-converted basis. In addition, after the completion of this offering, the convertible preferred stock held by our ESOP will account for approximately % of our common stock on a fully-converted basis. This high level of management and employee ownership ensures that incentives are closely aligned with equity holders.
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Our Business Strategy
We intend to grow our net sales, improve our profitability and enhance our position as the leading provider of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and related water management products by executing on the following strategies.
Continue to drive conversion to our products. Our products are generally lighter, more durable, more cost effective and easier to install than comparable alternatives made with traditional materials such as concrete, steel and PVC. We intend to continue to drive conversion to our products from traditional products as contractors, engineers and municipal agencies increasingly acknowledge the superior attributes and compelling value proposition of our thermoplastic products. Expanded regulatory approvals allow for their use in new markets and geographies, and we continue to invest heavily in industry education. We believe we are the industry leader in these efforts as regulatory approvals are essential to the specification and acceptance of these product lines.
Expand our product offering and markets served. Our strong market position provides us with insight into the evolving needs of our customers, which has allowed us to proactively develop and deliver comprehensive water management solutions. The strength of our overall sales and distribution platform has allowed us to acquire new Allied Products and deliver solution-based product portfolios that typically result in significantly higher net sales post-acquisition than the products generated before the addition to our product portfolio. Our ability to further develop our offering of Allied Products represents an attractive opportunity to capture additional growth and improve our overall margins. We will continue to focus on enhancing our core products and expanding our Allied Products through cross-selling opportunities in order to further penetrate untapped markets and customers. We also expect to continue to enter into selective adjacent new markets that leverage our sales and engineering capabilities, customer relationships and national distribution network and provide more water management solutions to our customers.
Expand our presence in attractive new geographies. Outside of the United States, we believe thermoplastic corrugated pipe represents a small part of the overall market. We further believe there is significant opportunity to convert new geographies based on the overall performance and value of our products, similar to what continues to occur in our existing markets. To date, in order to increase our speed to market, we have expanded internationally primarily through joint ventures with best-in-class local partners. Our existing joint ventures provide us with access to markets such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and Colombia. Combining a local partners customer relationships, brand recognition and local management talent, with our world-class manufacturing and process expertise, broad product portfolio and innovation, creates a strong platform with additional opportunities for international expansion. In the future, we will continue to identify new geographies to access markets through joint venture relationships with domestic partners in targeted areas.
Capitalize on growth related to the recovery in our primary end markets. We believe we are well positioned to take advantage of renewed growth and recovery in the non-residential and residential construction and infrastructure markets in the United States. Additionally, we believe we have the potential to capitalize on a substantial backlog of deferred infrastructure spending in the United States as a result of upgrades and repairs that were delayed in the recent economic downturn. Spending on the replacement of aging water drainage and sewer infrastructure (estimated to cost approximately $298 billion between 2013 and 2033, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE) and stricter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, guidelines for stormwater and wastewater management will drive additional demand for our products.
Continue our focus on operational excellence. Our focus on continuously improving operating efficiencies, reducing costs and improving product quality has enabled us to improve our position as a leading low-cost provider. We constantly strive to achieve operating and cost efficiencies across all facets of our business. For
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example, we employ sophisticated resin blending technology to minimize raw material costs and optimize production efficiency, while maintaining a high level of product quality and performance. We believe this and our other initiatives, combined with continued prudent management of our overhead, and our ability to increase our sales without the requirement of increased capital expenditures will allow us to maximize profitability as we continue to grow.
Selectively pursue strategic acquisitions. By utilizing our customer relationships and sales force, we have a demonstrated ability to identify and integrate numerous strategic acquisitions. We believe our strong reputation for product growth, as well as our strong brand recognition, network of customer and distributor relationships, and large team of trained salespeople, has allowed us to become the acquirer of choice, as demonstrated by our ability to identify new technologies and product capabilities and thereafter acquire such technologies and products. The acquisitions of strategic product lines such as BaySaver, FleXstorm, Nyloplast, Inserta Tee and StormTech have strengthened our market position while enhancing long-term growth and profitability and are examples of our ability to complete and integrate acquisition opportunities. We have remained one of the strongest and best capitalized companies in the industry throughout the recent economic cycle and are well positioned to capitalize on current market dynamics to selectively acquire key products and technologies. We have strong industry relationships and maintain an active acquisition pipeline.
Industry Overview and Trends
We serve a broad range of end markets across non-residential construction, residential construction, agriculture and infrastructure. We are the leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and a leading manufacturer of related water management products. We compete against other HDPE pipe producers, as well as pipe manufacturers selling products made from traditional materials such as concrete, corrugated steel and PVC on a national, regional and local basis. We compete primarily in the United States and Canada; however, we have also expanded internationally in Mexico, Central America and South America through our joint ventures. We believe the markets we serve in the United States represent approximately $10.1 billion of annual revenue opportunity. In addition, we believe the increasing acceptance of thermoplastic pipe products in international markets represents an attractive growth opportunity.
Core Product Categories
Pipe Market
Demand for our products is largely driven by residential and non-residential construction, transportation and related water drainage infrastructure spending and the repair and replacement of aging stormwater management infrastructure. Freedonia estimates that demand for large diameter pipe (defined as 15 diameter or larger depending on industry standards by material type) in the United States will increase at an average of 6.2% per year from approximately 146 million feet in 2011, to 197 million feet in 2016. We compete in the storm sewer, drainage, sanitary sewer and irrigation markets, which collectively represent approximately 70% of the overall large diameter pipe market in the United States. According to Freedonia, sanitary and storm sewers, which represent approximately 50% of the total large diameter pipe market demand, are expected to continue to drive growth for the large diameter pipe market through 2016. Additionally, Freedonia estimates that the largest expected growth in the forecast period will come from the drainage market, as non-residential and residential construction continues to rebound. According to Freedonia, HDPE, the primary material in our products, is projected to become a larger portion of the overall large diameter pipe market as states and municipalities are expected to continue to adopt this product as a result of its superior attributes and approve its use in a broader range of applications.
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Source: Freedonia
Positive end market trends in the non-residential construction, residential construction, agricultural and infrastructure markets are also expected to drive increased demand for pipe products in Canada. Growth in fixed investment spending is expected to result in a higher number of sewer and drainage infrastructure projects. Housing starts in Canada are forecasted to grow from 185,000 in 2012 to 215,000 by 2017, according to Freedonia. We believe the large industry around forestry, minerals, petroleum and natural gas markets in Canada provide opportunity for pipe applications.
The GDP in Mexico is forecasted to expand at 3.7% annually through 2017. Construction growth in Mexico is driven by demand for housing, non-residential property and additional investment in public infrastructure. Freedonia forecasts HDPE pipe demand to grow 8% annually through 2017 in Mexico, to 50,000 metric tons, the fastest growth rate of any plastic resin.
The largest pipe markets in South America are Brazil and Chile. Other South American countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are also forecasted to see strong growth in construction. Brazil has large infrastructure investment occurring related to the country hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. HDPE pipe is taking market share from concrete and PVC pipe in drainage and sewer applications in these markets. In Argentina, primary end markets for HDPE pipe are construction, natural resources and agriculture.
Related Water Management Solutions Market
We also offer a wide range of Allied Products to meet our customers water management requirements across various markets. The demand for these products is largely driven by residential and non-residential construction, transportation and related water drainage infrastructure spending and the replacement of aging stormwater management infrastructure.
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Stormwater Retention/Detention
Current EPA regulations require any development of one acre or larger to retain stormwater on site and gradually release it over time. This requirement is met by either using natural solutions, such as retention ponds, or structural solutions, which include systems constructed underground. According to the Freedonia Special Report, demand in this market is forecasted to grow 7.5% annually from 2013 to 2016. Growth of structural solutions is forecasted to grow 8.5% over this period, compared to 5.4% for natural solutions.
On-Site Septic
According to the EPA, an estimated 20% of total U.S. housing units depend upon on-site septic systems for the treatment and disposal of household sewage. An on-site septic system allows for effluent to be leached into the soil for treatment. The market is driven by new residential construction and, to a lesser extent, the repair and replacement of existing systems. Our plastic septic chamber products perform their septic treatment functions with gravel, reducing the cost to the contractor and homeowner over traditional pipe and stone systems that are also used for these systems.
Structures
Drainage structures are used in all major storm projects and are used to move surface-collected stormwater vertically down to pipe conveyance systems. The predominant products used today are concrete structures. We compete in this market with our Nyloplast product line, an engineered drainage structure made from PVC. Our Nyloplast product reduces construction cost and increases speed of installation compared to traditional precast concrete structures.
Water Quality
EPA regulations also limit the amount of sediment or other pollutants in discharged water. Similar to stormwater management, these requirements are met through the use of either natural or structural solutions. Freedonia forecasts that demand for these solutions will increase 10.1% annually through 2016, with natural and structural solutions growing at nearly the same rate. We provide structural solutions for water quality through our BaySaver and FlexStorm product lines.
Geosynthetics
We offer geosynthetic products through resale agreements with leading suppliers. Geosynthetics are used in a wide range of environmental and civil engineering applications to promote drainage, retain soils, control the flow of liquids and construct natural soil structures. Demand in this market is primarily driven by trends in non-residential and transportation construction activity. According to a December 2013 study by Freedonia on world geosynthetics demand, U.S. geosynthetic demand is forecasted to grow 6.5% annually through 2017.
Core End Markets
Non-Residential Construction (51% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our net sales in the U.S. non-residential construction market were $480.1 million, which represented 51% of our domestic net sales. Reed Construction Data is forecasting U.S. non-residential construction, consisting of commercial, institutional, manufacturing and warehouse construction, to grow 6.6% annually from 2013 to 2016 and increase 8.2% in 2014 over 2013.
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Residential Construction (21% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our net sales in the U.S. residential construction market were $194.4 million, which represented 21% of our domestic net sales. U.S. residential new construction has begun to recover since reaching historic lows during the recent economic downturn. While new housing starts demonstrated an annual growth rate of 16% from 2010 to 2013, current levels remain substantially below the long-term average of 1.5 million starts since the U.S. Census Bureau began reporting the data in 1959. According to McGraw Hill, residential new housing is expected to increase to 1.11 million starts, or 14%, in 2014, and increase to 1.33 million starts, or 20%, in 2015. As of September 2013, the Home Improvement Research Institute projects that U.S. sales of repair, renovation and improvement products will grow at a rate of 5.4% in 2013, 6.8% in 2014 and 7.0% in 2015, driven by the improving economy, rising home prices and greater consumer confidence.
Agriculture (19% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our net sales in the U.S. agriculture market were $176.4 million, which represented 19% of our domestic net sales. U.S. and global demand for corn and soybeans, net farm income and corn use for ethanol are significant drivers of our agriculture business and are leading indicators in regards to our product demand. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, agricultural exports were a record $140.9 billion in 2013 and are forecasted to increase 1% in 2014. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, net farm income increased to $130.5 billion in 2013, up from $85.0 billion in 2008. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 40% of corn production in the United States is consumed by ethanol production, with requirements not expected to decline in the near future.
Infrastructure (9% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our net sales in the U.S. infrastructure market were $84.6 million, which represented 9% of our domestic net sales. The main drivers of our products in the infrastructure market include the construction of streets and highways, storm and sanitary sewers, airports and railroads. ASCE rated the overall U.S. infrastructure a grade of D+ in its recent 2013 report card, and estimates that $298 billion is needed over the next 20 years to replace and upgrade the existing wastewater infrastructure in the United States. ASCEs primary concern is the need to address sanitary and combined sewer overflows. Citing the 2008 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, the ASCE report states $64 billion is needed to address combined sewer overflows and stormwater management over the 20-year period. There are four million miles of public roads and highways in the United States, primarily constructed over 50 years ago. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that $170 billion is needed annually to improve the condition of the nations roads and highways, a significant increase from the $101 billion that is needed to just maintain their current condition.
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Ownership and Corporate Information
We have a long history of employee ownership as well as ownership by financial sponsors. Our current ownership is comprised of members of our management team and other non-employee stockholders, ASP ADS Investco, LLC, an affiliate of American Securities LLC, or American Securities, and our ESOP in which our employees participate. For more information regarding our ESOP, see Description of Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
The following chart illustrates our ownership and organizational structure, including stock ownership percentages, after giving effect to this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares):
(1) | Excludes (on a post-stock split basis) million shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding as of , 2014 at a weighted average exercise price of $ per share. |
(2) | ASP ADS Investco, LLC is an affiliate of American Securities. |
(3) | The ESOP currently holds all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock, which converts at the election of the ESOP into shares of our common stock as further described below under Description of Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The percentage ownership for the ESOP is on an as-converted basis. |
(4) | ADS Worldwide, Inc. is our wholly-owned subsidiary through which we hold interests in the various international joint ventures through which we operate in Mexico, Central America and South America. |
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Summary of Risk Factors
Our business is subject to a number of risks of which you should be aware and carefully consider before making an investment decision. These risks are discussed in Risk Factors, and include but are not limited to the following:
| fluctuations in the price and availability of resins, our principal raw material, and our inability to pass on resin price increases to customers; |
| our inability to obtain adequate supplies of resins from suppliers; |
| disruption or volatility in general business and economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, such as non-residential and residential construction, agriculture and infrastructure markets ; |
| our ability to convert current demand for competitive products into demand for our products; |
| effect of weather or seasonality; |
| loss of any of our significant customers; |
| failure to collect monies owed from customers; |
| exposure of our international operations to political, economic and regulatory risks; |
| risks associated with conducting a portion of our operations through joint ventures; |
| our ability to successfully expand into new geographic or product markets; |
| risks associated with acquisitions; |
| risks associated with increased fuel and energy prices; |
| risks associated with manufacturing process, construction defect and product liability and legal proceedings; |
| our current levels of indebtedness and related restrictions and limitations imposed on us; |
| securities or industry analysts may not publish research or may publish misleading or unfavorable research about our business; and |
| fulfilling our obligations incident to being a public company. |
Corporate Information
We were founded in 1966 and are a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026, and our telephone number at that address is (614) 658-0050. Our corporate website is www.ads-pipe.com. Information on, and which can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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The Offering
Common stock offered by us |
shares ( shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares). |
Common stock offered by the selling stockholder |
shares ( shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares). |
Common stock outstanding immediately after this offering |
shares ( shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares). |
Option to purchase additional shares of common stock |
The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional shares of common stock from us and up to an additional shares of common stock from the selling stockholder. |
Proposed New York Stock Exchange symbol |
WMS. |
Use of proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay at least $ million of outstanding indebtedness under the revolving portion of our credit facility. We intend to use the remaining proceeds (if any) for general corporate purposes. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholder. See Use of Proceeds. |
Risk factors |
See Risk Factors and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors that you should carefully consider before deciding whether to invest in shares of our common stock. |
Dividend policy |
We have a history of paying dividends to our stockholders when sufficient cash is available, and we currently intend to pay dividends in the future after this offering. Any determination to pay dividends on our capital stock in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws and the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including those relating to the payment of dividends on our convertible preferred stock), and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors considers relevant. In addition, the terms of our credit facilities contain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. See Dividend Policy. |
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately following this offering gives effect to a -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and includes (i) shares of our common stock outstanding as of , 2014, and (ii) shares of common stock offered by us in connection with this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares), and excludes (on a post-stock split basis):
| million shares of restricted stock outstanding as of , 2014 under our 2008 Restricted Stock Plan; |
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| million shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding as of , 2014 at a weighted average exercise price of $ per share; and |
| million shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Stock Option Plan. |
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes the following:
| a -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part; |
| no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares; |
| the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws immediately prior to the closing of this offering; and |
| an initial public offering price of $ per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus. |
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Summary Consolidated Financial Data
The summary consolidated financial data presented below as of March 31, 2013 and 2014 and for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated financial data presented below as of March 31, 2012 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus.
The results indicated below and elsewhere in this prospectus are not necessarily indicative of our future performance. You should read this data in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary consolidated financial data does not reflect the earnings per share and dividends per share impact of our -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Consolidated statement of income data: |
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Net sales |
$ | 1,013,756 | $ | 1,017,041 | $ | 1,069,009 | ||||||
Cost of goods sold |
818,398 | 807,730 | 856,118 | |||||||||
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Gross profit |
195,358 | 209,311 | 212,891 | |||||||||
Selling expenses |
67,625 | 69,451 | 75,024 | |||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
65,927 | 67,712 | 78,478 | |||||||||
Gain on sale of assets/ business |
(44,634 | ) | (2,210 | ) | (5,338 | ) | ||||||
Intangibles amortization |
11,387 | 11,295 | 11,412 | |||||||||
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Income from operations |
95,053 | 63,063 | 53,315 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
21,837 | 16,095 | 16,141 | |||||||||
Other miscellaneous expense, net |
2,425 | 283 | 133 | |||||||||
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Income before income taxes |
70,791 | 46,685 | 37,041 | |||||||||
Income tax expense |
27,064 | 16,894 | 22,575 | |||||||||
Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates |
(704 | ) | (387 | ) | 1,592 | |||||||
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Net income |
44,431 | 30,178 | 12,874 | |||||||||
Less net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest |
1,171 | 2,019 | 1,750 | |||||||||
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Net income attributable to ADS |
43,260 | 28,159 | 11,124 | |||||||||
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Change in fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
(10,257 | ) | (5,869 | ) | (3,979 | ) | ||||||
Dividends paid to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stockholders |
(668 | ) | (736 | ) | (10,139 | ) | ||||||
Dividends paid to unvested restricted stockholders |
(34 | ) | (52 | ) | (418 | ) | ||||||
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Net income (loss) available to common stockholders and participating securities |
32,301 | 21,502 | (3,412 | ) | ||||||||
Undistributed income (loss) allocated to participating securities |
(3,241 | ) | (2,042 | ) | | |||||||
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Net income (loss) available to common stockholders |
$ | 29,060 | $ | 19,460 | $ | (3,412 | ) | |||||
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Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||
Basic |
9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||
Diluted |
9,996 | 10,038 | 10,044 | |||||||||
As adjusted Basic (1) |
9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||
As adjusted Diluted (1) |
9,996 | 10,038 | 10,138 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) per share: |
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Basic |
$ | 2.95 | $ | 1.96 | $ | (0.34 | ) | |||||
Diluted |
$ | 2.91 | $ | 1.94 | $ | (0.34 | ) | |||||
As adjusted Basic (1) |
$ | 3.88 | $ | 2.48 | $ | 0.06 | ||||||
As adjusted Diluted (1) |
$ | 3.81 | $ | 2.45 | $ | 0.06 | ||||||
Cash dividends declared per share |
$ | 0.44 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 7.91 |
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Other financial data: |
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Capital expenditures |
$ | 26,467 | $ | 40,004 | $ | 40,288 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (2) |
116,873 | 129,759 | 147,009 | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin (3) |
11.5 | % | 12.8 | % | 13.8 | % |
As of March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Consolidated balance sheet data: |
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Cash |
$ | 2,082 | $ | 1,361 | $ | 3,931 | ||||||
Working capital (4) |
208,268 | 220,276 | 263,907 | |||||||||
Total assets |
905,028 | 907,739 | 937,595 | |||||||||
Long-term debt |
370,672 | 349,990 | 454,048 | |||||||||
Total liabilities |
615,314 | 585,115 | 691,980 | |||||||||
Total mezzanine equity (5) |
557,563 | 608,346 | 642,951 | |||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
(267,849 | ) | (285,722 | ) | (397,336 | ) | ||||||
Total mezzanine equity and stockholders equity |
289,714 | 322,624 | 245,615 |
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Statement of cash flows data: |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 56,997 | $ | 68,215 | $ | 62,122 | ||||||
Net cash (used in) investing activities |
(35,833 | ) | (47,199 | ) | (41,767 | ) | ||||||
Net cash (used in) financing activities |
(21,233 | ) | (21,737 | ) | (17,712 | ) |
(1) | Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted, which are non-GAAP measures, have been presented in this prospectus as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP. As described elsewhere in this prospectus, upon completion of this offering, the redemption rights associated with these shares, which require them to be classified as mezzanine equity, will be no longer in effect and, as such, we anticipate reclassifying these balances to total stockholders equity upon the completion of this offering. We calculate Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic, and the corresponding Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding As Adjusted Basic, by adjusting our historical net income per share and weighted average common shares outstanding amounts for the reclassification of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock from mezzanine equity to total stockholders equity in order to present historical amounts as if this reclassification occurred as of the beginning of the earliest period presented. |
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To effect this adjustment, we have (1) removed the adjustment for the change in fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock classified as mezzanine equity from the numerator of the Basic Net Income Per Share computation, and (2) made a corresponding adjustment to the amount allocated to participating securities under the two-class earnings per share computation method.
We have also made adjustments to Net Income Per Share as Adjusted Diluted, and the corresponding Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding As Adjusted Diluted, to assume share settlement of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock to the extent that the if-converted computation method is more dilutive than the two-class computation method.
Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted are included in this prospectus because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to different methods of calculation.
The following table presents a reconciliation of Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted, and the corresponding Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding As Adjusted Basic and Diluted to our historical net income per share and corresponding historical weighted average common share amounts, the most comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated.
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic |
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Net income (loss) available to common stockholders |
$ | 29,060 | $ | 19,460 | $ | (3,412 | ) | |||||
Adjustment for: |
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Change in fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
10,257 | 5,869 | 3,979 | |||||||||
Undistributed income allocated to participating securities |
(1,189 | ) | (716 | ) | | |||||||
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Net income available to common stockholders used to calculate Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic |
$ | 38,128 | $ | 24,613 | $ | 567 | ||||||
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Weighted average common shares outstanding: |
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Basic |
9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||
As adjusted Basic |
9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||
Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Diluted |
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Net income available to common stockholders used to calculate Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted |
38,128 | 24,613 | 567 | |||||||||
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Weighted average common shares outstanding |
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Diluted |
9,996 | 10,038 | 10,044 | |||||||||
Assumed exercise of stock options |
| | 94 | |||||||||
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As adjusted Diluted |
9,996 | 10,038 | 10,138 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) per share: |
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As adjusted Basic |
$ | 3.88 | $ | 2.48 | $ | 0.06 | ||||||
As adjusted Diluted |
$ | 3.81 | $ | 2.45 | $ | 0.06 |
(2) | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures, have been presented in this prospectus as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP. We calculate EBITDA as net income attributable to ADS before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before stock based compensation expense, non-cash charges and certain other expenses. |
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are included in this prospectus because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. In addition to covenant compliance and executive performance evaluations, we use Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not GAAP measures of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as alternatives to net income as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP and they should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to be measures of free cash flow for managements discretionary use, as they do not reflect certain cash requirements such as tax payments, debt service requirements, capital expenditures and certain other cash costs that may recur in the future. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA contain certain other limitations, including the failure to reflect our cash expenditures, cash requirements for working capital needs and cash costs to replace assets being depreciated and amortized. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation, such as stock based compensation expense, derivative fair value adjustments, and foreign currency transaction losses. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed
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to imply that our future results will be unaffected by any such adjustments. Management compensates for these limitations by relying on our GAAP results in addition to using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA supplementally. Our measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to different methods of calculation.
The following table presents a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated.
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Net income attributable to ADS |
$ | 43,260 | $ | 28,159 | $ | 11,124 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization (a) |
59,356 | 56,926 | 57,454 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
21,837 | 16,095 | 16,141 | |||||||||
Income tax expense |
27,064 | 16,894 | 22,575 | |||||||||
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EBITDA |
151,517 | 118,074 | 107,294 | |||||||||
Derivative fair value adjustments (b) |
2,315 | (4 | ) | (53 | ) | |||||||
Foreign currency transaction losses (c) |
378 | 1,085 | 845 | |||||||||
Gain on sale of Septic Chamber business (d) |
(44,634 | ) | | | ||||||||
Unconsolidated affiliates interest and tax (e) |
915 | 729 | 204 | |||||||||
Management fee to minority interest holder JV (f) |
| | 1,098 | |||||||||
Special dividend compensation |
| | 22,624 | |||||||||
Contingent consideration remeasurement |
| | 259 | |||||||||
Stock based compensation (g) |
1,425 | 2,592 | 5,287 | |||||||||
ESOP deferred stock based compensation (h) |
4,957 | 7,283 | 7,891 | |||||||||
Transaction costs (i) |
| | 1,560 | |||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 116,873 | $ | 129,759 | $ | 147,009 | ||||||
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(a) | Includes our proportionate share of depreciation and amortization expense of $985, $1,321 and $1,556 related to our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture, which amounts are included in equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated statements of income for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year 2012 also includes a charge of $3,200 related to the impairment of one of our trademarks. |
(b) | Represents the non-cash gains and losses arising from changes in mark-to-market values for derivative contracts related to diesel fuel and interest rate swaps. The impact of resin physical and financial derivatives is included in cost of goods sold. |
(c) | Represents the gains and losses incurred on purchases, sales and intercompany loans and dividends denominated in non-functional currencies. |
(d) | Represents a gain recognized on the sale of our septic chamber business in January 2012. |
(e) | Represents our proportional share of income taxes and interest related to our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. |
(f) | Represents management fee paid to a minority interest holder of a consolidated subsidiary. |
(g) | Represents the non-cash stock based compensation cost related to our stock options and restricted stock awards. |
(h) | Represents the non-cash stock based compensation expense attributable to the shares of convertible preferred stock allocated to employee ESOP accounts during the applicable period. |
(i) | Represents expenses recorded related to legal, accounting and other professional fees incurred in connection with our recent debt refinancing and in connection with this offering. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA margin for any period represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales for that period. |
(4) | Working capital is the difference between our current assets and current liabilities. Working capital is an indication of liquidity and potential need for short-term funding. |
(5) | Our mezzanine equity consists of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock held by our ESOP and Redeemable Common Stock held by certain stockholders who have certain rights associated with such shares, which rights are considered for purposes of GAAP to be a redemption right, which is beyond our control. See Note 16, Mezzanine Equity, within our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information regarding the accounting treatment for our mezzanine equity. Upon completion of this offering, the redemption rights associated with these shares, which require them to be classified in mezzanine equity, will be no longer be in effect. As a result, we anticipate reclassifying these balances to total stockholders equity upon the completion of this offering. |
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Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before you make your investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information contained in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In these circumstances, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Fluctuations in the price and availability of resins, our principal raw materials, and our inability to obtain adequate supplies of resins from suppliers and pass on resin price increases to customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The principal raw materials that we use in our high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and Allied Products are virgin and recycled resins. Our ability to operate profitably depends, to a large extent, on the markets for these resins. In particular, as resins are derived either directly or indirectly from crude oil derivatives and natural gas liquids, resin prices fluctuate substantially as a result of changes in crude oil and natural gas prices, changes in existing refining capabilities and the capacity of resin suppliers. The petrochemical industry historically has been cyclical and volatile. The cycles are generally characterized by periods of tight supply, followed by periods of oversupply, primarily resulting from significant capacity additions. For example, resin prices have increased since 2010 due to increased demand in the broader economy. The weighted average market cost for the types of resin that we use increased by approximately 0.9% and 6.7% for fiscal years 2013 and 2014, respectively. Unanticipated changes in and disruptions to existing refining capacities could also significantly increase resin prices, often within a short period of time, even if crude oil and natural gas prices remain low.
Our ability to offer our core products depends on our ability to obtain adequate resins, which we purchase directly from major petrochemical and chemical suppliers. We have long-standing relationships as well as supply contracts with some of these suppliers but we have no fixed-price contracts with any of our major suppliers. Prices are typically negotiated on a continuous basis. We have implemented a limited resin price hedging program which has historically covered less than 50% of our virgin resin purchases. The loss of, or substantial decrease in the availability of, raw materials from our suppliers, or the failure by our suppliers to continue to provide us with raw materials on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, supply interruptions could arise from labor disputes or weather conditions affecting supplies or shipments, transportation disruptions or other factors beyond our control. A disruption in the timely availability of raw materials from our key suppliers would result in a decrease in our revenues and profitability.
Our ability to maintain profitability heavily depends on our ability to pass through to our customers the full amount of any increase in raw material costs, which are a large portion of our overall product costs. We may be unable to do so in a timely manner, or at all, due to competition in the markets in which we operate. In addition, certain of our largest customers historically have exerted significant pressure on their outside suppliers to keep prices low because of their market share. If increases in the cost of raw materials cannot be passed on to our customers, or the duration of time associated with a pass through becomes extended, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will be adversely affected.
Any disruption or volatility in general business and economic conditions in the markets in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on the demand for our products and services.
The markets in which we operate are sensitive to general business and economic conditions in the United States and worldwide, including availability of credit, interest rates, fluctuation in capital and business and consumer confidence. The capital and credit markets have in recent years been experiencing significant volatility
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and disruption. These conditions, combined with price fluctuations in crude oil derivatives and natural gas liquids, declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, precipitated an economic slowdown and severe recession in recent years. The difficult conditions in these markets and the overall economy affect our business in a number of ways. For example:
| The slowdown and volatility of the United States economy in general is having an adverse effect on our sales that are dependent on the non-residential construction market. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, actual non-residential construction put-in-place in the United States during 2013 remained 13.5% lower than 2009 levels. Continued uncertainty about current economic conditions will continue to pose a risk to our business units that serve the non-residential construction market, as participants in this industry may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and/or declines in income or asset values, which could have a continued material adverse effect on the demand for our products and services. |
| The homebuilding industry has undergone a significant decline from its peak in 2005. While new housing starts demonstrated an annual growth rate of 16% from 2010 to 2013, current levels remain substantially below the long-term average of 1.5 million starts since the U.S. Census Bureau began reporting the data in 1959. |
| The mortgage markets continue to experience disruption and reduced availability of mortgages for potential homebuyers due to more restrictive standards to qualify for mortgages, including with respect to new home construction loans. The multi-year downturn in the homebuilding industry resulted in a substantial reduction in demand for our products and services in this market, which in turn had a significant adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations during the period from 2008 to 2013, as compared to peak levels. |
| Our business depends to a great extent upon general activity levels in the agriculture market. Changes in corn production, soybean production, farm income, farmland value and the level of farm output in the geographic locations in which we operate are all material factors that could adversely affect the agriculture market and result in a decrease in the amount of products that our customers purchase. The nature of the agriculture market is such that a downturn in demand can occur suddenly, resulting in excess inventories, un-utilized production capacity and reduced prices for pipe products. These downturns may be prolonged and our revenue and profitability would be harmed. |
| Demand for our products and services depends to a significant degree on spending on infrastructure, which is inherently cyclical. Infrastructure spending is affected by a variety of factors beyond our control, including interest rates, availability and commitment of public funds for municipal spending and highway spending and general economic conditions. Our products sales may be adversely impacted by budget cuts by governments, including as a result of lower than anticipated tax revenues. |
All of our markets are sensitive to changes in the broader economy. Downturns or lack of substantial improvement in the economy in any region in which we operate have adversely affected and could continue to adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. While we operate in many markets, our business is particularly impacted by changes in the economies of the United States, Canada and Mexico, which represented approximately 87.5%, 4.9% and 5.9%, respectively, of our net sales for fiscal year 2014 and collectively represented approximately 98.3% of our net sales for fiscal year 2014.
We cannot predict the duration of current economic conditions, or the timing or strength of any future recovery of activities in our markets. Continued weakness in the market in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We may have to close under-performing facilities from time to time as warranted by general economic conditions and/or weakness in the markets in which we operate. In addition to a reduction in demand for our products, these factors may also reduce the price we are able to charge for our products and restrict our ability to pass raw material cost increases to our customers. This, combined with an increase in excess capacity, will negatively impact our profitability, cash flows and our financial condition, generally.
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Demand for our products and services could decrease if we are unable to compete effectively, and our success depends largely on our ability to convert current demand for competitive products into demand for our products.
We compete with both manufacturers of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and manufacturers of alternative products, such as concrete, steel and PVC pipe products, on the basis of a number of considerations, including product characteristics such as durability, design, ease of installation, price on a price-to-value basis and service. In particular, we compete on a global, national and local basis with pipe products made of traditional materials which our high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe products are designed to replace. For example, our N-12 and SaniTite HP products face competition from concrete, steel and PVC pipe products in the small- and large-diameter size segments of the market.
Our ability to successfully compete and grow depends largely on our ability to continue to convert the current demand for concrete, steel and PVC pipe products into demand for our high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and Allied Products. Our thermoplastic pipe typically has an installed cost advantage of approximately 20% over concrete pipe. However, depending upon certain factors such as the size of the pipe, the geography of a particular location and then-existing raw material costs, the initial cost of our thermoplastic pipe may be higher than the initial cost of alternative products such as concrete, steel and PVC pipe products. To increase our market share, we will need to increase material conversion by educating our customers about the value of our products in comparison to existing alternatives, particularly on an installed cost basis, working with government agencies to expand approvals for our products and working with civil engineering firms which may influence the specification of our products on construction projects. No assurance can be given that our efforts to increase or maintain the current rate of material conversion will be successful, and our failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We also expect that new competitors may develop over time. No assurance can be given that we will be able to respond effectively to such competitive pressures. Increased competition by existing and future competitors could result in reductions in sales, prices, volumes and gross margins that would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, our success will depend, in part, on our ability to maintain our market share and gain market share from competitors.
Certain of our competitors have financial and other resources that are greater than ours and may be better able to withstand price competition, especially with respect to traditional products. In addition, consolidation by industry participants could result in competitors with increased market share, larger customer bases, greater diversified product offerings and greater technological and marketing expertise, which would allow them to compete more effectively against us. Moreover, our competitors may develop products that are superior to our products or may adapt more quickly to new technologies or evolving customer requirements. Technological advances by our competitors may lead to new manufacturing techniques and make it more difficult for us to compete. In many markets in which we operate there are no significant entry barriers that would prevent new competitors from entering the market, especially on the local level, or existing competitors from expanding in the market. In addition, because we do not have long-term arrangements with many of our customers, these competitive factors could cause our customers to cease purchasing our products.
In addition, our contracts with municipalities are often awarded and renewed through periodic competitive bidding. We may not be successful in obtaining or renewing these contracts on financially attractive terms or at all, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by the effects of weather.
Although weather patterns affect our operating results throughout the year, adverse weather historically has reduced construction activity in our third and fourth fiscal quarters. In contrast, our highest volume of net sales historically has occurred in our first and second fiscal quarters.
Most of our business units experience seasonal variation as a result of the dependence of our customers on suitable weather to engage in construction projects. Generally, during the winter months, construction activity
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declines due to inclement weather, frozen ground and shorter daylight hours. For example, during the spring of 2013 and 2014, the extremely cold weather significantly reduced the level of construction activities in the United States, thereby impacting our revenues. In addition, to the extent that hurricanes, severe storms, floods, other natural disasters or similar events occur in the geographic regions in which we operate, our results of operations may be adversely affected. For example, Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992 and the extensive flooding of the Mississippi River in 2011 resulted in temporary interruption in business activity in these areas. We anticipate that fluctuations of our operation results from period to period due to seasonality will continue in the future.
The loss of any of our significant customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our 10 largest customers in the United States generated approximately 46.7% of our domestic net sales in fiscal year 2014. We cannot guarantee that we will maintain or improve our relationships with these customers or that we will continue to supply these customers at historical levels. Because we do not have long-term arrangements with many of our customers, such customers may cease purchasing our products without notice or upon short notice to us. During the economic downturn, some of our customers reduced their operations. For example, some homebuilder customers exited or severely curtailed building activity in certain of our markets. There is no assurance that our customers will increase their activity level or return it to historic levels. A slow economic recovery could continue to have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
In addition, consolidation among customers could also result in a loss of some of our present customers to our competitors. The loss of one or more of our significant customers, a significant customers decision to purchase our products in significantly lower quantities than they have in the past, or deterioration in our relationship with any of them could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The majority of our net sales are credit sales which are made primarily to customers whose ability to pay is dependent, in part, upon the economic strength of the industry and geographic areas in which they operate, and the failure to collect monies owed from customers could adversely affect our financial condition.
The majority of our net sales volume is facilitated through the extension of credit to our customers whose ability to pay is dependent, in part, upon the economic strength of the industry in the areas where they operate. Our business units offer credit to customers, either through unsecured credit that is based solely upon the creditworthiness of the customer, or secured credit for materials sold for a specific job where the security lies in lien rights associated with the material going into the job. The type of credit offered depends both on the financial strength of the customer and the nature of the business in which the customer is involved. End users, resellers and other non-contractor customers generally purchase more on unsecured credit than secured credit. The inability of our customers to pay off their credit lines in a timely manner, or at all, would adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, our collections efforts with respect to non-paying or slow-paying customers could negatively impact our customer relations going forward.
Because we depend on the creditworthiness of certain of our customers, if the financial condition of our customers declines, our credit risk could increase. Significant contraction in our markets, coupled with tightened credit availability and financial institution underwriting standards, could adversely affect certain of our customers. Should one or more of our larger customers declare bankruptcy, it could adversely affect the collectability of our accounts receivable, bad debt reserves and net income.
Our international operations expose us to political, economic and regulatory risks not normally faced by businesses that operate only in the United States.
International operations are exposed to different political, economic and regulatory risks that are not faced by businesses that operate solely in the United States. Some of our operations are outside the United States, with
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manufacturing and distribution facilities in Canada and several Latin American countries. Our international operations are subject to risks similar to those affecting our operations in the United States in addition to a number of other risks, including:
| difficulties in enforcing contractual and intellectual property rights; |
| impositions or increases of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by subsidiaries and affiliates; |
| exposure to different legal standards; |
| fluctuations in currency exchange rates; |
| impositions or increases of investment and other restrictions by foreign governments; |
| the requirements of a wide variety of foreign laws; |
| political and economic instability; |
| terrorist acts; |
| war; and |
| difficulties in staffing and managing operations, particularly in remote locations. |
As a result of our international operations we could be adversely affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar foreign anti-corruption laws.
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, and similar foreign anti-corruption laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments or providing anything of value to influence foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or obtaining an unfair advantage. Recent years have seen a substantial increase in the global enforcement of anti-corruption laws, with more frequent voluntary self-disclosures by companies, aggressive investigations and enforcement proceedings by both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, resulting in record fines and penalties, increased enforcement activity by non-U.S. regulators, and increases in criminal and civil proceedings brought against companies and individuals.
We have operations in Canada as well as existing joint ventures in Mexico, Central America and South America. Our internal policies provide for compliance with all applicable anti-corruption laws for both us and for our joint venture operations. Our continued operation and expansion outside the United States, including in developing countries, could increase the risk of such violations in the future. Despite our training and compliance programs, we cannot assure you that our internal control policies and procedures always will protect us from unauthorized reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees, agents or joint venture partners. In the event that we believe or have reason to believe that our employees, agents or joint venture partners have or may have violated applicable anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA, we may be required to investigate or have outside counsel investigate the relevant facts and circumstances, which can be expensive and require significant time and attention from senior management. Violations of these laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, which could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our reputation, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Conducting a portion of our operations through joint ventures exposes us to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control.
With respect to our existing joint ventures in Mexico, Central America and South America, any differences in views among the joint venture participants may result in delayed decisions or in failures to agree on major issues. We also cannot control the actions of our joint venture partners, including any nonperformance, default or bankruptcy of our joint venture partners. As a result, we may be unable to control the quality of products
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produced by the joint ventures or achieve consistency of product quality as compared with our other operations. In addition to net sales and market share, this may have a material negative impact on our brand and how it is perceived thereafter. Moreover, if our partners also fail to invest in the joint venture in the manner that is anticipated or otherwise fail to meet their contractual obligations, the joint ventures may be unable to adequately perform and conduct their respective operations, requiring us to make additional investments or perform additional services to ensure the adequate performance and delivery of products and/or services to the joint ventures customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We may not be able to successfully expand into new product markets.
We may expand into new product markets based on our existing manufacturing, design and engineering capabilities and services. Our business depends in part on our ability to identify future products and product lines that complement existing products and product lines and that respond to our customers needs. We may not be able to compete effectively unless our product selection keeps up with trends in the markets in which we compete or trends in new products. In addition, our ability to integrate new products and product lines into our distribution network could impact our ability to compete. Furthermore, the success of new products and new product lines will depend on market demand and there is a risk that new products and new product lines will not deliver expected results, which could negatively impact our future sales and results of operations.
We may not be able to successfully expand into new geographic markets.
Our expansion into new geographic markets may present competitive, distribution and regulatory challenges that differ from current ones. We may be less familiar with the target customers and may face different or additional risks, as well as increased or unexpected costs, compared to existing operations. Expansion into new geographic markets may also bring us into direct competition with companies with whom we have little or no past experience as competitors. To the extent we rely upon expansion into new geographic markets for growth and do not meet the new challenges posed by such expansion, our future sales growth could be negatively impacted, our operating costs could increase, and our business operations and financial results could be adversely affected.
We may not achieve the acquisition component of our growth strategy.
Acquisitions may continue to be an important component of our growth strategy; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to grow our business through acquisitions as we have done historically or that any businesses acquired will perform in accordance with expectations or that business judgments concerning the value, strengths and weaknesses of businesses acquired will prove to be correct. Future acquisitions may result in the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, an increase in interest expense and amortization expense and significant charges relative to integration costs. Our strategy could be impeded if we do not identify suitable acquisition candidates and our financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected if we are unable to properly evaluate acquisition targets.
Acquisitions involve a number of special risks, including:
| problems implementing disclosure controls and procedures for the newly acquired business; |
| unforeseen difficulties extending internal control over financial reporting and performing the required assessment at the newly acquired business; |
| potential adverse short-term effects on operating results through increased costs or otherwise; |
| diversion of managements attention and failure to recruit new, and retain existing, key personnel of the acquired business; |
| failure to successfully implement infrastructure, logistics and systems integration; |
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| our business growth could outpace the capability of our systems; and |
| the risks inherent in the systems of the acquired business and risks associated with unanticipated events or liabilities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. |
In addition, we may not be able to obtain financing necessary to complete acquisitions on attractive terms or at all.
Increased fuel and energy prices, and our inability to obtain sufficient quantities of fuel to operate our in-house delivery fleet, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Energy and petroleum prices have fluctuated significantly in recent years. Prices and availability of petroleum products are subject to political, economic and market factors that are outside our control. Political events in petroleum-producing regions as well as hurricanes and other weather-related events may cause the price of fuel to increase.
We consume a large amount of energy and petroleum products in our operations, including the manufacturing process and delivering a significant volume of products to our customers by our in-house fleet. While we have implemented a diesel hedging program covering approximately 50% of our in-house fleet to mitigate against higher fuel prices, our operating profit will be adversely affected if we are unable to obtain the energy and fuel we require or to fully offset the anticipated impact of higher energy and fuel prices through increased prices or surcharges to our customers or through other hedging strategies. If shortages occur in the supply of energy or necessary petroleum products and we are not able to pass along the full impact of increased energy or petroleum prices to our customers, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows would be adversely affected.
We have substantial fixed costs and, as a result, our income from operations is sensitive to changes in our net sales.
A significant portion of our expenses are fixed costs (including personnel). For fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, domestic fixed costs were 26.3%, 27.2% and 26.4%, respectively, as a percentage of domestic net sales. Fixed costs do not fluctuate with net sales. Consequently, a percentage decline in our net sales could have a greater percentage effect on our income from operations if we do not act to reduce personnel or take other cost reduction actions. Any decline in our net sales would cause our profitability to be adversely affected. Moreover, a key element of our strategy is managing our assets, including our substantial fixed assets, more effectively, including through sales or other disposals of excess assets. Our failure to rationalize our fixed assets in the time, and within the costs, we expect could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our business is subject to risks associated with manufacturing processes.
We internally manufacture our own products at our facilities. While we maintain insurance covering our manufacturing and production facilities and have significant flexibility to manufacture and ship our own products from various facilities, a catastrophic loss of the use of certain of our facilities due to accident, fire, explosion, labor issues, weather conditions, other natural disaster or otherwise, whether short or long-term, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Unexpected failures of our equipment and machinery may result in production delays, revenue loss and significant repair costs, injuries to our employees, and customer claims. Any interruption in production capability may limit our ability to supply enough products to customers and may require us to make large capital
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expenditures to remedy the situation, which could have a negative impact on our profitability and cash flows. Our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to offset the lost revenues or increased costs that we may experience during a disruption of our operations.
We provide product warranties that could expose us to claims, which could in turn damage our reputation and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We generally provide limited product warranties on our products against defects in materials and workmanship in normal use and service. Most of our pipe products have a warranty that is not limited in duration. The warranty period for other products such as our StormTech chambers, our Inserta Tee product line, our BaySaver product line and our FleXstorm inlet protection systems is generally one year. Estimating the required warranty reserves requires a high level of judgment. Management estimates warranty reserves, based in part upon historical warranty costs, as a proportion of sales by product line. Management also considers various relevant factors, including its stated warranty policies and procedures, as part of its evaluation of its liability. Because warranty issues may surface later in the product life cycle, management continues to review these estimates on a regular basis and considers adjustments to these estimates based on actual experience compared to historical estimates. Although management believes that our warranty reserves at March 31, 2014 are adequate, actual results may vary from these estimates.
The nature of our business exposes us to construction defect and product liability claims as well as other legal proceedings.
We are exposed to construction defect and product liability claims relating to our various products if our products do not meet customer expectations. Such liabilities may arise out of the quality of raw materials we purchase from third-party suppliers, over which we do not have direct control. We also operate a large fleet of trucks and other vehicles and therefore face the risk of traffic accidents.
While we currently maintain insurance coverage to address a portion of these types of liabilities, we cannot make assurances that we will be able to obtain such insurance on acceptable terms in the future, if at all, or that any such insurance will provide adequate coverage against potential claims. Further, while we intend to seek indemnification against potential liability for products liability claims from relevant parties, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to recover under any such indemnification agreements. Product liability claims can be expensive to defend and can divert the attention of management and other personnel for significant time periods, regardless of the ultimate outcome. An unsuccessful product liability defense could be highly costly and accordingly result in a decline in revenues and profitability. In addition, even if we are successful in defending any claim relating to the products we distribute, claims of this nature could negatively impact customer confidence in us and our products.
From time to time, we are also involved in government inquiries and investigations, as well as consumer, employment, tort proceedings and other litigation. We cannot predict with certainty the outcomes of these legal proceedings and other contingencies, including potential environmental remediation and other proceedings commenced by government authorities. The outcome of some of these legal proceedings and other contingencies could require us to take actions which would adversely affect our operations or could require us to pay substantial amounts of money. Additionally, defending against these lawsuits and proceedings may involve significant expense and diversion of managements attention and resources from other matters.
Because our business is working capital intensive, we rely on our ability to manage our supply purchasing and customer credit policies.
Our operations are working capital intensive, and our inventories, accounts receivable and accounts payable are significant components of our net asset base. We manage our inventories and accounts payable through our purchasing policies and our accounts receivable through our customer credit policies. If we fail to adequately manage our supply purchasing or customer credit policies, our working capital and financial condition may be adversely affected.
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Our operations are affected by various laws and regulations in the markets in which we operate, and our failure to obtain or maintain approvals by municipalities, state departments of transportation, engineers and developers may affect our results of operations.
Our operations are principally affected by various statutes, regulations and laws in the United States, Canada and Latin America. While we are not engaged in a regulated industry, we are subject to various laws applicable to businesses generally, including laws affecting land usage, zoning, the environment, health and safety, transportation, labor and employment practices (including pensions), competition, immigration and other matters. Additionally, approvals by municipalities, state departments of transportation, engineers and developers may affect the products our customers are allowed to use, and, consequently, failure to obtain or maintain such approvals may affect the saleability of our products. Building codes may also affect the products our customers are allowed to use, and, consequently, changes in building codes may also affect the saleability of our products. Changes in applicable regulations governing the sale of some of our products could increase our costs of doing business. In addition, changes to applicable tax laws and regulations could increase our costs of doing business. We cannot provide assurance that we will not incur material costs or liabilities in connection with regulatory requirements.
We deliver products to many of our customers through our own fleet of vehicles. The U.S. Department of Transportation, or DOT, regulates our operations in domestic interstate commerce. We are subject to safety requirements governing interstate operations prescribed by the DOT. Vehicle dimensions and driver hours of service also remain subject to both federal and state regulation. More restrictive limitations on vehicle weight and size, trailer length and configuration, or driver hours of service could increase our costs, which, if we are unable to pass these cost increases on to our customers, would reduce our gross margins and net income (loss) and increase our selling, general and administrative expenses.
We cannot predict whether future developments in law and regulations concerning our business units will affect our business, financial condition and results of operations in a negative manner. Similarly, we cannot assess whether our business units will be successful in meeting future demands of regulatory agencies in a manner which will not materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Interruptions in the proper functioning of IT systems could disrupt operations and cause unanticipated increases in costs or decreases in revenues, or both.
Because we use our information systems to, among other things, manage inventories and accounts receivable, make purchasing decisions and monitor our results of operations, the proper functioning of our IT systems is important to the successful operation of our business. Although our IT systems are protected through physical and software safeguards and remote processing capabilities exist, IT systems are still vulnerable to natural disasters, power losses, unauthorized access, telecommunication failures and other problems. If critical IT systems fail, or are otherwise unavailable, our ability to process orders, track credit risk, identify business opportunities, maintain proper levels of inventories, collect accounts receivable and pay expenses and otherwise manage our business units would be adversely affected.
Management uses information systems to support decision making and to monitor business performance. We may fail to generate accurate financial and operational reports essential for making decisions at various levels of management. Failure to adopt systematic procedures to maintain quality IT general controls could disrupt our business. In addition, if we do not maintain adequate controls such as reconciliations, segregation of duties and verification to prevent errors or incomplete information, our ability to operate our business could be limited.
Third-party service providers are responsible for managing a significant portion of our IT systems. Our business and results of operations may be adversely affected if the third-party service provider does not perform satisfactorily. Additionally, there is no guarantee that we will continue to have access to these third-party IT systems after our current license agreements expire, and, if we do not obtain licenses to use effective replacement IT systems, our financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.
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The implementation of our technology initiatives could disrupt our operations in the near term, and our technology initiatives might not provide the anticipated benefits or might fail.
We have made, and will continue to make, significant technology investments in each of our business units and in our administrative functions. Our technology initiatives are designed to streamline our operations to allow our associates to continue to provide high quality service to our customers and to provide our customers a better experience, while improving the quality of our internal control environment. The cost and potential problems and interruptions associated with the implementation of our technology initiatives could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of our operations in the near term. In addition, our new or upgraded technology might not provide the anticipated benefits, it might take longer than expected to realize the anticipated benefits or the technology might fail altogether.
We may experience a failure in or breach of our operational or information security systems, or those of our third-party service providers, as a result of cyber-attacks or information security breaches.
Information security risks have generally increased in recent years because of the proliferation of new technologies and the increased sophistication and activities of perpetrators of cyber-attacks. A failure in or breach of our operational or information security systems, or those of our third-party service providers, as a result of cyber-attacks or information security breaches could disrupt our business, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage our reputation, increase our costs and/or cause losses. As a result, cyber security and the continued development and enhancement of the controls and processes designed to protect our systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority for us. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional significant resources to continue to enhance our information security measures and/or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities.
If we become subject to material liabilities under our self-insured programs, our financial results may be adversely affected.
We provide workers compensation, automobile and product/general liability coverage through a high deductible insurance program. In addition, we provide medical coverage to some of our employees through a self-insured preferred provider organization. Though we believe that we have adequate insurance coverage in excess of self-insured retention levels, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may be adversely affected if the number and severity of insurance claims increases.
We may see increased costs arising from health care reform.
In March 2010, the United States government enacted comprehensive health care reform legislation which, among other things, includes guaranteed coverage requirements, eliminates pre-existing condition exclusions and annual and lifetime maximum limits, restricts the extent to which policies can be rescinded and imposes new and significant taxes on health insurers and health care benefits. The legislation imposes implementation effective dates which began in 2010 and extend through 2020, and many of the changes require additional guidance from government agencies or federal regulations. Therefore, due to the phased-in nature of the implementation and the lack of interpretive guidance, it is difficult to determine at this time what impact the health care reform legislation will have on our financial results. Possible adverse effects of the health reform legislation include increased costs, exposure to expanded liability and requirements for us to revise ways in which we provide healthcare and other benefits to our employees. As a result, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Our success depends upon our ability to control labor costs and to attract, train and retain highly-qualified employees and key personnel.
To be successful, we must attract, train and retain a large number of highly qualified employees while controlling related labor costs. Our ability to control labor costs is subject to numerous external factors, including prevailing wage rates and health and other insurance costs. We compete with other businesses for these
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employees and invest significant resources in training and motivating them. There is no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain highly-qualified employees in the future, including, in particular, those employed by companies we acquire. None of our domestic employees are currently covered by collective bargaining or other similar labor agreements. However, if a number of our employees were to unionize, including in the wake of any future legislation that makes it easier for employees to unionize, the effect on us may be negative. Any inability by us to negotiate acceptable new contracts under any collective bargaining arrangements could cause strikes or other work stoppages, and new contracts could result in increased operating costs. If any such strikes or other work stoppages occur, or if employees become represented by a union, we could experience a disruption of our operations and higher labor costs. Labor relations matters affecting our suppliers of products and services could also adversely affect our business from time to time.
In addition, our business results of operations depend largely upon our chief executive officer and senior management team as well as our plant managers and sales personnel, including those of companies recently acquired, and their experience, knowledge of local market dynamics and specifications and long-standing customer relationships. We customarily sign executive responsibility agreements with certain key personnel who are granted restricted stock or stock options under our employee incentive compensation programs, which contain confidentiality and non-competition provisions. However, in certain jurisdictions, non-competition provisions may not be enforceable or may not be enforceable to their full extent. Our inability to retain or hire qualified plant managers or sales personnel at economically reasonable compensation levels would restrict our ability to grow our business, limit our ability to continue to successfully operate our business and result in lower operating results and profitability.
If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, or we infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, our ability to compete could be negatively impacted.
Our ability to compete effectively depends, in part, upon our ability to protect and preserve proprietary aspects of our intellectual property, which we attempt to do, both in the United States and in foreign countries, through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, as well as licensing agreements and third-party nondisclosure and assignment agreements. Because of the differences in foreign trademark, patent and other laws concerning proprietary rights, our intellectual property rights may not receive the same degree of protection in foreign countries as they would in the United States. Our failure to obtain or maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property rights for any reason could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have applied for patent protection relating to certain existing and proposed products, processes and services. While we generally apply for patents in those countries where we primarily intend to make, have made, use, or sell patented products, we may not accurately predict all of the countries where patent protection will ultimately be desirable. If we fail to timely file a patent application in any such country, we may be precluded from doing so at a later date. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that any of our patent applications will be approved. We also cannot assure you that the patents issuing as a result of our foreign patent applications will have the same scope of coverage as our United States patents. The patents we own could be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by others and may not be of sufficient scope or strength to provide us with any meaningful protection or commercial advantage. Further, we cannot assure you that competitors will not infringe our patents, or that we will have adequate resources to enforce our patents.
We also rely on unpatented proprietary technology. It is possible that others will independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technology. To protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information, we generally require applicable employees, consultants, advisors and collaborators to enter into confidentiality agreements. We cannot assure you that these agreements will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation or disclosure of such trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information. If we are unable to maintain the proprietary nature of our technologies, we could be materially adversely affected.
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We rely on our trademarks, trade names and brand names to distinguish our products from the products of our competitors, and have registered or applied to register many of these trademarks. We cannot assure you that our trademark applications will be approved. Third parties may also oppose our trademark applications or otherwise challenge our use of the trademarks. In the event that our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products, which could result in loss of brand recognition, and could require us to devote resources to advertising and marketing new brands. Further, we cannot assure you that competitors will not infringe our trademarks or that we will have adequate resources to enforce our trademarks. We also license third parties to use certain of our trademarks. In an effort to preserve our trademark rights, we enter into license agreements with these third parties which govern the use of our trademarks and which require our licensees to abide by quality control standards with respect to the goods and services that they provide under our trademarks. Although we make efforts to police the use of our trademarks by our licensees, we cannot assure you that these efforts will be sufficient to ensure that our licensees abide by the terms of their licenses. In the event that our licensees fail to do so, our trademark rights could be diluted.
Although we rely on copyright laws to protect the works of authorship (including software) created by us, we generally do not register the copyrights in any of our copyrightable works. Copyrights of United States origin must be registered before the copyright owner may bring an infringement suit in the United States. Furthermore, if a copyright of United States origin is not registered within three months of publication of the underlying work, the copyright owner is precluded from seeking statutory damages or attorneys fees in any United States enforcement action, and is limited to seeking actual damages and lost profits. Accordingly, if one of our unregistered copyrights of United States origin is infringed by a third party, we will need to register the copyright before we can file an infringement suit in the United States, and our remedies in any such infringement suit may be limited.
The misuse of our intellectual property rights by others could adversely impact our ability to compete, cause our net sales to decrease or otherwise harm our business. If it became necessary for us to resort to litigation to protect our intellectual property rights, any proceedings could be burdensome and costly, and we may not prevail.
Also, we cannot be certain that the products that we sell do not and will not infringe issued patents or other intellectual property rights of others. Further, we are subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of our business, including claims of alleged infringement of the patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties by us or our customers, whom we generally indemnify in connection with their use of the products that we manufacture. These claims could divert managements attention and resources and may require us to initiate or defend protracted and costly litigation on behalf of ourselves or our customers, regardless of the merits of the claims. Should we be found liable for infringement, we may be required to enter into licensing agreements (if available on acceptable terms or at all) or pay damages and cease making or selling certain products. Moreover, we may need to redesign or sell different products to avoid future infringement liability. Any of the foregoing could cause us to incur significant costs, prevent us from selling our products or negatively impact our ability to compete.
Income tax payments may ultimately differ from amounts currently recorded by us. Future tax law changes may materially increase our prospective income tax expense.
We are subject to income taxation in many jurisdictions in the United States as well as foreign jurisdictions. Judgment is required in determining our worldwide income tax provision and, accordingly, there are many transactions and computations for which our final income tax determination is uncertain. We are routinely audited by income tax authorities in many tax jurisdictions. Although we believe the recorded tax estimates are reasonable, the ultimate outcome from any audit (or related litigation) could be materially different from amounts reflected in our income tax provisions and accruals. Future settlements of income tax audits may have a material effect on earnings between the period of initial recognition of tax estimates in the financial statements and the point of ultimate tax audit settlement. Additionally, it is possible that future income tax legislation in any jurisdiction to which we are subject may be enacted that could have a material impact on our worldwide income tax provision beginning with the period that such legislation becomes effective.
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We could incur significant costs in complying with environmental, health and safety laws or permits or as a result of satisfying any liability or obligation imposed under such laws or permits.
Our operations are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Among other things, these laws regulate the emission or discharge of materials into the environment, govern the use, storage, treatment, disposal and management of hazardous substances and wastes, protect the health and safety of our employees and the end users of our products, regulate the materials used in and the recycling of products and impose liability for the costs of investigating and remediating, and damages resulting from, present and past releases of hazardous substances. Violations of these laws and regulations, failure to obtain or maintain required environmental permits or non-compliance with any conditions contained in any environmental permit can result in substantial fines or penalties, injunctive relief, requirements to install pollution or other controls or equipment, civil and criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns. We could be held liable for the costs to address contamination of any real property we have ever owned, leased, operated or used, including as a disposal site. We could also incur fines, penalties, sanctions or be subject to third-party claims for property damage, personal injury or nuisance or otherwise as a result of violations of or liabilities under environmental laws in connection with releases of hazardous or other materials.
In addition, changes in, or new interpretations of, existing laws, regulations or enforcement policies, the discovery of previously unknown contamination, or the imposition of other environmental liabilities or obligations in the future, including additional investigation or other obligations with respect to any potential health hazards of our products or business activities or the imposition of new permit requirements, may lead to additional compliance or other costs that could have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be required to evaluate the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting on a periodic basis and publicly disclose the results of these evaluations and related matters, in accordance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. These reporting and other obligations place significant additional demands on our management and administrative and operational resources, including our accounting resources, which could adversely affect our operations among other things. To comply with these requirements, we have upgraded, and are continuing to upgrade our systems, including information technology, implemented additional financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in maintaining adequate control over our financial reporting and financial processes. Furthermore, as we grow our business, our disclosure controls and internal controls will become more complex, and we may require significantly more resources to ensure that these controls remain effective. If we are unable to continue upgrading our financial and management controls, reporting systems, information technology and procedures in a timely and effective fashion, additional management and other resources may need to be devoted to assist in compliance with the disclosure and financial reporting requirements and other rules that apply to reporting companies, which could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.
We have not been required to have and have not had our independent registered public accounting firm perform an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of our last fiscal year in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Had our independent registered public accounting firm performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, additional control deficiencies may have been identified by our independent registered public accounting firm and those control deficiencies could have also represented one or more material weaknesses.
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Future changes in financial accounting standards may significantly change our reported results of operations.
In an exposure draft issued in August 2010 and revised in May 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, together with the International Accounting Standards Board, proposed a comprehensive set of changes in accounting for leases. The lease accounting model contemplated by these changes is a right of use model that assumes that each lease creates an asset (the lessees right to use the leased asset) and a liability (the future rent payment obligations) which should be reflected on a lessees balance sheet to fairly represent the lease transaction and the lessees related financial obligations. We conduct some of our operations under leases that are accounted for as operating leases, with no related assets and liabilities on our balance sheet. The proposed changes would require that substantially all of our operating leases be recognized as assets and liabilities on our balance sheet. The effective date has not been determined. Comments on the revised exposure draft were due by September 13, 2013. Changes in lease accounting rules or their interpretation, or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments by us could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance.
A change in our product mix could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our results may be affected by a change in our product mix on which our gross margin depends. Our Allied Products typically provide higher gross margin than our pipe products. Changes in our product mix may result from marketing activities to existing customers and needs communicated to us from existing and prospective customers. Our outlook, budgeting and strategic planning assume a certain product mix of sales. If actual results vary from this projected product mix of sales, our financial results could be negatively impacted.
We may be affected by global climate change or by legal, regulatory or market responses to such potential change.
Concern over climate change, including the impact of global warming, has led to significant federal, state, and international legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas, or GHG, emissions. For example, in the past several years, the U.S. Congress has considered various bills that would regulate GHG emissions. While these bills have not yet received sufficient Congressional support for enactment, some form of federal climate change legislation is possible in the future. Even in the absence of such legislation, the EPA, spurred by judicial interpretation of the Clean Air Act, has begun regulating GHG emissions following its issuance of the Tailoring Rule that determines which stationary sources require permits for greenhouse emissions. EPA has issued rules that require monitoring and reporting of annual GHG emissions, as well as performance standards for CO2 emissions from new fossil-fuel electric utility generating units. Thus far, EPA has addressed vehicle and mobile source emissions by implementing Renewable Fuel Standard regulations and by working with manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency in new vehicles. However, EPA has been directed by President Obama to develop and issue new fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by March 2016, especially diesel engine emissions, and this could impose substantial costs on us. These costs include an increase in the cost of the fuel and other energy we purchase and capital costs associated with updating or replacing our internal fleet of trucks and other vehicles in order to comply with application regulations. In addition, new laws or future regulation could directly and indirectly affect our customers and suppliers (through an increase in the cost of production or their ability to produce satisfactory products) and our business (through the impact on our inventory availability, cost of sales, operations or demands for the products we sell). Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation becomes known, we cannot predict its effect on our cost structure or our operating results. Notwithstanding our dedication to being a responsible corporate citizen, it is reasonably possible that such legislation or regulation could impose material costs on us.
Anti-terrorism measures and other disruptions to the raw material supply network could impact our operations.
Our ability to provide efficient distribution of products to our customers is an integral component of our overall business strategy. In the aftermath of terrorist attacks in the United States, federal, state and local
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authorities have implemented and continue to implement various security measures that affect the raw material supply network in the United States and abroad. If security measures disrupt or impede the receipt of sufficient raw materials, we may fail to meet the needs of our customers or may incur increased expenses to do so.
Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness
We have substantial debt and may incur substantial additional debt, which could adversely affect our financial health, reduce our profitability, limit our ability to obtain financing in the future and pursue certain business opportunities and reduce the value of your investment.
As of March 31, 2014, we had an aggregate principal amount of $454.0 million of outstanding debt. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, we incurred $16.1 million of interest expense.
The amount of our debt or such other obligations could have important consequences for holders of our common stock, including, but not limited to:
| a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations must be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the funds available to us for other purposes; |
| our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements or general corporate purposes and other purposes may be impaired in the future; |
| we are exposed to the risk of increased interest rates because a portion of our borrowings is at variable rates of interest; |
| we may be at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors with less debt or with comparable debt at more favorable interest rates and that, as a result, may be better positioned to withstand economic downturns; |
| our ability to refinance indebtedness may be limited or the associated costs may increase; |
| our ability to engage in acquisitions without raising additional equity or obtaining additional debt financing may be impaired in the future; |
| it may be more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to our creditors, resulting in possible defaults on and acceleration of such indebtedness; |
| we may be more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions; and |
| our flexibility to adjust to changing market conditions and our ability to withstand competitive pressures could be limited, or we may be prevented from making capital investments that are necessary or important to our operations in general, growth strategy and efforts to improve operating margins of our business units. |
If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek to obtain additional equity capital or refinance our debt. We cannot make assurances that we will be able to refinance our debt on terms acceptable to us, or at all. In the future, our cash flow and capital resources may not be sufficient for payments of interest on and principal of our debt, and such alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations.
We cannot make assurances that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, or obtain additional financing, particularly because of our high levels of debt and the debt incurrence restrictions imposed by the agreements governing our debt, as well as prevailing market conditions. We could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. Subject to certain exceptions, our Senior Loan Facilities and our Senior Notes, which we have defined in Description of Certain Indebtedness, restrict our ability to dispose of assets and how we use the
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proceeds from any such dispositions. We cannot make assurances that we will be able to consummate those dispositions, or if we do, what the timing of the dispositions will be or whether the proceeds that we realize will be adequate to meet our debt service obligations, when due.
Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above.
We may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. Although the agreements governing our indebtedness contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, and the additional indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. These restrictions also will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness, including obligations under lease arrangements that are currently recorded as operating leases even if operating leases were to be treated as debt under GAAP. In addition, our Revolving Credit Facility provides an aggregate commitment of up to $325.0 million. As of March 31, 2014, we had an additional $68.4 million of availability under the Revolving Credit Facility plus $12.0 million in indebtedness outstanding under a separate revolving credit facility with our subsidiary, ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify. See Description of Certain Indebtedness.
The agreements and instruments governing our debt contain restrictions and limitations that could significantly impact our ability to operate our business and adversely affect the holders of our common stock.
The covenants contained in our Senior Loan Facilities and our Senior Notes, which we refer to collectively as our Credit Facilities, are consistent. These covenants, among other things, restrict or limit our ability to:
| dispose of assets; |
| incur additional indebtedness (including guarantees of additional indebtedness); |
| prepay or amend our various debt instruments; |
| pay dividends and make certain payments; |
| redeem stock or make other distributions; |
| create liens on assets; |
| make certain investments; |
| engage in certain asset sales, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations or sales of all, or substantially all, of our assets; and |
| engage in certain transactions with affiliates. |
Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in the Credit Facilities may be affected by economic, financial and industry conditions beyond our control. The breach of any of these covenants or restrictions could result in a default under the Credit Facilities that would permit the applicable lenders or noteholders, as the case may be, to declare all amounts outstanding thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. If we are unable to repay indebtedness, secured parties having secured obligations, such as the lenders under the Credit Facilities, could proceed against the collateral securing the secured obligations. This could have serious consequences to our financial condition and results of operations and could cause us to become bankrupt or insolvent.
We may have future capital needs and may not be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms.
Although we believe that our current cash position and the additional committed funding available under our Credit Facilities is sufficient for our current operations, any reductions in our available borrowing capacity, or
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our inability to renew or replace our debt facilities, when required or when business conditions warrant, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The economic conditions, credit market conditions, and economic climate affecting our industry, as well as other factors, may constrain our financing abilities. Our ability to secure additional financing, if available, and to satisfy our financial obligations under indebtedness outstanding from time to time will depend upon our future operating performance, the availability of credit generally, economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. The market conditions and the macroeconomic conditions that affect our industry could have a material adverse effect on our ability to secure financing on favorable terms, if at all.
If financing is not available when needed, or is available on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity, convertible debt securities or other securities convertible into equity, our existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution in their percentage ownership, and any new securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock.
Increases in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could reduce our profitability.
A significant portion of our outstanding debt, including the debt under our Senior Loan Facilities, bears interest at variable rates. As a result, increases in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could materially reduce our profitability and cash flows. Each 1.0% increase in interest rates on our variable-rate debt would increase our annual forecasted interest expense by approximately $2.3 million based on balances as of March 31, 2014. Assuming all revolving loans were fully drawn, each 1.0% increase in interest rates would result in a $2.8 million increase in annual cash interest expense on our Credit Facilities.
With respect to the indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facilities that bear interest at variable rates, such variable rates are determined based upon specified pricing terms. As a result, if our leverage ratios increase, then such variable rates could also increase. See Description of Certain Indebtedness.
We may not be able to satisfy our outstanding obligations upon a change of control.
Under the Senior Loan Facility, a change of control (as defined therein) constitutes an event of default that permits the lenders to accelerate the maturity of borrowings under the agreement and terminate their commitments to lend. Additionally, under the Senior Notes, a change of control (as defined therein) constitutes an event of default that permits the noteholders to declare all of their notes to be immediately due and payable. In order to avoid events of default under each of our Credit Facilities, we may therefore have to avoid certain change of control transactions that would otherwise be beneficial to us.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock and This Offering
Our ability to make future dividend payments, if any, may be restricted.
We have a history of paying dividends to our stockholders when sufficient cash is available, and we currently intend to pay dividends in the future after this offering. Any determination to pay dividends on our capital stock in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws and the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including those relating to the payment of dividends on our convertible preferred stock), and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors considers relevant. For more information on our convertible preferred stock, see Description of Capital Stock Preferred Stock. In addition, the terms of our Credit Facilities contain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. Also, Delaware law may impose requirements that may restrict our ability to pay dividends to holders of our common stock. See Dividend Policy.
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Our common stock has no prior public market and the market price of our common stock may be volatile and could decline after this offering.
Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our common stock, and an active market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained after this offering. We will negotiate the initial public offering price per share with the representatives of the underwriters and therefore, that price may not be indicative of the market price of our common stock after this offering. We cannot assure you that an active public market for our common stock will develop after this offering or, if it does develop, will be sustained. In the absence of a public trading market, you may not be able to liquidate your investment in our common stock. In addition, the market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Among the factors that could affect our stock price are:
| industry or general market conditions; |
| domestic and international economic factors unrelated to our performance; |
| changes in our customers preferences; |
| new regulatory pronouncements and changes in regulatory guidelines; |
| actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; |
| changes in securities analysts estimates of our financial performance or lack of research and reports by industry analysts; |
| action by institutional stockholders or other large stockholders (including ASP ADS Investco, LLC), including future sales; |
| speculation in the press or investment community; |
| investor perception of us and our industry; |
| changes in market valuations or earnings of similar companies; |
| announcements by us or our competitors of significant products, contracts, acquisitions or strategic partnerships; |
| developments or disputes concerning patents or proprietary rights, including increases or decreases in litigation expenses associated with intellectual property lawsuits we may initiate, or in which we may be named as defendants; |
| failure to complete significant sales; |
| any future sales of our common stock or other securities; and |
| additions or departures of key personnel. |
In particular, we cannot assure you that you will be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price. The stock markets have experienced extreme volatility in recent years that has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a companys securities, class action litigation has often been instituted against such company. Any litigation of this type brought against us could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our managements attention and resources, which would harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Future sales of shares by existing stockholders, including our ESOP, could cause our stock price to decline.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market following this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Based on shares outstanding as of March 31, 2014, upon completion of this offering, we will have outstanding shares of common stock (or outstanding shares of common stock, assuming exercise in full by the underwriters of
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their option to purchase additional shares). All of the shares sold pursuant to this offering will be immediately tradeable without restriction under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless held by affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The remaining shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of this offering will be restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if their offer and sale is registered under the Securities Act or if the offer and sale of those securities qualify for an exemption from registration, including exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act, subject to the terms of the lock-up agreements entered into among us, Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as the representatives of the underwriters, and stockholders holding more than % of our common stock prior to this offering. Upon completion of this offering, we intend to file one or more registration statements under the Securities Act to register the shares of common stock to be issued under our equity compensation plans and, as a result, all shares of common stock acquired upon exercise of stock options granted under our plans will also be freely tradable under the Securities Act, subject to the terms of the lock-up agreements, unless purchased by our affiliates. As of March 31, 2014, there were stock options outstanding to purchase a total of approximately shares of our common stock. In addition, shares of common stock are reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Stock Option Plan.
We, stockholders holding more than % of our common stock prior to this offering and our executive officers and directors have agreed to a lock-up, meaning that, subject to certain exceptions, neither we nor they will sell any shares of our common stock without the prior consent of Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as the representatives of the underwriters, for 180 days after the date of this prospectus. Following the expiration of this 180-day lock-up period, approximately million shares of our common stock will be eligible for future sale, subject to the applicable volume, manner of sale, holding period and other limitations of Rule 144. See Shares of Common Stock Eligible for Future Sale for a discussion of the shares of common stock that may be sold into the public market in the future. In addition, certain of our significant stockholders may distribute shares that they hold to their investors who themselves may then sell into the public market following the expiration of the lock-up period. Such sales may not be subject to the volume, manner of sale, holding period and other limitations of Rule 144. As resale restrictions end, the market price of our common stock could decline if the holders of those shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as the representatives of the underwriters, may, in their sole discretion and at any time, release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements entered into in connection with this offering. See Underwriting.
All of the shares of our convertible preferred stock held by our ESOP may be converted into our common stock at any time by action of the ESOP trustee, and will be automatically converted into our common stock upon distributions of such shares allocated to the ESOP accounts of ESOP participants upon a distribution event such as retirement and other termination of employment. Such distributed common stock will not be subject to any lock-up agreement and will be eligible for future sale, subject to the applicable volume, manner of sale, holding period and other limitations of Rule 144. As of March 31, 2014, there were approximately 5.6 million shares of convertible preferred stock held by our ESOP, which in aggregate could be converted into approximately 4.3 million shares of our common stock. All of these shares will be eligible for future sale, either by the ESOP trustee or by ESOP participants, subject to the limitations of Rule 144. After the completion of this offering, the convertible preferred stock held by our ESOP will account for approximately % of our common stock on a fully-converted basis, assuming no exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares, or %, assuming exercise in full of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares. See Description of Employee Stock Ownership Plan for shares relating to distributions and diversifications during fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014.
In the future, we may issue additional shares of common stock or other equity or debt securities convertible into common stock in connection with a financing, acquisition, litigation settlement or employee arrangement or otherwise. Any of these issuances could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders and could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.
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If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish misleading or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If there is no coverage of us by securities or industry analysts, the trading price for our stock would be negatively impacted. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if one or more of these analysts downgrades our stock or publishes misleading or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
The trustee of our ESOP has certain limited powers to vote a large block of shares on matters presented to stockholders for approval.
In general, the trustee of the ESOP votes the shares of stock held by the ESOP as directed by the ESOPs committee. Consequently, the trustee of the ESOP, per the ESOP committees discretion, has the ability to vote a significant block of shares on certain matters presented to shareholders for approval. However, in the event of either a corporate matter with respect to the approval or disapproval of any corporate merger or consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, liquidation, dissolution, sale of substantially all of the assets of a trade or business or with respect to any tender or exchange offer, or a request or invitation for tenders or exchanges, each participant in the ESOP may direct the trustee of the ESOP on how to vote the shares of stock allocated to the participants ESOP accounts; and the trustee must vote any unallocated stock and allocated stock for which no participant instructions were received in the same proportion as the allocated stock for which participants voting instructions have been received is voted.
Fulfilling our obligations incident to being a public company, including with respect to the requirements of and related rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, will be expensive and time-consuming, and any delays or difficulties in satisfying these obligations could have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations and our stock price.
Following this offering, we will be subject to the reporting and corporate governance requirements, the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that apply to issuers of listed equity, which will impose certain new compliance costs and obligations upon us. The changes necessitated by publicly listing our equity will require a significant commitment of additional resources and management oversight which will increase our operating costs. These changes will also place additional demands on our finance and accounting staff and on our financial accounting and information systems. Other expenses associated with being a public company include increases in auditing, accounting and legal fees and expenses, investor relations expenses, increased directors fees and director and officer liability insurance costs, registrar and transfer agent fees and listing fees, as well as other expenses. As a public company, we will be required, among other things, to:
| define and expand the roles and the duties of our board of directors and its committees; and |
| institute more comprehensive compliance, investor relations and internal audit functions. |
In particular, beginning with the year ending March 31, 2016, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. If our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide us with an unqualified report regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting (at such time as it is required to do so), investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements. This could result in a decrease in the value of our common stock. Failure to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC, NYSE, or other regulatory authorities.
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Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of us and may affect the trading price of our common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will include a number of provisions that may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our management or control over us that stockholders may consider favorable. For example, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will:
| authorize the issuance of blank check preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors to thwart a takeover attempt; |
| maintain a classified board of directors, as a result of which our board will continue to be divided into three classes, with each class serving for staggered three-year terms, which prevents stockholders from electing an entirely new board of directors at an annual meeting; |
| limit the ability of stockholders to remove directors; |
| provide that vacancies on our board of directors, including newly-created directorships, may be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office; |
| prohibit stockholders from calling special meetings of stockholders; |
| prohibit stockholder action by written consent, thereby requiring all actions to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders; |
| not give the holders of our common stock cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock can elect all directors standing for election; |
| establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings; |
| require a super-majority stockholders vote of 75% to approve any reorganization, recapitalization, share exchange, share reclassification, consolidation, merger, conversion or sale of all or substantially all assets to which we are a party that is not approved by the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the members of our board of directors; and |
| require the approval of holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of our voting common stock to amend the bylaws and certain provisions of the certificate of incorporation. |
Any provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws or DGCL that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock. See Description of Capital Stock Anti-Takeover Effects of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may also make it difficult for stockholders to replace or remove our management. These provisions may facilitate management entrenchment that may delay, deter, render more difficult or prevent a change in our control, which may not be in the best interests of our stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action
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asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed to us or our stockholders by our directors, officers, employees or agents; any action asserting a claim against us arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our common stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described above. The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholders ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us or our directors, officers, employees or agents. If a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Investors purchasing common stock in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution as a result of this offering and future equity issuances.
If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your stock, because the price that you pay will be substantially greater than the net tangible book value per share of the shares you acquire. As a result, you will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the book value of our assets after subtracting our liabilities. The net tangible book value per share, calculated as of March 31, 2014 and after giving effect to the offering (assuming an initial public offering price of $ per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), is $ . Investors purchasing common stock in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $ a share, based on an initial public offering price of $ , which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. In addition, we have issued options to acquire common stock at prices significantly below the initial public offering price. To the extent outstanding options are ultimately exercised, there will be further dilution to investors in this offering. In addition, if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares, or if we issue additional equity securities in the future, investors purchasing common stock in this offering will experience additional dilution. See Dilution.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION
This prospectus includes forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terms such as believes, expects, may, will, should, could, seeks, intends, plans, estimates, anticipates or other comparable terms. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not related to present facts or current conditions or that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this prospectus and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects and growth strategies and the industries in which we operate and including, without limitation, statements relating to our future performance.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual consolidated results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and industry development may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. In addition, even if our consolidated results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and industry development are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in this prospectus under the headings Prospectus Summary, Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Business. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those reflected in forward-looking statements relating to our operations and business include:
| fluctuations in the price and availability of resins and other raw materials and our ability to pass any increased costs of raw materials on to our customers in a timely manner; |
| volatility in general business and economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, including without limitation, factors relating to availability of credit, interest rates, fluctuations in capital and business and consumer confidence; |
| cyclicality and seasonality of the non-residential and residential construction markets and infrastructure spending; |
| the risks of increasing competition in our existing and future markets, including competition from both manufacturers of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and manufacturers of products using alternative materials; |
| our ability to continue to convert current demand for concrete, steel and PVC pipe products into demand for our high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and Allied Products; |
| the effect of weather or seasonality; |
| the loss of any of our significant customers; |
| the risks of doing business internationally; |
| the risks of conducting a portion of our operations through joint ventures; |
| our ability to expand into new geographic or product markets; |
| our ability to achieve the acquisition component of our growth strategy; |
| the risk associated with manufacturing processes; |
| our ability to manage our assets; |
| the risks associated with our product warranties; |
| our ability to manage our supply purchasing and customer credit policies; |
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| the risks associated with our self-insured programs; |
| our ability to control labor costs and to attract, train and retain highly-qualified employees and key personnel; |
| our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; |
| changes in laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations; |
| our ability to project product mix; |
| the risks associated with our current levels of indebtedness; |
| our ability to meet future capital requirements and fund our liquidity needs; and |
| other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under Risk Factors. |
All forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this prospectus and we do not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends, or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.
- 41 -
Based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share, which is the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, we estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $ million (or approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares), after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions in connection with this offering and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholder.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay at least $ million of outstanding indebtedness under the revolving portion of our credit facility. We intend to use the remaining proceeds (if any) for general corporate purposes, including working capital. The revolving portion of our credit facility consists of a $325.0 million secured revolving credit facility, with an interest rate based on a fluctuating rate of interest, currently at approximately 2.3%, which matures on June 12, 2018. Our revolving credit facility and other indebtedness is described below under Description of Certain Indebtedness Senior Loan Facilities. In the last 12 months, we borrowed under our revolving credit facility to pay a $108.1 million special dividend and to fund working capital.
Assuming no exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares, a $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) would increase or decrease the net proceeds to us from this offering by $ million assuming the number of shares offered by us remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commission and estimated offering expenses payable by us. An increase or decrease of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase or decrease the net proceeds to us to us by $ million, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
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We have a history of paying dividends to our stockholders when sufficient cash is available, and we currently intend to pay regular quarterly dividends in the future after this offering. Our quarterly dividend will initially be set at $ per share of our common stock (including, on an as-converted basis, our shares of convertible preferred stock). During fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, we declared dividends on our common stock of approximately $4.3 million, $4.8 million and $80.1 million, respectively. All such declared dividends were paid in quarterly installments, except with respect to fiscal year 2014, in which we also had a one-time special dividend of approximately $108.1 million, in the aggregate, on our common stock and our convertible preferred stock that was paid on January 15, 2014.
Any determination to pay dividends on our capital stock in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws and the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including those relating to the payment of dividends on our convertible preferred stock), and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors considers relevant. In addition, the terms of our credit facilities contain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.
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The following table sets forth our cash and capitalization on a consolidated basis as of March 31, 2014:
| on an actual basis; and |
| on an as adjusted basis to give effect to (i) the sale by us of shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) and (ii) the use of the net proceeds from this offering as described in Use of Proceeds. |
You should read this table in conjunction with the sections of this prospectus entitled Use of Proceeds, Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Description of Certain Indebtedness and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
(1) |
Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) would increase or decrease, as applicable, our as adjusted cash, paid-in capital and stockholders |
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equity by $ million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Each 1,000,000 increase or decrease in the number of shares offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, our as adjusted cash, paid-in capital and stockholders equity by $ million assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. |
The share information as of March 31, 2014 shown in the table above excludes (on a post-stock split basis):
| million shares of restricted stock outstanding as of , 2014 under our 2008 Restricted Stock Plan; |
| million shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2014 at a weighted average exercise price of $ per share; and |
| million shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Stock Option Plan. |
(2) | Upon completion of this offering, the redemption rights associated with these shares, which require them to be classified in mezzanine equity, will be no longer be in effect. As a result, we anticipate reclassifying these balances to total stockholders equity upon the completion of this offering. |
(3) | Upon completion of this offering, the redemption rights associated with these shares, which require them to be classified in mezzanine equity, will be no longer be in effect. As a result, we anticipate reclassifying these balances to total stockholders equity upon the completion of this offering. |
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If you invest in our common stock, the book value of your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our common stock and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2014 was approximately $93.1 million, and net tangible book value per share was $ . Net tangible book value per share before the offering has been determined by dividing net tangible book value (total book value of tangible assets less total liabilities) by the number of shares of common stock outstanding at March 31, 2014, after giving effect to a -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
After giving effect to the sale of shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our net tangible book value at March 31, 2014 would have been $ million, or $ per share. This represents an immediate decrease in net tangible book value per share of $ to the existing stockholders and dilution in net tangible book value per share of $ to new investors who purchase shares in this offering. The following table illustrates this per share dilution to new investors:
Assumed initial public offering price per share |
$ | |||||||
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2014 |
$ | |||||||
Increase per share attributable to this offering |
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|
|
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Net tangible book value, as adjusted to give effect to this offering |
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|
|
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Dilution in net tangible book value to new investors in this offering |
$ | |||||||
|
|
A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial offering price of $ per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) would increase or decrease our net tangible book value as adjusted to give effect to this offering by $ per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us set forth on the cover page of this prospectus remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. An increase or decrease of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase or decrease our net tangible book value as adjusted to give effect to this offering by $ per share, assuming the assumed initial offering price of $ per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The following table summarizes, as of March 31, 2014, the total number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid to us and the average price per share paid by the existing stockholders and by new investors purchasing shares in this offering:
Shares Purchased | Total Consideration |
Average
Price Per Share |
||||||||||||||||
Number | Percent | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||||
Existing Stockholders |
% | $ | % | $ | ||||||||||||||
New investors |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total |
% | $ | % | $ |
The share information as of March 31, 2014 shown in the table above excludes:
| approximately million shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2014 at a weighted average exercise price of $ per share; and |
| million shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Stock Option Plan, 2008 Restricted Stock Plan and Amended 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan. |
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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected historical consolidated financial data presented below as of March 31, 2013 and 2014 and for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected historical consolidated financial data presented below as of March 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and for fiscal years 2010 and 2011 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus.
The results indicated below and elsewhere in this prospectus are not necessarily indicative of our future performance. You should read this data in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This selected historical consolidated financial data does not reflect the earnings per share and dividends per share impact of our -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2010 (1) | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Consolidated statement of income data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 751,237 | $ | 863,138 | $ | 1,013,756 | $ | 1,017,041 | $ | 1,069,009 | ||||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
553,863 | 692,164 | 818,398 | 807,730 | 856,118 | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Gross profit |
197,374 | 170,974 | 195,358 | 209,311 | 212,891 | |||||||||||||||
Selling expenses |
58,801 | 63,103 | 67,625 | 69,451 | 75,024 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
61,872 | 61,648 | 65,927 | 67,712 | 78,478 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of assets/ business |
| | (44,634 | ) | (2,210 | ) | (5,338 | ) | ||||||||||||
Intangibles amortization |
4,636 | 7,294 | 11,387 | 11,295 | 11,412 | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
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Income from operations |
72,065 | 38,929 | 95,053 | 63,063 | 53,315 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
10,725 | 27,121 | 21,837 | 16,095 | 16,141 | |||||||||||||||
Other miscellaneous (income) expense, net (2) |
(26,875 | ) | (847 | ) | 2,425 | 283 | 133 | |||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Income before income taxes |
88,215 | 12,655 | 70,791 | 46,685 | 37,041 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
33,067 | 4,053 | 27,064 | 16,894 | 22,575 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates |
(2,404 | ) | (736 | ) | (704 | ) | (387 | ) | 1,592 | |||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Net income |
57,552 | 9,338 | 44,431 | 30,178 | 12,874 | |||||||||||||||
Less net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest |
3,677 | 3,342 | 1,171 | 2,019 | 1,750 | |||||||||||||||
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|
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Net income attributable to ADS |
53,875 | 5,996 | 43,260 | 28,159 | 11,124 | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
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Change in fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
(11,890 | ) | (3,541 | ) | (10,257 | ) | (5,869 | ) | (3,979 | ) | ||||||||||
Dividends paid to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stockholders |
(1,029 | ) | (844 | ) | (668 | ) | (736 | ) | (10,139 | ) | ||||||||||
Dividends paid to unvested restricted stockholders |
(6 | ) | (104 | ) | (34 | ) | (52 | ) | (418 | ) | ||||||||||
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|
|
|
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|
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Net income (loss) available to common stockholders and participating securities |
40,950 | 1,507 | 32,301 | 21,502 | (3,412 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Undistributed income (loss) allocated to participating securities |
(6,058 | ) | | (3,241 | ) | (2,042 | ) | | ||||||||||||
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
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Net income (loss) available to common stockholders |
$ | 34,892 | $ | 1,507 | $ | 29,060 | $ | 19,460 | $ | (3,412 | ) | |||||||||
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Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2010 (1) | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
10,437 | 10,127 | 9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted |
10,742 | 10,346 | 9,996 | 10,038 | 10,044 | |||||||||||||||
As adjusted Basic (3) |
10,437 | 10,127 | 9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||||||||
As adjusted Diluted (3) |
10,742 | 11,953 | 9,996 | 10,038 | 10,138 | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) per share: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | 3.34 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 2.95 | $ | 1.96 | $ | (0.34 | ) | |||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 3.25 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 2.91 | $ | 1.94 | $ | (0.34 | ) | |||||||||
As adjusted Basic (3) |
$ | 4.29 | $ | 0.49 | $ | 3.88 | $ | 2.48 | $ | 0.06 | ||||||||||
As adjusted Diluted (3) |
$ | 4.17 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 3.81 | $ | 2.45 | $ | 0.06 | ||||||||||
Cash dividends declared per share |
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 7.91 |
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages) | 2010 (1) | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Other financial data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures |
$ | 23,140 | $ | 30,041 | $ | 26,467 | $ | 40,004 | $ | 40,288 | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (4) |
127,228 | 100,780 | 116,873 | 129,759 | 147,009 | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin (5) |
16.9 | % | 11.7 | % | 11.5 | % | 12.8 | % | 13.8 | % |
As of March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2010 (1) | 2011 (1) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Consolidated balance sheet data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | 3,021 | $ | 2,151 | $ | 2,082 | $ | 1,361 | $ | 3,931 | ||||||||||
Working capital (6) |
166,125 | 204,061 | 208,268 | 220,276 | 263,907 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets |
794,049 | 866,798 | 905,028 | 907,739 | 937,595 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term debt |
251,446 | 374,746 | 370,672 | 349,990 | 454,048 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
457,138 | 618,351 | 615,314 | 585,115 | 691,980 | |||||||||||||||
Total mezzanine equity (7) |
104,859 | 493,674 | 557,563 | 608,346 | 642,951 | |||||||||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
232,052 | (245,227 | ) | (267,849 | ) | (285,722 | ) | (397,336 | ) | |||||||||||
Total mezzanine equity and stockholders equity |
336,911 | 248,447 | 289,714 | 322,624 | 245,615 |
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2010 (1) | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Statement of cash flows data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 70,343 | $ | 37,233 | $ | 56,997 | $ | 68,215 | $ | 62,122 | ||||||||||
Net cash (used in) investing activities |
(47,011 | ) | (53,237 | ) | (35,833 | ) | (47,199 | ) | (41,767 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
(30,448 | ) | 15,134 | (21,233 | ) | (21,737 | ) | (17,712 | ) |
(1) | The presentation of our selected historical consolidated financial data as of March 31, 2010 and 2011 and for fiscal year 2010 has been adjusted to comply with the retrospective application of our inventory accounting principle change. In April 2011, the Company changed the method of valuing raw materials from the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method to the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The Company believes the FIFO method of inventory valuation is preferable for the raw materials valuation because FIFO provides a better matching of inventory costs of its products with the sales due to a lag in the pass-through of changes in resin costs to customers and enhances the comparability of results to our peers. As a result of this change, all prior period amounts have been retrospectively adjusted as of the beginning of the earliest period presented. |
(2) | Other miscellaneous (income) expense, net for fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 includes a gain of $25,952 from the purchase of the controlling interest of an unconsolidated affiliate. |
(3) | Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted, which are non-GAAP measures, have been presented in this prospectus as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP. As described elsewhere in this prospectus, upon completion of this offering, the redemption rights associated with these shares, which require them to be classified as mezzanine equity, will be no longer in effect and, as such, we anticipate reclassifying these balances to total stockholders equity upon the completion of this offering. We calculate Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic, and the corresponding Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding As Adjusted Basic, by adjusting our historical net income per share and weighted average common shares outstanding amounts for the reclassification of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock from mezzanine equity to total stockholders equity in order to present historical amounts as if this reclassification occurred as of the beginning of the earliest period presented. |
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To effect this adjustment, we have (1) removed the adjustment for the change in fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock classified as mezzanine equity from the numerator of the Basic Net Income Per Share computation, and (2) made a corresponding adjustment to the amount allocated to participating securities under the two-class earnings per share computation method.
We have also made adjustments to Net Income Per Share as Adjusted Diluted, and the corresponding Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding As Adjusted Diluted, to assume share settlement of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock to the extent that the if-converted computation method is more dilutive than the two-class computation method.
Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted are included in this prospectus because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to different methods of calculation.
The following table presents a reconciliation of Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic and Diluted, and the corresponding Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding As Adjusted Basic and Diluted to our historical net income per share and corresponding historical weighted average common share amounts, the most comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated.
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic |
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Net income available to common stockholders |
$ | 34,892 | $ | 1,507 | $ | 29,060 | $ | 19,460 | $ | (3,412 | ) | |||||||||
Adjustment for: |
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Change in fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
11,890 | 3,541 | 10,257 | 5,869 | 3,979 | |||||||||||||||
Undistributed income allocated to participating securities |
(1,959 | ) | (76 | ) | (1,189 | ) | (716 | ) | | |||||||||||
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Net income available to common stockholders used to calculate Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic |
$ | 44,823 | $ | 4,972 | $ | 38,128 | $ | 24,613 | $ | 567 | ||||||||||
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Weighted average common shares outstanding: |
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Basic |
10,437 | 10,127 | 9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||||||||
As adjusted Basic |
10,437 | 10,127 | 9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||||||||
Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Diluted |
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Net income available to common stockholders used to calculate Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Basic |
$ | 44,823 | $ | 4,972 | $ | 38,128 | $ | 24,613 | $ | 567 | ||||||||||
Adjustment for: |
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Undistributed income allocated to participating Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
| 74 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Dividends paid to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stockholders, net of tax impact |
| 557 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Other adjustments |
| (4 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
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Net income available to common stockholders used to calculate Net Income Per Share As Adjusted Diluted |
$ | 44,823 | $ | 5,599 | $ | 38,128 | $ | 24,613 | $ | 567 | ||||||||||
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Weighted average common shares outstanding |
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Diluted |
10,742 | 10,346 | 9,996 | 10,038 | 10,044 | |||||||||||||||
Conversion of the outstanding Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock on an as converted basis |
| 1,607 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Assumed exercise of stock options |
| | | | 94 | |||||||||||||||
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As adjusted Diluted |
10,742 | 11,953 | 9,996 | 10,038 | 10,138 | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) per share: |
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As adjusted Basic |
$ | 4.29 | $ | 0.49 | $ | 3.88 | $ | 2.48 | $ | 0.06 | ||||||||||
As adjusted Diluted |
$ | 4.17 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 3.81 | $ | 2.45 | $ | 0.06 |
(4) | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures, have been presented in this prospectus as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP. We calculate EBITDA as net income attributable to ADS before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before stock-based compensation expense, non-cash charges and certain other expenses. |
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are included in this prospectus because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. In addition to covenant compliance and executive performance evaluations, we use Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures.
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EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not GAAP measures of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as alternatives to net income as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP and they should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to be measures of free cash flow for managements discretionary use, as they do not reflect certain cash requirements such as tax payments, debt service requirements, capital expenditures and certain other cash costs that may recur in the future. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA contain certain other limitations, including the failure to reflect our cash expenditures, cash requirements for working capital needs and cash costs to replace assets being depreciated and amortized. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation, such as stock based compensation expense, derivative fair value adjustments, and foreign currency transaction losses. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by any such adjustments. Management compensates for these limitations by relying on our GAAP results in addition to using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA supplementally. Our measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to different methods of calculation.
The following table presents a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated.
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to ADS |
$ | 53,875 | $ | 5,996 | $ | 43,260 | $ | 28,159 | $ | 11,124 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization (a) |
50,033 | 56,327 | 59,356 | 56,926 | 57,454 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
10,725 | 27,121 | 21,837 | 16,095 | 16,141 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
33,067 | 4,053 | 27,064 | 16,894 | 22,575 | |||||||||||||||
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EBITDA |
147,700 | 93,497 | 151,517 | 118,074 | 107,294 | |||||||||||||||
Derivative fair value adjustments (b) |
(1,665 | ) | (1,365 | ) | 2,315 | (4 | ) | (53 | ) | |||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction losses (c) |
| 332 | 378 | 1,085 | 845 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of Septic Chamber business (d) |
| | (44,634 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||
Unconsolidated affiliates interest and tax (e) |
166 | 624 | 915 | 729 | 204 | |||||||||||||||
Gain from purchase of the controlling interest of an unconsolidated affiliate (f) |
(25,952 | ) | | | | | ||||||||||||||
Management fee to minority interest holder JV (g) |
| | | | 1,098 | |||||||||||||||
Special dividend compensation |
| | | | 22,624 | |||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration remeasurement |
| | | | 259 | |||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation (h) |
1,823 | 2,725 | 1,425 | 2,592 | 5,287 | |||||||||||||||
ESOP deferred stock based compensation (i) |
5,156 | 4,564 | 4,957 | 7,283 | 7,891 | |||||||||||||||
Transaction costs (j) |
| 403 | | | 1,560 | |||||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 127,228 | $ | 100,780 | $ | 116,873 | $ | 129,759 | $ | 147,009 | ||||||||||
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(a) | Includes our proportionate share of depreciation and amortization expense of $233, $552, $985, $1,321 and $1,556 related to our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture, which amounts are included in equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated statements of income for fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year 2012 also includes a charge of $3,200 related to the impairment of one of our trademarks. |
(b) | Represents the non-cash gains and losses arising from changes in mark-to-market values for derivative contracts related to diesel fuel and interest rate swaps. The impact of resin physical and financial derivatives is included in cost of goods sold. |
(c) | Represents the gains and losses incurred on purchases, sales and intercompany loans and dividends denominated in non-functional currencies. |
(d) | Represents a gain recognized on the sale of our septic chamber business in January 2012. |
(e) | Represents our proportional share of income taxes and interest related to our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. |
(f) | Represents a gain from fair value re-measurement of investment in an unconsolidated affiliate upon acquiring the controlling interest of the affiliate. |
(g) | Represents management fee paid to a minority interest holder of a consolidated subsidiary. |
(h) | Represents the non-cash stock based compensation cost related to our stock options and restricted stock awards. |
(i) | Represents the non-cash stock based compensation expense attributable to the shares of convertible preferred stock allocated to employee ESOP accounts during the applicable period. |
(j) | Represents expenses recorded related to legal, accounting and other professional fees incurred in connection with our recent debt refinancing and in connection with this offering. |
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(5) | Adjusted EBITDA margin for any period represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales for that period. |
(6) | Working capital is the difference between our current assets and current liabilities. Working capital is an indication of liquidity and potential need for short-term funding. |
(7) | Our mezzanine equity consists of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock held by our ESOP and Redeemable Common Stock held by certain stockholders who have certain rights associated with such shares, which rights are considered for purposes of GAAP to be a redemption right, which is beyond our control. See Note 16 Mezzanine Equity, within our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information regarding the accounting treatment for our mezzanine equity. Upon completion of this offering, the redemption rights associated with these shares, which require them to be classified in mezzanine equity, will be no longer be in effect. As a result, we anticipate reclassifying these balances to total stockholders equity upon the completion of this offering. |
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of our operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below, and those discussed in the sections titled Risk Factors and Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read the following discussion together with the sections titled Risk Factors, Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data and our consolidated financial statements, including the related footnotes, included elsewhere in this prospectus.
We consolidate all of our joint ventures for purposes of GAAP, except for our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture.
Overview
We are the leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe, providing a comprehensive suite of water management products and superior drainage solutions for use in the construction and infrastructure marketplace. Our innovative products are used across a broad range of end markets and applications, including non-residential, residential, agriculture and infrastructure applications. We have established a leading position in many of these end markets by leveraging our national sales and distribution platform, our overall product breadth and scale and our manufacturing excellence. In North America, our national footprint combined with our strong local presence and broad product offering makes us the leader in an otherwise highly fragmented sector comprised of many smaller competitors. We believe the markets we serve in the United States represent approximately $10.1 billion of annual revenue opportunity. In addition, we believe the increasing acceptance of thermoplastic pipe products in international markets represents an attractive growth opportunity.
Our products are generally lighter, more durable, more cost effective and easier to install than comparable alternatives made with traditional materials. Following our entrance into the non-residential construction market with the introduction of N-12 corrugated polyethylene pipe in the late 1980s, our pipe has been displacing traditional materials, such as reinforced concrete, corrugated steel and polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, across an ever expanding range of end markets. This has allowed us to consistently gain share and achieve above market growth throughout economic cycles. We expect to continue to drive conversion to our products from traditional products as contractors, civil design engineers and municipal agencies increasingly acknowledge the superior physical attributes and compelling value proposition of our thermoplastic products. In addition, we believe that overall demand for our products will benefit as the regulatory environment continues to evolve.
Our broad product line includes corrugated high density polyethylene (or HDPE) pipe, polypropylene (or PP) pipe and related water management products. Building on our core drainage businesses, we have aggressively pursued attractive ancillary product categories such as storm and septic chambers, PVC drainage structures, fittings and filters, and water quality filters and separators. We refer to these ancillary product categories as Allied Products. Given the scope of our overall sales and distribution platform, we have been able to drive growth within our Allied Products and believe there are significant growth opportunities going forward.
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Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Product Demand
There are numerous factors that influence demand for our products. Our businesses are cyclical in nature and sensitive to general economic conditions, primarily in the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. The non-residential, residential, agricultural and infrastructure markets we serve are affected by the availability of credit, lending practices, interest rates and unemployment rates. Demand for new homes, farm income, commercial development and highway infrastructure spending have a direct impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Accordingly, the following factors may have a direct impact on our business in the markets in which our products are sold:
| the strength of the economy; |
| the amount and type of non-residential and residential construction; |
| funding for infrastructure spending; |
| farm income and agricultural land values; |
| inventory of improved housing lots; |
| changes in raw material prices; |
| the availability and cost of credit; |
| non-residential occupancy rates; |
| commodity prices; and |
| demographic factors such as population growth and household formation. |
Product Pricing
The price of our products is impacted by competitive pricing dynamics in our industry as well as by raw material input costs. Our industry is highly competitive and the sales prices for our products may vary based on the sales policies of our competitors. Raw material costs represent a significant portion of the cost of goods sold for our pipe products, or Pipe. We aim to increase our product selling prices in order to cover raw material price increases, but the inability to do so could impact our profitability. Movements in raw material costs and resulting changes in the selling prices may also impact changes in period-to-period comparisons of net sales.
Material Conversion
Our HDPE and PP pipe and related water management product lines compete with other manufacturers of corrugated polyethylene pipe as well as manufacturers of alternative products made with traditional materials, such as concrete, steel and PVC. Our net sales are driven by market trends, including the continued increase in adoption of thermoplastic corrugated pipe products as a replacement for traditional materials. Thermoplastic corrugated pipe is generally lighter, more durable, more cost effective and easier to install than comparable products made from traditional materials. High performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe represented approximately 25% of the total storm sewer market in 2012, up from what we believe was less than 10% ten years ago and less than 1% twenty years ago. We believe this trend will continue as customers continue to acknowledge the superior attributes and compelling value proposition of our thermoplastic products and expanded regulatory approvals allow for their use in new markets and geographies. In addition, we believe that the recent introduction of PP pipe products will also help accelerate conversion given the additional applications for which our PP pipe products can be used.
We believe the adoption of HDPE and PP pipe outside of the United States and Europe is still in its early stages and represents a significant opportunity for us to continue to increase the conversion to our products from traditional products in these markets, including Canada, Mexico and South America where we operate.
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Growth in Allied Products
Our Allied Products include storm and septic chambers, PVC drainage structures, fittings and filters and water separators. These products complement our pipe product lines and allow us to offer a comprehensive water management solution to our customers and drive organic growth. Our leading market position in pipe products allows us to cross-sell Allied Products effectively. Our comprehensive offering of Allied Products also helps us increase pipe sales in certain markets. Our Allied Products typically carry higher gross margins as compared to our pipe product lines and are less sensitive to increases in resin prices since resin prices represent a smaller percentage of the cost of goods sold for Allied Products.
Our leading position in the pipe market has allowed us to increase organic growth of our Allied Products. We also expect to expand our Allied Product offerings through acquisitions. Sales of Allied Products have increased from $248.6 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 to $260.2 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. For fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, we generated sales of Allied Products of $230.7 million, $248.6 million and $260.2 million, respectively.
Raw Material Costs
Our raw material costs and product selling prices fluctuate with changes in the prices of resins utilized in production. Virgin and recycled resins, which are derived either directly or indirectly from crude oil derivatives and natural gas liquids, currently account for over 60% of our cost of goods sold for pipe products. Raw materials account for a significantly smaller percentage of the cost of our Allied Products. We actively manage our resin purchases and typically pass fluctuations in the cost of resin through to our customers in order to maximize our profitability. Fluctuations in the price of crude oil and natural gas prices may impact the cost of resin. For example, the weighted average market cost for the types of resin that we use increased by approximately 7.3%, 0.9% and 6.7% for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. In addition, unanticipated changes in and disruptions to existing ethylene or polyethylene capacities could also significantly increase resin prices (such as the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita), often within a short period of time, even if crude oil and natural gas prices remain low. Our ability to pass through raw material price increases to our customers may, in some cases, lag the increase in our costs of goods sold. Sharp rises in raw material prices over a short period of time have historically occurred with a significant supply disruption (hurricanes or fires at chemical facilities), which may increase prices to levels that cannot be fully passed through to customers due to pricing of competing products made from different raw materials or the anticipated length of time the raw material pricing will stay elevated. For more information regarding risks relating to our raw material costs, see Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Business.
We currently purchase in excess of 700 million pounds of virgin and recycled resin annually from over 450 suppliers in North America. As a high-volume buyer of resin, we are able to achieve economies of scale to negotiate favorable terms and pricing. Our purchasing strategies differ based on the material (virgin resin versus recycled material) ordered for delivery to our production locations. The price movements of the different materials also vary, resulting in the need to use a number of strategies to reduce volatility and successfully pass on cost increases to our customer through timely selling price increases when needed.
Our raw material strategies for managing our cost of goods sold include the following:
| increasing the use of less price-volatile recycled HDPE resin in our pipe products in place of virgin resin; |
| internally processing an increasing percentage of our recycled HDPE resin in order to closely monitor quality and minimize costs (approximately 64% of our recycled HDPE resin was internally processed in fiscal year 2014); |
| managing a resin hedging program targeting monthly fixed price contracts that hedge approximately 50% of our anticipated virgin HDPE resin purchases on a rolling 12 month basis; and |
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| implementing financial hedges for propylene, with a goal of hedging a similar portion of our anticipated virgin PP resin purchases on a rolling 12 month basis. |
The goal of these strategies is to reduce the volatility of raw material costs in the future.
We also consume a large amount of energy and other petroleum products in our operations, including the electricity we use in our manufacturing process as well as the diesel fuel consumed in delivering a significant volume of products to our customers through our in-house fleet. As a result, our operating profit also depends upon our ability to manage the cost of the energy and fuel we require, as well as our ability to pass through increased prices or surcharges to our customers.
Seasonality
Our operating results are impacted by seasonality. Historically, sales of our products have been higher in the first and second quarters of each fiscal year due to favorable weather and longer daylight conditions accelerating construction project activity during these periods while fourth quarter results are impacted by the timing of spring in the northern domestic regions and Canada. Seasonal variations in operating results may also be significantly impacted by inclement weather conditions, such as cold or wet weather, which can delay projects, resulting in decreased net sales for one or more quarters, but we believe that these delayed projects generally result in increased net sales during subsequent quarters.
In the non-residential, residential and infrastructure markets in the northern United States and Canada, the construction season typically begins to gain momentum in late March and lasts through November, before winter sets in, significantly slowing the construction markets. In the southern and western United States, Mexico, Central America and South America, the construction markets are less seasonal. The agricultural drainage market is concentrated in the early spring just prior to planting and in the fall just after crops are harvested prior to freezing of the ground in winter.
Currency Exchange Rates
Although we sell and manufacture our products in many countries, our sales and production costs are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. We have whollyowned facilities in Canada and Puerto Rico and joint venture facilities in Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Peru. The functional currencies in the areas in which we have whollyowned facilities and joint venture facilities are the Canadian dollar, Euro, Mexican peso, Chilean peso, Brazilian real, Argentine peso and Colombian peso, respectively. We have not hedged foreign currency exposures related to transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. From time to time, we use derivatives to reduce our exposure to currency fluctuations. In 2013, we entered into Euro-denominated forwards to hedge transactions related to the procurement of new equipment, which expired prior to March 31, 2014. Also in 2013, our South American Joint Venture entered into multiple non-deliverable forward contracts to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in the U.S. dollar relative to the Chile peso, Argentina peso, Colombia peso and Brazil real.
Description of our Segments
We operate a geographically diverse business, serving customers in approximately 90 countries. For fiscal year 2014, approximately 88% ($935.4 million) of net sales were attributable to customers located in the United States and approximately 12% ($133.6 million) of net sales were attributable to customers outside of the United States.
Our operations are organized into two reportable segments based on the markets we serve: Domestic and International. We generate a greater proportion of our net sales and gross profit in our Domestic segment, which consists of all regions of the United States. We expect the percentage of total net sales and gross profit derived
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from our International segment to continue to increase in future periods as we continue to expand globally. See Note 20, Business Segments Information, to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Domestic
In the United States, the markets we serve were strong through 2007, but slowed significantly beginning in 2008 in tandem with the decline in general economic conditions in the United States associated with the global financial crisis. Since 2011, a modest recovery in the markets in the United States has had a favorable impact on our product sales. Our operating results have been, and will continue to be, impacted by macroeconomic trends in the United States. For fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, we generated net sales attributable to our Domestic segment of $888.7 million, $877.7 million, and $935.4 million, respectively.
International
Our International segment manufactures and markets products in regions outside of the United States, with a growth strategy focused on our owned facilities in Canada and those markets serviced through our joint ventures in Mexico, Central America and South America. Pipe manufactured in these countries is primarily sold into the same region. Our joint venture strategy has provided us with local and regional access to new markets. The outlook for our International segment has improved. Since 2011, a modest recovery in the international markets has had a favorable impact on our product sales, which experienced year-over-year growth in each of fiscal years 2013 and 2014. For fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, we generated net sales attributable to our International segment of $125.1 million, $139.3 million and $133.6 million, respectively. Net sales of our South American Joint Venture are accounted for under the equity method and not consolidated for financial reporting purposes. These unconsolidated sales were $57.7 million, $64.8 million and $61.2 million in fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Components of Results of Operations
Net sales
Net sales consist of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of products in the ordinary course of our business and is presented net of rebates and discounts. We derive our net sales from selling Pipe and Allied Products. We ship products to customers primarily by our internal fleet of trucks with a much smaller portion being shipped by third-party carriers. Net sales are recognized when delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, price to the buyer is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. In fiscal year 2014, we served approximately 17,000 customers and no single customer generated more than 10% of our total net sales.
Cost of goods sold
Cost of goods sold consists of the direct cost of raw materials and labor used in the manufacture of our products as well as indirect costs such as labor, depreciation, insurance, supplies, tools, repairs and shipping and handling. Our principal products are manufactured primarily from polyethylene and polypropylene resins with chemical additives that enable the end products to better resist weathering, ultraviolet degradation and chemical exposure. For Pipe, the majority of the cost to manufacture and deliver the products are variable in nature including raw materials, processing costs (including direct labor) and delivery costs (freight). Our fixed production costs (including facility overhead, depreciation, etc.) currently represent approximately 10% of net sales. For Allied Products, cost of goods sold varies by product line and consists of raw material/purchase costs, processing costs and delivery costs.
Selling Expenses
Selling expenses consist of personnel costs (salaries, benefits and variable sales commissions), travel and entertainment expenses, marketing, promotion and advertising expenses, as well as bad debt provisions.
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General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist of personnel costs (salaries, benefits and other personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation), recruitment and relocation expenses, accounting and legal fees, business travel expenses, rent and utilities for the administrative offices, director fees, investor relations, membership fees, office supplies, insurance and other miscellaneous expenses.
Intangibles Amortization
Intangibles amortization consists of the amortization of intangibles purchased as part of business combinations, acquired technology, patents and technology licenses, which are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.
Interest Expense
Interest expense consist of interest payment on our Credit Facilities, including our Senior Loan Facilities, Senior Notes and the amortizing of deferred financing costs related to debt borrowings. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense consists of federal, state, local and foreign taxes based on income in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Puerto Rico. We expect our effective tax rate to decrease over time as our earnings grow reducing the impact of permanent Ms in our Domestic tax calculations.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, including Segment EBITDA and Segment Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures, have been presented in this prospectus as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP. We calculate EBITDA as net income attributable to ADS before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before stock-based compensation expense, non-cash charges and certain other expenses.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are included in this prospectus because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. In addition to covenant compliance and executive performance evaluations, we use Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not GAAP measures of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as alternatives to net income as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP and they should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to be measures of free cash flow for managements discretionary use, as they do not reflect certain cash requirements such as tax payments, debt service requirements, capital expenditures and certain other cash costs that may recur in the future. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA contain certain other limitations, including the failure to reflect our cash expenditures, cash requirements for working capital needs and cash costs to replace assets being depreciated and amortized. In
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evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation, such as stock based compensation expense, derivative fair value adjustments, and foreign currency transaction losses. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by any such adjustments. Management compensates for these limitations by relying on our GAAP results in addition to using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA supplementally. Our measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to different methods of calculation.
The following table presents a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated:
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Net income attributable to ADS |
$ | 43,260 | $ | 28,159 | $ | 11,124 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization (a) |
59,356 | 56,926 | 57,454 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
21,837 | 16,095 | 16,141 | |||||||||
Income tax expense |
27,064 | 16,894 | 22,575 | |||||||||
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|
|
|||||||
EBITDA |
151,517 | 118,074 | 107,294 | |||||||||
Derivative fair value adjustments (b) |
2,315 | (4 | ) | (53 | ) | |||||||
Foreign currency transaction losses (c) |
378 | 1,085 | 845 | |||||||||
Gain on sale of Septic Chamber business (d) |
(44,634 | ) | | | ||||||||
Unconsolidated affiliates interest and tax (e) |
915 | 729 | 204 | |||||||||
Management fee to minority interest holder JV (f) |
| | 1,098 | |||||||||
Special dividend compensation |
| | 22,624 | |||||||||
Contingent consideration remeasurement |
| | 259 | |||||||||
Stock based compensation (g) |
1,425 | 2,592 | 5,287 | |||||||||
ESOP deferred stock based compensation (h) |
4,957 | 7,283 | 7,891 | |||||||||
Transaction costs (i) |
| | 1,560 | |||||||||
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|
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Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 116,873 | $ | 129,759 | $ | 147,009 | ||||||
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|
|
(a) | Includes our proportionate share of depreciation and amortization expense of $985, $1,321 and $1,556 related to our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture, which amounts are included in equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated statements of income for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year 2012 also includes a charge of $3,200 related to the impairment of one of our trademarks. |
(b) | Represents the non-cash gains and losses arising from changes in mark-to-market values for derivative contracts related to diesel fuel and interest rate swaps. The impact of resin physical and financial derivatives is included in cost of goods sold. |
(c) | Represents the gains and losses incurred on purchases, sales and intercompany loans and dividends denominated in non-functional currencies. |
(d) | Represents a gain recognized on the sale of our septic chamber business in January 2012. |
(e) | Represents our proportional share of income taxes and interest related to our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. |
(f) | Represents management fee paid to a minority interest holder of a consolidated subsidiary. |
(g) | Represents the non-cash stock based compensation cost related to our stock options and restricted stock awards. |
(h) | Represents the non-cash stock based compensation expense attributable to the shares of convertible preferred stock allocated to employee ESOP accounts during the applicable period. |
(i) | Represents expenses recorded related to legal, accounting and other professional fees incurred in connection with our recent debt refinancing and in connection with this offering. |
- 58 -
The following table presents a reconciliation of Segment EBITDA and Segment Adjusted EBITDA to Net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated:
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic | International | Domestic | International | Domestic | International | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 37,894 | $ | 5,366 | $ | 18,332 | $ | 9,827 | $ | 6,084 | $ | 5,040 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization (a) |
52,832 | 6,524 | 50,691 | 6,235 | 50,808 | 6,646 | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
21,597 | 240 | 16,045 | 50 | 16,093 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
25,855 | 1,209 | 14,787 | 2,107 | 20,594 | 1,981 | ||||||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA |
138,178 | 13,339 | 99,855 | 18,219 | 93,579 | 13,715 | ||||||||||||||||||
Derivative fair value adjustments (b) |
2,315 | | (4 | ) | | (53 | ) | | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction losses (c) |
| 378 | | 1,085 | | 845 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of Septic Chamber business (d) |
(44,634 | ) | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Unconsolidated affiliates interest and tax (e) |
| 915 | | 729 | 8 | 196 | ||||||||||||||||||
Management fee to minority interest holder JV (f) |
| | | | | 1,098 | ||||||||||||||||||
Special Dividend compensation expense |
| | | | 22,624 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration remeasurement |
| | | | 259 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Share based compensation (g) |
1,425 | | 2,592 | | 5,287 | | ||||||||||||||||||
ESOP deferred compensation (h) |
4,957 | | 7,283 | | 7,891 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Transaction costs (i) |
| | | | 1,560 | | ||||||||||||||||||
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|
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Segment Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 102,241 | $ | 14,632 | $ | 109,726 | $ | 20,033 | $ | 131,155 | $ | 15,854 | ||||||||||||
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|
(a) | Includes our proportionate share of depreciation and amortization expense of $985, $1,321 and $1,556 related to our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture, which amounts are included in equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated statements of income for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year 2012 also includes a charge of $3,200 related to the impairment of one of our trademarks. |
(b) | Represents the non-cash gains and losses arising from changes in mark-to-market values for derivative contracts related to diesel fuel and interest rate swaps. The impact of resin physical and financial derivatives is included in cost of goods sold. |
(c) | Represents the gains and losses incurred on purchases, sales and intercompany loans and dividends denominated in non-functional currencies. |
(d) | Represents a gain recognized on the sale of our septic chamber business in January 2012. |
(e) | Represents our proportional share of income taxes and interest related to our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. |
(f) | Represents management fee paid to a minority interest holder of a consolidated subsidiary. |
(g) | Represents the non-cash stock based compensation cost related to our stock options and restricted stock awards. |
(h) | Represents the non-cash stock based compensation expense attributable to the shares of convertible preferred stock allocated to employee ESOP accounts during the applicable period. |
(i) | Represents expenses recorded related to legal, accounting and other professional fees incurred in connection with our recent debt refinancing and in connection with this offering. |
System-Wide Net Sales
System-Wide Net Sales is a non-GAAP measure which equals the sum of the net sales of our Domestic and International segments plus all net sales from our unconsolidated joint ventures (our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture). We use this metric to measure the overall performance of our business across all of our geographies and markets we serve.
Our South American Joint Venture is managed as an integral part of our International segment and our BaySaver Joint Venture is managed as an integral part of our Domestic segment. However, they are not consolidated under GAAP. System-Wide Net Sales is prepared as if our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture were accounted for as consolidated subsidiaries for management and segment reporting purposes.
- 59 -
The reconciliation of our System-Wide Net Sales to net sales is as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Reconciliation of System-Wide Net Sales to Net Sales: |
||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 1,013,756 | $ | 1,017,041 | $ | 1,069,009 | ||||||
Net sales associated with our unconsolidated affiliates: |
||||||||||||
South American Joint Venture (a) |
57,687 | 64,834 | 61,243 | |||||||||
BaySaver Joint Venture (b) |
| | 5,195 | |||||||||
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|
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|
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System-Wide Net Sales |
$ | 1,071,443 | $ | 1,081,875 | $ | 1,135,447 | ||||||
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|
(a) | On July 31, 2009, we entered into an arrangement to form our South American Joint Venture. |
(b) | On July 15, 2013, we entered into an arrangement to form our BaySaver Joint Venture. |
Results of Operations
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2014 Compared with Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2013
The following table summarizes certain financial information relating to our operating results that have been derived from our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Also included is certain information relating to the operating results as a percentage of net sales. We believe this presentation is useful to investors in comparing historical results.
(Amounts in thousands) |
Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2013 |
%of
Net Sales |
Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2014 |
%of
Net Sales |
%
Variance |
|||||||||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Income data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 1,017,041 | 100.0 | % | $ | 1,069,009 | 100.0 | % | 5.1 | % | ||||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
807,730 | 79.4 | 856,118 | 80.1 | 6.0 | |||||||||||||||
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Gross profit |
209,311 | 20.6 | 212,891 | 19.9 | 1.7 | |||||||||||||||
Selling expenses |
69,451 | 6.8 | 75,024 | 7.0 | 8.0 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
67,712 | 6.7 | 78,478 | 7.3 | 15.9 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of assets/business |
(2,210 | ) | (0.2 | ) | (5,338 | ) | (0.5 | ) | 141.5 | |||||||||||
Intangible amortization |
11,295 | 1.1 | 11,412 | 1.1 | 1.0 | |||||||||||||||
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Income from operations |
63,063 | 6.2 | 53,315 | 5.0 | (15.5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
16,095 | 1.6 | 16,141 | 1.5 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||
Other miscellaneous expenses, net |
283 | 0.0 | 133 | 0.0 | (53.0 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Income before income taxes |
46,685 | 4.6 | 37,041 | 3.5 | (20.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
16,894 | 1.7 | 22,575 | 2.1 | 33.6 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates |
(387 | ) | (0.0 | ) | 1,592 | 0.1 | (511.4 | ) | ||||||||||||
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Net income |
30,178 | 3.0 | 12,874 | 1.2 | (57.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less net income attributable to the non-controlling interests |
2,019 | 0.2 | 1,750 | 0.2 | (13.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Net income attributable to ADS |
$ | 28,159 | 2.8 | % | $ | 11,124 | 1.0 | % | (60.5 | )% | ||||||||||
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Other financial data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
129,759 | 12.8 | % | 147,009 | 13.8 | % | 13.3 | % | ||||||||||||
System-Wide Net Sales |
1,081,875 | 106.4 | % | 1,135,447 | 106.2 | % | 5.0 | % |
- 60 -
Net sales
Net sales totaled $1,069.0 million in fiscal year 2014, increasing $52.0 million, or 5.1%, as compared to fiscal year 2013. Our Domestic sales increased $57.6 million, or 6.6%, as compared to fiscal year 2013 due to increases in Pipe and Allied Product sales of $46.6 million, or 7.1%, and $11.0 million, or 4.9%, respectively. Continued strong recovery in our markets, impacted by an increase in residential construction, modest increases in nonresidential construction and further gains from conversion to our products from traditional products, were the primary drivers of the increase in the volume of Domestic Pipe and Allied Product sales. Pipe selling prices increased 1.0% as compared to the prior year. The increase in Domestic Pipe and Allied Product sales was partially offset by lower International sales, which declined $5.7 million, or 4.1%, to $133.6 million in fiscal year 2014 as compared to $139.3 million in the prior year. International Pipe sales were primarily lower in Mexico due to the impact of the loss of a national certification (which has since been regained in December 2013) and in Canada due to weather conditions and slower construction markets. System-Wide Net Sales were $1,135.4 million in fiscal year 2014, an increase of $53.5 million, or 5.0%, over System-Wide Net Sales of $1,081.9 million in fiscal year 2013. Net sales at our South American Joint Venture were relatively flat in fiscal year 2014.
Gross profit
Gross profit increased $3.6 million, or 1.7%, to $212.9 million during fiscal year 2014 as compared to $209.3 million during fiscal year 2013. Compensation expense relating to the one-time special dividend paid in January 2014 resulted in a one-time expense of $13.9 million, reducing our gross profit in fiscal year 2014. Excluding the compensation expense charge in fiscal year 2014, gross profit increased $17.5 million or 8.4% as compared to fiscal year 2013. The increase in gross profit was primarily driven by growth in Domestic Pipe and Allied Product sales which resulted in an increase in Domestic gross profit of $19.0 million, or 10.7%, in fiscal year 2014 compared to fiscal year 2013 excluding the compensation expense in fiscal year 2014. Gross profit from our International segment decreased $1.5 million, or 4.9%, due to lower sales volume in Canada and Mexico. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales, which we refer to as gross margin, increased to 21.2% from 20.6% (excluding the 1.3% negative impact of the compensation expense charge) due primarily to increased sales of Allied Products, which typically carry a higher gross margin, as well as lower Domestic freight costs. Allied Products sales grew 4.6% in fiscal year 2014 compared to Pipe sales growing 5.3% in the same period. Domestic freight costs declined to 10.0% of Domestic net sales in fiscal year 2014 as compared to 10.5% of Domestic net sales in fiscal year 2013. The decrease in Domestic freight costs was partially offset by increased Domestic Pipe raw material prices of 4.6% due to higher virgin raw material prices in the second half of fiscal year 2014, which we were not able to immediately pass through to customers during the period due to pricing of competing products made from different raw materials.
Selling expenses
Selling expenses increased $5.5 million, or 8.0%, to $75.0 million during fiscal year 2014 compared to $69.5 million in fiscal year 2013. As a percentage of net sales, selling expenses totaled 7.0% of net sales in fiscal year 2014 compared to 6.8% of net sales in fiscal year 2013. Selling expenses were impacted by a one-time charge of $4.6 million for compensation expense relating to the one-time special dividend paid in January 2014 and an increase in International selling expenses of $0.8 million during the period. Domestic selling expenses were relatively flat in fiscal year 2014 as compared to fiscal year 2013 (excluding the impact of compensation expense).
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses increased $10.8 million, or 15.9%, to $78.5 million in fiscal year 2014 compared to $67.7 million in fiscal year 2013. As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses totaled 7.3% of net sales in fiscal year 2014 compared to 6.7% of net sales in fiscal year 2013. This increase was due to non-cash stock based compensation expense which increased by $2.7 million, $4.1 million of compensation expense relating to the one-time special dividend paid in January 2014, $1.4 million for audit fees
- 61 -
related to this offering, increases in personnel costs of $1.5 million due to additional headcount and compensation tied to company performance, higher legal and consulting fees of $1.1 million.
Gain on sales of assets/business
Gains on the sale of assets totaled $5.3 million in fiscal year 2014 compared to $2.2 million in fiscal year 2013. Assets sold in fiscal year 2014 included our Draintech product line, a precast facility in Pennsylvania and an idled pipe plant in North Carolina.
Intangibles amortization
Intangibles amortization totaled $11.4 million in fiscal year 2014 compared to $11.3 million in fiscal year 2013. The $0.1 million increase was due to the amortization of intangibles from recent acquisitions.
Interest expense
Interest expense stayed constant at $16.1 million in both fiscal years 2014 and 2013.
Other miscellaneous (income) expenses, net
Our miscellaneous (income)/expense decreased $0.2 million in fiscal year 2014 to net expense of $0.1 million compared to $0.3 million in fiscal year 2013.
Income tax expense
The provision for income taxes totaled $22.6 million in fiscal year 2014 compared to $16.9 million in fiscal year 2013, an increase of $5.7 million or 33.7%. Our effective tax rate was 60.9% in fiscal year 2014 compared to 35.9% in fiscal year 2013. The increase in our effective tax rate was primarily driven by the expected special dividend payment to participants in the ESOP, which increased our effective tax rate by 21.1%.
Income attributed to non-controlling interests
Income attributed to non-controlling interests decreased $0.2 million, or 13.3%, to $1.8 million in fiscal year 2014 compared to $2.0 million in fiscal year 2013. Non-controlling interests are held in our International operations which generated lower earnings in fiscal year 2014 compared fiscal year 2013.
Net income attributed to ADS
Net income attributable to ADS was $11.1 million in fiscal year 2014, a decrease of $17.0 million, or 60.5%, compared to fiscal year 2013. The impact of the compensation expense relating to the one-time special dividend paid in January 2014 had a negative impact of $22.6 million in fiscal year 2014.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA totaled $147.0 million in fiscal year 2014, an increase of $17.2 million, or 13.3%, compared to $129.8 million in fiscal year 2013. Domestic Adjusted EBITDA increased $21.5 million, or 19.5%, to $131.2 million in fiscal year 2014 compared to $109.7 million in fiscal year 2013. International Adjusted EBITDA declined $4.1 million in fiscal year 2014 to $15.9 million compared to $20.0 million in fiscal year 2013. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales increased to 13.8% in fiscal year 2014 compared to 12.8% in fiscal year 2013.
- 62 -
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2013 Compared with Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2012
The following table summarizes certain financial information relating to our operating results that have been derived from our consolidated financial statements for fiscal years 2013 and 2012. Also included is certain information relating to the operating results as a percentage of net sales. We believe this presentation is useful to investors in comparing historical results.
(Amounts in thousands) |
Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2012 |
% of
Net Sales |
Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2013 |
% of
Net Sales |
%
Variance |
|||||||||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Income data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 1,013,756 | 100.0 | % | $ | 1,017,041 | 100.0 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
818,398 | 80.7 | 807,730 | 79.4 | (1.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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|
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Gross profit |
195,358 | 19.3 | 209,311 | 20.6 | 7.1 | |||||||||||||||
Selling expenses |
67,625 | 6.7 | 69,451 | 6.8 | 2.7 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
65,927 | 6.5 | 67,712 | 6.7 | 2.7 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of assets/business |
(44,634 | ) | (4.4 | ) | (2,210 | ) | (0.2 | ) | (95.0 | ) | ||||||||||
Intangible amortization |
11,387 | 1.1 | 11,295 | 1.1 | (0.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Income from operations |
95,053 | 9.4 | 63,063 | 6.2 | (33.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
21,837 | 2.2 | 16,095 | 1.6 | (26.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other miscellaneous (income) expenses, net |
2,425 | 0.2 | 283 | 0.0 | (88.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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|
|||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
70,791 | 7.0 | 46,685 | 4.6 | (34.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
27,064 | 2.7 | 16,894 | 1.7 | (37.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates |
(704 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (387 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (45.0 | ) | ||||||||||
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income |
44,431 | 4.4 | 30,178 | 3.0 | (32.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less net income attributable to the non-controlling interests |
1,171 | 0.1 | 2,019 | 0.2 | 72.4 | |||||||||||||||
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income attributable to ADS |
$ | 43,260 | 4.3 | % | $ | 28,159 | 2.8 | % | (34.9 | )% | ||||||||||
|
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|||||||||||
Other Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
116,873 | 11.5 | % | 129,759 | 12.8 | % | 11.0 | % | ||||||||||||
System-Wide Net Sales |
1,071,443 | 105.7 | % | 1,081,875 | 106.4 | % | 1.0 | % |
Net sales
Net sales totaled $1,017.0 million in fiscal year 2013, an increase of $3.3 million, or 0.3%, compared to $1,013.8 million in fiscal year 2012. The increase in net sales was attributable primarily to an increase in the selling price of our Domestic Pipe, which contributed $20.5 million to net sales in fiscal year 2013, and an $13.9 million, or 6.6%, increase in sales of Domestic Allied Products, partially offset by a decline in the volume of Domestic Pipe sales in fiscal year 2013. The $45.0 million decline in Domestic Pipe sales volume was partially a result of weather related issues impacting agriculture sales (a late start to spring at the end of fiscal year 2013 delayed the agricultural installation season) and N-12 sales in the midwest and northeast regions of the country. The decline in our sales volume was also attributable to a soft non-residential end market, while partially offset by increased demand from the residential end market and continued conversion to our products from traditional materials. Our International net sales totaled $139.3 million in fiscal year 2013 compared to $125.1 million in fiscal year 2012, an increase of $14.2 million, or 11.4%. Growth was experienced across most international markets, led by Canada, with International Pipe sales increasing $10.2 million, or 9.8%, in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012 and Allied Products increasing $4.0 million, or 18.9%, in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012. System-Wide Net Sales were $1,081.9 million in fiscal year 2013, an increase of $10.5 million, or 1.0%, over System-Wide Net Sales of $1,071.4 million in fiscal year 2012. Net sales at our South American Joint Venture totaled $64.8 million in fiscal year 2013 compared to $57.7 million in fiscal year 2012. Pipe market penetration in Brazil led the increase, partially offset by weaknesses in Pipe sales to the copper mining markets in Chile.
- 63 -
Gross profit
Gross profit increased $14.0 million, or 7.1%, to $209.3 million during fiscal year 2013 as compared to $195.4 million in fiscal year 2012. Our Domestic gross profit increased $7.2 million in fiscal year 2013 as compared to fiscal year 2012 due to increased volume of Allied Products sales, which contributed additional gross profit of $7.5 million, partially offset by a decrease in the volume of Domestic Pipe sales, which negatively impacted gross profit by $0.3 million. International gross profit increased 27.2%, or $6.8 million, in fiscal year 2013 due to increases of $2.7 million and $4.1 million for Pipe and Allied Products gross profit, respectively. Gross margin increased to 20.6% in fiscal year 2013 from 19.3% in fiscal year 2012 due to increased sales of our higher margin Allied Products as well as increased Pipe gross margins attributable to lower freight costs and increased selling prices. Allied Products sales grew 7.8% in fiscal year 2013 totaling 24.4% of net sales compared to 22.8% in fiscal year 2012 as our market penetration for these products increased. Domestic Pipe selling prices increased 3.3% in fiscal year 2013, with gross margin being partially offset by a 1% increase in raw material prices as compared to fiscal year 2012. Freight costs declined slightly to 9.8% of net sales in fiscal year 2013 as compared to 9.9% of net sales in fiscal year 2012.
Selling expenses
Selling expenses increased $1.8 million, or 2.7%, to $69.5 million during fiscal year 2013 compared to $67.6 million in fiscal year 2012. As a percentage of net sales, selling expenses totaled 6.8% in fiscal year 2013 compared to 6.7% in fiscal year 2013. Commissions increased $0.4 million, field selling expenses increased $1.0 million and customer service expenses increased $0.5 million in fiscal year 2013 as compared to fiscal year 2012.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses increased $1.8 million, or 2.7%, to $67.7 million during fiscal year 2013 compared to $65.9 million in fiscal year 2012. General and administrative expenses increased to 6.7% of net sales in fiscal year 2013, up from 6.5% of net sales in fiscal year 2012. This increase was due to stock based compensation expense which increased by $1.2 million, higher plant administrative expenses of $0.8 million due to recently opened manufacturing facilities in the agricultural markets and higher other administrative expenses of $1.7 million, partially offset by lower transaction costs of $1.9 million in fiscal year 2013 as compared to fiscal year 2012.
Gain on sale of assets/business
We recognized a gain of $2.2 million in fiscal year 2013 resulting from the sale of our plastic edging product line as compared to a $44.6 million gain recognized in fiscal year 2012 resulting from the sale of our septic chamber product line to Infiltrator Systems. As part of the sale in fiscal year 2012, we entered into a Distribution Agreement to continue to sell septic chambers manufactured by Infiltrator Systems.
Intangibles amortization
Intangibles amortization totaled $11.3 million in fiscal year 2013, down $0.1 million from intangible amortization in fiscal year 2012.
Interest expense
Interest expense decreased $5.7 million, or 26.3%, to $16.1 million during fiscal year 2013 as compared to $21.8 million in fiscal year 2012. The decrease was due to a combination of lower average debt and interest rates in fiscal year 2013 as compared to fiscal year 2012. In fiscal year 2013, ADS achieved a leverage ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to Debt below 3-to-1 which reduced our interest rates by 0.5% for our Senior Loan Facilities and 2.0% for our Senior Notes, resulting in a decrease in interest expense of $3.4 million or 15.6%.
- 64 -
Other miscellaneous (income) expenses, net
Our miscellaneous (income)/expense decreased $2.1 million in fiscal year 2013 as mark to market losses on our fuel and interest rate hedges of $2.3 million in fiscal year 2012 compared to no change in fiscal year 2013. Earnings from our unconsolidated South American Joint Venture declined $0.3 million in fiscal year 2013 and other miscellaneous expenses increased $0.2 million in fiscal year 2013 as compared to fiscal year 2012.
Income tax expense
The provision for income taxes totaled $16.9 million in fiscal year 2013 compared to $27.1 million in fiscal year 2012, a decrease of $10.2 million, or 37.6%. Our effective tax rate was 35.9% in fiscal year 2013 compared 37.9% in fiscal year 2012. The primary factors for the decline in our effective tax rate were lower state and local taxes (3.0% in fiscal year 2013 compared to 3.6% in fiscal year 2012) and an increase in International income which is taxed at lower rates.
Income attributed to non-controlling interests
Income attributed to non-controlling interests increased $0.8, or 72.4%, to $2.0 million in fiscal year 2013 as compared to $1.2 million in fiscal year 2012. Non-controlling interests are held in our International operations which generated higher earnings in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012.
Net income attributed to ADS
Net income attributable to ADS was $28.2 million in fiscal year 2013, a decrease of $15.1 million, or 34.9%, compared to fiscal year 2012. This decrease was primarily due to the $44.6 million gain from the sale of our U.S. septic chamber business in fiscal year 2012.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA totaled $129.8 million in fiscal year 2013, an increase of $12.9 million, or 11.0%, compared to $116.9 million in fiscal year 2012. Domestic Adjusted EBITDA increased $7.5 million, or 7.3%, to $109.7 million in fiscal year 2013 compared to $102.2 million in fiscal year 2012. International Adjusted EBITDA increased $5.4 million in fiscal year 2013 to $20.0 million as compared to $14.6 million in fiscal year 2013. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales increased to 12.8% in fiscal year 2013 compared to 11.5% in fiscal year 2012.
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Results of Operations by Segment
The following table presents our net sales, net sales as a percentage of total net sales, Segment Adjusted EBITDA and Segment Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of total Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the periods presented.
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales by Segment |
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Domestic: |
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Pipe |
$ | 678,934 | 67 | % | $ | 654,068 | 64 | % | $ | 700,663 | 66 | % | ||||||||||||
Allied Products |
209,736 | 21 | % | 223,676 | 22 | % | 234,729 | 22 | % | |||||||||||||||
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888,670 | 88 | % | 877,744 | 86 | % | 935,392 | 88 | % | ||||||||||||||||
International: |
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Pipe |
104,107 | 10 | % | 114,349 | 11 | % | 108,162 | 10 | % | |||||||||||||||
Allied Products |
20,979 | 2 | % | 24,948 | 3 | % | 25,455 | 2 | % | |||||||||||||||
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125,086 | 12 | % | 139,297 | 14 | % | 133,617 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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Total net sales |
$ | 1,013,756 | 100 | % | $ | 1,017,041 | 100 | % | $ | 1,069,009 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||
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Segment Adjusted EBITDA |
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Domestic |
$ | 102,241 | 87 | % | $ | 109,726 | 85 | % | $ | 131,155 | 89 | % | ||||||||||||
International |
14,632 | 13 | % | 20,033 | 15 | % | 15,854 | 11 | % | |||||||||||||||
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Total Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 116,873 | 100 | % | $ | 129,759 | 100 | % | $ | 147,009 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||
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Quarterly Net Sales Information
The following tables set forth certain historical unaudited consolidated quarterly net sales for each of the quarters during the years ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014. This unaudited information has been prepared on a basis consistent with our annual financial statements and includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited quarterly data. This information should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, included elsewhere in this prospectus. The results of operations for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results that we may achieve for any subsequent periods.
(Amounts in thousands) |
Quarters Ended During the
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2013 |
Quarters Ended During the
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2014 |
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Net Sales by Quarter |
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Three months ended June 30 |
$ | 298,390 | $ | 293,102 | ||||
Three months ended September 30 |
285,749 | 333,495 | ||||||
Three months ended December 31 |
248,425 | 261,180 | ||||||
Three months ended March 31 |
184,477 | 181,232 | ||||||
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Total net sales |
$ | 1,017,041 | $ | 1,069,009 | ||||
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary liquidity requirements are working capital, capital expenditures, debt service, and dividend payments for our convertible preferred stock and common stock. We have historically funded, and expect to continue to fund, our operation primarily through equity issuance, internally generated cash flow and debt financings. From time to time we may explore additional financing methods and other means to raise capital. There can be no assurance that any additional financing will be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.
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As of March 31, 2014, we had $3.9 million in cash that was held by our foreign subsidiaries. Our intent is to indefinitely reinvest our earnings in foreign subsidiaries. In the event that foreign earnings are repatriated, these amounts will be subject to income tax liabilities in the appropriate tax jurisdiction. No restrictions exist on our liquidity that is impacted by the significance of cash held by foreign subsidiaries.
Working Capital and Cash Flows
During fiscal year 2014, our source of funds was primarily driven by an increase in borrowings on our Revolving Credit Facility. During fiscal year 2014, our use of cash was primarily driven by payment of dividends and continued investment in capital expenditures. During fiscal year 2013, our use of cash was primarily driven by increased capital expenditures. During fiscal year 2012, our use of cash was primarily driven by net acquisition activity.
As of March 31, 2014, we had $84.3 million in liquidity, including $3.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $80.4 million in borrowings available under our Revolving Credit Facility, described below. We believe that our cash on hand, together with the availability of borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and other financing arrangements and cash generated from operations, will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures, scheduled interest payments on our indebtedness and dividend payment requirement for our convertible preferred stock for at least the next twelve months. We are not dependent on this offering to meet our liquidity needs during that period.
As of March 31, 2014, we had total consolidated indebtedness of approximately $454.0 million. We anticipate that we will repay a portion of our outstanding indebtedness with the proceeds from this offering. See Use of Proceeds.
The following table sets forth the major sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Statement of Cash Flows data: |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 56,997 | $ | 68,215 | $ | 62,122 | ||||||
Net cash (used in) investing activities |
(35,833 | ) | (47,199 | ) | (41,767 | ) | ||||||
Net cash (used in) financing activities |
(21,233 | ) | (21,737 | ) | (17,712 | ) |
Working Capital
Working capital is an indication of liquidity and potential need for short-term funding. We define working capital as the difference between our current assets and current liabilities.
Working capital increased to $263.9 million as of March 31, 2014, from $220.3 million as of March 31, 2013, primarily due to higher inventories and accounts receivable, while accounts payable and accrued expenses changed only a nominal amount.
Working capital increased to $220.3 million as of March 31, 2013, from $208.3 million as of March 31, 2012, primarily due to higher inventories which offset a decrease in accounts receivable.
Operating Cash Flows
Cash flow from operating activities for fiscal year 2014 was $62.1 million as compared with cash provided by operating activities of $68.2 million for fiscal year 2013. The primary factors impacting operating cash flow during fiscal year 2014 was an increase in accounts receivable as well as an increase in inventories. The increase in accounts receivable was attributable to stronger March 2014 sales as compared to the prior year while the
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increase in inventories was attributable to adverse weather conditions causing a delay in construction projects and higher raw material costs in March 2014, as compared to March 2013, impacting both raw material and finished goods inventory values.
Cash flow from operating activities in fiscal year 2013 was $68.2 million as compared with cash generated by operating activities of $57.0 million for fiscal year 2012. The primary factors impacting operating cash flow for fiscal year 2012 was improved operating margins and changes in working capital, including an increase in inventories and a decrease in receivables. The increase in inventories was attributable to lower sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, than was planned, which also resulted in the corresponding decline in receivables as of March 31, 2013, as compared to March 31, 2012.
Investing Cash Flows
During fiscal year 2014, cash used for investing activities was $41.8 million, primarily due to capital expenditures in support of operations and an investment in an unconsolidated joint venture. During fiscal year 2013, cash used for investing activities was $47.2 million, primarily due to capital expenditures in support of operations.
During fiscal year 2013, cash used in investing activities was $47.2 million, primarily driven by capital expenditures ($40.0 million).
During fiscal year 2012, cash used in investing activities was $35.8 million, primarily driven by capital expenditures ($26.5 million) and net acquisition activity ($8.8 million).
Financing Cash Flows
During fiscal year 2014, cash used by financing activities was $17.7 million, primarily from increased borrowings to pay dividends and redeem convertible preferred stock in connection with the ESOP.
During fiscal year 2013, cash used by financing activities was $21.7 million as compared to cash used by financing activities of $21.2 million for fiscal year 2012. Our net cash flow was directed to pay down term debt, dividends, and redemption of our convertible preferred stock in connection with the ESOP.
During the fiscal year 2012, cash used for financing activities was $21.2 million primarily due to payments of term debt, dividends, and redemption of our convertible preferred stock in connection with the ESOP.
Capital Expenditures
We had capital expenditures of $26.5 million, $40.0 million and $40.3 million in fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Our capital expenditures in fiscal year 2014 were used primarily to support the growth of HP N-12 pipe production capacity, expansion of our recycled resin initiatives and other capital projects.
We currently anticipate that we will make capital expenditures of approximately $35.0 million in each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016. We expect our total capital expenditures to be relatively similar to the past several fiscal years. Such capital expenditures are expected to be financed using funds generated by operations. As of March 31, 2014, there were no material contractual obligations or commitments related to these planned capital expenditures.
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Financing Transactions
Senior Loan Facilities
On September 24, 2010, we entered into a credit agreement with PNC Bank, National Association, or PNC, as administrative agent, and the other lenders parties thereto. The credit agreement, as amended and restated on June 12, 2013 and subsequently further amended, provides for our Senior Loan Facilities consisting of (i) the Revolving Credit Facility providing for revolving loans and letters of credit of up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $325.0 million and (ii) the Term Loan Facility providing for the Term Loans in an aggregate original principal amount of $100.0 million. The Senior Loan Facilities also permit us to add additional commitments to the Revolving Credit Facility or the Term Loan Facility not to exceed $50 million in the aggregate. The proceeds of the Revolving Credit Facility are primarily used to provide for our ongoing working capital and capital expenditure needs, to finance acquisitions and distributions, and for our other general corporate purposes. The proceeds of the Term Loan Facility were primarily used for our general corporate purposes. The interest rates on the Senior Loan Facilities are determined by certain base rates or LIBOR rates, plus an applicable margin. The obligations under the Senior Loan Facilities are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our personal property assets. For further information about the Senior Loan Facilities, see Description of Certain Indebtedness Senior Loan Facilities. On December 20, 2013, we amended the Revolving Credit Facility to, among other things, permit the payment of a cash dividend. As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding principal drawn on the Revolving Credit Facility was $248.1 million, with $68.4 million available to be drawn, subject to customary conditions precedent. As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan was $97.5 million.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay a portion of our outstanding indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility.
Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility
On September 24, 2010, our joint venture ADS Mexicana entered into a credit agreement with PNC, as administrative agent, and the other lenders parties thereto. The credit agreement, as amended and restated on June 12, 2013 and subsequently further amended, provides for revolving loans and letters of credit of up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $12.0 million. The proceeds of the revolving credit facility are primarily used to cover working capital needs. The interest rates of the revolving credit facilities are determined by certain base rates or LIBOR rates, plus an applicable margin. The obligations under the revolving credit facility are guaranteed by us and certain of our subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our assets. For further information about this credit facility, see Description of Certain Indebtedness Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2014, there was no outstanding principal drawn on the revolving credit facility and the entire $12.0 million was available to be drawn.
Senior Notes
On December 11, 2009, we entered into a private shelf agreement with Prudential Investment Management Inc., or Prudential, which agreement, as amended and restated on September 24, 2010 and subsequently further amended, provides for the issuance by us of senior secured promissory notes to Prudential or its affiliates from time to time in the aggregate principal amount up to $100.0 million. Pursuant to the private shelf agreement, on September 27, 2010, we issued $75.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 5.60% Senior Series A Notes due September 24, 2018 to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock from certain of our stockholders and to repurchase outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock from the ESOP. On July 24, 2013, we issued $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 4.05% Senior Series B Notes due September 24, 2019 for our general corporate purposes. The Senior Notes are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our assets. For further information about the Senior Notes, see Description of Certain Indebtedness Senior Notes. We have no further amount available for issuance of senior notes under the private shelf agreement. On December 20, 2013, we amended the private shelf agreement to, among other things, make certain amendments in order to permit the payment of a cash dividend.
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Covenant Compliance
Our outstanding debt agreements and instruments contain various restrictive covenants including, but not limited to, limitations on additional indebtedness and capital distributions, including dividend payments. The two primary debt covenants include a Leverage Ratio and a Fixed Charge Ratio maintenance covenant. For any relevant period of determination, the Leverage Ratio is calculated by dividing Total Consolidated Indebtedness (funded debt plus guarantees) by Consolidated EBITDA. The current upper limit is 4.0 times. The Fixed Charge Ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of Consolidated EBITDA minus Capital Expenditures minus cash Income Taxes paid, by the sum of Fixed Charges. Fixed Charges include cash Interest expense, scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness, and ESOP Capital Distributions in excess of $10 million in a given fiscal year. The current minimum ratio is 1.25 times. For further information, see Description of Certain Indebtedness. We were in compliance with our debt covenants as of March 31, 2014.
Contractual Obligation as of March 31, 2014
Payments Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | Total |
Less than
1 Year |
1-3 Years | 3-5 Years |
More than
5 Years |
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Contractual obligations: |
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Long-term debt (1) |
$ | 454,048 | $ | 11,153 | $ | 45,450 | $ | 372,445 | $ | 25,000 | ||||||||||
Interest payments (2) |
71,306 | 18,047 | 34,576 | 17,927 | 756 | |||||||||||||||
Operating leases |
63,893 | 18,367 | 27,618 | 9,827 | 8,081 | |||||||||||||||
Contractual purchase obligations (3) |
69,871 | 69,871 | | | | |||||||||||||||
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Total |
$ | 659,118 | $ | 117,438 | $ | 107,644 | $ | 400,199 | $ | 33,837 | ||||||||||
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(1) | The current Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan mature in June, 2018. |
(2) | Based on applicable rates and pricing margins as of March 31, 2014, including interest rate swaps. |
(3) | Purchase obligations include various commitments with vendors to purchase goods and services, primarily inventory, machinery, supplies and other equipment. |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, with the exception of the guarantee of 50% of certain debt of our unconsolidated South American Joint Venture, as further discussed in Note 9 of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. As of March 31, 2014, our South American Joint Venture had approximately $11.1 million of outstanding debt. We do not believe that this guarantee will have a current or future effect on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, or capital resources.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, our allowance for doubtful accounts, useful lives of our property, plant and equipment and amortizing intangible assets, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, reserves for uncertain tax positions, evaluation of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets for impairment, accounting for stock based compensation and our ESOP, reserves for general liability, workers compensation, and medical insurance, cash discounts and customer rebates and valuation of our Redeemable Common Stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. Managements estimates and assumptions are evaluated on an ongoing basis and are based on historical experience, current conditions and available information. Management believes the accounting estimates are appropriate and reasonably determined; however, due to the inherent uncertainties in making these estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates.
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Consolidation and Investments
Our consolidated financial statements include us, our wholly-owned subsidiaries and VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary. The non-controlling interests in our subsidiaries that are consolidated but not wholly owned by us are included in the accompanying financial statements. We use the equity method of accounting for equity investments where we exercise significant influence but do not hold a controlling financial interest, including our South American Joint Venture and our BaySaver Joint Venture. Such investments are recorded in Other Assets in the balance sheets and equity earnings are included in Equity Earnings of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries in the statements of income. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We hold receivables from customers in various countries. Credit is extended to customers based on an evaluation of their financial condition and collateral is generally not required. The evaluation of the customers financial condition is performed to reduce the risk of loss. Accounts receivable are evaluated for collectability based on numerous factors, including the length of time individual receivables are past due, past transaction history with customers, their credit worthiness and the economic environment. An allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated as a percentage of aged receivables. This estimate is periodically adjusted when management becomes aware of a specific customers inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing) or as a result of changes in historical collection patterns.
Goodwill
We account for costs of acquired assets in excess of fair value, or Goodwill, and other intangible assets not subject to amortization in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 350, Intangibles Goodwill and Other. Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment as of March 31 or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The goodwill impairment analysis is comprised of two steps. The first step requires the comparison of the fair value of the applicable reporting unit to its respective carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not considered impaired and we would not be required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then we must perform the second step of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting units goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting units goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then we would record an impairment loss equal to the difference. With respect to this testing, our reporting units are generally one level below our operating segments for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed by segment management. However, components of an operating segment can be aggregated as one reporting unit if the components have similar economic characteristics. Our reporting units include Domestic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, Chile and Europe. Implied fair value of goodwill is determined by considering both the income and market approach. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates, future economic and market conditions, and determination of appropriate market comparables. The fair value estimates are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, but are inherently uncertain.
We performed our annual impairment test for goodwill as of March 31, 2014 and we determined that the fair value exceeded the carrying value for each of our reporting units by a substantial margin. Accordingly, we did not incur any impairment expense for goodwill in the years ended 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Intangible Assets
Definite-lived intangible assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts of the asset group may not be recoverable. Asset groups are established primarily
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by determining the lowest level of cash flows available. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amounts of such assets, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent the fair value of the asset less any costs of disposition is less than the carrying amount of the asset. Determining the fair value of these assets is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Future events and unanticipated changes to assumptions could require a provision for impairment in a future period.
In April 2011, we recharacterized the Hancor trademark previously classified as indefinite lived since 2005 to definite lived based on managements decision to discontinue to the use of the trademark over the next 15 years. When such a change is made, the asset is required to be tested for impairment. We tested the trademark for impairment using the relief from royalty valuation method and recorded an impairment charge of $3,200 in General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income, resulting in the carrying value of the trademark being reduced, and thus equal, to the estimated fair value, which will be amortized over a 15-year period.
No additional impairment charges were recorded in fiscal years 2012, 2013 or 2014.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually as of March 31 or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may be greater than fair value. Determining the fair value of these assets is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but that are inherently uncertain. To estimate the fair value of these indefinite-lived intangible assets, we use an income approach, which utilizes a market derived rate of return to discount anticipated performance. An impairment loss is recognized when the estimated fair value of the intangible asset is less than the carrying value.
We did not record any impairment in fiscal years 2012, 2013 or 2014 other than the Hancor trademark impairment described previously. Future events and unanticipated changes to assumptions could require a provision for impairment in a future period.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue and cost of goods sold when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery has occurred, the price to the buyer is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.
We ship products to customers predominantly by internal fleet and to a lesser extent by third-party carriers. Revenues, net of sales tax and allowances for returns, rebates and discounts are recognized from product sales when title to the products is passed to the customer which generally occurs upon delivery.
Employee Benefit Plans
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Unallocated shares of convertible preferred stock held by our ESOP in the ESOPs loan suspense account are allocated each year to employee-participants ESOP stock accounts upon the ESOP making its annual ESOP loan payment. The annual allocation of convertible preferred stock to the ESOP stock accounts of ESOP participants is accounted for as share based compensation expense as part of our overall employee benefits expense. Such shares of convertible preferred stock are valued based on an annual valuation completed by management with the assistance of an independent third-party appraisal firm. When shares of convertible preferred stock are allocated to the ESOP stock accounts of ESOP participants, we reduce the amount of deferred compensation reflected in Deferred compensation unearned ESOP shares in mezzanine equity. The amount of deferred compensation is reduced by the number of allocated shares of convertible preferred stock, multiplied by the value of the convertible preferred stock when originally issued. The difference between the current share value and the original value is credited to the equity account paid in capital.
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Stock-Based Compensation Plans
We have several programs for stock based payments to employees and directors in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation Stock Compensation. Equity-classified awards are measured based on the grant-date estimated fair value of each award, net of estimated forfeitures, and liability-classified awards are re-measured at their fair value, net of estimated forfeitures, at each reporting date for accounting purposes. Compensation expense is recognized over the employees requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the grant. Compensation expense is recorded for new awards and existing awards that are modified, repurchased or forfeited.
The fair value of restricted stock equals the fair value of the underlying common stock as of the date of the grant, as discussed in Valuation of Redeemable Common Stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Valuation of Redeemable Common Stock.
The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated, as of the date of the grant, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Determining the fair value of stock options under the Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires judgment, including estimating the fair value per share of our common stock as a private company prior to this offering, volatility, expected term of the awards, dividend yield and the risk-free interest rate. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent our best estimates, based on managements judgment and subjective future expectations. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties. If any of the assumptions used in the model change significantly, stock based compensation recorded for future awards may differ materially from that recorded for awards granted previously.
We developed our assumptions as follows:
| Fair value of common stock. As our common stock is not publicly traded, we estimate the fair value of common stock as discussed in Valuation of Redeemable Common Stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Valuation of Redeemable Common Stock. |
| Volatility. The expected price volatility for our common stock is estimated by taking the median historic price volatility for industry peers based on daily prices over a period equivalent to the expected term of the stock option grants. |
| Expected term. The expected term represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding based on historical experience. |
| Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yields of United States Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected term of the options. |
| Dividend yield. The dividend yield is based on our anticipated dividend payments over the remaining expected holding period. |
We estimate potential forfeitures of grants and adjust stock-based compensation expense accordingly. The estimate of forfeitures is adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeitures differ from the prior estimates. We estimate forfeitures based upon our historical experience, and, at each period, review the estimated forfeiture rate and make changes as factors affecting the forfeiture rate calculations and assumptions change.
Valuation of Redeemable Common Stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Valuation of Redeemable Common Stock
Certain of our outstanding shares of common stock are subject to agreements that permit the holder of those shares to put its shares to us for cash. This Redeemable Common Stock is recorded at its fair value in the mezzanine section of our consolidated balance sheets and changes in fair value are recorded in retained earnings. The fair value of our common stock is based on the most recent contemporaneous third-party valuation report,
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which historically applied industry-appropriate multiples to EBITDA and performed a discounted cash flow analysis. Under the industry-appropriate multiples approach, to arrive at concluded multiples, we considered differences between the risk and return characteristics of us and the guideline companies. Under the discounted cash flow analysis, the cash flows expected to be generated by us are discounted to their present value equivalent using a rate of return that reflects the relative risk of an investment in us, as well as the time value of money. This return is an overall rate based upon the individual rates of return for invested capital (equity and interest-bearing debt). The return, known as the weighted average cost of capital, or WACC, is calculated by weighting the required returns on interest-bearing debt and common stock in proportion to their estimated percentages in an expected capital structure. The categorization of the framework used to price this temporary equity is considered a Level 3, due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value.
Valuation of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
The trustee of our ESOP has the ability to put the shares of our Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock to us. Our Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock is recorded at its fair value in the mezzanine section of our consolidated balance sheets and changes in fair value are recorded in retained earnings. Accordingly, we estimated the fair value of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock through estimating the fair value of our common stock and applying certain adjustments including for the fair value of the total dividends to be received and assuming conversion of the preferred stock to common stock at the stated conversion ratio per our certificate of incorporation. The categorization of the framework used to price this temporary equity is considered a Level 3, due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized and represent the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. They are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the related temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The deferred income tax provision represents the change during the reporting period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. Penalties and interest recorded on income taxes payable are recorded as part of income taxes.
We follow the GAAP guidance for uncertain tax positions within ASC 740, Income Taxes. ASC 740 provides guidance related to the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The standard prescribes the minimum recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure. Initial recognition, derecognition and measurement is based on managements judgment given the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. If these judgments are not accurate then future income tax expense or benefit could be different.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Fair value measurement
In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), which clarifies the measurement of fair value for certain assets and liabilities and expands the disclosure requirements for Level 3 fair value investments. The amendments in this ASU are intended to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU No. 2011-04 became effective for us in fiscal year 2013. The adoption of the amended guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
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Comprehensive income: Presentation
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), accounting guidance related to the presentation of comprehensive income in ASC 220, Comprehensive Income. The objective of this ASU is to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. Under this guidance, entities are required to report the components of net income and comprehensive income either in one continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The option to present items of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity was eliminated. The guidance became effective for us in fiscal year 2013. We elected to present items of other comprehensive income in two but consecutive statements.
Comprehensive income: Reclassifications
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), accounting guidance related to the presentation of comprehensive income in ASC 220, Comprehensive Income. This ASU supersedes and replaces the presentation requirements for reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in ASU 2011-05, which were deferred indefinitely under ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassification of Items out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05 which was issued in December 2011. The amendments in ASU 2013-02 would require an entity to provide additional information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income. For public entities, the provisions of this ASU became effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of the amended guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Income Taxes
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which requires that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward. However, if a net operating loss carry forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Discontinued Operations
In April 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance amending existing requirements for reporting discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, discontinued operations reporting will be limited to disposal transactions that represent strategic shifts having a major effect on operations and financial results. The amended guidance also enhances disclosures and requires assets and liabilities of a discontinued operation to be classified as such for all periods presented in the financial statements. Public entities will apply the amended guidance prospectively to all disposals occurring within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. We will adopt this standard effective April 1, 2015. Due to the change in requirements for reporting discontinued operations described above, presentation and disclosures of future disposal transactions after adoption maybe different than under current standards.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
We are subject to various market risks, primarily related to changes in interest rates, raw material supply prices, and to a lesser extent, foreign currency exchange rates. Our financial position, results of operations or
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cash flows may be negatively impacted in the event of adverse movements in the respective market rates or prices in each of these risk categories. Our exposure in each category is limited to those risks that arise in the normal course of business, as we do not engage in speculative, non-operating transactions.
Interest Rate Risk
We are subject to interest rate risk associated with our debt. Changes in interest rates impact the fair value of our fixed-rate debt, but there is no impact to earnings and cash flow. Alternatively, changes in interest rates do not affect the fair value of our variable-rate debt, but they do affect future earnings and cash flow. The Revolving Credit Facility, the Term Loan Facility, and our industrial development revenue bond, or IDRB, notes bear variable interest rates. The Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility bear interest either at LIBOR or the Prime Rate, at our option, plus applicable pricing margins. The IDRB notes bear interest at weekly commercial paper rates, plus applicable pricing margins. A 1% increase in interest rates on our variable rate debt would increase our annual forecasted interest expense by approximately $2.3 million based on our borrowings as of March 31, 2014. Assuming the Revolving Credit Facility is fully drawn, each 1% increase or decrease in the applicable interest rate would change our interest expense by approximately $2.8 million per year. To mitigate the impact of interest rate volatility, we have two interest rate swaps in effect as of March 31, 2014. The first swap is at $70 million notional value, amortizing $2.5 million per quarter at a fixed LIBOR rate of 1.105%, and expires in September, 2014. The other swap is a $50 million notional value, non-amortizing swap at a LIBOR rate of 0.86% which expires in September, 2016. A third $50 million notional value swap will take effect on September 1, 2014 and expires on September 1, 2016. The rate is at a fixed LIBOR of 1.08%.
Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. We provide our products to customers based on an evaluation of the customers financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customers financial condition. We monitor the exposure for credit losses and maintains allowances for anticipated losses. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to our accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers comprising our customer base and their dispersion among many different geographies.
Raw Material and Commodity Price Risk
Our primary raw materials used in the production of our products are polyethylene and polypropylene resins. As these resins are hydrocarbon-based materials, changes in the price of feedstocks, such as crude oil and natural gas, as well as changes in the market supply and demand may cause the cost of these resins to fluctuate significantly. Raw materials account for the majority of our cost of goods sold. Given the significance of these costs and the inherent volatility in supplier pricing, our ability to reflect these changes in the cost of resins in our product selling prices in an efficient manner, passing the increase on to our customers, contributes to the management of our overall supply price risk and the potential impact on our results of operations.
We manage supply risk with financial and physical hedge contracts for the HDPE and PP resins used in the manufacture of our Pipe and Allied Products, as well as for the diesel fuel used by our in-house fleet of delivery trucks. Our physical hedge contracts for HDPE resins are typically at a fixed price and volume over time. We use to a limited extent financial derivatives for PP resin in the form of fixed price swaps based on propylene monomer. For diesel fuel, we have utilized option contracts in the form of collars with put and call options.
We have supply contracts that typically include supply periods of greater than one year. Except for physical-hedged resin contracts, we generally do not enter into long-term purchase orders for the delivery of raw materials. Our orders with suppliers are flexible and do not normally contain minimum purchase volumes or fixed prices. Accordingly, our suppliers may change their selling prices or other relevant terms on a monthly
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basis, exposing us to pricing risk. Our use of pricing and forecasting tools, centralized procurement, additional sources of supply and incorporation of vertical integration for recycled material have increased our focus on efficiency and resulted in lower overall supply costs. If the price of HDPE and PP virgin resin increased or decreased by 5%, it would result in a material change to our cost of goods sold.
Inflation
Our cost of goods sold is subject to inflationary pressures and price fluctuations of the raw materials we use, primarily high density polyethylene and polypropylene resins. Historically, we have generally been able over time to recover the effects of inflation and price fluctuations through sales price increases and production efficiencies related to technological enhancements and improvements. However, we cannot reasonably estimate our ability to successfully recover any price increases.
Financial Instruments
We have operations in countries outside of the United States, all of which use the respective local foreign currency as their functional currency. Each of these operations may enter into contractual arrangements with customers or vendors that are denominated in currencies other than its respective functional currency. Consequently, our results of operations may be affected by exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and economic conditions in the regions in which we sell or distribute our products. Exposure to variability in foreign currency exchange rates from these transactions is managed, to the extent possible, by natural hedges which result from purchases and sales occurring in the same foreign currency within a similar period of time, thereby offsetting each other to varying degrees.
In addition, to the transaction-related gains and losses that are reflected within the results of operations, we are subject to foreign currency translation risk, as the financial statements for our foreign subsidiaries are measured and recorded in the respective subsidiarys functional currency and translated into U.S. dollars for consolidated financial reporting purposes. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded net of tax impact in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
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We compete in the multi-billion dollar global pipe and related water management solutions market. Our end markets include non-residential construction, residential construction, agriculture and infrastructure, focused primarily in the United States and Canada. We also compete in Mexico, Central America and South America through our joint ventures. We believe the markets we serve in the United States represent approximately $10.1 billion of annual revenue opportunity. In addition, we believe the increasing acceptance of thermoplastic pipe products in international markets represents an attractive growth opportunity.
We estimate that HDPE pipe and PP pipe represent approximately 25% of all domestic storm pipe sales, up from what we believe was less than 10% ten years ago, and less than 1% twenty years ago. Market penetration is expected to continue to grow significantly as the regulatory environment continues to change and as contractors, civil design engineers and municipal agencies fully recognize the superior physical attributes and compelling value proposition of HDPE and PP pipe. In part due to the efforts and success of our corporate and field civil engineers, an average of approximately 60 state, county and municipal approvals have been added or enhanced each year over the past five years, including 32 states over the past eight years.
Core Product Categories
Pipe Market
Demand for our products is largely driven by non-residential and residential construction, transportation and related water drainage infrastructure spending and the repair and replacement of aging stormwater management infrastructure. Freedonia estimates that demand for large diameter pipe (defined as 15 diameter or larger depending on industry standards by material type) in the United States will increase at an average of 6.2% per year from approximately 146 million feet in 2011, to 197 million feet in 2016, driven by the recovery of general economic and construction activity, as well as the need to repair and upgrade aging and obsolete sewer, drain and water distribution networks. We compete in the storm sewer, drainage, sanitary sewer and irrigation markets, which collectively represent approximately 70% of the overall large diameter pipe market in the United States.
Source: Freedonia
According to Freedonia, demand for HDPE pipe is projected to grow at 7.0% annually through 2016, to 62.8 million feet due to the materials competitive cost, light weight, resistance to corrosion, longer life and lower installed costs versus traditional materials such as concrete, steel and ductile iron. According to Freedonia, HDPE, the primary material in our products, is projected to become a larger portion of the overall large diameter pipe market as states and municipalities are expected to continue to adopt this product as a result of its superior attributes and approve its use in a broader range of applications.
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Since the introduction of PP pipe for use in the storm sewer market did not occur until 2012, the Freedonia growth projections referenced above do not take into account the potential impact that PP pipe may have in the larger diameter pipe market. Pipe manufactured from PP material has demonstrated improved stiffness and strength that allows for storm and sanitary sewer applications, which we believe will result in increased market share over concrete and PVC products. We further believe that our product line made from PP, in combination with our HDPE product line, provides us with a unique opportunity to grow market share in the large diameter pipe market.
According to Freedonia, sanitary and storm sewers, which represent approximately 50% of the total large diameter pipe market demand, are expected to continue to drive growth for the large diameter pipe market through 2016. Freedonia estimates that a large part of the growth will come from population increases in the South and West regions of the United States. EPA requirements and regulations are expected to continue to drive growth in the sanitary and storm sewer markets. Additionally, Freedonia estimates that the largest expected growth in the forecast period will come from the drainage market, as non-residential and residential construction continues to rebound.
Source: Freedonia
In the United States, our market diversification positions us to take advantage of cyclical recovery in the non-residential and residential construction end markets, increased spending from the expected replacement of aging water drainage and sewer infrastructure, stricter EPA regulations for stormwater and wastewater management, and the need for increased crop production. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, demand for U.S. crops is expected to remain steady with a growing worldwide population and increased demand from developing nations. Steady global economic growth supports gains in worldwide food demand. Economic growth in developing countries is especially important because food consumption and feed use are responsive to income growth in these countries, with movement away from traditional staple foods to an increased diversification of diets.
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Positive end market trends in the non-residential construction, residential construction, agricultural and infrastructure markets are also expected to drive increased demand for pipe products in Canada. A growing population, increased economic development, and rising export demand for food are leading to further growth in the Canadian pipe market. In Mexico, Central America and South America, additional investments in modern storm and sanitary sewer systems are needed to support the economic growth and development occurring in those nations.
The construction sector is responsible for a majority of the pipe use and demand in Canada. According to Freedonia, HDPE pipe is expected to grow 6.5% annually through 2017 to 81,000 metric tons, the fastest growth of any plastic resin. Both non-residential and residential end markets will provide good opportunity for growth. Growth in fixed investment spending is expected to result in a higher number of sewer and drainage infrastructure projects. Housing starts in Canada are forecasted to grow from 185,000 in 2012 to 215,000 by 2017, according to Freedonia. A large industry around forestry, minerals, petroleum and natural gas also provides opportunity for pipe applications.
The GDP in Mexico is forecasted to expand at 3.7% annually through 2017. Construction demand accounted for 60% of the total pipe demand in Mexico in 2012. Freedonia forecasts HDPE pipe demand to grow 8% annually through 2017 to 50,000 metric tons, the fastest rate of any plastic resin. Construction growth in Mexico is driven by demand for housing, non-residential property development and additional investment in public infrastructure.
In South America, HDPE pipe demand is forecasted by Freedonia to increase 8.5% annually to 173,000 metric tons by 2017. Investment in sewer and drainage networks is associated with growth in the construction sector. The largest pipe markets in this geography are Brazil and Argentina.
Brazil is the largest country in South America in terms of population, area and economic output. Construction accounted for 75% of the total pipe demand in 2012 and is forecasted to stay near those levels through 2017. Freedonia forecasts HDPE pipe to grow 5.8% annually to 53,000 metric tons by 2017. HDPE is taking market share from PVC in drainage and sewer applications. Brazil has large infrastructure investment occurring related to the country hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Argentina is the second largest pipe market in South America and Freedonia forecasts HDPE pipe demand to increase 8.4% annually to 24,000 metric tons by 2017. Primary end markets are construction, natural resources and agriculture. HDPE is expected to see wider use in drainage and sewer use due to its performance advantages compared to other competitive materials.
According to Freedonia, HDPE pipe is also expected to see solid growth in construction applications in other South American countries such as Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.
Related Water Management Solutions Market
Stormwater Retention/Detention
Current EPA regulations require any development of one acre or larger to retain stormwater on site and gradually release it over time. This is typically accomplished by holding the stormwater in a pond or in an underground system that allows the water to leach gradually into surrounding soil or be discharged at a regulated rate. Underground systems are an economical alternative to retention ponds as they maximize the use of the available land. Ponds also require more maintenance, use valuable land, and present inherent design, aesthetic and safety issues.
Growth in the stormwater retention/detention market is primarily driven by the continued recovery in the construction markets as well as current EPA regulations regulating the discharge of pollutants. According to the Freedonia Special Report, growth of retention/detention solutions is forecasted to grow 7.5% annually from 2013
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to 2016. Over this period, structural solutions such as pipe and plastic chambers are forecasted to grow 8.5%, while natural solutions such as ponds are forecasted to grow at a slower rate of 5.4%. Freedonia forecasts annual growth of 9.0% and 11.5% for plastic pipe and plastic chambers, respectively, from 2013 to 2016 as compared to other alternatives. This growth is due in part to plastic systems offering advantages from ease of installation, lower freight costs, space efficiencies and better corrosion resistance.
Our key product offerings in this market include our N-12 pipe, HP pipe and StormTech chambers. StormTech chambers are durable, chemically-resistant underground chambers that function as stormwater detention or retention systems. The chambers allow for the storage of large stormwater volumes at minimal depths and are primarily used in non-residential applications.
On-Site Septic
According to the EPA, an estimated 20% of total U.S. housing units depend upon on-site septic systems for the treatment and disposal of household sewage. Many of these systems consist of a septic tank and a soil absorption area where effluent is leached into the soil. A common component of all soil absorption lines and/or fields is a type of conduit that distributes the effluent throughout the soil, and the soil has the function of absorbing and treating effluent. The market is driven by new residential construction and, to a lesser extent, the repair and replacement of existing systems.
Structures
Drainage structures, such as manholes, catch basins and inlet structures, are used in all major storm projects in the non-residential, residential and infrastructure markets. Drainage structures move surface collected stormwater vertically down to the pipe conveyance systems. The predominant material used for structures today is concrete. The precast market is highly fragmented with a heavy concentration of local and regional competitors, due to the high freight costs incurred for transportation of the product.
Growth will be driven by the cyclical recovery in the construction markets. We compete in the structures market with our Nyloplast product line. Nyloplast products are an engineered drainage structure with a PVC body combined with ductile iron grates to create effective surface drainage solutions. Nyloplast structures are customized to site specific requirements and delivered ready to install. Limited field fabrication or other job site work such as concrete grouting or brick and mortar is required, which reduces construction cost and increases speed of installation compared to traditional precast concrete structures.
Water Quality
Due to the fact that stormwater runoff collects trash, oil, sediment and other pollutants, EPA regulations require development of one acre or larger to limit the level of sediment or other pollutants in discharged water. Water quality requirements are satisfied through the use of natural water quality systems, such as ponds and wetlands, or structural water quality systems, such as filters and separators. Each state in the United States has a preferred method of water treatment based primarily on environmental factors.
Similar to the retention/detention market, future growth and demand for water quality solutions is supported by increased construction activity, EPA regulations and increasing awareness of ecological issues of water quality. According to the Freedonia Special Report, water quality solutions are forecasted to grow 10.1% annually from 2013 to 2016. Both structural and natural solutions are anticipated to have similar growth rates. Within structural solutions, both separators and filters are forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 10.1%. Structural solutions are ideal for urbanized areas or where land is expensive or not available for natural solutions.
We compete in this market with our Water Quality Units and our BaySaver and FleXstorm products. We offer a water quality solution that fits a specific states requirements and assists owners, developers and design engineers in remaining compliant with the EPA regulations.
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Geosynthetics
The geosynthetics market consists of geotextile, geomembrane, georid and geonet products. Geosynthetics are used in a wide range of environmental and civil engineering applications to promote drainage, retain soils, control the flow of liquids and construct natural soil structures. Demand in this market is primarily driven by trends in nonbuilding and transportation construction activity. In 2012, approximately 60% of the geosynthetics area demand was in the infrastructure and construction markets. According to a study by Freedonia on world Geosynthetics demand (December 2013), U.S. geosynthetics demand is forecasted to grow 6.5% annually to 1.1 billion square meters by 2017, from 765 million square meters in 2012. We offer geotextile products by resale agreements with leading suppliers. We are able to combine our broad product offering with our sales and distribution network to bundle and deliver geotextile products in an efficient and cost effective way for our customers.
Core End Markets
Our end markets include the non-residential construction, residential construction, agricultural and infrastructure markets.
Total Non-Residential and Residential Construction (72% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our total net sales in the U.S. non-residential and residential construction markets were $674.5 million, which represented 72% of our domestic net sales. Our products are used in a diverse range of construction projects, including the construction of streets and highways, storm and sanitary sewer systems for non-residential, residential and industrial projects, golf courses, athletic fields and other construction projects where water management solutions are needed.
Combined non-residential and residential spending reached bottom in 2009 and began to slowly recover. Driven by a recovery in the residential construction market, the combination of these two end markets is forecasted to have a CAGR of 18% from 2012 to 2016, according to McGraw Hill.
Non-Residential Construction (51% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our net sales in the U.S. non-residential construction market were $480.1 million, which represented 51% of our domestic net sales. The main drivers of our products in the non-residential construction markets include the construction of commercial buildings and office parks, shopping centers and other large retail sites, healthcare facilities and hospitals, schools and education facilities and other institutional buildings. The Federal Clean Water Act and other EPA regulations impact the stormwater management and sewer construction markets of the non-residential sector.
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Reed Construction Data is forecasting U.S. non-residential construction, consisting of commercial, institutional, manufacturing and warehouse construction, to grow 6.6% annually from 2013 to 2016 and increase 8.2% in 2014 over 2013.
U.S. Non-Residential Building Construction Starts
Source: Reed Construction Data
Additionally, the American Institute of Architects survey tracking billing activity for the industrial, residential, non-residential and institutional sectors indicates that the building construction markets continue to recover.
Architectural Billings Index Market Activity
Source: American Institute of Architects
Note: | An ABI reading above 50 indicates an increase in month-to-month seasonally adjusted billings and a reading below 50 indicates a decrease in month-to-month seasonally adjusted billings. |
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Residential Construction (21% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our net sales in the U.S. residential construction market were $194.4 million, which represented 21% of our domestic net sales. The main drivers of our products in the residential construction market include large community developments, single-family home construction, multi-family construction and home improvement spending through our various retail channels.
U.S. residential new construction has begun to recover since reaching historic lows during the recent economic downturn. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, new housing starts peaked in 2005 at approximately 2.1 million units, and subsequently declined to approximately 554,000 units in 2009. Housing starts began to recover in 2010, and strengthened to 925,000 in 2013, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. While new housing starts demonstrated an annual growth rate of 16% from 2010 to 2013, current levels remain substantially below the long-term average of 1.5 million starts since the U.S. Census Bureau began reporting the data in 1959. According to McGraw Hill, residential new housing is expected to increase to 1.11 million starts, or 14%, in 2014, and increase to 1.33 million starts, or 20%, in 2015.
As the housing market declined, homebuilders were left with excess inventory of improved lots with existing water drainage infrastructure already in place. From 2010 to 2012, as the housing market began to recover, new home sales and related construction activity occurred on those previously developed lots. As a result, we did not see an increase in sales in the residential real estate market during the early period of the housing recovery, since new home construction was occurring on parcels already developed. As this inventory of previously developed existing lots has been depleted, home builders are now looking for land acquisition and development of new housing construction, a trend which we believe will have a greater positive impact on our sales in this end market moving forward, as compared to sales that occurred during the beginning of the recovery of the housing market.
According to the American Housing Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 61% of the current U.S. housing stock was built before 1980 and the median estimated home age has increased from 23 years in 1985 to 37 years in 2011. We expect the home improvement market to continue to become a larger growth driver as housing markets continue to show growth and home equity values continue to increase. As of September 2013, the Home Improvement Research Institute projects that U.S. sales of repair, renovation and improvement products will grow at a rate of 5.4% in 2013, 6.8% in 2014 and 7.0% in 2015, driven by the improving economy, rising home prices and greater consumer confidence.
Total U.S. Housing Starts | Residential Repair, Renovation and Remodeling | |
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Source: McGraw Hill | Source: HIRI / IHS Global Insight |
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Agriculture (19% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our net sales in the U.S. agriculture market were $176.4 million, which represented 19% of our domestic net sales. Draining cropland improves root development, resulting in stronger crops, as well as allowing for earlier planting in the spring, thereby extending the growing season. Draining cropland also reduces soil erosion by moving water underground rather than allowing it to flow over the soil surface. We have maintained a strong presence in the agriculture market for decades, as local and corporate farmers continue to appreciate the value proposition and increased crop yield associated with the use of our pipe products. The Renewable Fuel Standard mandated by the EPA, as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, establishes levels of renewable fuels that apply to gasoline or diesel produced or imported for use. The standard currently mandates approximately 15 billion gallons of ethanol used for gasoline or diesel use. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that approximately 40% of corn production in the United States is consumed by ethanol production. With ethanol requirements not expected to decline, this combined with the needs of corn for human and livestock consumption, is anticipated to keep demand at strong levels for the foreseeable future.
According to a 1998 study published by The Ohio State University (in cooperation with several U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies and other Midwest land grant universities), improved harvesting technology, including the use of drainage pipe, can improve crop yields and therefore drive growth in the agriculture market. As compared to the previous five-year period from 2004 to 2008, U.S. agricultural exports increased by nearly $230 billion between 2009 and 2013. The past five years represent the strongest five-year period for agricultural exports in the history of the United States.
U.S. and global demand for corn and soybeans, net farm income and corn use for ethanol are significant drivers of our agriculture business and are leading indicators in regards to our product demand. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, agricultural exports were a record $140.9 billion in 2013 and are forecasted to increase 1% in 2014. The average yield of corn for grain production in the United States is estimated at 158.8 bushels per acre, up 35.4 bushels from the 2012 average yield of 123.4. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 87.7 million acres, up slightly from 2012. The average yield per acre of soybean production is estimated at 43.3 bushels, 3.5 bushels above last years yield. Harvested area is down slightly from 2012 to 75.9 million acres. Increases in production levels generate market demand for our products.
A rise in net farm income is a driving factor in growth in the drainage products industry. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, net farm income increased to $130.5 billion in 2013, up from $85.0 billion in 2008. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 40% of corn production in the United States is consumed by ethanol production, with requirements not expected to decline in the near future.
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The average value of cropland in the United States has risen from $1,750 per acre in 2004 to $4,000 in 2013, which in combination with the rise in net farm income leads to greater net worth for farmers. This makes drainage an attractive investment leading to higher land values for improved land, increased yields and lower cost for the farmer.
Average Cropland Value United States
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Infrastructure (9% of Domestic Net Sales in Fiscal Year 2014)
For fiscal year 2014, our net sales in the U.S. infrastructure market were $84.6 million, which represented 9% of our domestic net sales. The main drivers of our products in the infrastructure market include the construction of streets and highways, storm and sanitary sewers, airports and railroads. The infrastructure market includes publicly-funded projects which often require local, state or federal government approvals. Many sanitary sewer construction and repair projects are funded through the implementation of increased water and drainage rates, levies and taxes.
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The aging infrastructure in the United States is expected to require repair or replacement in the coming years. The U.S. road network and sewer systems consist of approximately four million and 800,000 miles, respectively, of public road and highways and sewer mains that were primarily constructed over 50 years ago. The American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE, rated the overall U.S. infrastructure a grade of D+ in its recent 2013 report card, and estimates that $298 billion is needed over the next 20 years to replace and upgrade the existing wastewater infrastructure in the United States. ASCEs primary concern is the need to address sanitary and combined sewer overflows. Citing the 2008 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, the ASCE report states $64 billion is needed to address combined sewer overflows and stormwater management over the 20-year period (CSOs). At times of significant rainfall, the capacity of the CSO is exceeded, leading to a combination of storm and sanitary wastewater being discharged into streams and rivers. The ASCE report states that 32% of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. The report also states that 42% of the urban highways remain congested, costing $101 billion in wasted time and fuel. There are four million miles of public roads and highways in the United States, primarily constructed over 50 years ago. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that $170 billion is needed annually to improve the condition of the nations roads and highways, a significant increase from the $101 billion that is needed to just maintain their current condition.
Street and Highway Spending | Sewer Spending | |
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Source: McGraw Hill
The recently enacted highway bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), was signed into law in July 2012 and provides funding for federal transportation programs through the U.S. federal governments fiscal year ending September 30, 2014 with annual funding levels approximating the levels in the U.S. federal governments fiscal year ended September 30, 2012. Typically, federal funding for road construction represents 25-35% of a states transportation budget, but analysts believe that the federal program heavily impacts each States overall ability to plan and fund the majority of larger state/local road construction projects, which generally range in duration from one to five years. Most notable within MAP-21 is the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) programs expansion and simplification, which could potentially increase the overall reach of the federal construction budget by about 50%. The majority of Map-21s direct budget authority is through regular highway grants, which provides states with funding of $37.5 billion in the U.S. federal governments fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 and $37.8 billion in the U.S. federal governments fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, essentially flat versus the U.S. federal governments fiscal year ended September 30, 2012.
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Company Overview
We are the leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe, providing a comprehensive suite of water management products and superior drainage solutions for use in the construction and infrastructure marketplace. Our innovative products are used across a broad range of end markets and applications, including non-residential, residential, agriculture and infrastructure applications. We have established a leading position in many of these end markets by leveraging our national sales and distribution platform, our overall product breadth and scale and our manufacturing excellence. In North America, our national footprint combined with our strong local presence and broad product offering makes us the leader in an otherwise highly fragmented sector comprised of many smaller competitors. We believe the markets we serve in the United States represent approximately $10.1 billion of annual revenue opportunity. In addition, we believe the increasing acceptance of thermoplastic pipe products in international markets represents an attractive growth opportunity. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, we generated net sales of $1,069.0 million, net income of $12.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $147.0 million and, as of March 31, 2014, we had $454.0 million of total outstanding debt. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, see Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data.
Our products are generally lighter, more durable, more cost effective and easier to install than comparable alternatives made with traditional materials. Following our entrance into the non-residential construction market with the introduction of N-12 corrugated polyethylene pipe in the late 1980s, our pipe has been displacing traditional materials, such as reinforced concrete, corrugated steel and polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, across an ever expanding range of end markets. This has allowed us to consistently gain share and achieve above market growth throughout economic cycles. We expect to continue to drive conversion to our products from traditional products as contractors, civil design engineers and municipal agencies increasingly acknowledge the superior physical attributes and compelling value proposition of our thermoplastic products. In addition, we believe that overall demand for our products will benefit as the regulatory environment continues to evolve.
Our broad product line includes corrugated high density polyethylene (or HDPE) pipe, polypropylene (or PP) pipe and related water management products. Building on our core drainage businesses, we have aggressively pursued attractive ancillary product categories such as storm and septic chambers, PVC drainage structures, fittings and filters, and water quality filters and separators. We refer to these ancillary product categories as Allied Products. Given the scope of our overall sales and distribution platform, we have been able to drive growth within our Allied Products and believe there are significant growth opportunities going forward.
We have an extensive domestic network of 48 manufacturing plants and 19 distribution centers allowing us to effectively serve all major markets in the United States, which we define as the largest 100 metropolitan statistical areas based on population. The effective shipping radius for our pipe products is approximately 200 miles, thus competition in our industry tends to be on a regional and local basis with minimal competition from distant markets and imports. We are the only supplier of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe in our industry with a national footprint, thereby allowing us to efficiently service those customers that value having one source of supply throughout their entire distribution network. We believe our extensive national footprint creates a cost and service advantage versus our HDPE pipe producing competitors, the largest of which has only 10 domestic HDPE pipe manufacturing plants. Internationally, we have two manufacturing plants and three distribution centers in Canada, four manufacturing plants in Mexico, four manufacturing plants and five distribution centers in South America and one distribution center in Europe.
The majority of our sales are made through long-standing distribution relationships with many of the largest national and independent waterworks distributors, including Ferguson, HD Supply and WinWholesale, who sell primarily to the storm sewer and sanitary sewer markets. We also utilize a network of hundreds of small to medium-sized independent distributors across the United States. We have strong relationships with major national retailers that carry drainage products, including The Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, Menards and Do it Best, and also sell to buying groups and co-ops in the United States that serve the plumbing, hardware,
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irrigation and landscaping markets. The combination of our large sales force, long-standing retail and contractor customer relationships and extensive network of manufacturing and distribution facilities complements and strengthens our broad customer and market coverage.
We believe the ADS brand has long been associated with quality products and market-leading performance. Our trademarked green stripe, which is prominently displayed on many of our products, serves as clear identification of our commitment to the customers and markets we serve.
As illustrated in the charts below, we provide a broad range of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and related water management products to a highly diversified set of end markets and geographies.
Segment Information
For a discussion of segment information, see Note 20, Business Segments Information to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Our Strengths
We believe that we benefit significantly from the following competitive strengths:
Market leader with unmatched scale
We are the leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and a leading manufacturer of related water management products. Our significant scale and market share position enable us to manufacture and distribute a broad range of high quality, attractively priced products. Our industry-leading manufacturing, engineering excellence, product innovation and world-class reputation are significant competitive advantages. We believe we have the largest sales force in the industry, with approximately 230 dedicated direct sales professionals that call on engineers, contractors and developers, allowing us to achieve direct access to
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numerous selling opportunities and end users. We believe our extensive national footprint of 48 manufacturing plants and 19 distribution centers creates a cost and service advantage versus our HDPE pipe producing competitors, the largest of which has only 10 domestic HDPE pipe manufacturing plants. We maintain an in-house fleet of approximately 625 tractor-trailers and approximately 1,100 trailers that are specially designed to haul our lightweight pipe and fittings products. Our effective shipping radius is approximately 200 miles from one of our manufacturing plants or distribution centers. Our world-class manufacturing expertise and extensive national distribution and fleet network allow us to service customers across the United States on a cost-effective and timely basis. Our long-standing customer relationships also provide us with visibility to attractive market opportunities.
Well positioned to drive continued material conversion
Our products are generally lighter, more durable, more cost effective and easier to install than comparable alternatives made with traditional materials. For example, concrete pipe generally weighs more than 20 times as much per foot as our thermoplastic pipe, resulting in the significant handling advantages that our product line enjoys during installation by contractors. These advantages typically provide our thermoplastic pipe with an installed cost advantage of approximately 20% over concrete pipe. High performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe represented approximately 25% of the total storm sewer market in 2012, up from what we believe was less than 10% ten years ago and less than 1% twenty years ago. We believe the penetration rate will continue to increase over time, as contractors, engineers and municipal agencies increasingly acknowledge the superior attributes and compelling value proposition of our thermoplastic products. We believe the recent introduction of our PP pipe products will also help accelerate this conversion given the additional applications for which our PP pipe products can be used. We continue to drive this material conversion through extensive sales force training and education of our customers. Our direct sales team is supported by approximately 50 field-based engineers who work closely with government agencies to obtain regulatory approval for our products, as well as with civil engineering firms influencing the specification of our products on construction projects. We have been at the forefront of educating an industry undergoing significant change in the regulatory environment, while pushing for expanded approvals of our products in new markets and geographies. Since 2006, 32 states have enhanced their approval of our pipe products, and an average of approximately 60 state, county and municipal approvals have been added or enhanced each year over the past five years.
Broad portfolio of Allied Products
Our Allied Products include storm and septic chambers, PVC drainage structures, fittings and filters and water separators. These products complement our pipe product lines and allow us to offer a comprehensive water management solution to our customers and drive organic growth.
We have a long history of leveraging our broad distribution platform to develop or acquire, and market, complementary Allied Products that provide new technologies and product capabilities, such as Nyloplast, StormTech, FleXstorm and Inserta Tee. Given our strong brand recognition, network of customer and distributor relationships and large team of trained salespeople, we believe we are the acquirer of choice for many providers of ancillary products who wish to partner with an industry leader. Our broad product line and reputation for quality provide our sales force with a competitive advantage in sourcing new opportunities and cross-selling products. Our broadly diversified product offering presents our customers with the ability to purchase a comprehensive water management solution from a single vendor. The breadth of our product offering allows distributors to minimize their number of transactions and keep order minimums low. Our ability to offer a diverse product suite is a key selling strategy and a driver of our growth and profitability.
Industry-leading manufacturing and technical expertise
We believe we have developed a reputation in the industry for products that deliver technically-superior performance with lower installation and maintenance costs versus competing products. Our products are: (i) lightweight and flexible allowing for easy and low-cost installation and thereby significantly reducing the
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need for heavy equipment; (ii) strong the corrugated profile design of our thermoplastic pipe products provides strength comparable to much heavier materials; (iii) resistant to corrosion polyethylene and polypropylene are chemically inert materials; and (iv) resistant to abrasion polyethylene and polypropylene have an excellent service life expectancy. We believe these characteristics provide our products with a competitive advantage over traditional products.
Our manufacturing process utilizes proprietary production equipment, designed by us in partnership with our equipment suppliers, that we believe is faster and more efficient than the equipment available to other companies. Our significant investment in custom-designed mold and die tooling ($173 million investment over the last nine years) allows us to manufacture a variety of corrugated pipe sizes and provides us with the flexibility to meet demand fluctuations in local regions. In addition, we rotate these setups across our network of manufacturing plants as needed to meet demand, which provides us with a unique competitive advantage. We believe that the footprint of our manufacturing plants, combined with our manufacturing technology and a low-cost production profile, provide a significant competitive advantage. The broad range of pipe sizes and custom products that we produce and maintain in finished goods inventory at numerous manufacturing plants and distribution centers provides our customers with a rapid delivery cycle, which is important to project contractors. We employ proprietary resin blending technology to minimize raw material cost and optimize production efficiency, while maintaining a consistent level of product performance. Utilizing this technology has allowed us to increase our ratio of recycled resin as a percent of total resin from approximately 24% in fiscal year 2005 to approximately 58% in fiscal year 2014, resulting in significant cost savings and reduced exposure to fluctuations in raw material costs.
Long-term customer relationships
We believe we have the largest and most experienced sales force in the industry, which allows us to maintain strong, long-standing relationships with key distributors, contractors and engineers. We also have sales agreements with many of the premier national distributor groups.
The combination of our technical expertise, product selection and customer delivery capabilities allows us to meet our customers critical installation schedules and positions us as a strategic partner. We strive to educate the regulatory and design community while offering the distributor and contractor network a comprehensive product suite. Our products are manufactured, assembled, delivered and serviced from a network of plants and yards that are strategically positioned in close proximity to most major domestic geographic markets.
We strive to be meaningfully involved in all phases of the project cycle, including design, bidding, award and installation. Many of our 230 sales professionals have technical or engineering backgrounds, which helps them educate design specialists on the benefits of our products. Our direct sales force is supported by approximately 50 field-based engineers who work closely with government agencies to obtain regulatory approval for our products and also help educate design engineers to encourage the specification and inclusion of our products into new projects. We consistently maintain thousands of touch-points with customers and regulatory authorities, continuously educating them on new product innovations, regulatory changes and the benefits of our products over traditional products. Our national scale combined with our local presence, dedication to service and broad product offering has enabled us to maintain our long-standing customer relationships.
Highly diversified across end markets, channels and geographies
We are strategically diversified across a broad range of end markets, distribution channels and geographies. We believe the markets we serve in the United States represent approximately $10.1 billion of annual revenue opportunity. Our products are used globally in a diverse range of end markets across non-residential construction, residential construction, agriculture and infrastructure. These end markets include storm sewer systems, agriculture, retail, stormwater retention/detention, on-site septic systems and structures. We maintain and service
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these end markets through strong product distribution relationships with many of the largest national and independent waterworks distributors, including Ferguson, HD Supply and WinWholesale, who sell primarily to the storm sewer and sanitary sewer markets. We also maintain relationships with a network of hundreds of small to medium-sized distributors across the United States. We also have strong relationships with major national retailers that carry drainage products, including The Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, Menards and Do it Best. We also sell through a broad variety of buying groups and co-ops in the United States. These groups are made up of related distribution members that leverage their collective buying power under a unified association. In addition to our large sales force and manufacturing footprint, our preferred vendor status with these groups allows us to reach thousands of locations in an effective manner. Organized buying groups include, but are not limited to, building products, waterworks, plumbing, landscaping, irrigation and hardware.
We serve our customers in all 50 U.S. states as well as approximately 90 other countries. Our domestic sales, which represented approximately 88% of our net sales in fiscal year 2014, are diversified across all regions of the United States. Approximately 12% of our net sales in fiscal year 2014 were generated outside of the United States. Our international growth strategy is focused on expanding our Canadian business and our joint ventures with best-in-class local partners in Mexico, Central America and South America. This joint venture strategy has provided us with local and regional access to markets such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia.
Experienced management team with successful operating record and significant equity ownership
Our management team, led by our Chief Executive Officer, Joe Chlapaty, has an average of over 23 years of industry experience. We have a long history of generating profitable growth, attractive margins and cash flow. During periods of weaker economic conditions, we believe we have benefitted from an increased market focus on our products as a cost effective alternative to traditional materials. In stronger economic cycles, we have delivered profitable growth and an ability to leverage our scale and excess production capacity to meet rapid increases in demand. We believe we have managed our cost profile and profitability throughout economic cycles by driving continuous improvement initiatives in our manufacturing, distribution and service operations. Raw material costs are a significant portion of the cost of our pipe products, but we have been successful over time at passing through raw material cost increases to maintain our margins.
Our management and directors own approximately 20% of our capital stock on a fully-converted basis while our employees own an additional approximately 28% on a fully-converted basis through our employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP. After the completion of this offering, our management and directors will own approximately % of our common stock on a fully-converted basis. In addition, after the completion of this offering, the convertible preferred stock held by our ESOP will account for approximately % of our common stock on a fully-converted basis. This high level of management and employee ownership ensures that incentives are closely aligned with equity holders.
Our Business Strategy
We intend to grow our net sales, improve our profitability and enhance our position as the leading provider of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and related water management products by executing on the following strategies.
Continue to drive conversion to our products
Our products are generally lighter, more durable, more cost effective and easier to install than comparable alternatives made with traditional materials such as concrete, steel and PVC. For example, concrete pipe generally weighs more than 20 times as much per foot as our thermoplastic pipe, resulting in the significant handling advantages that our product line enjoys during installation by contractors. These advantages typically provide our thermoplastic pipe with an installed cost advantage of approximately 20% over concrete pipe. We
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intend to continue to drive conversion to our products from traditional products as contractors, engineers and municipal agencies increasingly acknowledge the superior attributes and compelling value proposition of our thermoplastic products. Expanded regulatory approvals allow for their use in new markets and geographies, and we continue to invest heavily in industry education. We believe we are the industry leader in these efforts, particularly in promoting N-12 and SaniTite HP for storm and sanitary sewer systems, as regulatory approvals are essential to the specification and acceptance of these product lines.
The market conversion opportunities in Canada are similar to those in the United States except that the storm sewer market for HDPE and PP corrugated pipe is less developed. Recent approvals are accelerating the replacement of traditional materials. In Mexico, Central America and South America, sales opportunities to replace PVC pipe and concrete pipe in storm sewer, sanitary sewer, highway and electrical conduit markets continue to gain momentum as our sales force focuses on future market development.
Expand our product offering and markets served
We are able to successfully capitalize on our product development capabilities through our market presence, sales and distribution channels and customer relationships. Our ability to further develop our offering of Allied Products represents an attractive opportunity to capture additional growth and improve our overall margins. We have a dedicated team focused solely on selling Allied Products to our various end markets. We will continue to focus on enhancing our core products and expanding our Allied Products through cross-selling opportunities in order to further penetrate untapped markets and customers.
Our strong market position provides us with insight into the evolving needs of our customers, which has allowed us to proactively develop and deliver comprehensive water management solutions. The strength of our overall sales and distribution platform has allowed us to acquire new Allied Products and deliver solution-based product portfolios that typically result in significantly higher net sales post-acquisition than the products generated before the addition to our product portfolio.
We recently developed and introduced several innovative new products: SaniTite HP pipe for the storm sewer and sanitary sewer markets and StormTech Mega-Chamber products for the stormwater retention/detention market. These products are opening new avenues of growth for us and are providing access to new customers, selling opportunities and product conversion.
| SaniTite HP is a higher-performance polypropylene-based version of our popular N-12 product that is the result of more than three years and $3 million of R&D as well as $25 million of investments in production capacity. SaniTite HP offers us a large diameter (12 to 60) storm and sanitary sewer product line to compete with PVC, concrete and steel pipe in the storm and sanitary sewer markets. Higher performance characteristics are driving sales growth through new and expanded regulatory approvals. |
| Our StormTech Mega-Chamber stormwater retention/detention chambers are innovative new products that deliver increased underground storage with a compact product installation footprint, providing an attractive design option for engineers working on project sites where land is limited and/or expensive. These new chambers enable us to continue to accelerate our market share capture from large diameter corrugated metal pipe and pond-based retention/detention while accelerating the growth of Nyloplast basins, related water quality filters and pipe product sales. |
We also expect to continue to enter into selective adjacent new markets that leverage our sales and engineering capabilities, customer relationships and national distribution network and provide more water management solutions to our customers.
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Expand our presence in attractive new geographies
Outside of the United States, we believe thermoplastic corrugated pipe represents a small part of the overall market. We further believe there is significant opportunity to convert new geographies based on the overall performance and value of our products, similar to what continues to occur in our existing markets. For example, in terms of opportunity for our products, the Canadian market is similar to the United States. The establishment of our facilities, sales and engineering teams in Canada strengthens our position and gives us a local presence in order to capitalize on these opportunities. To date, in order to increase our speed to market, we have expanded internationally primarily through joint ventures with best-in-class local partners. Our existing joint ventures provide us with access to markets such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and Colombia. Combining a local partners customer relationships, brand recognition and local management talent, with our world-class manufacturing and process expertise, broad product portfolio and innovation, creates a strong platform with additional opportunities for international expansion. Our South American Joint Venture recently opened a second manufacturing plant in northeast Brazil to better service our growing business in this portion of the country, as well as doubling our production capacity to make N-12 pipe.
The introduction of our products in Brazil, Chile and other South American countries offers additional growth opportunities in areas where there is an increasing focus on the positive impact of drainage for roads and non-residential and residential construction. In the future, we will continue to identify new geographies to access markets through joint venture relationships with domestic partners in targeted areas.
Capitalize on growth related to the recovery in our primary end markets
We believe we are well positioned to take advantage of renewed growth and recovery in the non-residential and residential construction and infrastructure markets in the United States. As it has in prior cycles, the recovery in non-residential construction has lagged residential recovery but began to improve modestly in 2012. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the new residential construction market in the United States is in the midst of a recovery after declining to an historic low of 554,000 housing starts in 2009. In 2013, new housing starts were 966,000, and McGraw Hill projects growth of 14% in 2014, 20% in 2015 and 15% in 2016, when total housing starts are expected to reach their 50-year average of 1.5 million, when total housing starts are expected to reach their 50-year average of 1.5 million. Additionally, we believe we have the potential to capitalize on a substantial backlog of deferred infrastructure spending in the United States as a result of upgrades and repairs that were delayed in the recent economic downturn. Spending on the replacement of aging water drainage and sewer infrastructure (estimated to cost approximately $298 billion between 2013 and 2033, according to ASCE), and stricter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, guidelines for stormwater and wastewater management will drive additional demand for our products.
Continue our focus on operational excellence
Our focus on continuously improving operating efficiencies, reducing costs and improving product quality has enabled us to improve our position as a leading low-cost provider. We believe our lower production cost profile and a rapid customer delivery cycle serves as a significant competitive advantage.
We constantly strive to achieve operating and cost efficiencies across all facets of our business. For example, we employ sophisticated resin blending technology to minimize raw material costs and optimize production efficiency, while maintaining a high level of product quality and performance. We have implemented continuous improvement practices across all plants; and currently have three plant sites with comprehensive lean-six sigma-5S programs in early phases of implementation. We are already realizing benefits from these initiatives in many areas including product quality, productivity, safety, uptime and customer service.
Our production lines are built with transportable mold and die tooling, which provides us with the flexibility to maximize production capacity and leverage capital expenditures. We have a dedicated team of approximately 40 skilled tradesmen (tool and die machinists, fabricators, electricians) who build, service and maintain our molds and dies along with various plant equipment. This affords us high levels of uptime, equipment consistency
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and standardization and a low cost basis versus externally sourced machine shop services. We also have a specialized group of approximately 15 mechanical and industrial engineers who focus on optimizing efficiency, outfitting facilities and training employees and ensuring that we employ best practices across all of our locations.
Selectively pursue strategic acquisitions
By utilizing our customer relationships and sales force, we have a demonstrated ability to identify and integrate numerous strategic acquisitions. We believe our strong reputation for product growth, as well as our strong brand recognition, network of customer and distributor relationships and large team of trained salespeople, has allowed us to become the acquirer of choice, as demonstrated by our ability to identify new technologies and product capabilities and thereafter acquire such technologies and products. The acquisitions of strategic product lines such as BaySaver, FleXstorm, Nyloplast, Inserta Tee and StormTech have strengthened our market position while enhancing long-term growth and profitability and are examples of our ability to complete and integrate acquisition opportunities. These strategic additions have allowed us to expand our suite of water management products.
We have remained one of the strongest and best capitalized companies in the industry throughout the recent economic cycle and are well positioned to capitalize on current market dynamics to selectively acquire key products and technologies. We have strong industry relationships and maintain an active acquisition pipeline.
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Product Portfolio
We design, manufacture and market a complete line of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and related water management products for use in a wide range of end markets. Our product line includes: single, double and triple wall corrugated polypropylene and polyethylene pipe, or Pipe, and a variety of Allied Products including: storm and septic chambers, or Chambers; PVC drainage structures, or Structures; fittings and filters, or Fittings; and water quality filters and separators, or Water Quality. We also sell various complementary products distributed through resale agreements, including geotextile soil stabilization products, or Other Resale.
An overview of our product offerings is provided below:
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Pipe
Dual Wall Corrugated Pipe
Our N-12 is a dual wall HDPE pipe with a corrugated exterior for strength and a smooth interior wall for hydraulics and flow capacity. Our N-12 pipe competes in the storm sewer and drainage markets that are also served by concrete pipe.
Our N-12 pipe is available in 17 different diameters ranging from 2 to 60 and in sections ranging from 10 to 30 in length. N-12 provides joint integrity, with integral bell and spigot joints for fast push-together installation, and is also sold with watertight and soil-tight coupling and fitting systems.
Our corrugated polyethylene pipe offers many benefits including ease of installation, job-site handling and resistance to corrosion and abrasion. Corrugated pipe can easily be cut or coupled together, providing precise laying lengths while minimizing installation waste and difficulty.
HP Storm Pipe and SaniTite HP Pipe
Our HP Storm pipe utilizes polypropylene resin, which provides (i) increased pipe stiffness relative to HDPE; (ii) higher Environmental Stress Crack Resistance, or ESCR; and (iii) improved thermal properties, which improves joint performance. These improved physical characteristics result in a reduced need for select backfill, which creates installation savings for customers, and increase the effective service life of the product, which reduces the overall product cost and expands the range of possible product applications.
Our SaniTite HP pipe utilizes the same polypropylene resins as our HP Storm pipe but includes a smooth third exterior wall in 30 to 60 pipe. The highly engineered polypropylene resin along with the triple wall design enables SaniTite HP to surpass the 46 pounds per square inch, or psi, stiffness requirement for sanitary sewer applications. SaniTite HP offers cost and performance advantages relative to reinforced concrete pipe (such as improved hydraulics and better joint integrity) and PVC pipe (such as impact resistance).
Single Wall Corrugated Pipe
Our single-wall corrugated HDPE pipe is ideal for drainage projects where flexibility, light weight and low cost are important. Single wall HDPE pipe products have been used for decades in agricultural drainage, highway edge drains, septic systems and other construction applications. In the agricultural market, improved technology has highlighted the impact of drainage on crop yields. For homeowners, it is an economical and easily-installed solution for downspout run-offs, foundation drains, driveway culverts and general lawn drainage. Single wall pipe is also used for golf courses, parks and athletic fields to keep surfaces dry by channeling away excess underground moisture.
Standard single-wall products are available in 2 to 24 diameters and sold in varying lengths. Pipe with 2 to 6 diameters is typically sold in coils ranging from 25 to 3,000 in length, while larger diameter pipe is typically sold in 20 lengths. Pipe can be either perforated or non-perforated depending on the particular drainage application.
Triple Wall Corrugated Pipe and Smoothwall HDPE Pipe
Our ADS-3000 Triple Wall pipe, small diameter triple wall corrugated pipe, consists of a corrugated polyethylene wall molded between a smooth white outer wall and a smooth black inner wall. This combination of the three wall design adds strength and stiffness, while reducing weight as compared to PVC 2729. Triple Wall is produced in two sizes, 3 and 4, and sold through our distribution network.
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We also manufacture smoothwall HDPE pipe in 3, 4, and 6 diameters that are sold into the residential drainage and on-site septic systems markets.
Allied Products
We produce a range of additional water management products that are complementary to our pipe products. Our Allied Products offer adjacent technologies to our core pipe offering, presenting a complete drainage solution for our clients and customers. This combination of pipe and Allied Products is a key strategy in our sales growth, profitability and market share penetration. The practice of selling a drainage system is attractive for distributors and the end user, by providing a broad package of products that can be sold on individual projects, and strengthens our competitive advantage in the marketplace. We aggressively seek and evaluate new products, technologies and regulatory changes that impact our customers needs for Allied Products.
Using the strength of our overall sales and distribution platform, our Allied Product strategy allows us to more deeply penetrate our end markets and anticipate the evolving needs of our customers. The underground construction industry has historically been project (not product) driven, creating the impetus for owners, engineers and contractors to seek manufacturers that deliver solution-based product portfolios. Many of the components of underground construction are related and require linear compatibility of function, regulatory approval and technology.
Storm and Septic Chambers
Our StormTech chambers are used for stormwater retention, detention and first flush underground water storage systems on non-residential site development and public projects. These highly engineered chambers are injection molded from high density polyethylene and polypropylene resins into a proprietary design which provides strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion. The chambers allow for the efficient storage of stormwater volume at minimum depths, reducing the underground construction footprint and costs to the contractors, developers, and property owners. Our StormTech chambers offer great flexibility in design and layout of underground water storage system. They are an attractive alternative to open ponds by reducing ongoing maintenance and liability and providing more useable land for development. Stormwater runoff is collected and stored in rows of chambers and gradually reenters the water table through a gravel base, reducing erosion and protecting waterways. The chambers are open bottom, which allows for high density stacking in both storage and shipment. This freight-efficient feature drives favorable cost-competitiveness in serving long-distance export markets. These chamber systems typically incorporate our other product lines such as corrugated pipe, fabricated fittings, water quality units and geotextiles.
Our ARC and BioDiffuser products are chambers that are used in on-site septic systems for residential and small volume non-residential wastewater treatment and disposal. Rural homes and communities that do not have access to central sewer lines require an on-site septic solution. Our ARC and BioDiffuser chamber products are installed and perform their septic treatment function without gravel, reducing costs to the contractor and homeowner over traditional pipe and stone systems. States and municipalities have different sizing criteria for on-site septic treatment systems based on soil and site conditions. The innovative design of our ARC chamber is generally approved for a footprint reduction, further reducing the cost of the septic system. Injection-molded from high density polyethylene, these products are strong, durable, and chemical-resistant. These interconnecting chambers are favored by septic contractors because they are lightweight, easy to install and offer articulating features which increase site-specific design flexibility.
Structures
Our Nyloplast PVC drainage structures are used in non-residential, residential and municipal site development, road and highway construction, as well as landscaping, recreational, industrial and mechanical applications. The product family includes inline drains, drain basins, curb inlets and water control structures
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which move surface-collected stormwater vertically down to pipe conveyance systems. These custom structures are fabricated from sections of PVC pipe using a thermo-forming process to achieve exact site-specific hydraulic design requirements. Our Nyloplast products are a preferred alternative to heavier and larger concrete structures, by offering greater design flexibility and improved ease of installation which reduces overall project costs and timelines. The structures incorporate rubber gaskets to ensure watertight connections, preventing soil infiltration which plagues competitive products.
Our Inserta Tee product line consists of a PVC hub, rubber sleeve and stainless steel band. Inserta Tee is compression fit into the cored wall of a mainline pipe and can be used with all pipe material types and profiles. This product offers an easy tap-in to existing sanitary and storm sewers by limiting the excavation needed for installation compared to competitive materials.
Fittings
We produce fittings and couplings utilizing blow molding, injection molding and custom fabrication in addition to protective filters on our pipe products. Our innovative coupling and fitting products are highly complementary to our broader product suite, and include both soil-tight and water-tight capabilities across the full pipe diameter spectrum. Our fittings are sold in all end markets where we sell our current pipe products.
Water Quality
Our BaySaver product line targets the removal of sediment, debris, oils and suspended solids throughout a stormwater rain event by separating and/or filtering unwanted pollutants. Our BaySeparators can be fabricated into multiple sizing combinations to fit a variety of applications and customer requirements. These products assist owners, developers and design engineers in remaining compliant with discharge requirements set forth by the EPA as well as state and local regulatory agencies. Our BaySaver product line coupled with our pipe, StormTech chambers, fabricated fittings, Nyloplast structures, FleXstorm inlet protection systems and geotextiles make up a comprehensive stormwater management solution.
Construction Fabrics & Geotextiles
We purchase and distribute construction fabrics and other geosynthetic products for soil stabilization, reinforcement, filtration, separation, erosion control, and sub-surface drainage. Constructed of woven and non-woven polypropylene, geotextile products provide permanent, cost-efficient site-development solutions. Construction fabrics and geotextiles have applications in all of our end markets.
Customers
We have a large, active customer base of over 17,000 customers, with no customer representing more than 10% of fiscal year 2014 net sales. Our customer base is diversified across the range of end markets that we serve.
A majority of our sales are made through distributors, including many of the largest national and independent waterworks distributors, with whom we have long-standing distribution relationships. These include Ferguson, HD Supply and WinWholesale, who sell primarily to the storm sewer and sanitary sewer markets. We also utilize a network of hundreds of small to medium-sized independent distributors across the United States. We have strong relationships with major national retailers that carry drainage products, including The Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, Menards and Do it Best. We offer the most complete line of HDPE products in the industry and are the only national manufacturer that can service the Big-Box retailers from coast-to-coast. We also sell to buying groups and co-ops in the United States that serve the plumbing, hardware, irrigation and landscaping markets. Selling to buying groups and co-ops provides us a further presence on a national, regional and local basis for the distribution of our products. Our preferred vendor status with these groups allows us to reach thousands of locations in an effective manner. Members of these groups and co-ops generally are
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independent businesses with strong relationships and brand recognition with smaller contractors and homeowners in their local markets. The combination of our large sales force, long-standing retail and contractor customer relationships and extensive network of manufacturing and distribution facilities complements and strengthens our broad customer and market coverage.
An important element of our growth strategy has been our focus on industry education efforts to drive regulatory approvals for our core HDPE products at national, state and local levels. We employ a team of approximately 50 field-based engineers who work closely with government agencies to obtain regulatory approvals for our products, and also with civil engineering firms to specify our products on non-residential construction and road-building projects. We consistently maintain an active dialogue with customers, civil engineers and municipal authorities, continuously educating them on new product innovations and their advantages relative to traditional products. With the introduction of our N-12 HP storm and sanitary pipe, we have refocused our efforts calling on state departments of transportation to enhance their approval of our pipe products. Additional state and local regulatory approvals will continue to present new growth opportunities in new and existing geographic markets for us.
For example, we have recently obtained approval for HP pipe use in several areas that had previously not approved our N-12 HDPE product Colorado DOT, Missouri DOT, City of Atlanta, Metro St. Louis Sewer District, City of Indianapolis, Denver Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, and New York City Department of Buildings.
Our customer service organization of more than 100 employees is supplemented by the employees of our 58 manufacturing plants, 28 distribution centers and drivers of our approximately 625 tractor-trailers. In conjunction with our field sales and engineering team, this highly-trained and competent staff allows us to maintain more customer touch points and interaction than any of our competitors.
We staff and operate four regional customer service call centers located in three time zones where orders are processed. With some of our larger customers, we process orders electronically via electronic data interchange (EDI). Additionally, we send advance shipment notifications and invoices electronically to these customers. These capabilities strengthen the supply chain integration with large customers such as The Home Depot, Lowes, Ferguson and HD Supply. New orders are entered into our Oracle system, assigned to our closest manufacturing plant or distribution center in that geography, and then consolidated to optimize freight efficiency, payload and lead-time performance to meet customer requirements.
Sales and Marketing
We believe we have the largest and most experienced sales force in the industry, with approximately 230 dedicated direct sales professionals that call on engineers, contractors, distributors and developers. Offering the broadest product line in the industry enables our sales force to source the greatest number of new opportunities and more effectively cross-sell products than any of our competitors. We consistently maintain thousands of touch-points with customers, civil engineers and municipal authorities, continuously educating them on new product innovations and their advantages relative to traditional products. We believe we are the industry leader in these efforts and we view this work as an important part of our marketing strategy, particularly in promoting N-12 and SaniTite HP for storm and sanitary sewer systems, as regulatory approvals are essential to the specification and acceptance of these product lines.
Our sales and marketing strategy is divided into four components comprehensive market coverage, diverse product offerings, readily-available local inventory and specification efforts. Our goal is to provide the distributor/owner with the most complete, readily-available product line in our industry. We strive to use our manufacturing footprint, product portfolio and market expertise to efficiently service our customers.
Our sales and engineering objective is to influence, track and quote all selling opportunities as early in the project life cycle as possible. Conceptual project visibility allows sales and engineering professionals the ability
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to influence design specifications and increase the probability of inclusion of our products in bid documents. We strive to be meaningfully involved in all phases of the project cycle, including design, bidding, award and installation. In addition to direct channel customers, we also maintain and develop relationships with federal agencies, municipal agencies, national standard regulators, private consulting engineers and architects. Our consistent interaction with these market participants enables us to continue our market penetration. This ongoing dialogue has positioned us as an industry resource for design guidance and product development and as a respected expert in water management solutions.
Seasonality
Historically, sales of our products have been higher in the first and second quarters of each fiscal year due to favorable weather and longer daylight conditions accelerating construction activity during these periods. Seasonal variations in operating results may also be impacted by inclement weather conditions, such as cold or wet weather, which can delay projects.
In the non-residential, residential and infrastructure markets in the northern United States and Canada, construction activity typically begins to increase in late March and is slower in December, January and February. In the southern and western United States, Mexico, Central America and South America, the construction markets are less seasonal. The agricultural drainage market is concentrated in the early spring just prior to planting and in the fall just after crops are harvested prior to freezing of the ground in winter.
Manufacturing and Distribution Platform
We have a leading domestic and international manufacturing and distribution infrastructure, serving customers in all 50 U.S. states as well as approximately 90 other countries through 58 manufacturing plants and 28 distribution centers including the facilities owned or leased by our joint ventures. We also operate an in-house fleet of 625 tractor-trailers. Our effective shipping radius is approximately 200 miles from one of our manufacturing plants or distribution centers. Our scale and extensive network of facilities provide a critical cost advantage versus our competitors, as we are able to more efficiently transport products to our customers and end users and to promote faster product shipments due to our proximity to the delivery location.
The combination of a dedicated fleet and team of company drivers allows greater flexibility and responsiveness in meeting dynamic customer jobsite delivery expectations. We strive to achieve less than three-day lead-time on deliveries, and have the added benefit of redeploying fleet and driver assets to respond to short-term regional spikes in sales activity. For deliveries that are outside an economic delivery radius of our truck fleet, common carrier deliveries are tendered using Nistevo, a customized software platform to ensure that lowest delivered freight costs are achieved. In addition, in the United States and Canada, more than 10% of our pipe volume is sold on a pick-up or walk-in basis at our plant and yard locations, further leveraging our footprint and lowering freight cost per pound and per revenue dollar.
Our North American truck fleet incorporates approximately 1,100 trailers that are specially designed to haul our lightweight pipe and fittings products. These designs maximize payload versus conventional over the road trailers and facilitate unassisted unloading of our products at the jobsites by our drivers. The scope of fleet operations also includes backhaul of purchased raw materials providing a lower delivered cost to our plant locations.
We have expanded internationally primarily through joint ventures with best-in-class local partners. This joint venture strategy has provided us with local and regional access to markets such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and Colombia. These international facilities produce pipe and related products to be sold in their respective regional markets. Combining a local partners customer relationships, brand recognition and local management talent, with our world-class manufacturing and process expertise, broad product portfolio and innovation, creates a powerful platform and exciting opportunities for continued international expansion.
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Manufacturing Process
We manufacture our corrugated pipe products in 17 different diameters ranging from 2 to 60 using a continuous extrusion process, where molten polyethylene or polypropylene is pushed through a die into a moving series of corrugated U-shaped molds. Blow air and vacuum are used to form the corrugations of the pipe which is pulled through a corrugator and then cut to length. We utilize customized and proprietary production equipment, which we believe is faster and more cost efficient than other pipe making equipment generally available in the market.
Domestically, we operate approximately 120 pipe production lines that collectively are capable of producing more than one billion pounds of pipe annually on a standard five-day day per week schedule. Significant unused capacity is in place to support growth in our N-12 pipe sales volume requiring minimal additional capital for molds. Our normal production capacity utilization as a percentage of total capacity was 63%, 65% and 64% for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. To produce our broad range of pipe sizes, we own and utilize approximately 250 mold and die setups, which had an original capital cost of approximately $130 million and most of which are moved between manufacturing plants. Our production equipment is built to accept transportable molds and die tooling over a certain range of sizes so each plant is not required to house the full range of tooling at any given time. This transportability provides us with the flexibility to optimize our capacity through centrally-coordinated production planning, which helps to adapt to shifting sales demand patterns while reducing the capital needed for tooling. With our large manufacturing footprint in place, we can support rapid seasonal growth in demand, focusing on customer service while minimizing transportation costs.
The standard fittings products (tees, wyes, elbows, etc.) that we produce and sell to connect our pipe on jobsites are blow molded or injection molded at four domestic plants. In addition, customized fabricated fittings (e.g., more complex dual wall pipe reducers, bends or structures) are produced in 17 of our North American plants. In addition to the extrusion of pipe, and blow molding and injection molding of fittings, we also use a variety of other processes in our manufacturing facilities. These processes include thermoforming, rotational molding, compression molding, and custom plastic welding and fabrication. The wide variety of production processes and expertise allow us to provide cost-effective finished goods at competitive prices delivered in a timely fashion to our customers.
Our manufacturing plants have no process related by-products released into the atmosphere, waterways, or solid waste discharge. During pipe production start-ups and size change-overs, non-compliant scrap and any damaged finished goods pipe are recycled through a grinder for internal re-use.
We have two internal quality control laboratory facilities equipped and staffed to evaluate and confirm incoming raw material and finished goods quality in addition to the quality testing that is done at our manufacturing facilities. We conduct annual safety, product and process quality audits at each of our facilities, using centralized internal resources in combination with external third-party services. In the quality area, various national agencies such as NTPEP, IAPMO, BNQ and CSA (Canada) and numerous state DOT and municipal authorities (e.g., Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, City of Columbus) conduct both scheduled and unscheduled inspections of our plants to verify product quality and compliance to applicable standards.
Core to our commitment and enablement of a safe and productive manufacturing environment are our operational and management training programs. Through our ADS Academy, we deliver targeted role-specific training to our operations team members through a blended curriculum of on-line and hands-on training experiences covering safety, quality, product knowledge and manufacturing process. Our learning management system, which hosts over 400 custom modules, serves as the foundation of our operational training programs and provides us with appropriate scale, efficiency, and governance to support our growth. We have a strong commitment to the training of our manufacturing supervisors and managers in technical, management, and leadership subjects through intense role-based assimilation plans, e-learning and classroom-based development experiences.
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Raw Materials
Virgin and recycled resins, which are derived either directly or indirectly from crude oil derivatives and natural gas liquids, are the principal raw materials utilized in our production process. We currently purchase in excess of 700 million pounds of virgin and recycled resin annually from over 450 suppliers in North America. As a high-volume buyer of resin, we are able to achieve economies of scale to negotiate favorable terms and pricing. Our purchasing strategies differ based on the material (virgin resin v. recycled material) ordered for delivery to our production locations. The price movements of the different materials also vary, resulting in the need to use a number of strategies to reduce volatility and successfully pass on cost increases to our customer through timely selling price increases when needed.
In 2008, as the price of crude oil reached unprecedented levels, we began to further augment our raw material blending and processing technologies to produce an HDPE pipe that incorporates recycled resin. This new product, which meets an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard, replaces a majority of the virgin resin that is used in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) product with recycled materials. To further develop our recycled material strategies, we established Green Line Polymers, Inc., or GLP, as our wholly-owned recycling subsidiary in 2012. GLP procures and processes recycled raw materials that can be used in products we produce and sell. Our first production facilities were established in Ohio and Georgia and are focused on processing post-industrial HDPE recycled materials. Based on the success of this strategy, we expanded our efforts toward post-consumer material processing by acquiring the business of a vendor who was supplying clean, post-consumer recycled HDPE to our upper Midwest plants and established a second post-consumer processing plant, in Pennsylvania, to support our plants in Ohio, Michigan and the eastern and southern United States. In fiscal year 2014, 65% of our non-virgin HDPE raw material needs were internally processed (enhanced) through our GLP operations.
We believe that we are well positioned for future growth as we add additional recycled material processing facilities and expand our supplier base for virgin resin. With the significant increase in U.S. shale gas extraction expected to continue, along with related increases in natural gas production, we anticipate continued growth in the availability of ethylene and propylene and their polymer derivatives at competitive prices.
We have managed a resin price hedging program since early in 2010. Our program is designed to target a monthly volume of fixed price contracts that hedge a significant portion of our virgin resin purchases. In conjunction with our forward price hedging program, we also maintain supply agreements with our major resin suppliers that provide multi-year terms and volumes that are in excess of our projected consumption. In addition, we recently began implementing financial hedges for virgin PP resin to reduce the potential price volatility of that material, with a goal of hedging a significant portion of our annual purchases.
We began a diesel hedging program in 2008 which is executed through several financial swaps covering future months demand for diesel fuel and are designed to decrease our exposure to escalating fuel costs. These hedges cover a significant portion of the diesel fuel consumed by the truck fleet that we operate to deliver products to our customers.
Suppliers
We have developed relationships with all of the North American producers of virgin high density polyethylene and impact copolymer polypropylene producers that produce the grades we purchase for our new SaniTite HP product line and rapidly expanding StormTech retention/detention product line, including Braskem Americas, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP, Dow Chemicals, Equistar Chemicals, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Formosa Plastics, Ineos O&P USA and Phillips 66.
We also maintain relationships with several of the largest environmental companies such as Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services, Inc., Rumpke, Inc. and QRS, Inc., which provide us with post-consumer
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HDPE recycled materials. We also maintain relationships with several key post-industrial HDPE suppliers, including Dupont, Silgan Plastics, Consolidated Container Company and Alpla, which provide us with materials that cannot otherwise be utilized in their respective production processes.
The North American capacity for ethylene and polyethylene derivatives is being expanded primarily as a result of the new supplies of natural gas liquids being produced through shale gas exploration and production. This low-cost stream of feedstocks (ethane and propane) has positioned several companies such as Lyondell Basell, ExxonMobil, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP and Dow Chemical to begin the permitting and engineering phases for significant amounts of ethylene and propylene feedstocks. We anticipate that the first wave of derivative capacity will begin coming on stream during 2015 and extending through 2018.
Competition
We operate in a highly fragmented industry and hold leading positions in multiple market sectors. Competition, including our competitors and specific competitive factors, varies for each market sector.
We believe the principal competitive factors for our market sectors include local selling coverage, product availability, breadth and cost of products, technical knowledge and expertise, customer and supplier relationships, reliability and accuracy of service, effective use of technology, delivery capabilities and timeliness, pricing of products, and the provision of credit. We believe that our competitive strengths and strategy allow us to compete effectively in our market sectors.
The stormwater drainage industry in particular is highly fragmented with many smaller specialty and regional competitors providing a variety of product technologies and solutions. We compete against concrete pipe, corrugated steel pipe and PVC pipe producers on a national, regional and local basis. In addition, there are several HDPE pipe producers in the United States.
In the United States, our primary competitors are concrete pipe producers, including Cemex, Hanson and Oldcastle CRH Precast, as well as smaller, regional competitors. In the corrugated steel pipe sector, our primary national competitor is Contech Engineered Solutions, and we compete with Lane Enterprises, Pacific Corrugated and Southeast Culvert on a regional level, as well as other smaller competitors. In the PVC pipe sector, we compete primarily with JM Eagle, Diamond Plastics and North American Pipe. We are the only corrugated HDPE pipe producer with a national footprint, and our competitors operate primarily on a regional and local level. In the corrugated HDPE pipe sector in the United States, our primary competitors on a regional basis are JM Eagle, Lane Enterprises and Prinsco.
The superior attributes of HDPE and PP and ongoing product innovation have allowed thermoplastic pipe manufacturers generally, and us in particular, to capture market share across all end market categories. This substitution trend is expected to continue as more states and municipalities recognize the benefits of HDPE and our N-12 HP PP pipe by approving it for use in a broader range of applications.
Properties
Real Property
We operate across all 50 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces through 72 locations in the United States and Canada, with 50 total manufacturing plants and 22 total distribution centers. We also have joint ventures that operate through 13 locations in Mexico, Central America and South America. We currently own approximately 36,000 square feet of office space in Hilliard, Ohio for our corporate headquarters.
As of March 31, 2014, we had a network of 58 plant locations, of which 39 were owned and 19 were leased. We generally prefer to own our locations, with a typical pipe manufacturing facility consisting of approximately
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40,000 square feet and 15-20 acres of land for storage of pipe and related products. We believe that our properties have been adequately maintained, are in good condition generally and are suitable and adequate for its business as presently conducted. The extent to which we use our properties varies by property and from time to time, but all distribution centers carry single wall and dual wall pipe and fittings and Allied Products per needs of the local market.
Our manufacturing plants and distribution centers, including those operated through our joint ventures, are shown in the map below.
In-house Fleet
As of March 31, 2014, our in-house fleet consisted of approximately 625 tractor-trailers and approximately 1,100 trailers that are specially designed to haul our lightweight pipe and fittings products.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is an important aspect of our business. We rely upon a combination of patents, trademarks, trade names, licensing arrangements, trade secrets, know-how and proprietary technology in order to secure and protect our intellectual property rights, both in the United States and in foreign countries.
We seek to protect our new technologies with patents and trademarks and defend against patent infringement allegations. We hold a significant amount of intellectual property rights pertaining to product patents, process patents and trademarks. We continually seek to expand and improve our existing product offerings through product development and acquisitions. Although our intellectual property is important to our business operations and in the aggregate constitutes a valuable asset, we do not believe that any single patent, trademark or trade secret is critical to the success of our business as a whole. We cannot be certain that our patent applications will be issued or that any issued patents will provide us with any competitive advantages or will not be challenged by third parties.
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In addition to the foregoing protections, we generally control access to and use of our proprietary and other confidential information through the use of internal and external controls, including contractual protections with employees, distributors and others. Despite these protections, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property without our authorization, breaching any nondisclosure agreements with us, or independently developing products that are similar to ours, particularly in those countries where the laws do not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States.
See Risk Factors Risks Relating to Our Business If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, or we infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, our ability to compete could be negatively impacted.
Information Technology
We recently completed a company-wide systems and software upgrade that was intended to serve as a scalable platform to support the next phase of our growth. This information technology project began in 2007 and was fully implemented in 2011. It has further enhanced our shared services strategy for all of our global operations. Our Oracle software platform has been configured to implement best practices across all of our business processes, and has greatly enhanced firm-wide integration, providing consistent internal system controls, data tracking, reporting and analytical capabilities. The capacity and flexibility of our systems allow us to support and enhance organic growth and profitability, as well as increase the ease of future acquisition integration. In addition, we developed an enterprise data warehouse system, downloading data from our Oracle software to provide timely reporting across our organization utilizing Microsoft SQL technology, which we use to more efficiently run our business.
Employees
In domestic and international operations, we averaged approximately 3,700 employees in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, consisting of approximately 2,500 hourly personnel and approximately 1,200 salaried employees. As of March 31, 2014, none of our hourly workforce was covered by collective bargaining agreements.
Regulation
Our operations are affected by various statutes, regulations and laws in the markets in which we operate, which historically have not had a material effect on our business. We are subject to various laws applicable to businesses generally, including laws affecting land usage, zoning, the environment, health and safety, transportation, labor and employment practices, competition, immigration and other matters. Additionally, building codes may affect the products our customers are allowed to use, and, consequently, changes in building codes may affect the saleability of our products. The transportation and disposal of many of our products are also subject to federal regulations. The DOT regulates our operations in domestic interstate commerce. We are subject to safety requirements governing interstate operations prescribed by the DOT. Vehicle dimensions and driver hours of service also remain subject to both federal and state regulation.
We have been able to consistently capitalize on changes in both local and federal regulatory statutes relating to storm and sanitary sewer construction, repair and replacement. Most noteworthy is the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 and the subsequent EPA Phase I, II and sustainable infrastructure regulations relating to storm sewer construction, storm water quantity, storm water quality, and combined sewer separation. The diversity of products offering a solution based selling approach coupled with detailed market knowledge makes us an integral industry resource in both regulatory changes and compliance.
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Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
We are subject to a broad range of foreign, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those pertaining to air emissions, water discharges, the handling, disposal and transport of solid and hazardous materials and wastes, the investigation and remediation of contamination and otherwise relating to health and safety and the protection of the environment and natural resources. As our operations, and those of many of the companies we have acquired, to a limited extent involve and have involved the handling, transport and distribution of materials that are, or could be classified as, toxic or hazardous, there is some risk of contamination and environmental damage inherent in our operations and the products we handle, transport and distribute. Our environmental, health and safety liabilities and obligations may result in significant capital expenditures and other costs, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may be fined or penalized by regulators for failing to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, or we may be held responsible for such failures by companies we have acquired. In addition, contamination resulting from our current or past operations, and those of many of the companies we have acquired, may trigger investigation or remediation obligations, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Legal Proceedings
We are involved in litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business. In managements opinion, none of the proceedings are material in relation to our consolidated operations, cash flows, or financial position, and we have adequate reserves to cover our estimated probable loss exposure.
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The following table sets forth certain information concerning our executive officers and directors. The respective age of each individual in the table below is as of March 31, 2014.
Name |
Age |
Position(s) |
||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
68 | Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
59 | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer | ||
Thomas M. Fussner |
56 | Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer | ||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
47 | Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer | ||
Robert M. Klein |
51 | Executive Vice President, Sales | ||
Ewout Leeuwenburg |
47 | Senior Vice President, International | ||
Robert M. Eversole |
51 | Director | ||
Alexander R. Fischer |
46 | Director | ||
Tanya Fratto |
53 | Director | ||
M.A. (Mark) Haney |
59 | Director | ||
David L. Horing |
51 | Director | ||
C. Robert Kidder |
69 | Director | ||
Mark A. Lovett |
32 | Director | ||
Richard A. Rosenthal |
81 | Director | ||
Abigail S. Wexner |
52 | Director | ||
Scott M. Wolff |
36 | Director |
Joseph A. Chlapaty joined us in 1980 and has served as Chairman of our board of directors since 2008, a director since 1988, President since 1994 and Chief Executive Officer since 2004. From 1980 to 1994, Mr. Chlapaty served as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining us Mr. Chlapaty served as Corporate Accounting Manager, Assistant Treasurer, and Treasurer for Lindberg Corporation and prior to that was with Arthur Andersen LLP. Mr. Chlapaty serves on the advisory board to Fifth Third Bank of Columbus, and is also a member or former member of several not-for profit boards, including Nationwide Childrens Hospital, KIPP Journey Academy, Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, the University of Dubuque and Marietta College. Mr. Chlapaty holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Dubuque and an MBA from DePaul University. We believe that Mr. Chlapatys leadership capabilities, his thorough knowledge of all facets of our business and operations and his deep understanding of our history, culture and the markets in which we operate make him qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Mark B. Sturgeon joined us in March 1981 and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 1994. Mr. Sturgeon has held the positions of Corporate Cost and Budget Manager and Market Planning Manager positions and was named Corporate Controller in October 1988. Prior to joining us he spent three years as a Budget & Financial Analyst for Borden Company and a year with Touche Ross & Company. Mr. Sturgeon holds both a bachelors and masters degree in Accounting from Penn State University.
Thomas M. Fussner joined us in October 1989 and has served as Executive Vice President since February 2006 and Co-Chief Operating Officer since November 2009. Mr. Fussner joined us as Director, Supplier Relations and has held advancing leadership roles in our manufacturing and operations functions, including being named Vice President, Manufacturing Operations in July 1995 and Senior Vice President, Manufacturing Operations in January 2009. He currently oversees our manufacturing, logistics, procurement, manufacturing engineering, operational services, human resources, and information technology functions. Prior to joining us, he spent seven years at the lighting division of General Electric in plant, product, and customer service management positions. Mr. Fussner holds a bachelors degree in Chemistry from Colgate University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Operations Management from the University of Michigan.
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Ronald R. Vitarelli joined us in November 1988 and has served as Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer since November 2011. Mr. Vitarelli joined us as a Sales Representative and was promoted to Regional Sales Manager in December 1995. In July 2003, he was named General Manager of Stormtech LLC, a manufacturer of underground storm water retention and detention systems that was a 50/50 joint venture of ours with Infiltrator Systems, Inc. Upon our acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in Stormtech from Infiltrator in November 2009, Mr. Vitarelli rejoined us and continued to lead the Stormtech business until March 2010, when he was named Vice President, Storm & Sanitary Markets. He currently oversees our sales, product development, market management, and engineering functions. Mr. Vitarelli holds a bachelors degree in Marketing from Providence College.
Robert M. Klein joined us in June 1992 and has served as Executive Vice President, Sales since February 2006. Upon joining us, Mr. Klein held several leadership positions in operations including Manager, Regional Manufacturing, Manager, Distribution Yards, Director, Purchasing and was named Vice President, Manufacturing Services in January 2009. In July 2001, he was named Vice President, Sales and Marketing and began providing leadership to our field sales, corporate account sales, marketing, customer service, and market analysis functions. Prior to joining us he spent seven years at The Gerstenslager Company in manufacturing management positions. Mr. Klein holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Ashland College.
Ewout Leeuwenburg joined us in April 2001 and has served as Senior Vice President, International since November 2011. He began leading our international operations in December 2007 and was named Vice President, International in July 2008. Mr. Leeuwenburg joined us upon the completion of our acquisition of the Inline Drain & Drain Basin division of Nyloplast, USA in 2001. At the time of the acquisition, Mr. Leeuwenburg had been with Nyloplast, USA Inc. since July 1988 in various business development, operations, sales, and marketing manager positions, and had served as President, United States since July 1996. Upon joining us, he served as General Manager, Nyloplast and expanded his responsibilities to Director, Allied Products in September 2002. Mr. Leeuwenburg holds a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Hogeschool Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Robert M. Eversole became a director in 2008. Mr. Eversole is a Principal of Stonehenge Partners, Inc., a private investment capital firm and has been continuously employed as such since 2007. Prior to joining Stonehenge Partners, Mr. Eversole spent 22 years with Fifth Third Bank, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer of Central Ohio, and additionally served as Regional President for Fifth Third Bancorp affiliate banks in Western Ohio, Central Florida and Ohio Valley. He also served as a member of the Fifth Third Bancorp Operating Committee. Mr. Eversole currently serves on the boards of directors for certain privately-held companies and also serves on the boards of Nationwide Childrens Hospital Foundation, the Deans Advisory Council for The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and the Catholic Foundation. Mr. Eversole is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has completed a number of executive education programs. We believe that Mr. Eversoles extensive background in private equity and commercial banking, his expertise on financial matters and his extensive leadership and management experience make him qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Alexander R. Fischer became a director in 2014. Mr. Fischer has been the President and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, an organization of CEOs focused on civic, philanthropic, education and economic development opportunities in Columbus, Ohio, since 2009. Prior to his role at the Columbus Partnership, Mr. Fischer worked at Battelle Memorial Institute, a science and technology company, from 2002-2009, where he served as Senior Vice President for Business and Economic Development, Vice President of Commercialization, and Director of Technology Transfer and Economic Development. Mr. Fischer has also worked in the public sector, as Commissioner of Economic Development, Deputy Governor and the Chief of Staff for the State of Tennessee from 1997 to 2002. In the past he has served on the boards of directors for a variety of for-profit and not-for profit organizations, and currently serves on the boards of N8 Medical, Nationwide Childrens Hospital, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Experience Columbus, Columbus 2020, Tech Columbus and The Ohio State Innovation Foundation. Mr. Fischer graduated from The University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Economics and Public Administration and also received a Masters of Science in Urban
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Planning and Economic Development from The University of Tennessee. We believe that Mr. Fischers executive management experience, his knowledge of economic development and commercialization and the knowledge he has gained from his extensive involvement in the public policy sectors make him qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Tanya Fratto became a director in 2013. Ms. Fratto spent 25 years with General Electric, prior to her retirement in 2011. From 2000 to 2011, Ms. Fratto served as President and CEO of General Electrics Superabrasives division, a leading supplier of manufactured diamond, cubic boron nitride, and polycrystalline products. Her career at General Electric also included leadership roles in GE Plastics, Corporate Sourcing, GE Appliances and GE Consumer Services. She currently sits on the boards of Boart Longyear, a mining products and services company, and Smiths Global Plc, a global technology company. We believe that Ms. Frattos extensive executive and management experience as well as her experience managing global operations and the insights gained from those experiences make her qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
M.A. (Mark) Haney became a director in 2014. Mr. Haney retired in December 2011 from Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, a chemical producer, where he served as Executive Vice President of Olefins and Polyolefins from January 2011 until his retirement. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Haney served as Senior Vice President, Specialties, Aromatics and Styrenics. He also served as Vice President of Polyethylene and President of Performance Pipe. Prior to joining Chevron, Mr. Haney served in numerous roles at Phillips Petroleum Company including business manager for Advanced Plastics, plant manager of Phillips Drislopipe and plant manager of the K-Resin plant, President of P66 Propane Company, Phillips Woods Cross business general manger, and President of Driscopipe. Mr. Haney currently serves on the board of directors of Phillips 66 Partners LP. Mr. Haney attended West Texas University and majored in chemistry. We believe that Mr. Haneys extensive executive and management experience and his understanding of the petro-chemicals industry and the raw materials used in our products make him qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
David L. Horing became a director in 2010 and was appointed to our board of directors by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, an affiliate of American Securities. Mr. Horing is a Managing Director of American Securities, an investment firm, and is a Managing Member of the general partner of certain funds managed by American Securities. Before joining American Securities in 1995, he spent seven years at The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation, a middle-market private equity investment firm and previously worked in Salomon Brothers Investment Banking division and with The Boston Consulting Group. He currently is a director of Healthy Directions, LLC, Liberty Tire Recycling Co., LLC, SpecialtyCare, Inc. and Tekni-Plex, Inc. Mr. Horing holds a bachelors degree in Engineering and a bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. We believe that Mr. Horings business education, extensive private equity experience, his industry and financial expertise and his years of experience providing strategic advisory services to complex organizations, as well as his understanding of American Securities, make him qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
C. Robert Kidder became a director in 2014. Mr. Kidder served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 3Stone Advisors LLC, a private investment firm, from 2006 to 2011, and as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Chrysler Group LLC from 2009 to 2011. He was a Principal at Stonehenge Partners, Inc., a private investment firm, from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Kidder served as President of Borden Capital, Inc., a company that provided financial and strategic advice to the Borden family of companies, from 2001 to 2003. He was Chairman of the Board from 1995 to 2004 and Chief Executive Officer from 1995 to 2002 of Borden Chemical, Inc. (formerly Borden, Inc.), a forest products and industrial chemicals company. Mr. Kidder was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Executive Officer of Duracell International Inc. Prior to joining Duracell International Inc. Mr. Kidder worked in planning and development at Dart Industries as well as a management consultant with McKinsey & Co. Mr. Kidder currently serves on the boards of directors of Merck & Co., Inc., Morgan Stanley, and Microvi Biotech Inc. He is also a director of Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Inc., a private technology research company. Mr. Kidder earned a B.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan and a graduate degree in industrial economics from Iowa State University. We believe
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Mr. Kidders extensive financial and senior executive experience, including in business development, operations and strategic planning, as well as knowledge he has gained through his directorship service at other public companies, make him qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Mark A. Lovett became a director in 2013 and was appointed to our board of directors by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, an affiliate of American Securities. Mr. Lovett is a Vice President at American Securities, focusing primarily on buyouts in the industrials and chemicals sectors. Since joining American Securities in 2007, Mr. Lovett has been actively involved in several of the firms portfolio companies and was a member of the transaction team that executed American Securities investments in each of MECS, Inc., Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC, and Tekni-Plex, Inc. Mr. Lovett previously worked at Liberty Tire Recycling and at UBS in the investment banking division. He holds a bachelors degree in Economics from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Lovett currently serves on the board of directors of Tekni-Plex and Liberty Tire Recycling. We believe that Mr. Lovetts extensive private equity experience, his industry and financial expertise and his years of experience providing strategic advisory services to complex organizations, as well as his understanding of American Securities, make him qualified to serve on our board of directors.
Richard A. Rosenthal became a director in 1988. Mr. Rosenthal retired from the University of Notre Dame in 1995 after successfully serving as Athletic Director for eight years. Prior to his service as athletic director and following a professional basketball career, Mr. Rosenthal held several leadership roles in banking, including as Executive Vice President of Indiana Bank & Trust as well as serving over 25 years as Chairman and CEO of St. Joseph Bancorp. He formerly served on the boards of directors of LaCrosse Footwear, St. Joseph Capital Bank, Beck Corp., and two advisory boards of venture capital funds. Mr. Rosenthal holds a bachelors degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame. We believe that Mr. Rosenthals extensive financial and senior executive experience, as well as knowledge he has gained through his directorship service with other companies, make him qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Abigail S. Wexner became a director in 2014. Mrs. Wexner is a member and former Chair of the boards of directors of Nationwide Childrens Hospital Inc. and Nationwide Childrens Hospital. She is Founder and Chair of the boards of the Center for Family Safety & Healing (f/k/a Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence) and KidsOhio.org, Vice Chair of the board of KIPP Journey Academy, and a Trustee of The Wexner Center Foundation and the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. Mrs. Wexner also serves as a director of L Brands (formerly Limited Brands, Inc.). Mrs. Wexner graduated from Columbia University and New York University School of Law. We believe Mrs. Wexners executive and legal experience, as well as her expertise with respect to a wide range of organizational, philanthropic and public policy issues make her qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Scott M. Wolff became a director in 2010 and was appointed to our board of directors by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, an affiliate of American Securities. Mr. Wolff is a Managing Director of American Securities, an investment firm, and joined American Securities in 2002. Before joining American Securities, Mr. Wolff was with Merrill Lynch where he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group, focusing on a variety of industries including consumer products, food, packaging, and automotive. He currently serves on the boards of directors of Arizona Chemical, SeaStar Solutions, HHI Group Holdings, GT Technologies, and Lakeside Energy. Mr. Wolff holds a bachelors degree in Finance from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School. We believe Mr. Wolffs extensive private equity experience, his industry and financial expertise and his years of experience providing strategic advisory services to complex organizations, as well as his understanding of American Securities, make him qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Corporate Governance
Board Composition
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors. We currently have eleven directors. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or until the earlier of their resignation or removal.
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Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors serving staggered terms of three years each. At each annual meeting of stockholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the class whose term is then expiring. The terms of our current directors will expire upon the election and qualification of successor directors at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held during fiscal year 2015 for the Class I directors, fiscal year 2016 for the Class II directors and fiscal year 2017 for the Class III directors:
Our Class I directors are Joseph A. Chlapaty, Robert M. Eversole, Tanya Fratto and David L. Horing;
Our Class II directors are Alexander R. Fischer, M.A. (Mark) Haney and Scott M. Wolff; and
Our Class III directors are Abigail S. Wexner, Mark A. Lovett, Richard A. Rosenthal and C. Robert Kidder.
Any vacancies in our classified board of directors will be filled by the remaining directors and the elected person will serve the remainder of the term of the class to which he or she is appointed. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors.
When considering whether directors and nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills, taken as a whole, to enable our board of directors to satisfy their oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our business and structure, our board of directors focused primarily on each persons background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors individual biographies set forth immediately above. We believe that our directors provide an appropriate mix of experience and skills relevant to the size and nature of our business. We also value the experience that our directors bring from their service on other boards.
In connection with the investment in our common stock by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, an affiliate of American Securities, in 2010, certain of our stockholders, including ASP ADS Investco, LLC, entered into an amended and restated stockholders agreement that provides, among other things, that ASP ADS Investco, LLC is currently entitled to elect (or cause to be elected) four out of 11 of our directors. Currently, such directors include Messrs. Horing, Lovett and Wolff and Ms. Fratto. The stockholders agreement will be terminated contingent upon, and effective at the time of, consummation of this offering and it will be replaced by a registration rights agreement with certain of our stockholders, including ASP ADS Investco, LLC. See Certain Relationships and Related-Party Transactions.
Director Independence
Upon the completion of this offering, we intend to have our common stock listed on the NYSE. Under the rules of the NYSE, independent directors must comprise a majority of our board of directors within a specified period after the completion of this offering. In addition, the rules of the NYSE require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed companys audit, compensation, and nominating and governance committees be independent. Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Under the rules of the NYSE, a director will only qualify as an independent director if, in the opinion of that companys board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
In order to be considered to be independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, our board of directors, or any other board committee: (i) accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.
In fiscal year 2014, our board of directors undertook a review of its composition, the composition of its committees, and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his background, employment, and affiliations, including family relationships, our board
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of directors has determined that none of our directors except for Mr. Chlapaty has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors, other than Mr. Chlapaty, is independent as that term is defined under the rules of the NYSE.
Except as otherwise described below, our board of directors has determined that those directors who serve on our audit committee, compensation and management development committee and nominating and governance committee satisfy the independence standards for those committees established by the rules of the NYSE and (in the case of the audit committee) the applicable SEC rules. In making this determination, our board of directors considered the relationships that each non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director.
Board Leadership Structure
Our board of directors does not have a formal policy on whether the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our board of directors should be separate. The positions of the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman have historically been combined. Upon completion of this offering, Joseph A. Chlapaty will continue to serve as both Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. We believe that our stockholders are best served by having one person serve both positions. We further believe that combining the roles fosters accountability, effective decision-making and alignment between interests of our board of directors and management. Mr. Chlapaty also is able to use the in-depth focus and perspective gained in his executive function to assist our board of directors in addressing both internal and external issues affecting us.
Our board of directors recognizes that depending on future circumstances, other leadership models may become more appropriate. Accordingly, our board of directors will periodically review its leadership structure.
Boards Role in Risk Oversight
The entire board of directors is engaged in risk management oversight. At the present time, our board of directors has not established a separate committee to facilitate its risk oversight responsibilities. Our board of directors expects to continue to monitor and assess whether such a committee would be appropriate. The audit committee assists our board of directors in its oversight of our risk management and the process established to identify, measure, monitor, and manage risks, in particular major financial risks. Our board of directors will receive regular reports from management, as well as from the audit committee, regarding relevant risks and the actions taken by management to address those risks.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation and management development committee, a nominating and governance committee and an executive committee, each of which will have the composition and responsibilities described below. Our board of directors intends to adopt written charters for the committees that comply with current federal law and applicable NYSE rules relating to corporate governance matters, which will be available on our website upon completion of this offering. Our board of directors may also establish from time to time any other committees that it deems necessary or desirable.
Audit committee
Our audit committee is comprised of Messrs. Eversole, Fischer, Haney, Lovett and Ms. Fratto, with Mr. Eversole serving as the chairperson of the audit committee. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Lovett is not independent for the purposes of audit committee membership, due to his employment with American Securities. American Securities is a significant stockholder through its affiliate, ASP ADS Investco, LLC. Accordingly, solely for the purpose of Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, our board of directors has concluded that Mr. Lovett is an affiliated person by virtue of his relationship with
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American Securities and thus not considered independent for purposes of Exchange Act Rule 10A-3, although he is considered to be independent for purposes of the rules of the NYSE. All of the members of the audit committee are financially literate and have accounting or related financial management expertise within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Eversole qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as that term is defined under the SEC rules implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| reviewing and approving the selection of our independent auditors, and approving the audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors; |
| monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial statements or accounting matters; |
| reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal control policies and procedures; |
| discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent auditors and reviewing with management and the independent auditors our interim and year-end operating results; and |
| preparing the audit committee report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement. |
Compensation and management development committee
Our compensation and management development committee is comprised of Messrs. Kidder, Horing, Rosenthal and Ms. Wexner. Mr. Kidder is the chairperson of our compensation and management development committee. The compensation and management development committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| overseeing our compensation policies, plans, and benefit programs; |
| reviewing and approving for our executive officers: the annual base salary, the annual incentive bonus, including the specific goals and amount, equity compensation, employment agreements, severance arrangements and change in control arrangements, and any other benefits, compensations or arrangements; |
| reviewing the succession planning for our executive officers; |
| preparing the compensation committee report that the SEC requires to be included in our annual proxy statement; and |
| administrating our equity compensation plans. |
Nominating and corporate governance committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee is comprised of Messrs. Kidder, Fischer, Wolff and Ms. Wexner. Ms. Wexner is the chairperson of our nominating and corporate governance committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| assisting our board of directors in identifying prospective director nominees and recommending nominees for each annual meeting of stockholders to our board of directors; |
| reviewing developments in corporate governance practices and developing and recommending governance principles applicable to our board of directors; |
| overseeing the evaluation of our board of directors and management; and |
| recommending members for each board committee to our board of directors. |
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Executive committee
The executive committee is comprised of Messrs. Chlapaty, Horing and Rosenthal, meets between meetings of our board of directors, as needed, and has the power to exercise all the powers and authority of our board of directors with respect to matters delegated to the executive committee by our board of directors, except for the limitations under Section 141(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law and/or applicable limitations under our organizational documents. Mr. Chlapaty is the chairperson of our executive committee.
Code of Conduct and Guidelines for Ethical Behavior
Prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors will establish a Code of Ethics for Senior Executive and Financial Officers that applies to our senior executive and financial officers including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the Code of Ethics for Senior Executive and Financial Officers will be available on our website at www.ads-pipe.com. We will promptly disclose any future amendments to this code on our website as well as any waivers from this code for executive officers and directors. Copies of this code will also be available in print from our Corporate Secretary, without charge, upon request. We also maintain a Standards of Ethical and Legal Conduct policy that governs all of our employees.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
There are no interlocking relationships between any member of our compensation and management development committee and any of our executive officers that require disclosure under the applicable rules promulgated under the federal securities laws.
Director Compensation
From April 1, 2013 to February 27, 2014, non-employee director compensation reflected a combination of a $30,000 annual retainer and a $2,500 per meeting attendance fee for each board of directors meeting attended, paid on a quarterly basis. Members of the compensation and management development committee and audit committee also received a $2,500 per meeting attendance fee for each committee meeting attended.
In fiscal year 2014 we performed a review of the compensation structure and levels for non-employee directors in connection with the planning process for this offering and in connection with changes to the composition of our board of directors implemented prior to this offering. We engaged Towers Watson to assist in the review and development of recommended changes to non-employee director compensation structure and levels. Based on this review and the recommendations prepared by management, our board of directors modified its non-employee director compensation policy effective as of February 27, 2014.
Under the new policy, each non-employee director receives an annual cash retainer of $75,000. Each member of a committee of our board of directors receives an additional cash retainer as follows: $8,000 for a member of the audit committee, $6,000 for a member of the compensation and management development committee and $4,000 for a member of the nominating and governance committee (to be established prior to the completion of this offering). The chairman of each committee of our board of directors also receives an additional cash retainer as follows: $10,000 for the chairman of the audit committee, $8,000 for the chairman of the compensation and management development committee and $6,000 for the chairman of the nominating and governance committee. None of our directors receive meeting fees in addition to these retainers. The new cash compensation described above was prorated for the period beginning on February 27, 2014 and continuing through March 31, 2014.
The new non-employee director compensation policy further provides that upon completion of this offering and continuing each fiscal year thereafter until changed, each non-employee director who is not affiliated with
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American Securities will be granted restricted stock in an amount equal to $75,000 at the date of grant that will vest on the one year anniversary of the grant date (provided that the initial grant made to directors under the new compensation policy for fiscal year 2015 after completion of this offering will vest on February 27, 2015), subject to cancellation and forfeiture of unvested shares upon termination of service with our board of directors. Non-employee directors will also continue to receive reimbursement of all reasonable travel and other expenses for attending meetings of our board of directors or other Company-related functions. Non-employee directors who are affiliated with American Securities are awarded an annual fee of $150,000 in cash, along with fees for service on the various committees as described above, which fees are paid directly to American Securities and not to the director individually.
Fiscal Year 2014 Director Compensation
The following table summarizes the total compensation earned by each of our directors for the year ended March 31, 2014.
Name |
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards
($) |
All Other
Compensation ($) |
Total
($) |
||||||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty (1) |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Robert M. Eversole (2)(12) |
60,500 | | | 60,500 | ||||||||||||
David L. Horing (3) |
60,500 | | | 60,500 | ||||||||||||
Tanya Fratto (4) |
60,000 | | 45,833 | (6) | 105,833 | |||||||||||
David E. West (4)(5) |
48,000 | | | 48,000 | ||||||||||||
William P. Sexton (5)(2)(12) |
48,000 | | | 48,000 | ||||||||||||
Scott M. Wolff (7) |
60,500 | | | 60,500 | ||||||||||||
Richard A. Rosenthal (8)(12) |
60,500 | | | 60,500 | ||||||||||||
Fredric L. Smith (5)(9)(12) |
40,500 | | | 40,500 | ||||||||||||
Mark A. Lovett (10) |
58,000 | | | 58,000 | ||||||||||||
Alexander R. Fischer (11) |
12,500 | | | 12,500 | ||||||||||||
M.A. (Mark) Haney (11) |
12,500 | | | 12,500 | ||||||||||||
C. Robert Kidder (11) |
12,500 | | | 12,500 | ||||||||||||
Abigail S. Wexner (11) |
12,500 | | | 12,500 |
(1) | Mr. Chlapaty serves as our Chief Executive Officer and therefore receives no compensation for his service as a director. |
(2) | Represents quarterly payments of annual retainer for membership on our board of directors, attendance fees for meetings of our board of directors and attendance fees for audit committee meetings. |
(3) | Represents quarterly payments of annual retainer for membership on our board of directors, attendance fees for meetings of our board of directors and attendance fees for compensation and management development committee meetings. During fiscal year 2014, Mr. Horing served as a Managing Director at American Securities. Such fees are paid directly to American Securities and not to the director individually. |
(4) | Represents quarterly payments of annual retainer for membership on our board of directors, attendance fees for meetings of our board of directors and attendance fees for compensation and management development committee meetings. |
(5) | Resigned from our board of directors effective as of February 27, 2014. |
(6) | Represents consulting fees paid pursuant to a consulting agreement entered into between us and Ms. Fratto on April 1, 2013, pursuant to which Ms. Fratto received $12,500 per calendar quarter for providing certain consulting services to us. Ms. Frattos consulting arrangement terminated on February 27, 2014. |
(7) | Represents quarterly payments of annual retainer for membership on our board of directors, attendance fees for meetings of our board of directors and attendance fees for audit committee meetings. During fiscal year 2014, Mr. Wolff served as a Managing Director at American Securities. Such fees are paid directly to American Securities and not to the director individually. |
(8) | Represents quarterly payments of annual retainer for membership on our board of directors, attendance fees for meetings of our board of directors and attendance fees for compensation and management development committee meetings. |
(9) | Represents quarterly payments of annual retainer for membership on our board of directors and attendance fees for meetings of our board of directors. |
(10) | Represents quarterly payments of annual retainer for membership on our board of directors, attendance fees for meetings of our board of directors and attendance fees for audit committee meetings. During fiscal year 2014, Mr. Lovett served as a Vice President at American Securities. Such fees are paid directly to American Securities and not to the director individually. |
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(11) | Joined our board of directors effective as of February 27, 2014. Amounts represent fees earned for service on our board of directors under the new non-employee director compensation policy described above. |
(12) | Each of Messrs. Eversole, Rosenthal, Sexton and Smith elected to receive shares of common stock in lieu of a portion of their respective cash compensation pursuant to the deferred fee program for non-employee directors described below. Each director elected to receive the following amounts of cash compensation in the form of common stock (i) Mr. Eversole: $32,500, (ii) Mr. Rosenthal: $50,000, (iii) Mr. Sexton: $35,000 and (iv) Mr. Smith: $50,000. The number of shares of common stock granted in lieu of cash compensation was based on the aggregate grant date fair value of our common stock computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation Stock Compensation. We calculated the estimated fair value of the shares of common stock issued in lieu of cash compensation on the date of grant as described above under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Employee Benefit Plans Stock-Based Compensation Plans. Each participating director agreed to pay cash to us if and to the extent that the grant date fair market value of the shares of common stock awarded exceeded the actual amount of fees otherwise payable to the director as compensation during the fiscal year, with such refund payment due and payable on the earlier of the end of the fiscal year or at the request of our board of directors. |
Fiscal Year 2014 Deferred Fee Program for Non-Employee Directors
For fiscal year 2014, our board of directors established a program pursuant to which non-employee directors were permitted to receive a portion of director fees in the form of shares of common stock, up to a maximum of $50,000. In general, at the beginning of fiscal year 2014, each director was permitted to make an election to receive an amount of fees otherwise payable as cash during the fiscal year in the form of common stock, which shares of common stock were then awarded as of the beginning of the fiscal year based on the grant date fair market value. Each participating director agreed to pay cash to us if and to the extent that the grant date fair market value of the shares of common stock awarded exceeded the actual amount of fees otherwise payable to the director as compensation during the fiscal year, with such refund payment due and payable on the earlier of the end of the fiscal year or at the request of our board of directors. Four directors elected to receive a portion of director fees in the form of common stock as described in the fiscal year 2014 director compensation table above. We intend to adopt a non-employee incentive compensation program prior to the completion of this offering, pursuant to which non-employee directors may elect to receive a portion of their director fees in the form of shares of our common stock.
Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Guidelines
To encourage equity ownership among non-employee directors, our board of directors intends to adopt stock ownership guidelines applicable to all non-employee directors other than those directors who are affiliated with American Securities that would become effective upon the completion of this offering. Under the stock ownership guidelines, each non-employee director who is not otherwise affiliated with American Securities, upon completion of this offering will be expected to own common stock having a value of at least three times their annual cash retainer. The non-employee directors will have five years from the later of the completion of this offering or the date of their election to fulfill this ownership requirement. The stock ownership guidelines will require each non-employee director to retain all shares received, net of shares sold for tax purposes, until the ownership requirements are met.
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides information regarding the material elements of our fiscal year 2014 compensation program for our named executive officers, also referred to as the NEOs. Our NEOs for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 were:
| Joseph A. Chlapaty, our President and Chief Executive Officer; |
| Mark B. Sturgeon, our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer; |
| Thomas M. Fussner, our Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer; |
| Ronald R. Vitarelli, our Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer; and |
| Robert M. Klein, our Executive Vice President of Sales. |
The compensation and management development committee of our board of directors, or the Committee, pursuant to its charter, is responsible for establishing, implementing and reviewing on an annual basis our compensation programs and actual compensation paid to our NEOs, except for our Chief Executive Officer, with respect to whom the Committees decisions are subject to review and final approval by our board of directors.
Executive Summary
We believe our compensation practices and the overall level of executive compensation are competitive when compared to the marketplace and reflect our commitment to performance-based pay. Our compensation programs are intended to align our NEOs interests with those of our stockholders by rewarding performance that meets or exceeds the goals the Committee establishes, with the objective of increasing long-term stockholder value. Further, our executive compensation programs are intended to align with our financial performance.
At the beginning of fiscal year 2014 the Committee requested that management complete a review of our existing executive compensation programs as compared to market practice and in light of our current business model and growth strategy. While we have historically used a performance-based pay system for compensation, and have arms-length-negotiated employment agreements with each NEO, it was the view of the Committee that there were design elements in our cash-based incentive plan and long-term equity-based incentive plan that, if adjusted, could further align these plans with the interests of stockholders. Our human resources department, in consultation with our Chief Executive Officer and the Chair of the Committee, completed an assessment of all cash and equity compensation plans, including an analysis of the competitive market range for each executive position, and presented these findings, along with recommended changes, for the review and approval of the Committee in August of 2013. Recommended changes for the compensation plans of the Chief Executive Officer were also reviewed and approved by our board of directors in September of 2013 and implemented for the remainder of fiscal year 2014.
The executive compensation plans implemented in fiscal year 2014 are intended to serve as a multi-year framework, with the awards made in fiscal year 2014 intended to manage the transition to the new plans and their potential implications for total compensation of our executives, including our NEOs. Key changes in fiscal year 2014 to the components of compensation for our NEOs are as follows:
| Base salary Above-market annual base salary adjustments were provided effective September 1, 2013 based on an assessment of each NEOs performance, position versus the competitive marketplace, and elapsed time since their last base salary adjustment. |
|
Annual Cash Incentive Plan Transitioned from a profit sharing pool-based incentive design to a plan design with explicit performance goals based on performance versus the prior year and corresponding awards (established as a percent of salary) for each NEO. Financial performance across two measures constitutes 80% of the target award with the remaining 20% allocated to individual performance, with |
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the ability of the Committee to exercise discretion in establishing specific award determinations, as described below. |
| Long-Term Equity-Based Incentives For the past several years, including in May 2013, the Committee recommended and our board of directors approved restricted stock grants to executives, including the NEOs which grants were made based on the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock awarded. As part of the review of the executive compensation program in fiscal year 2014 the Committee determined that non-qualified stock option grants would better align the compensation of our NEOs with our long-term growth. Effective September 1, 2013 the Committee recommended and our board of directors approved non-qualified stock option grants to the NEOs, which are designed to be multi-year awards to encourage the retention and motivation of the executives through the transition to becoming a public company. |
The changes implemented resulted in a shift of the total compensation mix of the NEOs from short to long-term compensation, which the Committee believes further aligns the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders.
Our Compensation Philosophy and Principles
Our culture is based on delivering sustainable results; a philosophy we believe is best embodied by our core values of:
| focusing on long-term growth and profitability; |
| creating an environment that promotes loyalty among employees, customers, and suppliers; |
| being sales and marketing driven; |
| being committed to innovation in product, process, and technology; and |
| ensuring quality throughout our products and organization. |
Compensation Philosophy
The Committee and our management believe that fostering the core values referenced above requires a strong performance culture and compensation programs that align our executives interests with those of all of our stockholders by rewarding performance that meets or exceeds the goals established by the Committee and our board of directors.
Compensation Principles
Our executive compensation programs are designed according to the following principles:
| emphasizing pay-for-performance to motivate both short and long-term performance; |
| placing greater emphasis on variable pay versus fixed pay; |
| linking the total compensation of our executives to the sustained value they create for our stockholders through the use of equity-based compensation; |
| structuring total compensation levels within competitive range for similar executive roles; and |
| attracting, retaining and motivating top executive talent. |
Determining Executive Compensation
Role of our Compensation and Management Development Committee . Pursuant to authority delegated by our board of directors, the Committee is responsible for the design and implementation of our executive compensation policies and programs and determines the compensation for each of our executive officers other
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than the Chief Executive Officer consistent with the terms of the employment agreement for each NEO. In fiscal year 2014, our board of directors determined the compensation of Mr. Chlapaty, our Chief Executive Officer, based on the Committees recommendations and in accordance with Mr. Chlapatys employment agreement. A summary of the employment agreements currently in effect with each of our NEOs is described below under Employment Agreements.
Role of Management. Our human resources department, in partnership with the Committee, supports the design and implementation of all executive compensation programs. Our finance department supports this process by providing financial analysis and input as part of the review of program design. Except with respect to his own compensation, our Chief Executive Officer has final management-level review of any compensation program before it is sent to the Committee for consideration and approval. The Committee has responsibility for approving our material compensation programs, including our equity compensation program. Management frequently consults with the Committee during the design process to obtain their direction and feedback on how the design of our executive compensation programs supports our overall strategy.
Use of Comparator Data . For consideration in the review and approval of the fiscal year 2014 executive compensation programs, neither we nor the Committee retained the services of any third-party compensation consultants to benchmark our compensation policies against a targeted peer group of companies. Instead, the Chief Executive Officer and the Committee utilized a market analysis prepared by the human resources department to provide an understanding of the competitive market for use in the development, review, and approval of the fiscal year 2014 executive compensation programs.
To provide competitive market range information for fiscal year 2014, a market analysis was performed based on ownership, industry, and revenue, as most recently taken from the 2012 Mercer Executive Compensation Survey (2,541 organizations participating) and the 2012 Towers Watson Executive Compensation Survey (534 organizations participating). The market segmentation used for base salary and short-term incentive comparisons was private companies of all industries and revenue between $500 million and $1.5 billion. The market segmentation used for long-term compensation comparison was public and private companies of all industries and revenue between $500 million and $1.5 billion. To establish market ranges, data from the two surveys were averaged together and a low and high range established from the calculated median data. For base salary and short-term incentives, a plus or minus factor of 20% was applied to establish the low and high market ranges and for long-term compensation a plus or minus factor of 25% factor was applied to establish the low and high market ranges.
Role of Compensation Consultants. While the Committee did not engage the services of a compensation consultant in connection with the revisions made to our incentive programs in fiscal year 2014, in January 2014, our vice president of human resources, at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, engaged Towers Watson, a third-party executive compensation consultant, to assist management in connection with a further review of our existing and proposed director and executive officer compensation programs, in anticipation of this offering. Towers Watson also assisted management with respect to the review of this prospectus and the disclosures related to executive compensation. Towers Watson did not provide any services to us, or receive any payments from us, other than in their capacity as a consultant to our management for the limited purposes described above.
Setting Pay Levels
When setting pay levels the Committee exercises its discretion to position individual pay levels higher or lower in the competitive market range based on a subjective assessment of individual facts and circumstances, including:
| the strategic importance of the position to our growth objectives; |
| the individual experience, competency, skill, performance, and potential; |
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| the overall performance and contribution of the individual to the business performance; and |
| the elapsed time since the last compensation adjustment. |
Components of Compensation
For fiscal year 2014, the principal components of compensation for the named executive officers were:
| base salary; |
| annual cash incentive compensation; |
| long-term equity-based compensation; and |
| benefits and executive perquisites. |
The Committee has responsibility for determining all elements of compensation granted to the NEOs and reviews each element of compensation, as well as the relative mix or weighting of elements, on an annual basis.
Base Salary
Base salary is the primary fixed element of total compensation and serves as the foundation for the executives compensation structure, since the annual cash incentive program is directly linked to base salary levels. Our NEOs are covered by employment agreements and, accordingly, we pay annual base salaries initially as set forth in these agreements as thereby adjusted, which are determined based on each NEOs position and responsibility and on available market data. Base salaries for each NEO are reviewed on an annual basis and compared against the competitive range for similar positions based on survey data provided by our human resources department. Each year, the Chief Executive Officer, with input from the human resources department, proposes base salary increases, if any, for all NEOs, excluding himself, based on the aforementioned criteria. His proposal is subject to review and approval (with or without modifications) by the Committee. Changes to Mr. Chlapatys base salary are initiated and approved by the Committee directly, subject to the review and final approval of our board of directors.
As part of our overall review of our executive compensation programs, the Committee recommended an increase in the fiscal year 2014 base salary for our Chief Executive Officer, following its review of Mr. Chlapatys performance, the compensation information from the comparison survey data referenced above and the elapsed time since his last base salary adjustment, which was May 2010. For all the other NEOs, the Committee increased 2014 salary levels taking into account the recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer, the performance of each NEO, the compensation information from the comparison survey data referenced above and the elapsed time since the last base salary adjustment for each NEO. For Mr. Sturgeon, Mr. Fussner, and Mr. Klein their last base salary adjustment was May of 2010. Mr. Vitarellis last salary adjustment was in November of 2011 as part of his promotion to Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer.
The table below shows the adjustments in base salary for the NEOs in fiscal year 2014. Base salary adjustments were effective as of September 1, 2013 with no adjustments or annualization for amounts paid prior to the adjustment date for fiscal year 2014.
Named Executive Officer |
Base Salary As of August 31,
2013($) |
Base Salary After
Adjustment($) |
Change | |||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
425,000 | 475,000 | 12 | % | ||||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
250,000 | 285,000 | 14 | % | ||||||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
300,000 | 315,000 | 5 | % | ||||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
250,000 | 275,000 | 10 | % | ||||||||
Robert M. Klein |
250,000 | 270,000 | 8 | % |
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Annual Cash Incentive Compensation
Prior to fiscal year 2014, the executive annual cash incentive plan functioned as a profit-sharing pool in which a designated percentage of our annual operating earnings were allocated to an incentive pool. Our Chief Executive Officer, subject to the approval of our board of directors, received a pre-established percentage of the allocated incentive pool. For all other executives, including all NEOs except himself, the CEO would recommend a distribution for the review and approval of the Committee from the incentive pool for each executive based on the assessment of the executives individual performance and contribution to our overall annual performance. As part of the assessment discussed above under Executive Summary, the design of this program was evaluated and changes to the design were recommended and approved by the Committee and our board of directors for fiscal year 2014.
The fiscal year 2014 ADS Cash Incentive Plan, or the Cash Incentive Plan, provides annual cash incentive compensation opportunities based on two performance measures related to our financial performance, as well as an individual performance measure based upon the performance of the NEO as compared to their annual performance objectives. By tying a significant portion of the executives total annual cash compensation to annual variable pay, the Committee believes it further reinforces our pay for performance culture and focuses our executives on critical short-term financial and operational objectives, which also support our long-term financial goals.
Establishing Target Payouts
Under the Cash Incentive Plan, target payouts for each NEO are reviewed on an annual basis and compared against the competitive range for similar positions based on survey data provided by the human resources department. The Chief Executive Officer, with input from the human resources department, proposes annual target payout adjustments, if any, for all NEOs, excluding himself, based on the aforementioned performance measures. His proposal is subject to review and approval (with or without modifications) by the Committee. Changes to Mr. Chlapatys targeted payout from the Cash Incentive Plan are initiated and approved by the Committee directly, subject to the review and final approval of our board of directors.
Consistent with our compensation principles, the target payouts from the Cash Incentive Program are a significant portion of the target annual cash compensation for our NEOs. In general, the annual target percentages for each of the NEOs is high in the competitive range as compared to the survey data. The Committee believes the established targets enhance the alignment to our pay-for-performance and stakeholder alignment principles. The target annual cash incentive payouts for 2014 as a percentage of salary were as follows:
Target Payout (as a percent of salary) | ||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
140 | % | ||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
75 | % | ||
Thomas M. Fussner |
75 | % | ||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
75 | % | ||
Robert M. Klein |
65 | % |
Use of Discretion
In making award determinations under the Cash Incentive Plan, the Committee also has the authority and discretion to take into consideration the impact of other factors or events that affected our business during the year and adjust any payout awards accordingly. As described below, the Committee exercised discretion in making award determinations for fiscal year 2014.
Performance Measures
The Committee believes that the following measures reflect key value drivers for purposes of establishing payouts under the Cash Incentive Plan:
| Adjusted EBITDA EBITDA before stock based compensation expense, non-cash charges and certain other expenses. |
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| Average Debt Balance trailing twelve month average long-term debt. |
| Individual Goal Achievement performance of the executives versus their annual performance objectives. |
Minimum, target, and maximum performance thresholds are established based on the Committees assessment of performance targets that appropriately drive and reward the achievement of growth versus our prior year performance levels.
For fiscal year 2014, 70% of the incentive award is based upon the achievement of certain levels of Adjusted EBITDA, 10% is based upon certain levels of average debt balance, while 20% is based upon attainment of certain personal performance goals. The foregoing percentages are then multiplied by the NEOs target percentage of base annual salary as of September 1, 2013 to arrive at the target amounts.
Consistent with our pay-for-performance compensation principle, the Cash Incentive Plan includes a funding trigger that requires the achievement of the established threshold performance level for Adjusted EBITDA in order for any potential payout based on the Average Debt Balance or Individual Goal Achievement measures. For fiscal year 2014 the Adjusted EBITDA funding trigger was set at $130,524,000, the minimum Adjusted EBITDA threshold required to receive a threshold payout of 50% as described below.
The minimum performance goals required to achieve a threshold payout of 50% of target for Adjusted EBITDA and average debt balance were $130,524,000 and $380,846,000, respectively, and reflect our prior year actual performance levels. For fiscal year 2014, the Committee approved the establishment of a target range for the financial measures in the Plan, for which performance within the range earns a 100% payout. The bottom of the target range for the Adjusted EBITDA performance measure represents 15% or $19,476,000 growth versus prior year and the top of the target range represents a 26% or $33,532,000 growth versus prior year. The bottom of the target range for the average debt balance represents a 5% or $20,822,000 reduction versus the prior year and the top of the target range represents a 10% or $37,966,000 reduction versus the prior year. The maximum performance goals required to achieve a threshold payout of 200% of target for Adjusted EBITDA and average debt balance reflect 51% or $66,343,000 growth and 19% or $72,147,223 reduction versus prior year, respectively. Payout percentages for performance between the minimum performance goal and bottom of the target range as well as from the top of the target range to the maximum performance goal are determined using linear interpolation.
The Cash Incentive Plan also includes an individual goal achievement measure to provide the Chief Executive Officer, the Committee, and our board of directors the opportunity to distinguish individual performance. For each NEO, at the beginning of the fiscal year the Committee approved individual annual performance objectives supportive of key business and operational strategies. The individual objectives were based on objective and subjective criteria. Payments based upon this measure in the Cash Incentive Plan are recommended by the Chief Executive Officer, excluding himself, based on his assessment of the performance of the NEOs versus the established annual performance objectives approved for the fiscal year. The recommendations are subject to the review and final approval of the Committee. Similarly, the Committee assesses the performance of the Chief Executive Officer versus his established annual performance objectives and recommends a payout percentage for the measure that is subject to the review and final approval of our board of directors.
The annual performance objectives for Mr. Chlapaty for fiscal year 2014 included (i) increasing revenue and Adjusted EBITDA levels, (ii) accelerating development of senior level succession plan, (iii) preparing a comprehensive strategy for a potential public offering, (iv) completing the sale of nonstrategic assets, (v) managing any outstanding company litigation, (vi) driving enhanced financial accountability and (vii) executing strategies to pay down long-term debt.
The annual performance objectives for Mr. Sturgeon for fiscal year 2014 included (i) executing strategies to pay down long-term debt, (ii) improving operational analysis and accountability, (iii) securing new credit facilities, (iv) preparing a comprehensive strategy for a potential public offering, (v) supporting reduction in production costs and (vi) building leadership and talent in finance organization.
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The annual performance objectives for Mr. Fussner for fiscal year 2014 included (i) driving performance achievement and freight program cost savings, (ii) resolving operational issues, (iv) leading turnaround of concrete operations and (v) building leadership and talent in operations organization.
The annual performance objectives for Mr. Vitarelli for fiscal year 2014 included (i) driving implementation of strategies to grow core storm drainage market, (ii) driving implementation of strategies to grow in sanitary and Stormtech markets, (iii) leading geographic planning meetings including sales and manufacturing teams, (iv) developing new storm products, (v) decreasing warranty claims and (vi) building leadership and talent in sales and technical services organization.
The annual performance objectives for Mr. Klein for fiscal year 2014 included (i) growing core storm drainage market share, (ii) growing agriculture market share in each key state, (iii) managing pricing strategies to deliver budgeted performance levels, (iv) managing revenue and profitability performance of various Allied Products, (v) managing selling expenses and (vi) building leadership and talent in the sales organization.
No specific weightings are attached to any of the foregoing factors, which serve as a general guide for the Committee in determining whether the individual goals for each NEO have been achieved.
Payout Awards for Fiscal Year 2014
Based upon information provided by our vice president of human resources as well as the recommendations of our CEO with respect to each NEO, the Committee elected to exercise discretion and make a downward adjustment to the final payout awards for each NEO, notwithstanding the fact that for fiscal year 2014 we achieved Adjusted EBITDA and average debt balance levels of $147,009,000 and $396,701,000, respectively. In deciding to reduce the payout awards, the Committee considered the total compensation received by each NEO, in particular the cash payments resulting from the one-time special dividend on their respective stockholdings (as well as interests in the ESOP for each NEO excluding Mr. Chlapaty) and thereafter approved managements recommendation to reduce the amount of the payout awards.
The target incentive awards under the Cash Incentive Plan, as well as the final approved payouts for fiscal year 2014 were as follows:
Named Executive Officer |
Target Incentive
($) |
Approved
|
||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
$ | 665,000 | $ | 300,000 | ||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
$ | 213,750 | $ | 115,000 | ||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
$ | 236,250 | $ | 105,000 | ||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
$ | 206,250 | $ | 100,000 | ||||
Robert M. Klein |
$ | 175,500 | $ | 85,000 |
Long-Term Equity-Based Compensation
We maintain several equity-based incentive plans as described below under Equity-Base Incentive Plans, including:
| the ADS Amended 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan (or the 2000 Plan), |
| the ADS 2008 Restricted Stock Plan (or the 2008 Plan), and |
| the ADS 2013 Stock Option Plan (or the 2013 Plan). |
Our NEOs participate in all of the aforementioned plans (except that Mr. Chlapaty received no award grants under the 2000 Plan). We no longer make awards under the 2000 Plan, although additional options may continue to be issued on a periodic basis pursuant to the reload feature of the 2000 Plan.
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Long-term incentive compensation is an integral part of the total compensation for Company executives. The long-term equity-based incentives of the NEOs are reviewed on an annual basis. Each year, the Chief Executive Officer, with input from human resources, proposes long-term equity-based incentive grants, if any, for all NEOs, excluding himself, based on the aforementioned criteria. His proposal is subject to review and approval (with or without modifications) by the Committee. The long-term equity-based incentive grant, if any, for Mr. Chlapaty is initiated and approved by the Committee directly, subject to the review and final approval of our board of directors.
The Committee requested that management review the design of the long-term equity-based incentive program in consideration of the compensation guiding principles and the potential for an initial public offering.
Through May 2013, shares of restricted stock from the ADS 2008 Restricted Stock Plan were primarily used for long-term equity compensation for all executives, including NEOs. As part of the review of the executive compensation program in fiscal year 2014 the Committee determined non-qualified stock option grants would better align the compensation of our NEOs with our long-term growth. Accordingly, the Committee recommended and our board of directors approved adoption of the 2013 Plan.
In determining the amount of long-term equity incentives to grant in fiscal year 2014, the Committee considered (i) the comparison to the competitive marketplace for each executive, including NEOs, (ii) the comparative potential decrease, over the next several years, in compensation from the change in design of the annual cash incentive plan impacting all executives, including NEOs, and (iii) the potential for an initial public offering and the need to retain the executives thereafter. Upon consideration of these factors, the Committee approved a grant of options on September 1, 2013 to each of the executives to further encourage the retention and motivation of the executives throughout a potential transition to a public company.
Consistent with prior equity incentive grants, the non-qualified stock options awarded to the NEOs under the 2013 Plan in fiscal year 2014 are subject to a five-year vesting schedule (except for Mr. Chlapaty, whose options are subject to a four-year vesting schedule). The awards made in fiscal year 2014 contained no performance-based conditions. The awards of restricted stock and non-qualified stock options in fiscal year 2014 were as follows:
Named Executive Officer |
Stock Option Awards | Restricted Stock Awards | ||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
110,000 | 6,000 | ||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
35,000 | 2,000 | ||||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
35,000 | 2,500 | ||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
35,000 | 2,500 | ||||||
Robert M. Klein |
30,000 | 1,500 |
Benefits and Executive Perquisites
The benefits provided to our NEOs are generally the same as those provided to our other salaried associates and include medical, vision and dental insurance, basic life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance.
All of the NEOs, with the exception of Mr. Chlapaty, participate in our tax-qualified ESOP that covers employees who meet certain service requirements. See Equity-Based Incentive Plans Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Description of Employee Stock Ownership Plan for additional information regarding the ESOP.
All of the NEOs participate in a fully-insured executive medical reimbursement plan. In consideration of this benefit, Mr. Chlapaty contributed $12,000 in calendar year 2013 and the rest of the NEOs contributed $6,000 in calendar year 2013 for dual participation in this plan as well as our medical, dental and vision plans. These contributions are deducted on a pre-tax basis.
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All of the NEOs are provided with an individually owned life insurance policy providing $200,000 of permanent whole life coverage with a term rider providing an initial death benefit of $200,000. This benefit is in recognition of the carve-out under our group term life insurance program that reduces the maximum benefit available from $450,000 to $50,000 for executives, including NEOs. The death benefit under the term rider is gradually replaced by paid-up additional permanent life insurance provided by the dividends on the policies. The policies also accrue cash values which are owned by the executive, or their designee, and may be available to them while the policies are in effect. Premiums for each policy are paid for by us and the premium is considered taxable income to the NEO.
We also provide our NEOs with certain perquisites. These perquisites include use of Company-owned or leased cars and reimbursement of car-related expenses, payment of automobile insurance premiums for Company provided and personal vehicles, reimbursement of country club or fitness membership dues. The Committee has determined that it is appropriate to provide these perquisites in order to attract and retain our NEOs by offering them compensation opportunities that are competitive with those offered by companies of similar size and scope. In determining the total compensation payable to our NEOs, the Committee considers perquisites in the context of the total compensation which our NEOs are eligible to receive. However, given the fact that perquisites represent a relatively small portion of the NEOs total compensation, the availability of these perquisites does not materially influence the decisions made by the Committee with respect to other elements of the total compensation to which our NEOs are entitled or to which they are awarded.
Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Chlapaty is entitled to the use of any Company-owned or leased aircraft at our expense for travel related to the performance of his duties on behalf of us and/or charitable uses and purposes. Mr. Chlapaty and certain other NEOs are also permitted to make personal use of Company aircraft. In fiscal year 2014, Mr. Chlapaty and Mr. Sturgeon made personal use of Company aircraft. The incremental cost of personal use of Company aircraft is calculated based on the average variable operating cost per hour flown, which includes fuel costs, aircraft maintenance and supplies, landing fees and trip related hanger and parking costs. Fixed costs that do not change based on usage such as hanger rental, aircraft lease payments, insurance and certain administrative expenses are excluded from the incremental cost calculation. If an aircraft flies empty before picking up or after dropping off a passenger flying for personal reasons, this deadhead segment is included in the incremental cost of the personal use. If an NEO is traveling on business utilizing Company aircraft and there is otherwise room available on the aircraft for the NEOs spouse to accompany the NEO, the spouse is permitted to do so.
For a description of the perquisites received by our NEOs during fiscal year 2014, see the All Other Compensation column of our Summary Compensation Table below.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
While the accounting and tax treatment of compensation generally has not been a consideration in determining the amounts of compensation for our executive officers, the Committee and management have taken into account the accounting and tax impact of various program designs to balance the potential cost to us with the value to the executive.
The expenses associated with executive compensation issued to our executive officers and other key associates are reflected in our financial statements. We account for stock-based programs in accordance with the requirements of ASC Topic 718, which requires companies to recognize in the income statement the grant date value of equity-based compensation issued to associates over the vesting period of such awards.
Risk in Relation to Compensation Programs
We have performed an internal review of all of our material compensation programs and have concluded that there are no plans that provide meaningful incentives for employees, including our NEOs and additional executive officers, to take risks that would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.
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Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2014
The following table summarizes the total compensation earned by each of our NEOs for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014:
Name and
|
Fiscal
Year |
Salary
$ (1) |
Bonus
$ |
Stock
Awards $ (2) |
Option
Awards $ (3) |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation $ (4) |
All Other
Compensation $ (5) |
Total
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
2014 | 454,167 | | 385,200 | 3,221,680 | 300,000 | 136,588 | 4,197,635 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
President & Chief Executive Officer |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
2014 | 270,417 | | 128,400 | 1,075,871 | 115,000 | 44,806 | 1,519,494 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
2014 | 308,750 | | 160,500 | 1,025,080 | 105,000 | 26,654 | 1,520,984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
2014 | 264,583 | | 160,500 | 1,025,080 | 100,000 | 23,094 | 1,473,257 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert M. Klein |
2014 | 261,667 | | 96,300 | 878,640 | 85,000 | 18,122 | 1,254,729 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President of Sales |
(1) | Reflects adjustment to NEO salaries that went into effect as of September 1, 2013. |
(2) | The amounts reported in this column are based on the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awarded, computed in accordance FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation Stock Compensation. We calculated the estimated fair value of each share of restricted stock on the date of grant as described under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Employee Benefit Plans Stock-Based Compensation Plans. |
(3) | The amounts reported in this column are based on the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options awarded, computed in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 718. We calculated the estimated fair value of each option award on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model as described under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Employee Benefit Plans Stock-Based Compensation Plans. The amount in this column for Mr. Sturgeon also includes the grant date fair value of reload options issued in connection with the exercise of previously granted options under the 2000 Plan. The dollar amount of the option awards in fiscal year 2014 related to reload options for Mr. Sturgeon is $50,791. |
(4) | The amounts reported in this column consist of amounts to be paid under the Cash Incentive Plan for services rendered in fiscal year 2014, as discussed above under Compensation Discussion and Analysis Components of Compensation Annual Cash Incentive Compensation. |
(5) | The All Other Compensation column is made up of the following amounts for fiscal year 2014: |
Name |
Medical
Reimbursement Plan Premiums |
Life
Insurance Premiums |
Dividends
on Unvested Restricted Stock (a) |
Automobile
Expenses (b) |
Aircraft
Use (c) |
Social
Membership Dues |
Total $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
$ | 187 | $ | 4,204 | $ | 45,000 | $ | 1,444 | $ | 73,685 | $ | 12,068 | $ | 136,588 | ||||||||||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
$ | 250 | $ | 3,664 | $ | 15,000 | $ | 5,283 | $ | 13,244 | $ | 7,365 | $ | 44,806 | ||||||||||||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
$ | 250 | $ | 3,834 | $ | 18,750 | $ | 2,200 | | $ | 1,620 | $ | 26,654 | |||||||||||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
$ | 250 | $ | 4,094 | $ | 18,750 | | | | $ | 23,094 | |||||||||||||||||
Robert M. Klein |
$ | 250 | $ | 2,854 | $ | 11,250 | $ | 1,100 | | $ | 2,668 | $ | 18,122 |
(a) | On January 15, 2014, we paid a special cash dividend of $7.50 per share to all stockholders of record on January 2, 2014. In connection with this dividend and based on their respective equity holdings, our NEOs received such dividend payments with respect to unvested shares of restricted common stock, including those shares of restricted stock awarded to each NEO in fiscal year 2014. |
(b) | Includes amounts associated with personal use of automobile and related automobile liability insurance expense. |
(c) | Relates to the incremental cost for personal use of Company aircraft by the NEO. The incremental cost of personal use of Company aircraft is calculated based on the average variable operating cost per hour flown, which includes fuel costs, aircraft maintenance and supplies, landing fees and trip related hanger and parking costs. Fixed costs that do not change based on usage such as hanger rental, aircraft lease payments, insurance and certain administrative expenses are excluded from the incremental cost calculation. If an aircraft flies empty before picking up or after dropping off a passenger flying for personal reasons, this deadhead segment is included in the incremental cost of the personal use. If an NEO is traveling on business utilizing Company aircraft and there is otherwise room available on the aircraft for the NEOs spouse to accompany the NEO, the spouse is permitted to do so. As there is no incremental cost to us for the spouse accompanying the executive on such flight, no amount has been included in the Summary Compensation Table with respect to such usage. |
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Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal Year 2014
The following table provides information concerning awards granted to the NEOs in the last fiscal year under any plan:
Name |
Grant Date |
Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) |
All Other
Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock (#) |
All Other
Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) |
Exercise or
Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) |
Grant Date
Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($) (5) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold
$ |
Target
$ |
Maximum
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
N/A | 332,500 | 665,000 | 1,330,000 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/01/2013 | (2) | | | | 6,000 | | | 385,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/01/2013 | (3) | | | | | 110,000 | 64.20 | 3,221,680 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
N/A | 106,875 | 213,750 | 427,500 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/01/2013 | (2) | | | | 2,000 | | | 128,400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
8/01/2013 | (4) | | | | | 1,734.18 | 64.20 | 50,791 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/01/2013 | (3) | | | | | 35,000 | 64.20 | 1,025,080 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
N/A | 118,125 | 236,250 | 472,500 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/01/2013 | (2) | | | | 2,500 | | | 160,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/01/2013 | (3) | | | | | 35,000 | 64.20 | 1,025,080 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
N/A | 103,125 | 206,250 | 412,500 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/01/2013 | (2) | | | | 2,500 | | | 160,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/01/2013 | (3) | | | | | 35,000 | 64.20 | 1,025,080 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert M. Klein |
N/A | 87,750 | 175,500 | 351,000 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/01/2013 | (2) | | | | 1,500 | | | 96,300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/01/2013 | (3) | | | | | 30,000 | 64.20 | 878,640 |
(1) | The amounts shown reflect the estimated payouts for fiscal year 2014 under the Cash Incentive Plan that the respective NEO would be eligible for assuming no use of discretion by the Committee in authorizing such payments. As discussed above under Compensation Discussion and Analysis Components of Compensation Annual Cash Incentive Compensation, the Committee elected to exercise discretion and made a downward adjustment to the final award payouts for each NEO, which actual amounts awarded are reflected in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table above. |
(2) | Represents restricted stock awards granted under the 2008 Plan as part of our annual long-term equity grant, which vest over a five-year period in 20% installments each year, beginning with the first anniversary following the grant date. |
(3) | Represents option awards granted under the 2013 Plan as part of our annual long-term equity grant, which vest over a five-year period in 20% installments each year, beginning with the first anniversary following the grant date (except for Mr. Chlapatys option award, which options vest over a four-year period in 25% installments each year, beginning with the first anniversary following the grant date). The vesting terms of these options will not accelerate upon completion of this offering. |
(4) | Represents option award granted pursuant to the reload option provisions of outstanding option agreements under the 2000 Plan. For more information regarding reload options under the 2000 Plan, see Equity Based Incentive Plans 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan. The reload option awards granted to Mr. Sturgeon vest in one-third increments beginning in the fifth year, provided however that all reload option awards will vest in full upon completion of this offering. |
(5) | The amounts shown are based on the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock and stock options awarded, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. We calculated the estimated fair value of (i) each restricted stock award on the date of grant and (ii) each option award on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, as described under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Employee Benefit Plans Stock-Based Compensation Plans. |
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2014
The following table sets forth the unexercised and unvested stock options and restricted stock held by NEOs at fiscal year-end. Each equity grant is shown separately for each NEO.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Option
Grant Date |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options That Are Exercisable |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options That Are Not Exercisable |
Option
Exercise Price |
Option
Expiration Date |
Stock
Award Grant Date |
Number of
Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested |
Market Value of
Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (4) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Shares | $ | Shares | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (1) |
9/01/13 | | 110,000 | 64.20 | 3/31/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
7/09 | 1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
4/10 | 2,400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/11 | 1,800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/12 | 4,800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/13 | 6,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
4/27/05 | 3,321 | | 21.37 | 3/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
4/26/06 | 11,600 | | 36.15 | 3/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
4/25/07 | 6,325.152 | 3,115.374 | 50.70 | 3/31/17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
7/22/09 | | 6,092.872 | 44.40 | 3/31/19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
7/21/10 | | 3,072.063 | 50.60 | 3/31/20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
8/01/12 | | 1,921.657 | 59.25 | 3/31/22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
9/01/13 | | 1,734.177 | 64.20 | 3/31/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (1) |
9/01/13 | | 35,000 | 64.20 | 3/31/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
7/09 | 300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
4/10 | 800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
10/10 | 1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/11 | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/12 | 1,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/13 | 2,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
4/25/07 | 2,891.720 | 1,424.280 | 50.70 | 3/31/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
7/22/09 | | 10,738 | 44.40 | 3/31/19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
7/21/10 | | 5,168 | 50.60 | 7/31/20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
5/03/11 | | 4,675 | 50.35 | 3/31/21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
8/01/12 | | 3,935 | 59.25 | 3/31/22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (1) |
9/01/13 | | 35,000 | 64.20 | 3/31/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
7/09 | 400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
4/10 | 1,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/11 | 1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/12 | 2,400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/13 | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert M. Klein |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
4/27/05 | 7,140 | | 21.37 | 3/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
4/26/06 | 12,000 | | 36.15 | 3/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
4/25/07 | 5,940 | 3,060 | 50.70 | 3/31/17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (2) |
8/01/12 | | 6,849.95 | 59.25 | 3/31/22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (1) |
9/01/13 | | 30,000 | 64.20 | 3/31/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
7/09 | 400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
4/10 | 800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/11 | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/12 | 1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/13 | 1,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (1) |
9/01/13 | | 35,000 | 64.20 | 3/31/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
4/10 | 200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/11 | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/12 | 1,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock (3) |
5/13 | 2,500 |
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(1) | Stock options issued pursuant to the 2013 Plan, which vest over a five-year period in 20% installments each year, beginning with the first anniversary following the grant date (except for Mr. Chlapatys option award, which vest over a four-year period in 25% installments each year). The vesting terms of these options will not accelerate upon completion of this offering. |
(2) | Stock options issued pursuant to the 2000 Plan, which vest over a three-year period in one-third installments each year, beginning with the fifth anniversary following the grant date, provided however that all remaining unvested options will vest in full immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
(3) | Restricted stock issued pursuant to the 2008 Plan, which vest over a five-year period in 20% installments each year, beginning with the first anniversary following the grant date. |
(4) | The market price for our common stock is based on the assumed initial public offering price of our common stock of $ per share, which is the midpoint of the price range on the cover page of this prospectus. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal Year 2014
The following table sets forth for each NEO the exercises of stock options and the vesting of stock awards during fiscal year 2014:
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise |
Value Realized on
Exercise (1) |
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting (2) |
Value Realized on
Vesting (1) |
||||||||||||
# | $ | # | $ | |||||||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
| | 5,400 | 346,680 | ||||||||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
8,679 | 388,702 | 2,160 | 138,672 | ||||||||||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
8,316 | 170,466 | 2,600 | 166,920 | ||||||||||||
Robert M. Klein |
20,860 | 961,354 | 1,700 | 109,140 | ||||||||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
| | 720 | 46,224 |
(1) | Amounts shown represent (i) with respect to option awards, the difference between the fair market value of our common stock and the option exercise price at the time of the options exercise and (ii) with respect to stock awards, the value of the restricted shares that vest based on the fair market value of our common stock. The foregoing values do not necessarily equate to cash realized from the sale of shares acquired upon the exercise of options or vesting of restricted stock as shares were not sold on exercise or upon vesting, but continue to be held by the NEO. Value realized on exercise and vesting is calculated based upon the fair market value of our common stock as of the date of exercise or vesting, as applicable, as described under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Employee Benefit Plans Stock-Based Compensation Plans. |
(2) | Restricted stock vests over a five year period in 20% installments each year, beginning with the first anniversary following the grant date. The number of shares listed in this column reflects the total number of shares of restricted stock that vested during fiscal year 2014. |
Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal Year 2014
We do not provide any defined benefit plans or nonqualified deferred compensation plans to our NEOs.
Employment Agreements
Our NEOs have each entered into an employment agreement with us, which were negotiated between each NEO and us at arms-length. Certain elements of the compensation payable to our NEOs are set forth in these employment agreements, including initial base salary (subject to periodic adjustment) and scope of incentive compensation and benefits. These employment agreements also require us to make certain payments upon termination or change in control, as set forth below in Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control. We intend to enter into amended and restated employment agreements with each of our NEOs prior to the commencement of this offering.
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Joseph A. Chlapaty . On January 29, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Chlapaty, our Chief Executive Officer, which was further amended on January 27, 2010. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an initial employment period ending March 31, 2015. Beginning on January 1, 2015 and each January 1 thereafter, the then remaining term of the employment agreement will be extended automatically for an additional one-year period until termination pursuant to its terms, including termination by either party through notice prior to the January 1 renewal date. Mr. Chlapatys current annual base salary as adjusted as of September 1, 2013 is $475,000. The employment agreement also contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants of Mr. Chlapaty that apply during his employment and within a period of two years following the termination of his employment with us and a confidentiality covenant of indefinite duration.
Mark B. Sturgeon . On January 29, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Sturgeon, our Chief Financial Officer, which was further amended on January 27, 2010. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an initial employment period ending March 31, 2015. Beginning on January 1, 2015 and each January 1 thereafter, the then remaining term of the employment agreement will be extended automatically for an additional one-year period until termination pursuant to its terms, including termination by either party through notice prior to the January 1 renewal date. Mr. Sturgeons current annual base salary as adjusted as of September 1, 2013 is $285,000 and he is entitled to receive annual incentive compensation. The employment agreement also contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants of Mr. Sturgeon that apply during his employment and within a period of two years following the termination of his employment with us. It also includes a confidentiality covenant of indefinite duration.
Thomas M. Fussner . On January 29, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Fussner, our Co-Chief Operating Officer, which was further amended on January 27, 2010. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an initial employment period ending March 31, 2015. Beginning on January 1, 2015 and each January 1 thereafter, the then remaining term of the employment agreement will be extended automatically for an additional one-year period until termination pursuant to its terms, including termination by either party through notice prior to the January 1 renewal date. Mr. Fussners current annual base salary as adjusted as of September 1, 2013 is $315,000 and he is entitled to receive annual incentive compensation. The employment agreement also contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants of Mr. Fussner that apply during his employment and within a period of two years following the termination of his employment with us. It also includes a confidentiality covenant of indefinite duration.
Ronald R. Vitarelli . On July 5, 2012, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Vitarelli, our Co-Chief Operating Officer. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an initial employment period ending March 31, 2017. Beginning on January 1, 2017 and each January 1 thereafter, the then remaining term of the employment agreement will be extended automatically for an additional one-year period until termination pursuant to its terms, including termination by either party through notice prior to the January 1 renewal date. Mr. Vitarellis current annual base salary as adjusted as of September 1, 2013 is $275,000 and he is entitled to receive annual incentive compensation. The employment agreement also contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants of Mr. Vitarelli that apply during his employment and within a period of two years following the termination of his employment with us. It also includes a confidentiality covenant of indefinite duration.
Robert M. Klein . On January 29, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Klein, our Executive Vice President, which was further amended on January 27, 2010. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an initial employment period ending March 31, 2015. Beginning on January 1, 2015 and each January 1 thereafter, the then remaining term of the employment agreement will be extended automatically for an additional one-year period until termination pursuant to its terms, including termination by either party through notice prior to the January 1 renewal date. Mr. Kleins current annual base salary as adjusted as of September 1, 2013 is $270,000 and he is entitled to receive annual incentive compensation. The employment agreement also contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants of Mr. Klein that apply during his employment and within a period of two years following the termination of his employment with us. It also includes a confidentiality covenant of indefinite duration.
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Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
We have outstanding employment agreements with each of our NEOs as described above under Employment Agreements which require the payment of certain benefits to each NEO under certain specified circumstances, which we refer to as Specified Circumstances. We intend to enter into amended and restated employment agreements with each NEO prior to the commencement of this offering to modify certain of the payments and benefits that our NEOs are entitled to receive. Our existing employment agreements with each NEO identify the following as Specified Circumstances that would require the payment of certain benefits:
| termination by us at the end of the executives initial employment period or renewal period by giving three-month notice, |
| death or disability, |
| termination by the executive at the end of the executives initial employment period or renewal period by giving three-month notice, if the executive will have attained the age of 65 years (or 68 years in the case of Mr. Chlapaty) on the employment termination date, |
| termination by the executive upon our breach of material covenant in the employment agreement and failure to cure after receiving notice of such breach, |
| termination by the executive for good reason, which includes the following without the executives consent: (i) a reduction in base salary; (ii) our action which would adversely affect the executives participation in, or materially reduce his benefits under, any material benefit plan or equity incentive plan; (iii) our action which would adversely affect or reduce the executives participation in, or materially reduces the maximum potential incentive compensation available to the executive under any of our material incentive compensation plan or program; (iv) the assignment of the executive to a position of a materially lesser status or degree of responsibility; or (v) the assignment of the executive to a primary work location (A) outside the United States or (B) at which (I) neither we nor our affiliates maintain a significant manufacturing facility or significant office or (II) by virtue of such location, the ability of the executive to perform his duties is materially impaired, and |
| termination by us for no reason or for any reason other than mutual agreement for termination or termination for cause. Cause includes the executives non-performance of duties, failure to adhere to our policies, misappropriation of our property, conviction of felony or equivalent, or other crimes subject to possible imprisonment or involving theft, misappropriation, embezzlement, fraud or dishonesty. |
In the event of termination as a result of the Specified Circumstances described above, each NEO shall be entitled to receive payments and benefits as follows:
| for the 24 months (or 18 months in the case of Mr. Vitarelli) following the termination date, we will continue to pay the executives base salary, subject to reduction by the proceeds actually paid to the executive under any disability insurance policies maintained by us if the termination is due to the executives disability, |
| after the conclusion of our fiscal year in which the termination occurs, we will make a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the executives accrued bonus for the prior fiscal year, |
| after the conclusion of our first full fiscal year immediately following the conclusion of our fiscal year in which the termination occurs, we will pay the executive (except for Mr. Vitarelli) a lump sum cash payment, which we refer to as the Termination Bonus I, as calculated under the applicable employment agreement, and |
| after the conclusion of our second full fiscal year immediately following the conclusion of our fiscal year in which the termination occurs, we will pay the executive (except for Mr. Vitarelli) a lump sum cash payment, which we refer to as the Termination Bonus II, as calculated under the applicable employment agreement. |
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The payment of the above 24 months base salary, Termination Bonus I and Termination Bonus II is conditioned upon the executives release of claims against us.
If the executive terminates employment with us at the end of his initial employment period or renewal period by giving three-month notice, but the executive will not have attained the age of 65 years (or 68 years in the case of Mr. Chlapaty) on the employment termination date, then after the conclusion of the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, we will pay to the executive a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the accrued bonus for this fiscal year.
The employment agreements also provide that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any equity incentive plan or related agreements, if the executives employment is terminated by us for any reason other than for cause, all unvested restricted shares under the 2008 Plan and all unvested options under the 2000 Plan (or only the restricted shares under the 2008 Plan in the case of Mr. Chlapaty) awarded to the executive will fully vest at the employment termination date. Such vested options will be exercisable during the 90 consecutive day period immediately following the employment termination date.
Our stock option agreements with each NEO under the 2000 Plan and the 2013 Plan provide that (i) upon death or disability of the executive, all the options may be exercised during the one-year period commencing on the date of the executives death or disability and (ii) upon termination of employment of the executive for any reason other than for death, disability or for cause, all the options may be exercised during the three-month period commencing on the employment termination date.
Change in Control . Under the 2000 Plan, our stock option agreements with the executives provide that all the options may be exercised by the executives commencing at the time of a change in control. A change in control for this purpose refers to: (i) our entry into an agreement to merge, consolidate or reorganize into or with another corporation or other legal person, and as a result less than 51% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation or person immediately after such transaction will be held in the aggregate by officers, directors and holders of a beneficial interest in our voting securities immediately prior to such transaction; (ii) our entry into an agreement to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal person, and as a result a beneficial interest in less than 51% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation or person immediately after such sale or transfer is held in the aggregate by officers, directors and holders of a beneficial interest in our voting securities immediately prior to such sale or transfer; or (iii) during any continuous 12-month period our stockholders sale of or entry into an agreement or agreements to sell to anyone other than us our securities representing 50% or more of our combined voting power at the beginning of such 12-month period.
Under the 2008 Plan, our restricted stock agreements with the executives provide that the restricted shares will vest effective at the time of a change in control. A change in control for this purpose refers to the occurrence of a transaction or series of transactions following which less than a majority of the voting power of us a successor entity is held by the persons who hold the same with respect to us immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions.
Under the 2013 Plan, our stock option agreements with the executives provide that all the options may be exercised by the executives commencing at the time of a change in control. A change in control for this purpose refers to the occurrence of a transaction or series of transactions following which less than a majority of the voting power of us a successor entity is held by the persons who hold the same with respect to us immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions.
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Potential Payment . The following table sets forth the payments and benefits that would be received by each NEO in the event a termination of employment or a change-in-control of the Company had occurred on March 31, 2014, over and above any payments or benefits he otherwise would already have been entitled to or vested in on such date under any employment contract or other plan of the Company. The NEO would receive other payments and benefits as well upon termination of employment to which they were already entitled or vested in on such date. The following table assumes in the case of each NEO that the amended and restated employment agreement for each NEO to be entered into prior to the commencement of this offering was in effect as of March 31, 2014. The actual amounts to be paid can only be determined at the time of such NEOs separation from us and could therefore be more or less than the amounts set forth below. For the purposes of the calculations in the table, payments that would be made over time have been presented as a lump sum value.
Name |
Severance
Payment $ |
Bonus
Payment (4) $ |
Value of
Accelerated Equity (5) $ |
Total
$ |
||||||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
||||||||||||||||
Specified Circumstances (1) |
$ | 950,000 | $ | 600,000 | $ | 1,040,040 | $ | 2,590,040 | ||||||||
Other Terminations (2) |
$ | 950,000 | $ | 600,000 | $ | | $ | 1,550,000 | ||||||||
Change in Control (3) |
$ | | $ | | $ | 1,040,040 | $ | 1,040,040 | ||||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
||||||||||||||||
Specified Circumstances (1) |
$ | 570,000 | $ | 230,000 | $ | 631,289 | $ | 1,431,289 | ||||||||
Other Terminations (2) |
$ | 570,000 | $ | 230,000 | $ | | $ | 800,000 | ||||||||
Change in Control (3) |
$ | | $ | | $ | 631,289 | $ | 631,289 | ||||||||
Thomas M. Fussner |
||||||||||||||||
Specified Circumstances (1) |
$ | 630,000 | $ | 210,000 | $ | 906,372 | $ | 1,746,372 | ||||||||
Other Terminations (2) |
$ | 630,000 | $ | 210,000 | $ | | $ | 840,000 | ||||||||
Change in Control (3) |
$ | | $ | | $ | 906,372 | $ | 906,372 | ||||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli |
||||||||||||||||
Specified Circumstances (1) |
$ | 412,500 | $ | | $ | 314,580 | $ | 727,080 | ||||||||
Other Terminations (2) |
$ | 412,500 | $ | | $ | | $ | 412,500 | ||||||||
Change in Control (3) |
$ | | $ | | $ | 314,580 | $ | 314,580 | ||||||||
Robert M. Klein |
||||||||||||||||
Specified Circumstances (1) |
$ | 540,000 | $ | 170,000 | $ | 364,117 | $ | 1,074,117 | ||||||||
Other Terminations (2) |
$ | 540,000 | $ | 170,000 | $ | | $ | 710,000 | ||||||||
Change in Control (3) |
$ | | $ | | $ | 364,117 | $ | 364,117 |
(1) | Specified Circumstances include termination (i) by the Company and the end of the respective employment period, (ii) the death of the respective NEO, (iii) the disability of the respective NEO, and (iv) by the Company for no reason or other reason. |
(2) | Other Terminations include termination (i) by the NEO at the end of the respective employment period if such NEO has obtained the age of sixty-five (65) (and with respect to Mr. Chlapaty, 68), (ii) by the NEO following a breach by the Company of any of its material covenants or agreements contained in the NEOs employment agreement not otherwise cured and (iii) by the NEO for Good Reason (as such term is described above). |
(3) | The Company does not provide special change-in-control benefits to NEOs. The Companys only change-in-control arrangement is accelerated vesting of certain equity awards. No NEO is entitled to any payment or accelerated benefit in connection with a change-in-control of the Company, except for accelerated vesting of stock options granted and restricted stock units granted under the (i) 2000 Stock Option Plan, (ii) the 2008 Restricted Stock Plan or (iii) the 2013 Stock Option Plan. Change-in-Control is defined above. |
(4) | 2014 bonus amounts were assumed, although actual bonus would depend on performance of the Company in the relevant two years following termination. Bonus payments for subsequent years, if any, upon termination for each NEO (except for Mr. Vitarelli) are based on a formula equal to the lesser of the bonus paid (i) for the full year immediately prior to termination and (ii) certain bonus calculations earned for the two years following termination. Based on such formula, the bonus payments in the presented table are capped at 2xs the bonus paid for fiscal year end March 31, 2014 (the amount shown on such table) but may be less based on the productivity of the Company for subsequent years. The anticipated bonus structure to be included in the respective employment agreements will provide that bonus payments cannot exceed the amounts shown. |
(5) | Amounts include the acceleration of stock options, calculated by multiplying the number of shares underlying each stock option whose vesting would be accelerated or that would vest during the notice period, as the case may be, by the excess of $64.20, which was the assumed share value as of March 31, 2014, over the exercise price of such stock option. Acceleration of restricted stock units are also |
included and were calculated by multiplying the number of shares underlying each restricted stock unit whose vesting would be accelerated by $64.20. |
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Equity-Based Incentive Plans
2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan
Options granted pursuant to the 2000 Plan constitute incentive stock options for the federal income tax purposes. Any option granted pursuant to the 2000 Plan must be granted within 10 years from the effective date of its adoption. As of September 2008, further grants under the 2000 Plan were discontinued, although existing stock option grants continue to vest and grant recipients may continue to receive reload options under the 2000 Plan as described below.
Shares Under the Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares available to be issued under the 2000 Plan is 1,000,000, subject to adjustment in the event of changes in our capitalization. As of March 31, 2014, options to purchase 194,005 shares of our common stock were still outstanding and 249,686 shares of our common stock were available for future grant under the 2000 Plan. The maximum aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of all stock with respect to which incentive stock options may be exercisable by an optionee for the first time in any calendar year under the 2000 Plan and any of our other incentive stock option plans cannot exceed $100,000. Shares issued under the 2000 Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or shares held by us in our treasury.
Terms and Conditions of Options . Each option will be evidenced by a written option agreement in such form as approved by our board of directors. The option agreement may contain conditions for grant of options (such as an employees entry into an employment agreement with us or such employees agreement on continued employment with us) and adjustment of the underlying shares upon changes in our capitalization. The option agreement shall set forth the number of underlying shares, option price no less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying share as of the date of grant, period of exercise no longer than 10 years after the date of grant, and dates and conditions for exercise of the option. The option price may be paid in cash, shares of our common stock, a combination of cash and shares or such other consideration as determined by our board. If an optionee exercises an option and pays some or all of the option price with shares of our common stock, such optionee shall be granted a reload option to purchase the number of shares equal to the number of shares used as payment of the option price, subject to adjustment made pursuant to the limitations on the number of shares available for grant under the 2000 Plan. Pursuant to the terms of each incentive stock option award agreement, the vesting for all option awards shall accelerate and become fully vested upon completion of this offering.
Reload Options. In the event that an option holder exercises an option and pays some or all of the option price with shares of common stock, such option holder will receive a reload option to purchase the same number of shares as used to pay the exercise price, with the grant date for any reload option being the next date during the month of July during which our board of directors holds a meeting or, if no such meeting is held, the next date thereafter on which our board of directors holds a meeting. Such reload options shall have the same terms and conditions associated with grants under the 2000 Plan, including applicable vesting requirements. The exercise price for any new reload option shall equal to the then current fair market value for common stock. Given the discontinuation of the 2000 Plan, the only additional options that are issued under the 2000 Plan are those associated with reload options.
2008 Restricted Stock Plan
The purpose of the 2008 Plan is to afford an incentive to, and encourage stock ownership by, our key employees so that such employees may acquire or increase their proprietary interest in our success and be encouraged to remain in our employ. Awards under the 2008 Plan must be made before September 15, 2018.
Administration . Our board of directors supervises the administration of the 2008 Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 2008 Plan, the board has conclusive authority to construe the 2008 Plan and any restricted stock agreement entered thereunder, and to establish and amend the administrative policies for the administration of the 2008 Plan.
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Eligibility . Any of our or our subsidiaries directors or employees is eligible to participate in the 2008 Plan.
Shares Available . The maximum aggregate number of shares available to be issued under the 2008 Plan is 215,000, subject to adjustment in the event of changes in our capitalization. Such shares must be made available solely from our treasury shares. As of March 31, 2014, 70,630 restricted shares of our common stock were available for future grant under the 2008 Plan.
Participation . Our board of directors will select participants and determine the terms of the awards under the 2008 Plan, which will set forth in a restricted stock agreement.
Terms of Awards . The awards of restricted stock will be subject to the terms and restrictions as determined by our board of directors, which may also modify, or accelerate the termination of, such restrictions. During the period in which any shares are subject to restrictions, the board may grant to the recipient of the award all or any of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such shares, including the right to vote and to receive dividends. The 2008 Plan authorizes our board of directors (i) to grant awards to any participant calculated as a percentage of such participants base pay and (ii) to determine the amount of such award based on achievement of a target. In addition, the board may choose, at the time of the grant of an award, to include as part of such award an entitlement to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, subject to such terms and restrictions as the board may establish. The grant of awards is contingent upon the participants execution of an executive responsibility agreement, or such other non-competition, non-solicitation and/or nondisclosure agreement as we may require.
Amendment . We may, by action of our board of directors, amend or terminate the 2008 Plan at any time, or, by action of the board with the consent of the anticipant, to amend or terminate any outstanding award of restricted stock.
2013 Stock Option Plan
The purpose of the 2013 Plan is to afford an incentive to, and encourage stock ownership by, our officers and other key employees so that such employees may acquire or increase their proprietary interest in our success and be encouraged to remain in our employ. Options granted pursuant to the 2013 Plan will not constitute incentive stock options for the federal income tax purposes unless expressly designated by our board of directors. Any option granted pursuant to the 2013 Plan must be granted within 10 years from the effective date of its adoption.
Shares Under the Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares available to be issued under the 2013 Plan is 500,000, subject to adjustment in the event of changes in our capitalization. As of March 31, 2014, options to purchase 406,000 shares of our common stock were still outstanding and 94,000 shares of our common stock were available for future grant under the 2013 Plan. The maximum aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of all stock with respect to which incentive stock options may be exercisable by an optionee for the first time in any calendar year under the 2013 Plan and any of our other incentive stock option plans cannot exceed $100,000. Shares issued under the 2013 Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or shares held by us in our treasury.
Administration . Our board of directors administers the 2013 Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 2013 Plan, the board has the discretion to determine the employees to be granted options and the number of shares subject to each option (except that options granted to members of the board are subject to the approval of a majority of the our disinterested directors), the time to grant options, the option price, the time and duration to exercise the options. Subject to the terms of the 2013 Plan, the board also has the discretion to specify additional conditions to the grant and exercise of any option as well as interpret the provisions of, and any option granted under, the 2013 Plan.
Eligible Employees . Options will be granted to our officers and other key employees as our board of directors select from time to time. However, for any incentive stock options, (i) no employee can be granted an
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option if such employee owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of ours or of any of our subsidiaries unless the option price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the underlying shares and such option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such option is granted, and (ii) such employees must execute a non-competition and non-disclosure agreement in order to receive grant of the options.
Terms and Conditions of Options . Each option will be evidenced by a written option agreement in such form as approved by our board of directors. The option agreement may contain conditions for grant of options (such as an employees entry into an employment agreement with us or such employees agreement on continued employment with us) and adjustment of the underlying shares upon changes in our capitalization. The option agreement shall set forth the number of underlying shares, option price no less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying share as of the date of grant, period of exercise no longer than 10 years after the date of grant, and dates and conditions for exercise of the option. The option price may be paid in cash, shares of our common stock, a combination of cash and shares or such other consideration as determined by our board. If an optionee exercises an option and pays some or all of the option price with shares of our common stock, such optionee shall be granted a reload option to purchase the number of shares equal to the number of shares used as payment of the option price, subject to adjustment made pursuant to the limitations on the number of shares available for grant under the 2013 Plan. Option awards under the 2013 Plan shall not fully vest or further accelerate upon completion of this offering.
Amendment . Our board of directors may, with respect to any shares of our common stock not subject to options at such time, discontinue or amend the 2013 Plan in any respect as it deems advisable. However, without the approval of our shareholders, the board cannot increase the aggregate number of shares subject to the 2013 Plan, change the eligibility of employees for participation in the 2013 Plan, issue options with an option price of less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares, or make other amendments which will cause options issued to fail to qualify as incentive stock options for the federal income tax purposes.
Reload Options. In the event that an option holder exercises an option and pays some or all of the option price with shares of common stock, such option holder will receive a reload option to purchase the same number of shares as used to pay the exercise price, with the grant date for any reload option being the next date during the month of July during which our board of directors holds a meeting or, if no such meeting is held, the next date thereafter on which our board of directors holds a meeting. Such reload options shall have the same terms and conditions associated with grants under the 2000 Plan, including applicable vesting requirements. The exercise price for any new reload option shall equal to the then current fair market value for common stock.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
We sponsor a tax-qualified employee stock ownership plan and trust, or ESOP, that covers our employees who meet certain service requirements, including all of our NEOs except for Mr. Chlapaty, who does not participate in the ESOP. The ESOP was established effective April 1, 1993, and was originally funded with a 30-year term loan from us as well as shares of our convertible preferred stock through a transfer of assets from our profit sharing retirement plan. The loan is secured by a pledge of unallocated convertible preferred stock purchased by the ESOP with such loan proceeds that has not yet been released from the pledge (as a result of ESOP payments on the loan) and allocated to ESOP accounts. The ESOP operates as a leveraged ESOP and was designed to enable eligible employees to acquire stock ownership interests in us by virtue of their accounts under the ESOP. See Description of Employee Stock Ownership Plan for a description of the ESOP.
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PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information as of , 2014 with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by:
| each person known to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock; |
| each of the named executive officers; |
| each director; |
| all directors and executive officers as a group; and |
| the selling stockholder. |
The amounts and percentages of shares beneficially owned are reported on the basis of SEC regulations governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under SEC rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days of the determination date such as pursuant to the conversion of our convertible preferred stock or the exercise of stock options, which in the case of the following table is , 2014. Securities that can be so acquired are deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing such persons ownership percentage, but not for purposes of computing any other persons percentage. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest.
The percentage of beneficial ownership prior to this offering is based on 10,147,437 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2014, plus, in the case of the ESOP, the number of shares of our common stock to be issued upon the conversion of our convertible preferred stock, in each case as adjusted to reflect a -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The percentage of beneficial ownership following this offering is based on shares of common stock outstanding (assuming no exercise of the overallotment option) or shares of common stock outstanding (assuming full exercise of the overallotment option), in each case after giving effect to the -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The number of shares beneficially owned by each entity or individual is determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose.
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Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, each of the beneficial owners listed has, to our knowledge, sole voting and investment power with respect to the indicated shares of common stock. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each individual listed below is c/o Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026.
Shares Beneficially
Owned Before this Offering |
Number
of Shares Being Offered |
Shares Beneficially
Owned After this Offering |
Shares Beneficially
Owned After this Offering Assuming Full Exercise of Overallotment Option |
|||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Number
of Shares |
Percentage
of Shares |
Number
of Shares |
Percentage
of Shares |
Number
of Shares |
Percentage
of Shares |
||||||||||||
Greater than 5% Stockholders |
||||||||||||||||||
ASP ADS Investco, LLC (1) |
5,833,000 | 57.48 | % | |||||||||||||||
ESOP (2) |
4,270,044 | 29.62 | % | |||||||||||||||
University of Notre Dame (3) |
1,026,394 | 10.11 | % | |||||||||||||||
Joseph A. Chlapaty (4) |
2,108,000 | 20.77 | % | |||||||||||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers (not listed above): |
||||||||||||||||||
Mark B. Sturgeon (5) |
93,593 | 0.92 | % | |||||||||||||||
Thomas M. Fussner (6) |
121,482 | 1.20 | % | |||||||||||||||
Ronald R. Vitarelli (7) |
14,100 | 0.14 | % | |||||||||||||||
Robert M. Klein (8) |
65,124 | 0.64 | % | |||||||||||||||
Robert M. Eversole |
1,938 | 0.02 | % | |||||||||||||||
Alexander R. Fischer |
| | ||||||||||||||||
Tanya Fratto |
| | ||||||||||||||||
M.A. (Mark) Haney |
| | ||||||||||||||||
David L. Horing (9) |
| | ||||||||||||||||
C. Robert Kidder |
| | ||||||||||||||||
Mark A. Lovett (10) |
| | ||||||||||||||||
Richard A. Rosenthal |
2,211 | 0.02 | % | |||||||||||||||
Abigail S. Wexner |
| | ||||||||||||||||
Scott M. Wolff (11) |
| | ||||||||||||||||
All current directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons) |
2,406,448 | 23.58 | % |
* | Less than 1% |
(1) | Represents shares held by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. American Securities Partners V, L.P., American Securities Partners V(B), L.P. and American Securities Partners V(C), L.P., collectively referred to as the ASP Sponsors, are owners of more than 99% of the membership interests in ASP ADS Investco, LLC. American Securities Associates V, LLC is the general partner of each ASP Sponsor. American Securities LLC provides investment advisory services to each ASP Sponsor and to American Securities Associates V, LLC, and as such may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of the shares held by ASP ADS Investco, LLC. The address for ASP ADS Investco, LLC is c/o American Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10171. As referenced in footnotes (9), (10) and (11) below, each of Messrs. Horing, Lovett and Wolff may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power over the shares held by ASP ADS Investco, LLC. Such individuals disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock held by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, except to the extent of their pecuniary interests therein. |
(2) | Consists of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of conversion option for all the 5,551,279 shares of 2.50% Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred Stock held by the ESOP at a ratio of 1-to-0.7692. See Description of Employee Stock Ownership Plan. |
(3) | The address of the University of Notre Dame is University of Notre Dame, Investment office, Eddy Street Commons at Notre Dame, 1251 N. Eddy St., Suite 400, South Bend, IN 46617-1403. |
(4) |
Includes, with respect to Joseph A. Chlapaty, 6,000 shares of common stock directly owned by Mr. Chlapaty, 27,000 restricted shares of common stock owned by Mr. Chlapaty as to which Mr. Chlapaty has sole voting power, 2,075,000 shares of common stock owned of record by the Joseph A. Chlapaty Trust, as to which Mr. Chlapaty, as trustee, has voting and investment power, but excludes 20,000 shares of common stock directly owned by Mr. Chlapatys children and 180,120 shares of common stock beneficially owned by |
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Mr. Chlapatys children through irrevocable trusts of which Mr. Chlapaty is not a trustee. Mr. Chlapaty disclaims beneficial ownership of the above excluded shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest (as defined in Rule 16a1(a)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act) that he may have as such excluded shares. |
(5) | Includes, with respect to Mark B. Sturgeon, 82,093 shares of common stock directly owned by Mr. Sturgeon, 11,500 restricted shares of common stock owned by Mr. Sturgeon as to which Mr. Sturgeon has sole voting power, and 24,362 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of vested stock options (or vesting within 60 days of March 31, 2014). |
(6) | Includes, with respect to Thomas M. Fussner, 107,982 shares of common stock directly owned by Mr. Fussner, 13,500 restricted shares of common stock owned by Mr. Fussner as to which Mr. Fussner has sole voting power, and 4,316 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of vested stock options (or vesting within 60 days of March 31, 2014). |
(7) | Includes, with respect to Ronald R. Vitarelli, 8,000 shares of common stock directly owned by Mr. Vitarelli, 6,100 restricted shares of common stock owned by Mr. Vitarelli as to which Mr. Vitarelli has sole voting power, and zero shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of vested stock options (or vesting within 60 days of March 31, 2014). |
(8) | Includes, with respect to Robert M. Klein, 57,124 shares of common stock directly owned by Mr. Klein, 8,000 restricted shares of common stock owned by Mr. Klein as to which Mr. Klein has sole voting power, and 28,140 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of vested stock options (or vesting within 60 days of March 31, 2014). |
(9) | Mr. Horing may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power of the shares held by ASP ADS Investco LLC in his capacity as a Managing Director of American Securities and as a managing member of certain funds managed by American Securities as referenced in footnote (1) above. Mr. Horing disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock owned by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, as such shares are owned and held by the ASP Sponsors referenced in footnote (1) above. |
(10) | Mr. Lovett may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power of the shares held by ASP ADS Investco LLC in his capacity as a Vice President of American Securities, and serves on our board of directors as a representative of ASP ADS Investco, LLC. Mr. Lovett disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock owned by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, as such shares are owned and held by the ASP Sponsors referenced in footnote (1) above. |
(11) | Mr. Wolff may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power of the shares held by ASP ADS Investco LLC in his capacity as a Managing Director of American Securities, and serves on our board of directors as a representative of ASP ADS Investco, LLC. Mr. Wolff disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock owned by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, as such shares are owned and held by the ASP Sponsors referenced in footnote (1) above. |
The following table sets forth information as of March 31, 2014 with respect to the beneficial ownership of our convertible preferred stock, all of which is owned by the ESOP. None of our current directors or executive officers owns any of the outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock.
Title of class |
Name and address of beneficial owner |
Amount and nature of
beneficial ownership |
Percent of
class |
|||||||
2.50% Cumulative Convertible Voting
Preferred Stock |
ADS Employee Stock Ownership Plan c/o Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 |
5,551,279 | 100 | % |
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Stockholders agreement and stockholder arrangements
In connection with the investment in our common stock by ASP ADS Investco, LLC, an affiliate of American Securities, in 2010, certain of our stockholders, including ASP ADS Investco, LLC, entered into an amended and restated stockholders agreement which amended and restated the original stockholders agreement established in June of 1988 by certain stockholders and previous equity sponsors. The stockholders agreement provides, among other things, that ASP ADS Investco, LLC is currently entitled to elect (or cause to be elected) four out of 11 of our directors. The stockholders agreement will be terminated contingent upon, and effective at the time of, consummation of this offering and it will be replaced by a registration rights agreement with certain of our stockholders, including ASP ADS Investco, LLC.
Registration Rights Agreement
Contingent upon, and effective at the time of, consummation of this offering, we will be a party to a registration rights agreement, or the Registration Rights Agreement, with certain of our stockholders, including ASP ADS Investco, LLC. The Registration Rights Agreement will grant to certain of our stockholders, including ASP ADS Investco, LLC, the right to cause us, generally at our own expense, to use our reasonable best efforts to register certain of our securities held by ASP ADS Investco, LLC for public resale, subject to certain limitations. In the event we register any of our common stock following our initial public offering, certain of our stockholders, including ASP ADS Investco, LLC, will also have the right to require us to use our reasonable best efforts to include in such registration statement shares of our common stock held by them, subject to certain limitations, including as determined by the underwriters. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide for us to indemnify certain of our stockholders and their affiliates in connection with the registration of our common stock.
Indemnification agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and senior officers. The indemnification agreements will provide the directors and senior officers with contractual rights to the indemnification and expense advancement rights provided under our amended and restated bylaws, as well as contractual rights to additional indemnification as provided in the indemnification agreements. See Description of Capital Stock Limitations on Liability and Indemnification.
Transactions with Other Related Parties
In connection with our business, we procure services from thousands of suppliers, some of which may be affiliated with American Securities. We estimate that we purchased services from a consulting firm deriving a meaningful percentage of its business from its work for American Securities and its affiliates for approximately $99,391 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 and $86,268 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. Management believes such services were purchased on an arms length basis at prices that an unrelated third party would pay.
Policies and procedures for related party transactions
Our board of directors will adopt a written related person transaction policy to be effective upon completion of this offering to set forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy will cover, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, any transaction, arrangement, or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements, or relationships in which we were or are to be a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, including, without limitation, purchases of goods or services by or from the related person or entities in which the related person has a material interest, indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness, and employment by us of a related person. We anticipate that our full board of directors will review related party transactions.
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DESCRIPTION OF EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
We sponsor a tax-qualified employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, that covers our employees who meet certain service requirements. The ESOP was established effective April 1, 1993, and was originally funded with a 30-year term loan from us as well as shares of our convertible preferred stock through a transfer of assets from our profit sharing retirement plan. The loan is secured by a pledge of unallocated convertible preferred stock, purchased by the ESOP in 1993 with loan proceeds, that has not yet been released from the pledge and allocated to ESOP accounts. The ESOP operates as a leveraged ESOP and was designed to enable eligible employees to acquire stock ownership interests in their accounts under the ESOP.
We make annual contributions to the ESOP, which, when aggregated with the ESOPs dividends and investment earnings, equal at least the amount necessary to enable the ESOP to make its regularly scheduled payments of principal and interest due on its term loan to us. As the ESOP makes annual payments of principal and interest on the term loan to us,
| Convertible preferred stock is released from the ESOPs unallocated loan suspense account and allocated to eligible employees ESOP accounts in accordance with the ESOPs plan terms and applicable regulations under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code; and |
| We recognize a non-cash compensation expense equal to the fair value of the allocated shares determined by the ESOPs independent appraiser. A portion of the expense is allocated to cost of goods sold and a portion is allocated to selling and administrative expense, based on the number of shares allocated to the accounts of manufacturing employees and other employees. Subject to limitations under the Code, annual allocations are made among participants in the ratio that the compensation of each participant in the year bears to the total compensation of all participants. |
Required dividends on allocated shares are paid in cash (i.e., passed through) to the participants, and required dividends on unallocated shares in the ESOPs loan suspense account are paid in cash to, and retained by, the ESOP and allocated among the participants ESOP cash accounts (unless, in the ESOP committees discretion, such dividends are used to service the ESOPs debt on the term loan. Pursuant to the direction of the ESOP committee, the January 15, 2014 special dividend on the ESOPs allocated shares was paid in cash (i.e., passed through) to participants, and the special dividend on the ESOPs unallocated shares was retained by the ESOP and allocated among the participants ESOP cash accounts.
In general, the trustee of the ESOP votes the shares of stock held by the ESOP as directed by the ESOPs committee. However, in the event of either a corporate matter with respect to the approval or disapproval of any corporate merger or consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, liquidation, dissolution, sale of substantially all of the assets of a trade or business or with respect to any tender or exchange offer, or a request or invitation for tenders or exchanges, each participant in the ESOP may direct the trustee of the ESOP on how to vote the shares of stock allocated to the participants ESOP accounts; and the trustee must vote any unallocated stock and allocated stock for which no participant instructions were received in the same proportion as the allocated stock for which participants voting instructions have been received is voted.
Upon distributions from the ESOP resulting from retirement, disability, death or vested terminations, a participant or designated beneficiary may elect to receive the vested amount credited to his or her ESOP account in the form of cash or our common stock, with any fractional shares paid in cash. We have been obligated by the Code and the terms of the ESOP to repurchase shares of common stock received by participants or designated beneficiaries in the event they exercise their put option rights relating to such shares. Such put option rights will terminate upon completion of this offering and the creation of a public market for our common stock. For fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, we had repurchase obligations with respect to 87,829, 59,318 and 82,406 shares of convertible preferred stock, respectively, with common stock equivalents of 67,558, 45,627 and 63,387 shares, respectively.
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Participants in the ESOP who attain age 50 and have seven years of participation in the ESOP may elect to diversify between 25% and 50% of the shares of convertible preferred stock allocated to their ESOP accounts while still employed by us. Although we have had a financial obligation to liquidate such diversified shares, upon completion of this offering such diversified shares of convertible preferred stock will be convertible by the ESOP trustee into shares of our common stock and sold, thereby eliminating our financial obligations with respect to diversification. For fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, the diversified shares of convertible preferred stock were 2,670, 6,077 and 5,968 shares, respectively, with common stock equivalents of 2,053, 4,675 and 4,590 shares, respectively.
Upon completion of the offering made by this prospectus, we will continue to make annual contributions to the ESOP as described above and recognize non-cash compensation expenses each year. We disregard the ESOP compensation expense in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, because it is a non-cash charge. The ESOP compensation expense is recognized each year when shares are allocated to participants accounts, but it is not ongoing share-based compensation. We believe our employees receive competitive compensation excluding the shares allocated to them under the ESOP.
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General
Upon the closing of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share and shares of 2.50% Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, or convertible preferred stock, which funds our ESOP as described above under Description of Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Upon the closing of this offering there will be shares of our common stock issued and outstanding not including shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of our convertible preferred stock.
In connection with this offering, we will amend and restate our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The following descriptions of our capital stock, amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are intended as summaries only and are qualified in their entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective upon the completion of this offering and which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, and to the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Common Stock
Holders of common stock will be entitled:
| to cast one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders; |
| to receive, on a pro rata basis, dividends and distributions, if any, that our board of directors may declare out of legally available funds, subject to preferences that may be applicable to preferred stock, if any, then outstanding; and |
| upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to share equally and ratably in any assets remaining after the payment of all debt and other liabilities, subject to the prior rights, if any, of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock. |
Any dividends declared on the common stock will not be cumulative. Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock is subject to the restrictions set forth in the Credit Facilities. See Dividend Policy.
The holders of our common stock will not have any preemptive, cumulative voting, subscription, conversion, redemption or sinking fund rights. The common stock will not be subject to future calls or assessments by us. The rights and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future, as described below.
Before the date of this prospectus, there has been no public market for our common stock.
As of March 31, 2014, we had shares of common stock outstanding and holders of record of our common stock.
Preferred Stock
General
Upon completion of this offering, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors will have the authority, without further action by our stockholders, except as described below, to issue up to shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the voting powers, designations, preferences and the relative participating, optional or other special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of each series, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption,
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liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series. Upon completion of the offering, no shares of our authorized preferred stock will be outstanding except for our convertible preferred stock. Because our board of directors will have the power to establish the preferences and rights of the shares of any additional series of preferred stock, it may afford holders of any preferred stock preferences, powers and rights, including voting and dividend rights, senior to the rights of holders of the common stock, which could adversely affect the holders of the common stock and could delay, discourage or prevent a takeover of us even if a change of control of us would be beneficial to the interests of our stockholders.
Convertible Preferred Stock
In connection with the establishment of our ESOP in 1993, we sold 469,200 shares of convertible preferred stock to the ESOP for approximately $34.5 million, which shares were subsequently adjusted pursuant to a 20-for-1 stock split in 2006. In establishing the ESOP, $5.0 million was transferred from our tax-qualified profit sharing retirement plan to the ESOP, which the ESOP used to purchase $5.0 million of our convertible preferred stock. We extended a term loan to the ESOP for approximately $29.5 million to purchase the balance of the convertible preferred stock, which term loan is secured by a pledge of the convertible preferred stock purchased by the ESOP with such loan proceeds.
We are obligated to make payments to the ESOP in order for the ESOP to make annual payments of principal and interest due under the term loan and to fund diversification elections of participants who are eligible to diversify shares of convertible preferred stock allocated to their ESOP accounts. As payments on the term loan are made, shares of convertible preferred stock are released from the ESOPs unallocated loan suspense account and allocated to eligible employees accounts. Such allocation is made as of the last day of each plan year (i.e., as of each March 31) and is made on a pro rata basis, based on the compensation paid to each of the eligible employees for such year up to the maximum per employee annual allocation limits imposed by the Code. All shares of convertible preferred stock not so released and allocated continue to be unallocated under the ESOP.
The shares of convertible preferred stock will be held in the name of the ESOP trustee until redemption or conversion. In the event of any transfer of shares of the convertible preferred stock to any person other than the ESOP trustee, the shares so transferred, upon such transfer, will be automatically converted into shares of Common Stock.
Each share of convertible preferred stock (after effecting the -for- stock split to be effected immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part) has an applicable value of $ ; bears an annual cumulative dividend of 2.5% or $ per share; is convertible into 0.7692 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances; has a liquidation preference of $ , plus any accrued and unpaid dividends; and generally votes together as a single class with the Common Stock on matters upon which the Common Stock is entitled to vote except as otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware. If full cumulative dividends on the convertible preferred stock have not been declared and paid or set apart for payment when due, we (i) may pay only ratable dividends (in proportion to the full amounts to which holders of convertible preferred stock would otherwise be entitled) on the convertible preferred stock and (ii) may not pay dividends, or make any other distribution, repurchases, redemption or retirements on the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to the convertible preferred stock.
In addition to the cumulative dividends payable with respect to the outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock, if dividends are declared by our board of directors on Common Stock, the holders of convertible preferred stock are entitled to receive dividends in such amount as they would be entitled to receive if their shares of convertible preferred stock had been converted into shares of Common Stock on the applicable record date.
The shares of convertible preferred stock are not redeemable at our option. At the option of the holder, who is the trustee of the ESOP, at any time and from time to time, we must redeem the shares of convertible preferred stock for cash at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) the fair market value of the convertible preferred stock or (ii) $ per share (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization affecting such shares), plus accumulated and unpaid dividends to
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the date fixed for redemption, upon notice to us given not less than five business days prior to the date fixed by the holder in such notice for such redemption, upon certification by such holder to us when and to the extent necessary for such holder to provide for distributions required to be made to participants under our ESOP, or any successor plan.
In general, the trustee of the ESOP votes the shares of stock held by the ESOP as directed by the ESOPs committee. However, in the event of either a corporate matter with respect to the approval or disapproval of any corporate merger or consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, liquidation, dissolution, sale of substantially all of the assets of a trade or business or with respect to any tender or exchange offer, or a request or invitation for tenders or exchanges, each participant in the ESOP may direct the trustee of the ESOP on how to vote the shares of stock allocated to the participants ESOP accounts; and the trustee must vote any unallocated stock and allocated stock for which no participant instructions were received in the same proportion as the allocated stock for which participants voting instructions have been received is voted.
Anti-Takeover Effects of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and of the Delaware General Corporation Law summarized below may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that you might consider in your best interest, including an attempt that might result in your receipt of a premium over the market price for your shares. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors, which could result in an improvement of their terms.
Undesignated preferred stock . As discussed above, our board of directors has the ability to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or changes to our management.
Classified board of directors . Our board of directors is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, with members of each class serving staggered three-year terms. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of our board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office. Our classified board of directors could have the effect of delaying or discouraging an acquisition of us or a change in our management.
Special meetings of stockholders . Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by or at the direction of our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of our board of directors. Stockholders will not be permitted to call a special meeting.
No stockholder action by written consent . Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that stockholder action may be taken only at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Removal of directors . Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that directors may be removed from office only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least 75% of the votes which all the stockholders would be entitled to cast.
No cumulative voting . Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not permit cumulative voting in the election of directors. Cumulative voting allows a stockholder to
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vote a portion or all of its shares for one or more candidates for seats on our board of directors. Without cumulative voting, a minority stockholder may not be able to gain as many seats on our board of directors as the stockholder would be able to gain if cumulative voting were permitted. The absence of cumulative voting makes it more difficult for a minority stockholder to gain a seat on our board of directors to influence our boards decision regarding a takeover.
Stockholder advance notice procedure. Our amended and restated bylaws will establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to make nominations of candidates for election as directors or to bring other business before an annual meeting of our stockholders. The amended and restated bylaws will provide that any stockholder wishing to nominate persons for election as directors at, or bring other business before, an annual meeting must deliver to our Secretary a written notice of the stockholders intention to do so. These provisions may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. We expect that these provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirers own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us. To be timely, the stockholders notice must be delivered to our corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices not fewer than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is set for a date that is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after the first anniversary date of the preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice must be delivered to our Secretary (x) not earlier than 120 days prior to the meeting or (y) no later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which a public announcement of the date of the such meeting is first made by us.
Super-majority vote requirement. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require a super-majority stockholders vote of 75% to approve any reorganization, recapitalization, share exchange, share reclassification, consolidation, merger, conversion or sale of all or substantially all assets to which we are a party that is not approved by the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the members of our board of directors.
Amendments to certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The DGCL generally provides that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporations certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless either a corporations certificate of incorporation or bylaws require a greater percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that specified provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may not be amended, altered or repealed unless the amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of our capital stock then entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, including the provisions governing the liability and indemnification of directors, the elimination of stockholder action by written consent and the prohibition on the rights of stockholders to call a special meeting.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that our amended and restated bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed, or new bylaws may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of our board of directors, or by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of our capital stock then entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.
These provisions make it more difficult for any person to remove or amend any provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that may have an anti-takeover effect.
Section 203 of the DGCL. In our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we will elect not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, as permitted under and pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of Section 203. Section 203, with specified exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder unless:
| prior to such time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
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| upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder, those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 203 defines business combination to include the following:
| any merger or consolidation of the corporation with the interested stockholder; |
| any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; |
| subject to specified exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; |
| any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or |
| any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
An interested stockholder is any entity or person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions permitted under Delaware General Corporation Law relating to the liability of directors. These provisions will eliminate a directors personal liability to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, except in circumstances involving:
| any breach of the directors duty of loyalty; |
| acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; |
| under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (unlawful dividends); or |
| any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit. |
The principal effect of the limitation on liability provision is that a stockholder will be unable to prosecute an action for monetary damages against a director unless the stockholder can demonstrate a basis for liability for which indemnification is not available under the Delaware General Corporation Law. These provisions, however, should not limit or eliminate our rights or any stockholders rights to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of directors fiduciary duty. These provisions will not alter a directors liability under federal securities laws. The inclusion of this provision in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for a breach of their fiduciary duties, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited us and our stockholders.
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Our amended and restated bylaws will require us to indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and other applicable law, except in certain cases of a proceeding instituted by the director or officer without the approval of our board of directors. Our amended and restated bylaws will provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for all judgments, fines, settlements, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings because of the directors or officers positions with us or another entity that the director or officer serves at our request, subject to various conditions, and to advance funds to our directors and officers to enable them to defend against such proceedings.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and senior officers. The indemnification agreements will provide the directors and senior officers with contractual rights to the indemnification and expense advancement rights provided under our amended and restated bylaws, as well as contractual rights to additional indemnification as provided in the indemnification agreements.
Choice of Forum
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed to us or our stockholders by our directors, officers, employees or agents, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. It is possible that a court could rule that this provision is not applicable or is unenforceable. We may consent in writing to alternative forums. Stockholders will be deemed to have notice of and consented to this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Market Listing
We intend to apply to list our common stock on the NYSE under the symbol WMS.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Upon the completion of this offering, the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock will be .
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SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Immediately prior to this offering, there was no public market for our common stock. Some shares of our common stock will not be available for sale for a certain period of time after this offering because they are subject to contractual and legal restrictions on resale, some of which are described below. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock in the public market after these restrictions lapse, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.
Sales of Restricted Securities
After this offering, shares of our common stock will be outstanding. Of these shares, all of the shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, unless purchased by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The remaining shares of our common stock that will be outstanding after this offering are restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if they are registered under the Securities Act or are sold pursuant to an exemption from registration. Subject to the lock-up agreements described below, shares held by our affiliates that are not restricted securities or that have been owned for more than one year may be sold subject to compliance with Rule 144 of the Securities Act without regard to the prescribed one-year holding period under Rule 144.
Lock-up Agreements
All of our directors and executive officers and the holders of more than % of our common stock prior to this offering have signed lock-up agreements under which they have agreed not to sell, transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters for a period of 180 days, subject to certain exceptions and possible extension under certain circumstances, after the date of this prospectus. These agreements are described below under Underwriting.
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person who is not our affiliate and has not been our affiliate at any time during the preceding three months will be entitled to sell any shares of our common stock that such person has beneficially owned for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, without regard to volume limitations. Sales of our common stock by any such person would be subject to the availability of current public information about us if the shares to be sold were beneficially owned by such person for less than one year.
In addition, under Rule 144, a person may sell shares of our common stock immediately upon the closing of this offering, without regard to volume limitations or the availability of public information about us, if:
| the person is not our affiliate and has not been our affiliate at any time during the preceding three months; and |
| the person has beneficially owned the shares to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates. |
Beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, and subject to the lock up agreements described above, our affiliates who have beneficially owned shares of our common stock for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:
| 1% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately shares immediately after this offering; and |
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| the average weekly trading volume in our common stock on the NYSE during the four calendar weeks preceding the date of filing of a Notice of Proposed Sale of Securities Pursuant to Rule 144 with respect to the sale. |
Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to manner of sale provisions and notice requirements.
Rule 701
Any of our employees, officers or directors who acquired shares under a written compensatory plan or contract may be entitled to sell them in reliance on Rule 701. Rule 701 permits affiliates to sell their Rule 701 shares under Rule 144 without complying with the holding period requirements of Rule 144. Rule 701 further provides that non-affiliates may sell these shares in reliance on Rule 144 without complying with the holding period, public information, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares are required to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling those shares. However, all shares issued under Rule 701 are subject to lock-up agreements and will only become eligible for sale when the 180-day lock-up agreements expire.
Equity Incentive Plans
Prior to completion of this offering, we had three employee share-based incentive plans, our 2000 Stock Option Plan, our 2008 Restricted Stock Plan and our 2013 Stock Option Plan. We expect to adopt one or more new plans, prior to the completion of this offering, to enable us to better align our compensation programs with those typical of companies with publicly-traded securities.
As of March 31, 2014, we had outstanding approximately 600,005 options to purchase shares of common stock, of which approximately 103,191 options to purchase shares of common stock were vested. Following this offering, we intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options as well as all shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity plans. See Executive Compensation Equity-Based Incentive Plans for additional information regarding these plans. Shares of our common stock issued under the S-8 registration statement will be available for sale in the public market, subject to the Rule 144 provisions applicable to affiliates, and subject to any vesting restrictions and lock-up agreements applicable to these shares.
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DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS
General
Our senior funded indebtedness consists of secured Senior Loan Facilities (as defined below) and secured Senior Notes (as defined below).
Senior Loan Facilities
Our bank credit facilities consist of: (i) a secured revolving credit facility (which we refer to as the Revolving Credit Facility), providing for revolving loans and letters of credit of up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $325.0 million and (ii) a secured term loan facility (which we refer to as the Term Loan Facility and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, as the Senior Loan Facilities), providing for term loans, which we refer to as the Term Loans, in an aggregate original principal amount of $100.0 million. A portion of the Revolving Credit Facility is available for letters of credit ($15.0 million sublimit) and swing line loans ($20.0 million sublimit).
The Senior Loan Facilities also permit us to add one or more revolving credit facility commitments to be included in the Revolving Credit Facility, to increase the existing revolving credit facility commitments by requesting supplemental revolving credit facility commitments, to add one or more incremental term loan facilities to be included in the Term Loan Facility, or to increase the existing term loans by requesting supplemental term loan commitments. Such additional commitments to the Revolving Credit Facility or the Term Loan Facility shall not exceed $50.0 million in the aggregate.
The proceeds of the Revolving Credit Facility are primarily used to provide for our ongoing working capital and capital expenditure needs, to finance acquisitions and distributions, and for our other general corporate purposes. The proceeds of the Term Loans were primarily used for our general corporate purposes.
As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding principal drawn on the Revolving Credit Facility was $248.1 million, with $68.4 million available to be drawn under all outstanding letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans was $97.5 million.
Maturity; Prepayment
The advances under the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loans may be prepaid at our option at any time without premium or penalty (other than customary payments related to increased costs, LIBOR breakage and indemnities). Subject to certain exceptions, the Senior Loan Facilities will be subject to mandatory prepayment in an amount equal to a portion of the net cash proceeds received by us or any other Loan Party from certain asset sales, insurance recovery events, debt incurrences and equity issuances. Further, the Revolving Credit Facility will be subject to mandatory prepayment if the outstanding Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the aggregate commitments with respect thereto, in an amount equal to such excess. Mandatory prepayments of outstanding obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility will not result in a permanent reduction of the lenders commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility.
The Senior Loan Facilities will mature on June 12, 2018, which we refer to as the Maturity Date. The Term Loans are payable in nineteen consecutive quarterly installments of principal as follows: (i) four quarterly principal payments, each in the amount of $1,250,000, on October 1, 2013, January 1, 2014, April 1, 2014 and July 1, 2014; (ii) four quarterly principal payments, each in the amount of $1,875,000, on October 1, 2014, January 1, 2015, April 1, 2015 and July 1, 2015; (iii) eleven quarterly principal payments, each in the amount of $2,500,000, commencing on October 1, 2015 and continuing on the first day of January, April, July and October thereafter through and including April 1, 2018, with all remaining principal on the Term Loans due and payable on the Maturity Date.
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Guarantee; Security
Our obligations under the Senior Loan Facilities are guaranteed by our existing and subsequently acquired or organized direct or indirect domestic material subsidiaries, which we refer to as Subsidiary Guarantors, to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation and contractual provision.
The obligations under the Senior Loan Facilities are secured by: (i) all capital stock of all first-tier domestic subsidiaries owned by ADS and the Subsidiary Guarantors and 65% of the capital stock of any first-tier foreign subsidiary owned directly by ADS or any Subsidiary Guarantor (with any domestic subsidiary whose principal purpose is to hold the ownership interests of one or more foreign subsidiaries generally being deemed to be a foreign subsidiary) and (ii) substantially all other tangible and intangible personal property owned by ADS and each Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law. Pursuant to the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement (defined below), our obligations under the Senior Loan Facilities are secured by the collateral on a pari passu basis with our obligations under the Senior Notes (as defined below) to the extent set forth in the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement.
Interest; Fees
The interest rates applicable to the loans under the Senior Loan Facilities are based on a fluctuating rate of interest measured by reference to either, at our option: (i) an adjusted London inter-bank offered rate (adjusted for statutory reserve requirements), plus a borrowing margin determined on a quarterly basis by reference to a pricing grid corresponding to our then applicable Leverage Ratio or (ii) an alternate base rate, plus a borrowing margin determined on a quarterly basis by reference to a pricing grid corresponding to our then applicable Leverage Ratio.
Customary fees are payable in respect of the Senior Loan Facilities and the ongoing utilization and maintenance thereof.
Covenants
The Senior Loan Facilities contain a number of negative covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict our ability and, in certain cases, certain of our subsidiaries ability to carry out acquisitions, mergers or consolidations; to pay dividends; to incur other indebtedness (including guarantees of other indebtedness); to grant or permit certain liens; to pay dividends or make other restricted payments, including investments; to prepay or amend the terms of other indebtedness; to enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates; to sell certain assets; or to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets.
The Senior Loan Facilities also contain certain affirmative covenants, including financial and other reporting requirements.
Events of Default
The Senior Loan Facilities provide for customary events of default, including non-payment of principal, interest or fees, violation of covenants, material inaccuracy of representations or warranties, specified cross default and cross acceleration to other material indebtedness, change of control, certain bankruptcy events, certain ERISA events, material invalidity of guarantees or security interests and material judgments.
Senior Notes
On September 27, 2010, we issued $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018 (which we refer to as the Senior Series A Notes) at par. Each of the Senior Series A Notes bears interest at a rate of 5.6% per annum. Accrued interest on each of the Senior Series A Notes is payable quarterly on each December 24, March 24, June 24 and September 24. Principal on each of the Senior Series A Notes is payable in three (3) equal installments on September 24, 2016, September 24, 2017 and September 24, 2018.
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On July 24, 2013, we issued $25.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.05% Senior Series B Secured Notes due September 24, 2019 (which we refer to as the Senior Series B Notes and, together with the Senior Series A Notes, as the Senior Notes) at par. Each of the Senior Series B Notes bears interest at a rate of 4.05% per annum. Accrued interest on each of the Senior Series B Notes is payable quarterly on each December 24, March 24, June 24 and September 24. Principal on each of the Senior Series B Notes is payable on September 24, 2019.
The proceeds of the Senior Series A Notes were primarily used to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock from certain of our stockholders and to repurchase outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock from the ESOP. The proceeds of the Senior Series B Notes were primarily used for our general corporate purposes.
As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding principal balance of the Senior Series A Notes was $75.0 million. As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding principal balance of the Senior Series B Notes was $25.0 million.
As of March 31, 2014, our calculated leverage exceeded 3 to 1. As a result, we were subject to the additional 200 basis point excess leverage fee, which increased interest expense by $500 in fiscal year 2014. We expect the leverage fee to continue no later than when we receive the proceeds from the IPO and reduce our outstanding debt, which will reduce our calculated leverage below 3 to 1.
Guarantees; Security
Consistent with the Senior Loan Facilities, the Senior Notes are guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation.
Our obligations under the Senior Notes are secured by: (i) all capital stock of all domestic subsidiaries owned by ADS and the Subsidiary Guarantors and 65% of the capital stock of any first-tier foreign subsidiary owned directly by ADS or any Subsidiary Guarantor (with any domestic subsidiary created to hold the stock of foreign subsidiary generally being deemed to be a foreign subsidiary) and (ii) substantially all other tangible and intangible personal property owned by ADS and each Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law. Pursuant to the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, our obligations under the Senior Notes are secured by the collateral on a pari passu basis with our obligations under the Senior Loan Facilities to the extent set forth in the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement.
Prepayments
The Senior Notes of each series are subject to prepayment at our option, in whole at any time or from time to time in part at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid plus interest thereon to the prepayment date plus a yield maintenance amount with respect to such note.
Subject to certain exceptions, if we or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors receives net cash proceeds from certain asset sales, insurance recovery events, debt incurrences or equity issuances, we must use a portion of such net cash proceeds to make an offer to prepay the Senior Notes. A noteholder may accept or reject such offer of prepayment.
Covenants
Consistent with the terms of the Senior Loan Facilities, the Senior Notes contain restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of ADS and, in certain cases, certain of our subsidiaries, to: incur more indebtedness; pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions; make investments; grant or permit certain liens; transfer or sell assets; merge or consolidate; and enter into certain transactions with ADSs affiliates.
Consistent with the terms of the Senior Loan Facilities, the Senior Notes also contain certain affirmative covenants, including financial and other reporting requirements.
Events of Default
Consistent with the terms of the Senior Loan Facilities, the Senior Notes provide for customary events of default, including non-payment of principal, interest or fees, violation of covenants, material inaccuracy of
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representations or warranties, specified cross default and cross acceleration to other material indebtedness, change of control, certain bankruptcy events, certain ERISA events, material invalidity of guarantees or security interests and material judgments.
Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility
The credit facility for our joint venture ADS Mexicana consists of a secured revolving credit facility (which we refer to as the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility), providing for revolving loans and letters of credit of up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $12.0 million. A portion of the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility is available for letters of credit ($1.0 million sublimit).
The proceeds of the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility are primarily used to provide for ongoing working capital and capital expenditure needs and for other general corporate purposes.
As of March 31, 2014, there was no outstanding principal drawn on the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility and the entire $12 million was available to be drawn.
Maturity; Prepayment
The advances under the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility may be prepaid at the option of ADS Mexicana at any time without premium or penalty (other than customary payments related to increased costs, LIBOR breakage and indemnities). The Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility will be subject to mandatory prepayment if the outstanding Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the aggregate commitments with respect thereto, in an amount equal to such excess. The Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility will mature on June 12, 2018.
Guarantee; Security
The obligations under the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility are guaranteed by ADS and our existing and subsequently acquired or organized direct or indirect domestic material subsidiaries, which we refer to as Mexicana Subsidiary Guarantors, to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation and contractual provision.
The obligations under the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility are secured by: (i) all capital stock of all first-tier domestic subsidiaries owned by ADS and the Mexicana Subsidiary Guarantors and 65% of the capital stock of any first-tier foreign subsidiary owned directly by ADS or any Mexicana Subsidiary Guarantor (with any domestic subsidiary whose principal purpose is to hold the ownership interests of one or more foreign subsidiaries generally being deemed to be a foreign subsidiary) and (ii) substantially all other tangible and intangible personal property owned by ADS and each Mexicana Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law. Pursuant to the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement (defined below), the obligations under the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility are secured by the collateral on a pari passu basis with the obligations under the Senior Notes (as defined above) and the Senior Loan Facilities (as defined above) to the extent set forth in the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement.
Interest; Fees
The interest rates applicable to the loans under the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility are based on a fluctuating rate of interest measured by reference to either, at the option of ADS Mexicana: (i) an adjusted London inter-bank offered rate (adjusted for statutory reserve requirements), plus a borrowing margin determined on a quarterly basis by reference to a pricing grid corresponding to our then applicable Leverage Ratio or (ii) an alternate base rate, plus a borrowing margin determined on a quarterly basis by reference to a pricing grid corresponding to our then applicable Leverage Ratio.
Customary fees are payable in respect of the Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility and the ongoing utilization and maintenance thereof.
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Covenants
The Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility contains a number of negative covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict ADS Mexicanas ability and, in certain cases, ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V.s ability to carry out acquisitions, mergers or consolidations; to incur other indebtedness (including guarantees of other indebtedness); to grant or permit certain liens; to pay dividends or make other restricted payments, including investments; to enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates; to sell certain assets; or to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets.
The Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility also contains certain affirmative covenants, including financial and other reporting requirements.
Events of Default
The Mexicana Revolving Credit Facility provides for customary events of default, including non-payment of principal, interest or fees, violation of covenants, material inaccuracy of representations or warranties, specified cross default and cross acceleration to other material indebtedness, change of control, certain bankruptcy events, expiration or termination of the Senior Loan Facilities, material invalidity of guarantees or security interests and material judgments.
Intercreditor Agreement
On June 12, 2013, the administrative agent for and on behalf of the lenders under the Senior Loan Facilities and the holders of the Senior Notes, among others entered into an intercreditor and collateral agency agreement, which we refer to as the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement. Pursuant to the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, the administrative agent was appointed as the collateral agent (which we refer to as the Collateral Agent) and secured party for the benefit of, among others, the lenders under the Senior Loan Facilities and the holders of the Senior Notes and the parties agreed that our obligations under the Senior Loan Facilities and the Senior Notes are secured by the collateral on a pari passu basis to the extent provided in the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS
The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income and estate tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock by Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) that purchase our common stock pursuant to this offering and hold such common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This discussion is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated or proposed thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or to different interpretation. This discussion does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to specific Non-U.S. Holders in light of their particular circumstances, including the impact of the unearned income Medicare contribution tax, or to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law (such as banks, insurance companies, dealers in securities or other Non-U.S. Holders that generally mark their securities to market for U.S. federal income tax purposes, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, foreign governments, international organizations, tax-exempt entities, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, or Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion or other integrated transaction). This discussion does not address any U.S. state or local or non-U.S. tax considerations or any U.S. federal gift or alternative minimum tax considerations.
As used in this discussion, the term Non-U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of our common stock that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
| an individual who is neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States; |
| a corporation that is not created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
| an estate that is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on income from non-U.S. sources which is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States; or |
| a trust unless (i) it is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or (ii) it has in effect a valid election under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person. |
If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes invests in our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to such investment will depend in part upon the status and activities of such entity and the particular partner. Any such entity should consult its own tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax considerations applicable to it and its partners relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock.
PERSONS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME, ESTATE AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Distributions on Common Stock
If we make a distribution of cash or other property (other than certain pro rata distributions of our common stock or rights to acquire our common stock) in respect of a share of our common stock, the distribution will generally be treated as a dividend to the extent it is paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). If the amount of a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess generally will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the Non-U.S. Holders tax basis in such share of our common stock, and then as capital gain.
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Except as described below, dividends paid to or for the account of a Non-U.S. Holder are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate, or at a lower rate if provided by an applicable tax treaty and the Non-U.S. Holder has furnished to us or another payor:
| a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form upon certifying, under penalties of perjury, the status of the Non-U.S. Holder as (or, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a partnership or an estate or trust, such forms certifying the status of each partner in the partnership or beneficiary of the estate or trust as) a non-U.S. person and the Non-U.S. Holders entitlement to the lower treaty rate with respect to such payments, or |
| in the case of payments made outside the United States to an offshore account (generally, an account maintained at an office or branch of a bank or other financial institution at any location outside the United States), other documentary evidence establishing the entitlement of the Non-U.S. Holder to the lower treaty rate in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations. |
If a Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax under a tax treaty, such Non-U.S. Holder may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of that rate by filing a refund claim with the IRS.
If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, and, if required by a tax treaty, the dividends are attributable to a permanent establishment (or fixed base, in the case of an individual) maintained in the United States, we and other payors generally are not required to withhold tax from the dividends, provided that the Non-U.S. Holder has furnished to us or another payor a valid IRS Form W-8ECI or an acceptable substitute form representing, under penalties of perjury, that:
| the Non-U.S. Holder is a non-U.S. person, and |
| the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and are includible in the gross income of the Non-U.S. Holder. |
Effectively connected dividends are taxed at rates applicable to U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and domestic U.S. corporations.
In the case of a corporate Non-U.S. Holder, effectively connected dividends may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if the Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.
Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Stock
A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on a disposition of our common stock unless:
| the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment (or fixed base, in the case of an individual) maintained in the United States, if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting the Non-U.S. Holder to U.S. taxation on a net income basis, |
| such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition, and certain other conditions exist (except as provided by an applicable treaty), or |
|
we are or have been a United States real property holding corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes; provided that a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the gain on a disposition of our common stock if either (i) our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market in the year the Non-U.S. Holder disposes of the stock and such Non-U.S. Holder did not hold, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the five-year |
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period ending on the date of disposition or (ii) the Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for any treaty exemption. We have not been, are not, and do not anticipate becoming a United States real property holding corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
In the case of a corporate Non-U.S. Holder, effectively connected gains that are recognized may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if the Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.
The foregoing discussion is subject to the discussion below under FATCA Withholding and Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.
FATCA Withholding
Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act provisions of the Code and related Treasury guidance, or FATCA, a withholding tax of 30% will be imposed in certain circumstances on payments of (a) distributions on our common stock on or after July 1, 2014 and (b) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock on or after January 1, 2017. In the case of payments made to a foreign financial institution (generally including an investment fund), as a beneficial owner or as an intermediary, the tax generally will be imposed, subject to certain exceptions, unless such institution (i) enters into (or is otherwise subject to) and complies with an agreement with the U.S. government, which we refer to as a FATCA Agreement, or (ii) is required by and complies with applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign jurisdiction, which we refer to as an IGA, in either case to, among other things, collect and provide to the U.S. or other relevant tax authorities certain information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution. In the case of payments made to a foreign entity that is not a financial institution (as a beneficial owner), the tax generally will be imposed, subject to certain exceptions, unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owner (generally, any specified U.S. person that directly or indirectly owns more than a specified percentage of such entity) or that identifies its substantial U.S. owners. If our common stock is held through a foreign financial institution that enters into (or is otherwise subject to) a FATCA Agreement, such foreign financial institution (or, in certain cases, a person paying amounts to such foreign financial institution) generally will be required, subject to certain exceptions, to withhold such tax on payments of dividends and proceeds described above made to (x) a person (including an individual) that fails to comply with certain information requests or (y) a foreign financial institution that has not entered into (and is not otherwise subject to) a FATCA Agreement and is not otherwise exempted from FATCA pursuant to applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an IGA. Coordinating rules may limit duplicative withholding in cases where the withholding described above in Distributions on Common Stock or below in Information Reporting and Backup Withholding also applies. Each Non-U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the application of FATCA to the ownership and disposition of our common stock.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Amounts treated as payments of dividends on our common stock paid to a Non-U.S. Holder and the amount of any tax withheld from such payments must be reported annually to the IRS and to such Non-U.S. Holder.
The information reporting and backup withholding rules that apply to payments of dividends to certain U.S. persons generally will not apply to payments of dividends on our common stock to a Non-U.S. Holder if such Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person (generally by providing an IRS Form W-8BEN) or otherwise establishes an exemption.
Proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock by a Non-U.S. Holder effected through a non-U.S. office of a U.S. broker or of a non-U.S. broker with certain specified U.S. connections generally will be subject to information reporting (but not backup withholding) unless such Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person (generally by providing an IRS
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Form W-8BEN) or otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock by a Non-U.S. Holder effected through a U.S. office of a broker generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless such Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person (generally by providing an IRS Form W-8BEN) or otherwise establishes an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability if the required information is furnished by such Non-U.S. Holder on a timely basis to the IRS.
U.S. Federal Estate Tax
Shares of our common stock owned or treated as owned by an individual Non-U.S. Holder at the time of his or her death will be included in his or her gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes and may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.
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Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are acting as the representatives of the underwriters and Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of this offering. Under the terms of an underwriting agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each of the underwriters named below has severally agreed to purchase from us and the selling stockholder the respective number of shares of common stock shown opposite its name below:
Underwriters |
Number of
Shares |
|
Barclays Capital Inc. |
||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. |
||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
||
|
||
Total |
||
|
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters obligation to purchase shares of common stock depends on the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement including:
| the obligation to purchase all of the shares of common stock offered hereby (other than those shares of common stock covered by their option to purchase additional shares as described below), if any of the shares are purchased; |
| the representations and warranties made by us and the selling stockholder to the underwriters are true; |
| there is no material change in our business or the financial markets; and |
| we and the selling stockholder deliver customary closing documents to the underwriters. |
Commissions and Expenses
The following table summarizes the underwriting discounts and commissions we and the selling stockholder will pay to the underwriters. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares. The underwriting fee is the difference between the initial price to the public and the amount the underwriters pay to us and the selling stockholder for the shares.
Us | Selling Stockholder | |||||||||||||||
No Exercise | Full Exercise | No Exercise | Full Exercise | |||||||||||||
Per Share |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | $ | $ | $ |
The representatives have advised us that the underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock directly to the public at the public offering price on the cover of this prospectus and to selected dealers, which may include the underwriters, at such offering price less a selling concession not in excess of $ per share. After the offering, the representatives may change the offering price and other selling terms.
The expenses of the offering that are payable by us and the selling stockholder are estimated to be approximately $ (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions).
Option to Purchase Additional Shares
We and the selling stockholder have granted the underwriters an option exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus to purchase, from time to time, in whole or in part, up to an aggregate of shares from
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us and shares from the selling stockholder at the public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions. To the extent that this option is exercised, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase its pro rata portion of these additional shares based on the underwriters percentage underwriting commitment in the offering as indicated in the table at the beginning of this Underwriting Section.
Lock-Up Agreements
We, all of our directors and executive officers, holders of more than % of our outstanding stock and the selling stockholder have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus subject to certain limited exceptions, we and they will not directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of common stock (including, without limitation, shares of common stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by us or them in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock (other than the stock and shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans, or other employee compensation plans existing on the date of this prospectus or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights not issued under one of those plans), or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock (other than the grant of options pursuant to option plans existing on the date of this prospectus), (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of shares of common stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right or file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any shares of common stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into common stock or any of our other securities (other than any registration statement on Form S-8), or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing.
If:
| during the last 17 days of the 180-day restricted period, we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to us occurs; or |
| prior to the expiration of the 180-day restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 180-day period, |
the 180-day restricted period described above will be extended (and the restrictions above will continue to apply) until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or occurrence of the material event, unless Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (in their sole discretion) confirm to us in writing that such extension will not be required.
Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., in their sole discretion, may release the common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time. When determining whether or not to release common stock and other securities from lock-up agreements, Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. will consider, among other factors, the holders reasons for requesting the release, the number of shares of common stock and other securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time. At least three business days before the effectiveness of any release or waiver of any of the restrictions described above with respect to an officer or director of us, Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. will notify us of the impending release or waiver and we have agreed to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, except where the release or waiver is effected
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solely to permit a transfer of common stock that is not for consideration and where the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms as the lock-up agreements described above to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of transfer.
Offering Price Determination
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price was negotiated between the representatives and us. In determining the initial public offering price of our common stock, the representatives considered:
| the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete; |
| our financial information; |
| the ability of our management and our business potential and earning prospects; |
| the prevailing securities markets at the time of this offering; and |
| the recent market prices of, and the demand for, publicly traded shares of generally comparable companies. |
Indemnification
We and the selling stockholder have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.
Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
The representatives may engage in stabilizing transactions, short sales and purchases to cover positions created by short sales, and penalty bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the common stock, in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act:
| Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
| A short position involves a sale by the underwriters of shares in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase in the offering, which creates the syndicate short position. This short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares involved in the sales made by the underwriters in excess of the number of shares they are obligated to purchase is not greater than the number of shares that they may purchase by exercising their option to purchase additional shares. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in their option to purchase additional shares. The underwriters may close out any short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares and/or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through their option to purchase additional shares. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. |
| Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. |
| Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the common stock originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. |
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These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Listing on the NYSE
We intend to apply to list our common stock on the NYSE under the symbol WMS.
Discretionary Sales
The underwriters have informed us that they do not expect to sell more than 5% of the common stock in the aggregate to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
Stamp Taxes
If you purchase shares of common stock offered in this prospectus, you may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges under the laws and practices of the country of purchase, in addition to the offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus.
Other Relationships
The underwriters and certain of their affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and certain of their affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various commercial and investment banking and financial advisory services for the issuer and its affiliates, for which they received or may in the future receive customary fees and expenses.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and certain of their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the issuer or its affiliates. If the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, the underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities or the securities of our affiliates, including potentially the shares of common stock offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the shares of common stock offered hereby. The underwriters and certain of their affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
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Selling Restrictions
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, which we refer to as a Relevant Member State, an offer to the public of any common stock which are the subject of the offering contemplated herein may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any common stock may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:
| to legal entities which are qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Directive; |
| by the underwriters to fewer than 100, or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provisions of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives of the underwriters for any such offer; or |
| in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of common stock shall result in a requirement for us, the selling stockholders or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive. |
Each person in a Relevant Member State who receives any communication in respect of, or who acquires any common stock under, the offers contemplated here in this prospectus will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with each underwriter, the selling stockholder and us that:
| it is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Directive; and |
| in the case of any common stock acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, (i) the common stock acquired by it in the offering have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Relevant Member State other than qualified investors, as that term is defined in the Prospectus Directive, or in the circumstances in which the prior consent of the representatives of the underwriters has been given to the offer or resale or (ii) where common stock have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any Relevant Member State other than qualified investors, the offer of such common stock to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having been made to such persons. |
For the purposes of this representation and the provision above, the expression an offer of common stock to the public in relation to any common stock in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any common stock to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the common stock, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State, the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State and the expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.
United Kingdom
This prospectus has only been communicated or caused to have been communicated and will only be communicated or caused to be communicated as an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000, or FSMA) as received in connection with the issue or sale of the common stock in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us. All applicable provisions of the FSMA will be complied with in respect to anything done in relation to the common stock in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
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Switzerland
The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, or SIX, or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, us or the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes, or CISA. The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.
Dubai International Financial Centre
This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, or DFSA. This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The shares to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the shares. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
Australia
No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, or ASIC, in relation to the offering. This prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001, or the Corporations Act, and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.
Any offer in Australia of the shares may only be made to persons, which we refer to as Exempt Investors, who are sophisticated investors (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), professional investors (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.
The shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.
This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities
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recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.
Hong Kong
The shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to professional investors as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.
Japan
The shares have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, Japanese Person shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.
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The validity of the common stock offered in this offering will be passed upon for us by Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, Columbus, Ohio. Various legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Latham & Watkins LLP, New York, New York. As of the date of this prospectus, an attorney employed by Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP beneficially owns 2,211 shares of our common stock.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act, with respect to the common stock offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. Some items are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the common stock offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or any other document referred to are summaries of the material terms of the respective contract, agreement or other document. With respect to each of these contracts, agreements or other documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to the exhibits for a more complete description of the matter involved.
A copy of the registration statement, and the exhibits and schedules thereto, may be inspected without charge at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of these materials may be obtained by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SECs website is http://www.sec.gov.
Upon the completion of this offering, we will become subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, will file annual reports containing financial statements audited by an independent public accounting company, quarterly reports containing unaudited financial statements, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You will be able to inspect and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at the address noted above. You will also be able to obtain copies of this material from the Public Reference Room of the SEC as described above, or inspect them without charge at the SECs website. Upon completion of this offering, you will also be able to access, free of charge, our reports filed with the SEC (for example, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those forms) through the Investor Relations portion of our Internet website (http://www.ads-pipe.com). Reports filed with or furnished to the SEC will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website is included in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only. The information found on our website is not part of this prospectus or any report filed with or furnished to the SEC.
The consolidated financial statements included in this Prospectus and the related consolidated financial statement schedule included elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein and elsewhere in the Registration Statement. Such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial statement schedule are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
- 168 -
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page | ||||
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements |
||||
F-2 | ||||
F-3 | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014 |
F-4 | |||
F-5 | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014 |
F-6 | |||
F-7 | ||||
F-10 | ||||
Schedule II Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts |
F-44 |
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors of
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries
Hilliard, Ohio
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of March 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders equity and mezzanine equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2014. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Columbus, Ohio
May 19, 2014
F-2
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of March 31, | ||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except par value) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash |
$ | 1,361 | $ | 3,931 | ||||
Receivables (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,689 and $3,977, respectively) |
146,478 | 150,713 | ||||||
Inventories |
232,409 | 260,300 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes and other current assets |
7,173 | 13,555 | ||||||
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|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
387,421 | 428,499 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
294,901 | 292,082 | ||||||
Other assets: |
||||||||
Goodwill |
86,259 | 86,297 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
78,717 | 66,184 | ||||||
Other assets |
60,441 | 64,533 | ||||||
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|||||
Total assets |
$ | 907,739 | $ | 937,595 | ||||
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LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Current maturities of debt obligations |
$ | 11,942 | $ | 11,153 | ||||
Accounts payable |
110,251 | 108,111 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
35,441 | 37,956 | ||||||
Accrued income taxes |
9,511 | 7,372 | ||||||
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|||||
Total current liabilities |
167,145 | 164,592 | ||||||
Long-term debt obligation |
338,048 | 442,895 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
74,114 | 69,169 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
5,808 | 15,324 | ||||||
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|
|||||
Total liabilities |
585,115 | 691,980 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 12) |
||||||||
Mezzanine equity: |
||||||||
Redeemable Common Stock; $0.01 par value: 8,135 and 8,141 issued and outstanding, respectively |
522,276 | 549,119 | ||||||
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock; $0.01 par value: 10,000 authorized: 9,384 issued, 5,640 and 5,551 outstanding, respectively |
282,547 | 291,720 | ||||||
Deferred compensation unearned ESOP shares |
(196,477 | ) | (197,888 | ) | ||||
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|||||
Total mezzanine equity |
608,346 | 642,951 | ||||||
Stockholders equity: |
||||||||
Common stock; $0.01 par value: 23,365 and 23,359 authorized and issued, respectively: 1,867 and 1,942 outstanding, respectively |
11,957 | 11,957 | ||||||
Paid-in capital |
41,152 | 22,547 | ||||||
Common stock in treasury, at cost |
(448,571 | ) | (448,439 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(856 | ) | (5,977 | ) | ||||
Retained earnings |
87,331 | | ||||||
|
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|
|||||
Total ADS stockholders equity |
(308,987 | ) | (419,912 | ) | ||||
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries |
23,265 | 22,576 | ||||||
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|||||
Total stockholders equity |
(285,722 | ) | (397,336 | ) | ||||
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|||||
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders equity |
$ | 907,739 | $ | 937,595 | ||||
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See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Fiscal Years
Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 1,013,756 | $ | 1,017,041 | $ | 1,069,009 | ||||||
Cost of goods sold |
818,398 | 807,730 | 856,118 | |||||||||
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Gross profit |
195,358 | 209,311 | 212,891 | |||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
Selling |
67,625 | 69,451 | 75,024 | |||||||||
General and administrative |
65,927 | 67,712 | 78,478 | |||||||||
Gain on sale of assets/business |
(44,634 | ) | (2,210 | ) | (5,338 | ) | ||||||
Intangible amortization |
11,387 | 11,295 | 11,412 | |||||||||
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|
|||||||
Income from operations |
95,053 | 63,063 | 53,315 | |||||||||
Other (income) expense: |
||||||||||||
Interest expense |
21,837 | 16,095 | 16,141 | |||||||||
Other miscellaneous expense, net |
2,425 | 283 | 133 | |||||||||
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|
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|
|||||||
Income before income taxes |
70,791 | 46,685 | 37,041 | |||||||||
Income tax expense |
27,064 | 16,894 | 22,575 | |||||||||
Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates |
(704 | ) | (387 | ) | 1,592 | |||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net income |
44,431 | 30,178 | 12,874 | |||||||||
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
1,171 | 2,019 | 1,750 | |||||||||
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|
|||||||
Net income attributable to ADS |
43,260 | 28,159 | 11,124 | |||||||||
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|
|||||||
Change in fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
(10,257 | ) | (5,869 | ) | (3,979 | ) | ||||||
Dividends paid to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stockholders |
(668 | ) | (736 | ) | (10,139 | ) | ||||||
Dividends paid to unvested restricted stockholders |
(34 | ) | (52 | ) | (418 | ) | ||||||
|
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|||||||
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders and participating securities |
32,301 | 21,502 | (3,412 | ) | ||||||||
Undistributed (income) loss allocated to participating securities |
(3,241 | ) | (2,042 | ) | | |||||||
|
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|||||||
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders |
$ | 29,060 | $ | 19,460 | $ | (3,412 | ) | |||||
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|||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||
Basic |
9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||
Diluted |
9,996 | 10,038 | 10,044 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) per share: |
||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | 2.95 | $ | 1.96 | $ | (0.34 | ) | |||||
Diluted |
$ | 2.91 | $ | 1.94 | $ | (0.34 | ) | |||||
Cash dividends declared per share |
$ | 0.44 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 7.91 | ||||||
Supplemental pro forma net income (loss) per share (unaudited) |
||||||||||||
Basic |
||||||||||||
Diluted |
||||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding used to calculate supplemental pro forma net income (loss) per share |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Fiscal Years Ended
March 31, |
||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Net income |
$ | 44,431 | $ | 30,178 | $ | 12,874 | ||||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income: |
||||||||||||
Currency translation, before tax |
(544 | ) | 2,040 | (8,180 | ) | |||||||
Other, before tax |
44 | (41 | ) | 6 | ||||||||
|
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|
|
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|
|||||||
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax |
(500 | ) | 1,999 | (8,174 | ) | |||||||
|
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|
|
|||||||
Tax attributes of items in other comprehensive income (loss): |
||||||||||||
Currency translation |
83 | (298 | ) | 1,770 | ||||||||
Other |
(17 | ) | 16 | (2 | ) | |||||||
|
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|
|||||||
Total tax benefit (expense) |
66 | (282 | ) | 1,768 | ||||||||
|
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|
|||||||
Comprehensive income |
43,997 | 31,895 | 6,468 | |||||||||
Less other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax |
(506 | ) | 1,198 | (1,285 | ) | |||||||
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
1,171 | 2,019 | 1,750 | |||||||||
|
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|
|||||||
Total comprehensive income attributable to ADS |
$ | 43,332 | $ | 28,678 | $ | 6,003 | ||||||
|
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See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Fiscal Years Ended
March 31, |
||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities |
||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 44,431 | $ | 30,178 | $ | 12,874 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
55,171 | 55,605 | 55,898 | |||||||||
Impairment of Hancor trademark |
3,200 | | | |||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
(5,556 | ) | (4,804 | ) | (5,096 | ) | ||||||
Gain on sale of assets/business |
(44,634 | ) | (2,210 | ) | (5,338 | ) | ||||||
ESOP and stock based compensation expense |
6,382 | 9,875 | 35,802 | |||||||||
Amortization of deferred financing charges |
1,935 | 1,929 | 1,602 | |||||||||
Other non-cash operating activities |
2,888 | 854 | 2,417 | |||||||||
Changes in working capital (see Note 21) |
(6,820 | ) | (23,212 | ) | (36,037 | ) | ||||||
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|
|||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
56,997 | 68,215 | 62,122 | |||||||||
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|
|||||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities |
||||||||||||
Capital expenditures |
(26,467 | ) | (40,004 | ) | (40,288 | ) | ||||||
Property insurance proceeds |
3,601 | | | |||||||||
Proceeds from sale of assets/business |
38,953 | 600 | 8,907 | |||||||||
Cash paid for acquisitions |
(45,225 | ) | (4,839 | ) | | |||||||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate |
(2,500 | ) | | (6,375 | ) | |||||||
Additions of capitalized software |
(3,396 | ) | (2,389 | ) | (3,310 | ) | ||||||
Other investing activities |
(799 | ) | (567 | ) | (701 | ) | ||||||
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|||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(35,833 | ) | (47,199 | ) | (41,767 | ) | ||||||
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|||||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities |
||||||||||||
Redemption of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
(3,579 | ) | (3,031 | ) | (4,428 | ) | ||||||
Cash dividends paid |
(4,931 | ) | (5,442 | ) | (112,747 | ) | ||||||
Purchase of treasury stock common |
(663 | ) | (249 | ) | (1,063 | ) | ||||||
(Payments) loan on CSV life insurance policies |
(6,490 | ) | 7,693 | | ||||||||
Debt issuance costs |
| | (2,311 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from Senior Notes |
| | 25,000 | |||||||||
Proceeds from term loan |
| | 100,000 | |||||||||
Payments on term loan |
(10,000 | ) | (10,000 | ) | (80,000 | ) | ||||||
Payments of notes, mortgages, and other debt |
(2,574 | ) | (1,882 | ) | (1,942 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility |
389,000 | 331,200 | 490,703 | |||||||||
Payments on Revolving Credit Facility |
(380,500 | ) | (340,000 | ) | (429,660 | ) | ||||||
Other financing activities |
(1,496 | ) | (26 | ) | (1,264 | ) | ||||||
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|||||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(21,233 | ) | (21,737 | ) | (17,712 | ) | ||||||
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|||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
| | (73 | ) | ||||||||
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|||||||
Net change in cash and equivalents |
(69 | ) | (721 | ) | 2,570 | |||||||
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year |
2,151 | 2,082 | 1,361 | |||||||||
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|||||||
Cash and equivalents at end of year |
$ | 2,082 | $ | 1,361 | $ | 3,931 | ||||||
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See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY AND MEZZANINE EQUITY
Common Stock |
Paid-
In Capital |
Common Stock
in Treasury |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss |
Retained
Earnings |
Total
ADS Stock- holders Equity |
Non-
controlling Interest in Subsidiaries |
Total
Stock- holders Equity |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock |
Deferred
Compensation Unearned ESOP Shares |
Total
Mezzanine Equity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per
share data) |
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at April 1, 2011 |
23,370 | 11,957 | 39,702 | 21,661 | (450,291 | ) | (1,447 | ) | 134,373 | (265,706 | ) | 20,479 | (245,227 | ) | 8,130 | 430,276 | 5,795 | 229,214 | 4,193 | (165,816 | ) | 493,674 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | | | 43,260 | 43,260 | 1,171 | 44,431 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
| | | | | 72 | | 72 | (506 | ) | (434 | ) | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock dividend |
| | | | | | (564 | ) | (564 | ) | | (564 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock dividend ($0.44 per share) |
| | | | | | (4,367 | ) | (4,367 | ) | | (4,367 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest holder |
| | | | | | | | (516 | ) | (516 | ) | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allocation of ESOP shares to participants for: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compensation |
| | (420 | ) | | | | | (420 | ) | | (420 | ) | | | | | (116 | ) | 5,377 | 5,377 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend |
| | | | | | (104 | ) | (104 | ) | | (104 | ) | | | | | (2 | ) | 104 | 104 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of common stock options |
| | (1,305 | ) | (103 | ) | 2,140 | | | 835 | | 835 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption of common shares to exercise stock options |
| | 1,278 | 25 | (1,278 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation |
| | 811 | | | | | 811 | | 811 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted stock awards |
| | (153 | ) | (18 | ) | 509 | | | 356 | | 356 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (90 | ) | (3,579 | ) | | | (3,579 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of common stock |
| | | 14 | (663 | ) | | | (663 | ) | | (663 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of common stock to Redeemable Common Stock |
(5 | ) | | (252 | ) | | | | | (252 | ) | | (252 | ) | 5 | 252 | | | | | 252 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock fair value measurement |
| | | | | | (10,257 | ) | (10,257 | ) | | (10,257 | ) | | | | 38,794 | | (28,537 | ) | 10,257 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to Redeemable Common Stock fair value measurement |
| | | | | | (51,478 | ) | (51,478 | ) | | (51,478 | ) | | 51,478 | | | | | 51,478 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Balance at March 31, 2012 |
23,365 | 11,957 | 39,661 | 21,579 | (449,583 | ) | (1,375 | ) | 110,863 | (288,477 | ) | 20,628 | (267,849 | ) | 8,135 | 482,006 | 5,705 | 264,429 | 4,075 | (188,872 | ) | 557,563 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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F-7
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY AND MEZZANINE EQUITY
Common Stock |
Paid-
In Capital |
Common Stock
in Treasury |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss |
Retained
Earnings |
Total
ADS Stock- holders Equity |
Non-
controlling Interest in Subsidiaries |
Total
Stock- holders Equity |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock |
Deferred
Compensation Unearned ESOP Shares |
Total
Mezzanine Equity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per
share data) |
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at April 1, 2012 |
23,365 | 11,957 | 39,661 | 21,579 | (449,583 | ) | (1,375 | ) | 110,863 | (288,477 | ) | 20,628 | (267,849 | ) | 8,135 | 482,006 | 5,705 | 264,429 | 4,075 | (188,872 | ) | 557,563 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Net income |
| | | | | | 28,159 | 28,159 | 2,019 | 30,178 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
| | | | | 519 | | 519 | 1,198 | 1,717 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock dividend |
| | | | | | (625 | ) | (625 | ) | | (625 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock dividend ($0.48 per share) |
| | | | | | (4,817 | ) | (4,817 | ) | | (4,817 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest holder |
| | | | | | | | (580 | ) | (580 | ) | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allocation of ESOP shares to participants for: |
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Compensation |
| | (282 | ) | | | | | (282 | ) | | (282 | ) | | | | | (151 | ) | 7,565 | 7,565 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend |
| | | | | | (110 | ) | (110 | ) | | (110 | ) | | | | | (2 | ) | 110 | 110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of common stock options |
| | (403 | ) | (69 | ) | 1,436 | | | 1,033 | | 1,033 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption of common shares to exercise stock options |
| | 805 | 14 | (805 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation |
| | 539 | | | | | 539 | | 539 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted stock awards |
| | 832 | (30 | ) | 630 | | | 1,462 | | 1,462 | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (65 | ) | (3,031 | ) | | | (3,031 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of common stock |
| | | 4 | (249 | ) | | | (249 | ) | | (249 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of common stock to Redeemable Common Stock |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock fair value measurement |
| | | | | | (5,869 | ) | (5,869 | ) | | (5,869 | ) | | | | 21,149 | | (15,280 | ) | 5,869 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to Redeemable Common Stock fair value measurement |
| | | | | | (40,270 | ) | (40,270 | ) | | (40,270 | ) | | 40,270 | | | | | 40,270 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Balance at March 31, 2013 |
23,365 | 11,957 | 41,152 | 21,498 | (448,571 | ) | (856 | ) | 87,331 | (308,987 | ) | 23,265 | (285,722 | ) | 8,135 | 522,276 | 5,640 | 282,547 | 3,922 | (196,477 | ) | 608,346 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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F-8
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY AND MEZZANINE EQUITY
Common Stock |
Paid-
In Capital |
Common Stock
in Treasury |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss |
Retained
Earnings |
Total
ADS Stock- holders Equity |
Non-
controlling Interest in Subsidiaries |
Total
Stock- holders Equity |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock |
Deferred
Compensation Unearned ESOP Shares |
Total
Mezzanine Equity |
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(Amounts in thousands, except per
share data) |
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at April 1, 2013 |
23,365 | 11,957 | 41,152 | 21,498 | (448,571 | ) | (856 | ) | 87,331 | (308,987 | ) | 23,265 | (285,722 | ) | 8,135 | 522,276 | 5,640 | 282,547 | 3,922 | (196,477 | ) | 608,346 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Net income |
| | | | | | 11,124 | 11,124 | 1,750 | 12,874 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
| | | | | (5,121 | ) | | (5,121 | ) | (1,285 | ) | (6,406 | ) | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock dividend |
| | | | | | (10,021 | ) | (10,021 | ) | | (10,021 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock dividend ($7.91 per share) |
| | | | | | (80,102 | ) | (80,102 | ) | | (80,102 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest holder |
| | | | | | | | (1,154 | ) | (1,154 | ) | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allocation of ESOP shares to participants for: |
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Compensation |
| | (203 | ) | | | | | (203 | ) | | (203 | ) | | | | | (154 | ) | 8,093 | 8,093 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend |
| | | | | | (118 | ) | (118 | ) | | (118 | ) | | | | | (2 | ) | 118 | 118 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of common stock options |
| | (861 | ) | (91 | ) | 1,896 | | | 1,035 | | 1,035 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption of common shares to exercise stock options |
| | 1,187 | 18 | (1,187 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation |
| | 2,517 | | | | | 2,517 | | 2,517 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted stock awards |
| | 1,363 | (25 | ) | 486 | | | 1,849 | | 1,849 | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (89 | ) | (4,428 | ) | | | (4,428 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of common stock |
| | | 17 | (1,063 | ) | | | (1,063 | ) | | (1,063 | ) | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of common stock to Redeemable Common Stock |
(6 | ) | | (385 | ) | | | | | (385 | ) | | (385 | ) | 6 | 385 | | | | | 385 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock fair value measurement |
| | | | | | (3,979 | ) | (3,979 | ) | | (3,979 | ) | | | | 13,601 | | (9,622 | ) | 3,979 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to Redeemable Common Stock fair value measurement |
| | (22,223 | ) | | | | (4,235 | ) | (26,458 | ) | | (26,458 | ) | | 26,458 | | | | | 26,458 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Balance at March 31, 2014 |
23,359 | 11,957 | 22,547 | 21,417 | (448,439 | ) | (5,977 | ) | | (419,912 | ) | 22,576 | (397,336 | ) | 8,141 | 549,119 | 5,551 | 291,720 | 3,766 | (197,888 | ) | 642,951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-9
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
1. | BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Organization
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively referred to as ADS, the Company, we, us and our), incorporated in Delaware, designs, manufactures and markets high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and related water management products, primarily in North and South America and Europe.
The Company is managed based primarily on the geographies in which it operates and reports results of operations in two reportable segments. The reportable segments are Domestic and International.
Principles of Consolidation
Our consolidated financial statements include the Company, our wholly owned subsidiaries, our majority owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) of which we are the primary beneficiary. We use the equity method of accounting for equity investments where we exercise significant influence but do not hold a controlling financial interest. Such investments are recorded in Other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and the related equity earnings from these investments is included in Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Statements of Income. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, our allowance for doubtful accounts, useful lives of our property, plant and equipment and amortizing intangible assets, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, reserves for uncertain tax positions, evaluation of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets for impairment, accounting for stock based compensation and our ESOP, reserves for general liability, workers compensation, and medical insurance, cash discounts and customer rebates and valuation of our Redeemable Common Stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. Managements estimates and assumptions are evaluated on an ongoing basis and are based on historical experience, current conditions and available information. Management believes the accounting estimates are appropriate and reasonably determined; however, due to the inherent uncertainties in making these estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Credit is extended to customers based on an evaluation of their financial condition and collateral is generally not required. The evaluation of the customers financial condition is performed to reduce the risk of loss. Accounts receivable are evaluated for collectability based on numerous factors, including the length of time individual receivables are past due, past transaction history with customers, their credit worthiness and the economic environment. An allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated as a percentage of aged receivables. This estimate is periodically adjusted when management becomes aware of a specific customers inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing) or as a result of changes in historical collection patterns.
F-10
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. The Companys inventories are maintained on the FIFO method. Costs include the cost of acquiring materials, direct and indirect labor and factory overhead. The Company recognizes the portion of fixed manufacturing overheads that relates to production that does not meet the definition of normal capacity as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.
Market value of inventory is established based on the lower of cost or estimated net realizable value, with consideration given to deterioration, obsolescence, and other factors. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of inventories and adjustments are made whenever necessary to reduce the carrying value to market value.
Property, Plant, and Equipment and Depreciation Method
Property, plant, and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Years | ||
Buildings |
40 | |
Machinery and equipment |
7 - 15 | |
Leasehold improvements |
Life of lease | |
Capitalized software costs |
3 - 7 |
Costs of additions and major improvements are capitalized, whereas maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the life of the asset are charged to expense as incurred. Construction in progress is also recorded at cost and includes capitalized interest, capitalized payroll costs and related costs such as taxes and other fringe benefits. When assets are retired or sold, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the asset accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts of an asset group may not be recoverable. Asset groups are established primarily by determining the lowest level of identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. If the estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amounts of such assets, an impairment loss in an amount necessary to write down the assets to fair value is determined from expected future discounted cash flows. Determining the fair value of these assets is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions.
The Company did not incur any impairment expense for long-lived assets in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Goodwill
The Company accounts for costs of acquired assets in excess of fair value (goodwill) and other intangible assets not subject to amortization in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 350, Intangibles Goodwill and Other. Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment as of March 31 or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The goodwill impairment analysis is comprised of two steps. The first step requires the comparison of the fair value of the applicable reporting unit to its respective carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not considered impaired and the Company would not be required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then the Company must perform the second step of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair
F-11
value of the reporting units goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting units goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then we would record an impairment loss equal to the difference. With respect to this testing, a reporting unit is a component of the Company for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by management. Implied fair value of goodwill is determined by considering both the income and market approach. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates, future economic and market conditions, and determination of appropriate market comparables. The fair value estimates are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, but are inherently uncertain.
The Company did not incur any impairment expense for goodwill in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Intangible Assets Definite Lived
Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, and are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts of the asset group may not be recoverable. Asset groups are established primarily by determining the lowest level of cash flows available. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amounts of such assets, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent the fair value of the asset less any costs of disposition is less than the carrying amount of the asset. Determining the fair value of these assets is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions.
In April 2011, the Company recharacterized the Hancor trademark previously classified as indefinite lived since 2005, to definite lived based on managements decision to discontinue the use of the trademark over the next 15 years. When such a change is made, the asset is required to be tested for impairment. The Company tested the trademark for impairment using the relief from royalty valuation method and recorded an impairment charge of $3,200 in General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income, resulting in the carrying value of the trademark being reduced, and thus equal, to the estimated fair value, which will be amortized over a 15-year period.
No additional impairment charges were recorded in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 or 2014.
Intangible Assets Indefinite Lived
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually as of March 31 or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may be greater than fair value. Determining the fair value of these assets is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. The Company bases its fair value estimates on assumptions it believes to be reasonable, but that are inherently uncertain. To estimate the fair value of these indefinite-lived intangible assets, the Company uses an income approach, which utilizes a market derived rate of return to discount anticipated performance. An impairment loss is recognized when the estimated fair value of the intangible asset is less than the carrying value.
The Company did not record any impairment in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 or 2014 other than the Hancor trademark impairment described previously.
Other Assets
Other assets include investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for under the equity method, capitalized software development costs, central parts, certain deferred financing costs and cash surrender value of officer life insurance on key senior management executives. The Company capitalizes software development costs for internal use. Capitalization of software development costs begins in the application
F-12
development stage and ends when the asset is placed into service. The Company amortizes such costs using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives and is included in General and administrative expenses or Cost of goods sold within our Consolidated Statements of Income depending on the nature of the asset and its intended use. Amortization expense related to certain deferred financing costs is included in Interest expense within our Consolidated Statements of Income. Central parts represent spare production equipment items held by the Company which are used to replace broken production equipment parts and help reduce the risk of prolonged equipment outages.
Other assets as of the fiscal years ended March 31 consisted of the following:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates |
$ | 22,012 | $ | 25,231 | ||||
Capitalized software development costs |
15,912 | 15,247 | ||||||
Central parts |
10,386 | 9,067 | ||||||
Deferred financing costs |
5,260 | 5,969 | ||||||
Cash surrender value of officer life insurance |
403 | 1,200 | ||||||
Deposits |
2,172 | 5,501 | ||||||
Note receivable |
1,200 | 600 | ||||||
Other |
3,096 | 1,718 | ||||||
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Total other assets |
$ | 60,441 | $ | 64,533 | ||||
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The following table sets forth amortization expense in each of the fiscal years ending March 31:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Capitalized software development costs |
$ | 4,875 | $ | 4,494 | $ | 4,308 | ||||||
Deferred financing costs |
1,935 | 1,996 | 1,602 |
Foreign Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange on the last day of the reporting period. Revenues and expenses are translated at a monthly average exchange rate and equity transactions are translated using either the actual exchange rate on the day of the transaction or a monthly average exchange rate.
Net Sales
ADS recognizes Net sales when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery has occurred, the price to the buyer is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.
ADS ships products to customers predominantly by internal fleet and to a lesser extent by third-party carriers. Sales, net of sales tax and allowances for returns, rebates and discounts are recognized from product sales when title to the products is passed to the customer, which generally occurs upon delivery.
Shipping Costs
Shipping costs are incurred to physically move our products from the production or storage facility to our customers. Shipping costs for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were $107,293, $108,908 and $110,973, respectively, and are included in Cost of goods sold. All shipping costs billed to customers are included in Net sales.
Stock Based Compensation
ADS has several programs for stock based payments to employees and directors in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation Stock Compensation . Equity-classified awards are measured based on the grant-date estimated fair value of each award, net of estimated forfeitures, and liability-classified awards are
F-13
re-measured at their fair value, net of estimated forfeitures, at each reporting date for accounting purposes. Compensation expense is recognized over the employees requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the grant. The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Compensation expense is recorded for new awards and existing awards that are modified, repurchased, or forfeited. For details of our stock based compensation award programs, please see Note 17, Stock Compensation.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs are recorded in General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income and are immaterial for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Advertising
We expense advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs are recorded in Selling expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The total advertising costs were $2,666, $2,732, and $2,335 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Self Insurance
ADS is self-insured for workers compensation insurance with stop-loss coverage for claims that exceed $250 per incident up to the respective state statutory limits. Total claims expense was $1,597, $1,250, and $1,395 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Management has established a reserve for claims incurred but not reported based on our estimate of future claims related to current operations.
The Company provides life, accidental death and dismemberment and medical coverage for substantially all eligible employees. The Company is self-insured for medical and compensation claims up to the individual and aggregate stop-loss coverage limits. The Company contributed $29,101, $29,969, and $29,484 to fund the plan for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized and represent the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. They are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the related temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The deferred income tax provision represents the change during the reporting period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. Penalties and interest recorded on income taxes payable are recorded as part of income taxes.
The Company adopted the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions on January 1, 2009, which required the Company to determine whether a tax position of the Company is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation process, based upon the technical merits of the position. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the tax amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority.
F-14
Fair Values
The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to price the assets or liabilities. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2 Observable inputs other than those included in Level 1. For example, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets.
Level 3 Unobservable inputs reflecting managements own assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.
The carrying amounts of current assets and liabilities approximate their fair market value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The carrying and fair values of the Companys Senior Notes (discussed in Note 10) were $100,000 and $104,211, respectively, as of March 31, 2014. The fair value of the Senior Notes was determined based on a comparison of the interest rate and terms of such borrowings to the rates and terms of similar debt available for the period. Management believes the carrying amount on the remaining long-term debt is not materially different from its fair value as the interest rates and terms of the borrowings are similar to currently available borrowings. The categorization of the framework used to evaluate this debt is considered Level 2.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. The Company provides its products to customers based on an evaluation of the customers financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customers financial condition. The Company monitors the exposure for credit losses and maintains allowances for anticipated losses. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Companys customer base and their dispersion across many different geographies. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers.
Leases
Leases are reviewed for capital or operating classification at their inception under the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 840, Leases. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate in the assessment of lease classification and assumes the initial lease term includes renewal options that are reasonably assured. For leases classified as operating leases, we record rent expense on a straight-line basis, over the lease term beginning with the date the Company has access to the property which in some cases is prior to commencement of lease payments. Accordingly, the amount of rental expense recognized in excess of lease payments is recorded as a deferred rent liability and is amortized to rental expense over the remaining term of the lease. Capital leases as of March 31, 2013 and 2014 are not material.
Derivatives
We recognize derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities and measure those instruments at fair value. We use interest rate swaps, commodity options in the form of collars, and foreign currency forward contracts to manage our various exposures to interest rate, commodity price, and exchange rate fluctuations. These instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under ASC 810-15 and therefore, gains and losses from contract settlements and changes in fair value of the derivative instruments are recognized in Other miscellaneous (income) expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Our policy is to present all derivative balances on a gross basis.
F-15
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Fair value measurement In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) , which clarifies the measurement of fair value for certain assets and liabilities and expands the disclosure requirements for Level 3 fair value investments. The amendments in this ASU are intended to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). ASU No. 2011-04 became effective for the Company in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. The adoption of the amended guidance did not have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Comprehensive income: Presentation In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) , accounting guidance related to the presentation of comprehensive income in ASC 220, Comprehensive Income . The objective of this ASU is to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. Under this guidance, entities are required to report the components of net income and comprehensive income either in one continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The option to present items of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity was eliminated. The guidance became effective for the Company in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. The Company elected to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income in the two statement format.
Comprehensive income: Reclassifications In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) , accounting guidance related to the presentation of comprehensive income in ASC 220, Comprehensive Income . This ASU supersedes and replaces the presentation requirements for reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in ASU 2011-05, which were deferred indefinitely under ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassification of Items out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05 which was issued in December 2011. The amendments in ASU 2013-02 would require an entity to provide additional information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income. For public entities, the provisions of this ASU became effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company elected to early adopt this ASU, and the amended guidance did not have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Income Taxes In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which requires that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward. However, if a net operating loss carry forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Discontinued Operations In April 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance amending existing requirements for reporting discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, discontinued operations reporting will be limited to disposal transactions that represent strategic shifts having a major effect on operations and financial results. The amended guidance also enhances disclosures and requires assets and liabilities of a discontinued operation to be classified as such for all periods presented in the financial statements. Public entities will apply the amended guidance prospectively to all disposals occurring within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. We will
F-16
adopt this standard effective April 1, 2015. Due to the change in requirements for reporting discontinued operations described above, presentation and disclosures of future disposal transactions after adoption may be different than under current standards.
2. | SALE OF ASSETS/BUSINESSES |
On November 21, 2011, we entered into an asset purchase agreement (the ISI Agreement) to sell our septic chamber business to Infiltrator Systems, Inc. (ISI). The ISI Agreement defined the purchase price to consist of a cash payment of $40,000 (to be adjusted for the change in inventory value from the signing date to closing date), plus other consideration in the form of various future benefits (primarily reduced costs) provided to ADS as a result of amendments to existing supply agreements (Intellectual Property Agreement and Manufacturing Agreement) and the execution of a new Septic Chamber Distribution Agreement. The existing supply agreements resulted from the purchase of StormTech, LLC (StormTech) in 2010. The Septic Chamber Distribution Agreement allows ADS to continue to sell Biodiffuser and Arc chambers as a nonexclusive distributor, but provides purchase discounts and a rebate. The sale transaction closed on January 17, 2012.
At closing, we received a cash payment of $38,953 (adjusted for the change in inventory value). The amended Intellectual Property Agreement reduced the royalty rate on sales of StormTech chambers from 4% to 0%. Our liability for royalties owed to ISI as part of the purchase of StormTech was $11,317 as of the closing date. The fair values for the amended Manufacturing Agreement (reduced cost of StormTech chambers purchased by ADS from ISI) and the Septic Chamber Distribution Agreement (reduced costs for chamber purchases, plus a rebate) were determined by management with the assistance of an independent third-party valuation firm. The values established for the Manufacturing Agreement and Septic Chamber Distribution Agreement were $3,600 and $7,600, respectively. Consequently, the total consideration received from the sale of the septic chamber business amounted to $61,470. The net book value for the related assets, consisting of inventory, property, and equipment, and patents, was $13,116. As part of the transaction the Company wrote off $3,720 in goodwill, bringing the net gain recognized to $44,634. We also incurred $1,823 in transaction costs related to the sale of the business, which is recorded in General and administrative expenses. The values for the Manufacturing Agreement and the Septic Chamber Distribution Agreement are recorded in intangible assets and will be amortized ratably over the seven year term of the agreements.
Our continuing involvement with the septic chamber business precludes classification of these transactions as discontinued operations.
On December 21, 2012, we entered into an asset purchase agreement (the Basalite Agreement) to sell substantially all of the assets used in connection with our plastic edging product line to Basalite Concrete Products, LLC (Basalite) in exchange for cash and a note receivable. The Basalite Agreement defined the purchase price to consist of a cash payment of $600, plus other consideration in the form of an executed promissory note for $1,800. Under terms of the note, Basalite will pay ADS $600 cash on each of the first three one-year anniversaries of the closing date. The net book value for the related assets, consisting of inventory and property and equipment, was $190 bringing the net gain recognized to $2,210. The sale transaction closed on December 28, 2012.
On June 28, 2013, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the NDS Agreement) to sell substantially all of the assets used in connection with our DrainTech product line to National Diversified Sales, Inc. (NDS) in exchange for cash. The NDS Agreement defined the purchase price to consist of a cash payment of $5,877. The net book value for the related assets, consisting of inventory and property and equipment, was $1,029 bringing the net gain recognized to $4,848. The sale transaction closed on June 28, 2013. The Company determined that this sale did not qualify for discontinued operations reporting.
In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, we completed the sale of two assets/businesses that individually and in the aggregate were not significant. The aggregate sales price of these two transactions was $3,030, plus other consideration in the form of a note receivable for $1,241. The net book value of these assets/businesses was $3,781 bringing the net gain recognized to $490.
F-17
3. | ACQUISITIONS |
The purchase price for business combinations is allocated to the estimated fair values of acquired tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities, including goodwill, where applicable. Additionally, we generally recognize customer relationships, trademarks and non-competition agreements as identifiable intangible assets. The assets are recorded at fair value as of the transaction date. The fair value of these intangibles is determined primarily using the income approach, which involves significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs). These inputs include projected sales, margin, required rate of return and tax rate.
On February 9, 2012, we acquired the operating assets of the postconsumer recycled raw material processing operation of Corkery Industries, Inc. (Corkery) to enhance the supply of nonvirgin resin in our Midwest region, thereby reducing the risk of future supply disruption. The purchase price of Corkery was $6,225 in cash. The acquisition was financed through our existing line of credit facility. The results of operations of Corkery are included in our Consolidated Statements of Income as of February 9, 2012 and thereafter. The revenue and net income of Corkery since the acquisition date included in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 were immaterial.
The purchase price allocation to the net assets was finalized and determined based on fair value. The net assets acquired at the date of acquisition are summarized as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | ||||
Inventory |
$ | 395 | ||
Equipment |
1,897 | |||
Intangible assets |
3,920 | |||
Goodwill |
13 | |||
|
|
|||
Total net assets acquired |
$ | 6,225 | ||
|
|
The acquired intangible assets represent developed technology of $769 (10-year useful life), noncompete agreements of $360 (five-year useful life), and vendor relationships of $2,791 (seven-year useful life). The $13 of goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.
On March 9, 2012, we acquired the operating assets of the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe business of Quality Culvert, Inc. (Quality), to grow our market share. The purchase price of the Quality was $39,000 in cash. The acquisition was financed through our existing line of credit facility. The results of operations of Quality are included in our Consolidated Statements of Income as of March 9, 2012 and thereafter. The revenue and net income of Quality since the acquisition date in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 was immaterial.
The purchase price allocation to the net assets was finalized and determined based on fair value. The net assets acquired at the date of acquisition are summarized as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | ||||
Equipment |
$ | 8,419 | ||
Intangible assets |
14,090 | |||
Goodwill |
16,491 | |||
|
|
|||
Total net assets acquired |
$ | 39,000 | ||
|
|
The acquired intangible assets represent customer relationships of $10,200 (seven-year useful life), developed technology of $2,800 (10-year useful life), and noncompete agreements of $1,090 (five-year useful life). The $16,491 of goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.
In fiscal year 2013, we completed the acquisition of two businesses that individually and in the aggregate were not significant. The aggregate purchase price of these acquisitions was $5,239, which included a note payable of $400 plus additional contingent consideration with an initial estimated fair value of $1,271. The consolidated financial statements include the results of operations from these business combinations from the date of each acquisition.
F-18
The following table contains unaudited pro forma Consolidated Statements of Income information assuming the acquisitions of Quality and Corkery occurred on April 1, 2010 and includes adjustments for amortization of intangibles and interest expense. This pro forma information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not indicative of what actual results would have been if the acquisitions had taken place on April 1, 2010 or of future results.
(Amounts in thousands) | 2011 | 2012 | ||||||
Net sales |
$ | 890,081 | $ | 1,041,960 | ||||
Net income attributable to ADS |
6,363 | 43,739 |
Unaudited pro forma net income attributable to ADS has been calculated after adjusting the combined results of the Company to reflect additional intangible asset amortization expense, net of related income taxes, of $1,716 and additional interest expense, net of related income taxes, of $1,177 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. Unaudited pro forma net income attributable to ADS has been calculated after adjusting the combined results of the Company to reflect additional intangible asset amortization expense, net of related income taxes, of $1,278 and additional interest expense, net of related income taxes, of $1,101 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.
In fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, we incurred $2,092 of transaction costs, respectively. In the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, transaction costs were immaterial. These costs are included in General and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income. The transaction costs for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 by transaction were as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | |||
Sale of septic chamber business (Note 2) |
$ | 1,823 | ||
Quality |
187 | |||
Corkery |
82 | |||
|
|
|||
Total transaction costs |
$ | 2,092 | ||
|
|
4. | PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT |
Property, plant and equipment net as of the fiscal years ended March 31 consisted of the following:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
Land, buildings and improvements |
$ | 149,974 | $ | 151,088 | ||||
Machinery and equipment |
504,853 | 532,468 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total cost |
654,827 | 683,556 | ||||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
(359,926 | ) | (391,474 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Property, plant and equipment net |
$ | 294,901 | $ | 292,082 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The following table sets forth depreciation expense in each of the fiscal years ending March 31:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Depreciation expense |
$ | 41,742 | $ | 37,490 | $ | 37,276 |
5. | INVENTORIES |
Inventories as of the fiscal years ended March 31 consisted of the following:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
Raw materials |
$ | 45,455 | $ | 52,267 | ||||
Finished goods |
186,954 | 208,033 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total inventory |
$ | 232,409 | $ | 260,300 | ||||
|
|
|
|
We had no work-in-process inventories as of March 31, 2013 and 2014.
F-19
6. | GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS |
Goodwill
The carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment is as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | Domestic | International | Total | |||||||||
Balance at April 1, 2012 |
$ | 85,702 | $ | | $ | 85,702 | ||||||
Acquisitions |
| 532 | 532 | |||||||||
Currency translation |
| 25 | 25 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance at March 31, 2013 |
85,702 | 557 | 86,259 | |||||||||
Currency translation |
| 38 | 38 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance at March 31, 2014 |
$ | 85,702 | $ | 595 | $ | 86,297 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible Assets
As discussed in Note 1, in April 2011, the Company recharacterized the Hancor trademark previously classified as indefinite lived since 2005, to definite lived based on managements decision to discontinue the use of the trademark over the next 15 years.
Intangible assets as of the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014 consisted of the following:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
Intangible |
Accumulated
Amortization |
Net
Intangible |
Gross
Intangible |
Accumulated
Amortization |
Net
Intangible |
|||||||||||||||||||
Definite-lived intangible assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developed technology |
$ | 40,579 | $ | (18,773 | ) | $ | 21,806 | $ | 40,579 | $ | (22,588 | ) | $ | 17,991 | ||||||||||
Customer lists |
39,252 | (17,178 | ) | 22,074 | 39,252 | (22,079 | ) | 17,173 | ||||||||||||||||
Patents |
5,669 | (2,293 | ) | 3,376 | 6,175 | (2,921 | ) | 3,254 | ||||||||||||||||
Contract agreements |
11,493 | (2,320 | ) | 9,173 | 11,493 | (4,280 | ) | 7,213 | ||||||||||||||||
Trademarks |
12,857 | (2,585 | ) | 10,272 | 12,857 | (4,294 | ) | 8,563 | ||||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total definite-lived intangible assets |
109,850 | (43,149 | ) | 66,701 | 110,356 | (56,162 | ) | 54,194 | ||||||||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangible assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trademarks |
12,016 | | 12,016 | 11,990 | | 11,990 | ||||||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total intangible assets |
$ | 121,866 | $ | (43,149 | ) | $ | 78,717 | $ | 122,346 | $ | (56,162 | ) | $ | 66,184 | ||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table presents the weighted average amortization period for definite-lived intangible assets at March 31, 2014:
Weighted Average
Amortization Period (in years) |
||||
Definite-lived intangible assets |
||||
Developed technology |
10.7 | |||
Customer lists |
8.4 | |||
Patents |
8.9 | |||
Contract agreements |
6.8 | |||
Trademarks |
15.0 |
The following table sets forth amortization expense in each of the fiscal years ended March 31:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Amortization expense |
$ | 13,429 | $ | 18,115 | $ | 18,622 |
F-20
The following table presents the future intangible asset amortization expense based on existing intangible assets at March 31, 2014:
Fiscal Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization Expense |
$ | 11,361 | $ | 9,192 | $ | 8,216 | $ | 7,274 | $ | 5,858 | $ | 12,293 | $ | 54,194 |
7. | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT |
When applying fair value principles in the valuation of assets and liabilities, we are required to maximize the use of quoted market prices and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The Company has not changed its valuation techniques used in measuring the fair value of any financial assets or liabilities during the fiscal years presented. Our fair value estimates take into consideration the credit risk of both the Company and our counterparties.
When active market quotes are not available for financial assets and liabilities, we use industry standard valuation models. Where applicable, these models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based observable inputs including credit risk, interest rate curves, foreign currency rates and forward and spot prices for currencies. In circumstances where market-based observable inputs are not available, management judgment is used to develop assumptions to estimate fair value. Generally, the fair value of our Level 3 instruments is estimated as the net present value of expected future cash flows based on internal and external inputs.
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
The assets, liabilities and mezzanine equity carried at fair value as of the fiscal years ended March 31 were as follows:
2013 | ||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Derivative assets diesel fuel contracts |
$ | 55 | $ | | $ | 55 | $ | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis |
$ | 55 | $ | | $ | 55 | $ | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Liabilities & Mezzanine Equity: |
||||||||||||||||
Derivative liability interest rate swaps |
$ | 1,082 | $ | | $ | 1,082 | $ | | ||||||||
Derivative liability currency forwards |
3 | | 3 | | ||||||||||||
Contingent consideration for acquisitions |
2,535 | | | 2,535 | ||||||||||||
Redeemable Common Stock |
522,276 | | | 522,276 | ||||||||||||
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
282,547 | | | 282,547 | ||||||||||||
Deferred compensation unearned ESOP shares |
(196,477 | ) | | | (196,477 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total liabilities and mezzanine equity at fair value on a recurring basis |
$ | 611,966 | $ | | $ | 1,085 | $ | 610,881 | ||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
F-21
2014 | ||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Derivative assets propylene swaps |
$ | 27 | $ | | $ | 27 | $ | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis |
$ | 27 | $ | | $ | 27 | $ | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Liabilities & Mezzanine Equity: |
||||||||||||||||
Derivative liability interest rate swaps |
$ | 1,001 | $ | | $ | 1,001 | $ | | ||||||||
Contingent consideration for acquisitions |
2,276 | | | 2,276 | ||||||||||||
Redeemable Common Stock |
549,119 | | | 549,119 | ||||||||||||
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
291,720 | | | 291,720 | ||||||||||||
Deferred compensation unearned ESOP shares |
(197,888 | ) | | | (197,888 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total liabilities and mezzanine equity at fair value on a recurring basis |
$ | 646,228 | $ | | $ | 1,001 | $ | 645,227 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in the fair value of recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Balance as of April 1, 2012 |
$ | 558,896 | ||
Change in estimate of contingent consideration |
(269 | ) | ||
Contingent consideration recognized for 2013 acquisition |
1,471 | |||
Allocation of ESOP shares to participants |
7,675 | |||
Redemption of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
(3,031 | ) | ||
Change in fair value related to items recorded in mezzanine equity |
46,139 | |||
|
|
|||
Balance as of March 31, 2013 |
610,881 | |||
|
|
|||
Change in estimate of contingent consideration |
(259 | ) | ||
Allocation of ESOP shares to participants |
8,211 | |||
Redemption of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
(4,428 | ) | ||
Reclassification of common stock to Redeemable Common Stock |
385 | |||
Change in fair value related to items recorded in mezzanine equity |
30,437 | |||
|
|
|||
Balance as of March 31, 2014 |
$ | 645,227 | ||
|
|
For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014 there were no transfers in or out of Levels 1, 2, and 3.
Valuation of our Contingent Consideration for Acquisitions
The fair values of the contingent consideration payables were calculated with reference to the estimated future value of the Inserta Tee and Flexstorm businesses, which are based on a discounted cash flow model. The undiscounted value is discounted at the present value using a market discount rate. The categorization of the framework used to price this liability is considered a Level 3, due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value.
Valuation of our Redeemable Common Stock
The Company has certain shares of common stock outstanding whereby the holder may put its shares to us for cash. This Redeemable Common Stock is recorded at its fair value in the mezzanine equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets and changes in fair value are recorded in Retained earnings. Historically, the fair value of a share of common stock was determined by Management by applying industry-appropriate multiples to EBITDA and performing a discounted cash flow analysis. Under the industry-appropriate multiples approach, to arrive at concluded multiples, we considered differences between the risk and return characteristics of ADS and the guideline companies. Under the discounted cash flow analysis, the cash
F-22
flows expected to be generated by the Company are discounted to their present value equivalent using a rate of return that reflects the relative risk of an investment in ADS, as well as the time value of money. This return is an overall rate based upon the individual rates of return for invested capital (equity and interest-bearing debt). The return, known as the weighted average cost of capital (WACC), is calculated by weighting the required returns on interest-bearing debt and common stock in proportion to their estimated percentages in an expected capital structure. The WACC used was 12.5% and 11.0% as of March 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. An increase in the WACC would decrease the fair value of the Redeemable Common Stock. The categorization of the framework used to price this temporary equity is considered a Level 3, due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value.
Valuation of our Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
The Trustee of the Companys ESOP has the ability to put the shares of our Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock to the Company. Our Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock is recorded at its fair value in the mezzanine equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets and changes in fair value are recorded in Retained earnings. Accordingly, we estimated the fair value of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock through estimating the fair value of the Companys common stock and applying certain adjustments including for the fair value of the total dividends to be received and assuming conversion of the preferred stock to common stock at the stated conversion ratio per our Articles of Incorporation. The categorization of the framework used to price this temporary equity is considered a Level 3, due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value.
Please refer to Note 16, Mezzanine Equity, for additional information on the Redeemable Common Stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock.
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements
Goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually as of March 31 or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may be greater than fair value. Note 1 discusses the valuation techniques, including the estimates and assumptions used in those valuations, used to value the goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles. As discussed in Note 1, when the Company recharacterized the Hancor trademark previously classified as indefinite lived to definite lived, an impairment charge of $3,200 was recorded, resulting in the carrying value of the trademark being reduced, and thus equal, to the estimated fair value of $11,947. The categorization of the framework used to price these assets is considered a Level 3, due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value.
8. | VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES |
The accounting model for VIEs described in ASC 810-10 considers if a company has a controlling financial interest in a VIE. A controlling financial interest will have both (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of a VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be potentially significant to the VIE. Entities are required to consolidate a VIE when it is determined that they have a controlling financial interest in a VIE and therefore, are the primary beneficiary of that VIE. In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we consider factors such as voting rights including kick-out rights, whether we have the power to direct the VIEs significant activities, variable interests held by related parties and other factors. We believe that significant assumptions and judgments were applied consistently.
We participate in joint ventures from time to time for the purpose of expanding upon our growth of manufacturing and selling HDPE corrugated pipe in emerging markets. Our investments in these joint ventures may create a variable interest in a VIE, depending upon the contractual terms of the arrangement.
F-23
One of our joint ventures, ADS Mexicana, was determined to be a VIE. In April 2013, ADS Worldwide acquired an additional 1% equity interest in its consolidated subsidiary ADS Mexicana stock for $520, increasing the Companys ownership percentage to 51% from 50%. We invest in this VIE for the purpose of expanding upon our growth of manufacturing and selling ADS licensed HDPE corrugated pipe and related products in the Mexican and Central American markets via the joint venture partners local presence and expertise throughout the region. We have executed a Technology, Patents and Trademarks Sub-License Agreement and a Distribution Agreement with ADS Mexicana that provides ADS Mexicana with the rights to manufacture and sell ADS licensed products in Mexico and Central America. We are the guarantor of 100% of ADS Mexicanas credit facility and our maximum potential payment under this guarantee totals $12,000. We have concluded that we hold a variable interest in and are the primary beneficiary of ADS Mexicana based on our power to direct the most significant activities of ADS Mexicana and our obligation to absorb losses and our right to receive benefits that could be significant to ADS Mexicana. As the primary beneficiary, we are required to consolidate the assets and liabilities of ADS Mexicana. The equity owned by our joint venture partner is shown as Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and our joint venture partners portion of net income is shown as Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
The table below includes the assets and liabilities of ADS Mexicana that are consolidated as of March 31, 2013 and 2014. The balances exclude intercompany transactions that are eliminated upon consolidation.
(Amounts in thousands) | ||||||||
2013 | 2014 | |||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets |
$ | 33,252 | $ | 35,272 | ||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
23,655 | 21,633 | ||||||
Other noncurrent assets |
3,144 | 2,698 | ||||||
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|
|||||
Total assets |
$ | 60,051 | $ | 59,603 | ||||
|
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|
|||||
2013 | 2014 | |||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
$ | 9,777 | $ | 9,090 | ||||
Noncurrent liabilities |
2,283 | 1,240 | ||||||
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Total liabilities |
$ | 12,060 | $ | 10,330 | ||||
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9. | INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES |
We participate in two unconsolidated joint ventures, Tuberias Tigre ADS Limitada (Tigre ADS), which is 50%-owned by our wholly-owned subsidiary ADS Chile, and BaySaver Technologies, LLC (BaySaver), which is 55% owned by our wholly-owned subsidiary ADS Ventures, Inc.
Tigre ADS
Our investment in this unconsolidated joint venture was formed for the purpose of expanding upon our growth of manufacturing and selling HDPE corrugated pipe in the South American market via the joint venture partners local presence and expertise throughout the region. We are the guarantor for 50% of Tigre ADS credit facility, and the debt guarantee is shared equally with the joint venture partner. Our maximum potential payment under this guarantee totals $7,000. We are not required to consolidate Tigre ADS under ASC 810-10 as we are not the primary beneficiary, although we do hold a significant variable interest in Tigre ADS through our equity investment and debt guarantee. The results of Tigre ADS are accounted for in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method of accounting. Our share of the income of this joint venture is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income under Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates. Our investment in this joint venture is included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
F-24
Summarized financial data as of the fiscal years ended March 31 for the Tigre ADS joint venture is as follows:
2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) |
As reported
on Balance Sheet |
Maximum
Exposure |
As reported
on Balance Sheet |
Maximum
Exposure |
||||||||||||
Investment in Tigre ADS |
$ | 22,012 | $ | 22,012 | $ | 20,029 | $ | 20,029 | ||||||||
Receivable from Tigre ADS |
8,113 | 8,113 | 8,899 | 8,899 | ||||||||||||
ADS Guarantee of Tigre ADS Debt |
| 7,000 | | 7,000 |
BaySaver
On July 15, 2013, ADS Ventures, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, BaySaver Technologies, Inc. (BTI) and Mid Atlantic Storm Water Research Center, Inc. (MASWRC) entered into an LLC agreement to form a new joint venture, BaySaver. The joint venture was established to design, engineer, manufacture, market and sell water quality filters and separators used in the removal of sediment and pollution from storm water anywhere in the world except New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The Company contributed $3,500 in cash, $1,285 in inventory, and other intangible assets with no carrying value, in exchange for a 55% equity interest and a 50% voting interest in BaySaver. We are not required to consolidate BaySaver under ASC 810-10 as we are not the primary beneficiary, although we do hold a significant variable interest in BaySaver through our equity investment. The Company accounts for its investment in BaySaver under the equity method of accounting. In connection with this investment, the Company acquired a call option to purchase the remaining 45% interest in BaySaver. Also, in connection with the investment, the Company granted a put option enabling the other equity holder to sell his remaining shares in BaySaver back to the Company upon the passage of time or the occurrence of certain events. Our share of the income of this joint venture is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income under Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates. Our investment in this joint venture is included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Summarized financial data as of the fiscal year ended March 31 for the BaySaver joint venture is as follows:
2014 | ||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) |
As reported
on Balance Sheet |
Maximum
Exposure |
||||||
Investment in BaySaver |
$ | 5,202 | $ | 5,202 | ||||
Receivable from BaySaver |
6 | 6 |
Our share of the income of this joint venture is decreased by amortization expense relating to the basis difference between our cost basis in the investment and the basis reflected at the joint venture level. This basis difference is being recorded over the lives of the underlying assets which gave rise to the basis difference, which is 10 years. The unrecorded basis difference as of March 31, 2014 is $1,837.
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10. | DEBT |
Long-term debt as of the fiscal years ended March 31 consisted of the following:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
a. Bank term loans: |
||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility ADS |
$ | 186,100 | $ | 248,100 | ||||
Revolving Credit Facility ADS Mexicana |
1,000 | | ||||||
Term note |
77,500 | 97,500 | ||||||
b. Senior Notes payable |
75,000 | 100,000 | ||||||
c. Mortgage notes payable |
4,200 | 3,733 | ||||||
d. Industrial revenue bonds |
6,190 | 4,715 | ||||||
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Total |
349,990 | 454,048 | ||||||
Current maturities |
(11,942 | ) | (11,153 | ) | ||||
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|
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Long-term debt obligation |
$ | 338,048 | $ | 442,895 | ||||
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a. | Revolving Credit Facility: |
The current ADS Revolving Credit Agreement (the Revolving Credit Facility) has been in place with several banks and was refinanced on June 12, 2013. The current bank credit facility expires in June 2018. Additionally, on December 20, 2013, we amended the private shelf agreement primarily to make certain amendments in order to permit the payment of a special dividend of $7.50 per share (Special Dividend, as discussed in Notes 13 and 15), which was financed in full through the Revolving Credit Facility.
The new Revolving Credit Facility agreement increased the upper limit of the Revolving Credit Facility to $325,000 for ADS, Inc. and $12,000 for ADS Mexicana. The company also entered into a five-year, $100,000 term note. Both the Revolving Credit Facility and the term note share the same interest rate structure.
The Revolving Credit Facility interest rate is variable and depends upon the Companys pricing ratio as defined in the agreement. The interest rate is derived from the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or alternate base rate (Prime Rate) based upon the Companys option. The average rate at March 31, 2014, was 2.301%. Any letters of credit outstanding reduce the availability on the revolver. The Company had outstanding letters of credit at March 31, 2014, in the amount of $8,505. The amount available for borrowing for ADS, Inc. was $68,395, plus $12,000 available under a separate revolving credit facility with our subsidiary, ADS Mexicana, at March 31, 2014.
Per terms of the new Revolving Credit Facility, ADS is not required to hedge its interest exposure using interest rate swaps; however, it is currently the objective of ADS, Inc. to manage its exposure to variable rate debt. On October 7, 2010, ADS executed two Spot Interest Rate Swaps on the 90-Day LIBOR interest rate. One hedge is related to the $100,000 Term Debt which was part of the previous credit agreement. This fixed rate swap exchanges a fixed rate of 1.105% for a period of four years, expiring on September 1, 2014. The second hedge on the Credit Facility executed on October 7, 2010 was for $50,000 for a period of three years at a fixed rate of 0.890% and expired on September 1, 2013.
On July 18, 2013, ADS executed two Forward Interest Rate Swaps on the 30-Day LIBOR interest rate. One swap was for $50,000 on the Revolving Credit Facility starting on September 3, 2013 at a fixed rate of 0.86% for a period of three years, expiring on September 1, 2016. The second swap executed on July 18, 2013 was for $50,000 on the Revolving Credit Facility starting on September 2, 2014 at a fixed rate of 1.08% for a period of two years, expiring on September 1, 2016.
F-26
b. | Senior Notes payable: |
In December 2009, we signed an agreement with Prudential Investment Management, Inc., for the issuance of senior promissory notes (Senior Notes), for an aggregate amount of up to $100,000. We may make requests for purchases of the Senior Notes during the Issuance Period, defined as a three-year period beginning with the date of the agreement. The minimum purchase amount of Senior Notes is $10,000. Each Senior Note issued has a maximum term of no more than 10 years from the date of issuance. Interest is payable quarterly and is fixed at 5.6%. The rate is subject to an additional 200 basis point excess leverage fee if calculated leverage exceeds 3 to 1. A principal payment of $25,000 is due in each of fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
In July 2013, ADS issued an additional $25,000 of senior promissory notes (Senior Notes) with Prudential Investment Management, Inc. Interest is payable quarterly and is fixed at 4.05%. The rate is subject to an additional 200 basis point excess leverage fee if calculated leverage exceeds 3 to 1. A principal payment of $25,000 is due in September of the fiscal year 2020.
As of March 31, 2014, our calculated leverage exceeded 3 to 1. As a result, we were subject to the additional 200 basis point excess leverage fee, which increased interest expense by $500 in fiscal year 2014.
c. | Mortgage notes payable: |
Two mortgage notes payable require monthly installments through 2015. One note has a variable interest rate of 2.903% at March 31, 2014 (New Miami, Ohio), and one note has a fixed rate of 5.1% (Hilliard, Ohio). In January 2012, a third mortgage was paid off (Ludlow, Massachusetts) at 6%. Land and buildings with a net book value of approximately $8,637 at March 31, 2014, collateralize the two mortgage notes.
d. | Industrial revenue bonds: |
ADS issued industrial revenue bonds for the construction of four production facilities. The original bond values of $27,300 require periodic principal and interest payments through fiscal year 2019. During fiscal year 2011, two of the four bonds were retired, leaving a remaining combined principal of $4,715 at March 31, 2014. The interest rates on the two remaining bonds are variable and are computed on a weekly basis. These bonds are not considered auction rate securities. The average rate on these bonds at March 31, 2014, was 3.356%, including a letter of credit fee of 3.25%. Land and buildings with a net book value of approximately $14,778 at March 31, 2014, collateralize the bonds.
The Revolving Credit Facility agreement and the Senior Notes require, among other provisions, that we (1) maintain a minimum fixed charge ratio; (2) maintain a minimum leverage ratio; and (3) establish certain limits on permitted transactions, principally for indebtedness, capital distributions, loans and investments, and acquisitions and dispositions of assets. Capital distributions are limited to $50 million in any fiscal year if the pro-forma leverage ratio exceeds 3.0 to 1.
Maturities of long-term debt (excluding interest) as of March 31, 2014 are summarized below (amounts in thousands):
Fiscal Years Ending March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Principal maturities |
$ | 11,153 | $ | 9,580 | $ | 35,870 | $ | 35,905 | $ | 336,540 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 454,048 |
F-27
11. | DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS |
The Company uses interest rate swaps, commodity options in the form of collars and swaps, and foreign currency forward contracts to manage its various exposures to interest rate, commodity price, and exchange rate fluctuations. For interest rate swaps, the difference between the spot rate and applicable base rate is recorded in interest expense. For collars, commodity swaps and forward contracts, contract settlement gains and losses are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income in Cost of goods sold. Gains and losses related to the mark-to-market adjustments for changes in fair value of the derivative contracts are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income as Other miscellaneous expense, net. The Company recognized (gains) and losses on mark-to-market adjustments for changes in fair value on derivative contracts of $2,315, $(4) and $(53) for the fiscal years ending March, 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
A summary of the fair values for the various derivatives at March 31, 2013 and 2014 is presented below:
2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | Asset | (Liability) | Asset | (Liability) | ||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps |
$ | | $ | (1,082 | ) | $ | | $ | (1,001 | ) | ||||||
Diesel fuel option collars |
55 | | | | ||||||||||||
Foreign exchange forward contracts |
| (3 | ) | | | |||||||||||
Propylene swaps |
| | 27 | |
12. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
Leases
We lease real estate, transportation, and office equipment under various noncancelable operating lease agreements that expire at various dates through fiscal year 2037.
Future minimum rental commitments under these leases as of March 31, 2014, are summarized below (amounts in thousands):
Fiscal Years Ending March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Transportation equipment leases |
$ | 13,115 | $ | 11,475 | $ | 8,693 | $ | 4,924 | $ | 1,376 | $ | 3,187 | $ | 42,770 | ||||||||||||||
Real estate leases and other |
5,252 | 4,356 | 3,094 | 2,160 | 1,367 | 4,894 | 21,123 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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|
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Total |
$ | 18,367 | $ | 15,831 | $ | 11,787 | $ | 7,084 | $ | 2,743 | $ | 8,081 | $ | 63,893 | ||||||||||||||
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Total rent expense was $16,745, $20,513, and $22,673 in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Purchase Commitments
At March 31, 2014, commitments for the purchase of major property, plant, and equipment totaled approximately $14,048.
We will, from time to time, secure supplies of resin raw material by agreeing to purchase quantities during a future given period at a fixed price. These purchase contracts are short term in nature and occur in the ordinary course of business. Under such purchase contracts, we have agreed to purchase 84,000 pounds of resin over the period April 2014 through December 2014 at a committed purchase cost of $55,823.
Litigation
We have been named as a defendant in various litigation matters. Management intends to vigorously defend these outstanding claims. We believe we have adequate accrued loss contingencies and that current or threatened litigation matters will not have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial condition. Management estimates the maximum loss contingency is $448 and $420 at March 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
F-28
13. | EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS |
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
We established the Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. ESOP (the ESOP) on April 1, 1993. The Plan was funded through a contribution from our profit-sharing plan, as well as a 30-year term loan from ADS. The Plan operates as a qualified leveraged ESOP and was designed to enable eligible employees to acquire stock ownership interest in ADS. Employees of ADS who have reached the age of 18 are generally eligible to participate in the Plan after six months of service. Upon retirement, disability, death, or vested terminations, a participant or designated beneficiary may elect to receive the amount in their account in the form of cash or ADS stock with any fractional shares paid in cash. Upon attainment of age 50 and seven years of participation in the Plan, a participant may elect to diversify, via redemptions, 25% of the number of shares of ADS stock credited to the participants ESOP stock account.
We are obligated to make contributions to the Plan, which, when aggregated with the Plans dividends and interest earnings, equal the amount necessary to enable the Plan to make its regularly scheduled payments of principal and interest due on its term loan to ADS. As the Plan makes annual payments of principal and interest, an appropriate percentage of preferred stock is allocated to eligible employees accounts in accordance with applicable regulations under the Internal Revenue Code.
Required dividends on allocated shares are paid in cash to the participants and required dividends on unallocated shares are paid in cash to the Plan and used to service the Plans debt.
On January 6, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a Special Dividend of $7.50 per share, for a total amount of approximately $108,101, on all outstanding shares of our common stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. We paid the Special Dividend on January 15, 2014 to all stockholders of record on January 2, 2014. The January 15, 2014 Special Dividend on the ESOPs allocated shares was paid in cash (i.e., passed through) to participants, and the Special Dividend on the ESOPs unallocated shares was retained by the ESOP and allocated among the participants ESOP cash accounts. The allocation of cash among the participants ESOP cash accounts related to dividends paid on unallocated shares resulted in additional compensation expense for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 of $22,624, of which $13,896 was included in Cost of sales, $4,550 was included in Selling expenses, and $4,178 was included in General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
In fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, the ESOP committee directed the Plan trustee to keep $1,251 and $23,614, respectively, in dividends on unallocated shares rather than to service the Plans debt. These dividends were allocated to participants based on total shares in their account in relation to total shares allocated at March 31, 2013 and 2014.
In fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, the Board of Directors approved the allocation of 153 and 156 shares of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, respectively, to the ESOP participants, including, in addition to the cash dividends, 2 and 2 preferred shares allocated as dividends, respectively. See Note 16 for further details on the shares of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock held by our ESOP.
Profit-Sharing Plan
We have an employee profit-sharing plan covering substantially all eligible employees. We did not declare a contribution in fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014 to the profit-sharing plan.
F-29
14. | ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS |
The following table presents the changes in the balances of each component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCI) for the fiscal years ended March 31:
(Amounts in thousands) |
Currency
Translation |
Other |
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss |
|||||||||
Balance at April 1, 2011 |
$ | (1,449 | ) | $ | 2 | $ | (1,447 | ) | ||||
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|
|||||||
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications |
(38 | ) | 44 | 6 | ||||||||
Amounts reclassified from AOCI |
| | | |||||||||
Tax expense/(benefit) |
83 | (17 | ) | 66 | ||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|||||||
Balance at March 31, 2012 |
(1,404 | ) | 29 | (1,375 | ) | |||||||
|
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|
|
|||||||
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications |
842 | (41 | ) | 801 | ||||||||
Amounts reclassified from AOCI |
| | | |||||||||
Income tax expense/(benefit) |
(298 | ) | 16 | (282 | ) | |||||||
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|
|||||||
Balance at March 31, 2013 |
$ | (860 | ) | $ | 4 | $ | (856 | ) | ||||
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Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications |
(6,895 | ) | 6 | (6,889 | ) | |||||||
Amounts reclassified from AOCI |
| | | |||||||||
Income tax expense/(benefit) |
1,770 | (2 | ) | 1,768 | ||||||||
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Balance at March 31, 2014 |
$ | (5,985 | ) | $ | 8 | $ | (5,977 | ) | ||||
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15. | STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
The common stockholders have entered into an agreement that grants ADS the right of first refusal to purchase shares in the event of death, disability, or termination of certain management stockholders.
The Board of Directors approved a quarterly per share cash dividend of $0.11 and $0.12 to all common stockholders of record during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively. The Board of Directors approved quarterly per share cash dividends of $0.135 during the first three quarters of the fiscal year and a per share cash dividend of $7.50 (the Special Dividend) during the fourth quarter to all common stockholders of record. Total cash dividends paid on common stock during fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were $4,367, $4,817 and $80,102, respectively.
On January 6, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a Special Dividend of $7.50 per share for a total amount of approximately $108,101, on all outstanding shares of our common stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. We paid the Special Dividend on January 15, 2014 to all stockholders of record on January 2, 2014. The payment of the Special Dividend was financed through the Companys Revolving Credit Facility. For additional details on the Revolving Credit Facility, please refer to Note 10, Debt.
In fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, we purchased 4 and 17 shares, respectively, from certain stockholders at a purchase price of $59.25 and $64.20 per share, respectively.
16. | MEZZANINE EQUITY |
Redeemable Common Stock
One of our minority equity owners along with other shareholders who hold ownership in ADS of at least 15% (referred to as Major Shareholders) entered into an agreement which provides the Major Shareholders the right to put their common stock to the Company at fair value if, following the fifth anniversary of the recapitalization that occurred during 2010, a Major Shareholder demands that the Company effect an initial public offering (IPO) covering the registration of at least $50 million of securities, and either the Company advises the Major Shareholder that ADS will not begin preparations for
F-30
an IPO within 180 days after delivery, or after such preparations have begun they are discontinued (the Major Shareholders Put Right). As the Major Shareholders Put Right is a redemption right which is outside the control of ADS, we have classified common stock held by the Major Shareholders in the mezzanine equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets at its fair value, and changes in fair value are recorded in Retained earnings. As of March 31, 2013 and 2014, there were 8,135 and 8,141 shares, respectively, of common stock held by Major Shareholders.
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
The Trustee of our ESOP has the ability to put the shares of preferred stock at fair value to the Company in the event that it needs cash to pay for distributions, pre-retirement diversification, or other expenses, causing the shares to be redeemable at the option of the holder. Given that this put right is outside the control of the Company, this results in the classification of our Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock recorded in the mezzanine equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets at its fair value, and changes in fair value are recorded in Retained earnings. The Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock has a required cumulative 2.5% dividend ($0.092 per share) and is convertible to common stock at a rate of one share for every 0.7692 share of common stock. We guarantee the value of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock at $3.68 per share.
The Board of Directors approved the 2.5% annual dividend to be paid March 31 of each fiscal year to the stockholders of record as of March 15, 2012, 2013 and 2014. The annual dividend was paid in cash and stock on the allocated shares. In addition, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly per share discretionary cash dividend of $0.0846 and $0.0923 to all preferred stockholders of record during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively and quarterly per share discretionary cash dividends of $0.1038 per share during the first three quarters of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. Additionally, the Board of Directors approved a per share cash dividend of $7.50 (the Special Dividend) during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 to all redeemable convertible preferred stockholders of record on January 2, 2014. The discretionary dividend on unallocated shares of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock was allocated to participants rather than being used to service the Plans debt as described in Note 15.
Cash and stock dividends on Allocated Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively, are summarized in the following table. For additional information on dividends paid to the unallocated Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock please refer to Note 13.
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
Quarterly cash dividends |
$ | 592 | $ | 526 | ||||
Annual cash dividends |
34 | 32 | ||||||
Special Dividend |
| 9,463 | ||||||
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Total cash dividends |
626 | 10,021 | ||||||
Annual stock dividend |
110 | 118 | ||||||
Annual cash dividend |
34 | 32 | ||||||
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|
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Total ESOP required dividends |
144 | 150 | ||||||
Allocated shares |
1,565 | 1,630 | ||||||
Required dividend per share |
0.092 | 0.092 | ||||||
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Required dividends |
$ | 144 | $ | 150 | ||||
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17. | STOCK COMPENSATION |
Deferred Compensation Unearned ESOP Shares
The fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock held by the ESOP trust, but not yet earned by the ESOP participants or used for dividends, is reported as Deferred compensation unearned ESOP shares within the mezzanine equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
F-31
Compensation expense and related dividends paid with ESOP shares are recognized based upon the average annual fair value of the shares allocated. The shares allocated are for services rendered throughout the period and, therefore, a simple average is used to calculate average annual fair value. Deferred compensation unearned ESOP shares are relieved at the fair value, with any difference between the annual average fair value and the fair value of shares when allocated being added to Additional paid in capital. The fair value of the shares allocated was $46.35, $50.10 and $52.55 per share of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock at March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, resulting in an average annual fair value per share of $42.95, $46.35 and $51.33 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, we recognized compensation expense of $4,957, $7,283 and $7,891, respectively, related to allocation of ESOP shares to participants for compensation.
Stock Options
Our 2000 stock option plan (2000 Plan) provides for the issuance of nonstatutory common stock options to management based upon the discretion of the Board of Directors. The plan generally provides for grants with the exercise price equal to fair value on the date of grant, which vest in three equal annual amounts beginning in year five and expire after 10 years from issuance. On an annual basis, management determines the fair value of the options with the assistance of an independent appraisal.
In August 2013, a new stock option plan (2013 Plan) was approved by the Board of Directors and provides for the issuance of up to 500 nonstatutory common stock options to management subject to the Boards discretion. The plan generally provides for grants with the exercise price equal to fair value on the date of grant. The grants vest in five equal annual amounts beginning in year one and expire after 10 years from issuance. Options issued to the Chief Executive Officer vest equally over four years and expire after 10 years from issuance.
For both stock option plans, management determines the fair value of the options based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This methodology requires significant inputs including the fair value of our common stock, which is determined with the assistance of an independent appraisal performed by a reputable valuation firm (See Note 7 for further details of the determination of the fair value of our common stock and Redeemable Common Stock). During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, we recognized total stock-based compensation expense under both plans of $811, $539 and $2,517, respectively, which was included with General and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income. As of March 31, 2013 and 2014, there was a total of $597 and $6,884, respectively, of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock option awards that will be recognized as an expense as the awards vest over the remaining service period. Of this amount, $0 and $2,383 relates to liability classified awards and $597 and $4,501 relates to equity classified awards as of March 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. We had approximately 250 and 94 shares available for granting under the 2000 and 2013 plans, respectively, as of March 31, 2014.
We estimate the fair value of stock options granted after April 1, 2006 using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model, with assumptions as follows:
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Expected stock price volatility |
48 | % | 48 | % | 44 | % | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
1.7 | 1.2 | 2.3 | |||||||||
Weighted-average expected option life (years) |
8 | 8 | 8 | |||||||||
Dividend yield |
0.87 | 0.81 | 0.84 |
F-32
2000 Plan
The stock option transactions for the fiscal years ended March 31 are summarized as follows:
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of
Shares |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Term |
Number
of Shares |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Term |
Number
of Shares |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Term |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding at beginning of year |
439 | $ | 29.77 | 4.4 | 321 | $ | 32.76 | 3.9 | 281 | $ | 38.15 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issued |
1 | 50.35 | 29 | 59.25 | 3 | 64.20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercised |
(103 | ) | 18.96 | (69 | ) | 23.00 | (89 | ) | 24.42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(16 | ) | 42.51 | | (1 | ) | 50.70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding at end of year |
321 | 32.76 | 3.9 | 281 | 38.15 | 4.0 | 194 | 44.60 | 4.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercisable and vested at year end |
147 | 20.86 | 2.3 | 139 | 27.06 | 2.2 | 103 | 37.72 | 2.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unvested at year end |
174 | 42.86 | 5.2 | 144 | 48.83 | 5.7 | 91 | 52.42 | 6.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vested and expected to vest at end of year |
296 | 31.80 | 4.0 | 256 | 37.18 | 4.6 | 170 | 44.07 | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair value of options granted during the year |
$ | 24.40 | $ | 28.30 | $ | 30.02 |
The following table summarizes information about the nonvested stock option grants as of the fiscal years ended March 31:
2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Number of
Shares |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
Number of
Shares |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|||||||||||||
Unvested at beginning of year |
174 | $ | 24.35 | 144 | $ | 21.42 | ||||||||||
Granted |
29 | 28.30 | 3 | 30.02 | ||||||||||||
Vested |
(59 | ) | 20.05 | (56 | ) | 25.84 | ||||||||||
Forfeited |
| | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Unvested at end of year |
144 | $ | 21.42 | 91 | $ | 27.40 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
F-33
2013 Plan
The stock option transactions for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 for the 2013 Plan are summarized as follows:
Number of
Shares |
Weighted Average
Exercise Price |
Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual Term |
||||||||||
Outstanding at beginning of year |
| $ | | | ||||||||
Issued equity classified |
306 | 64.20 | ||||||||||
Issued liability classified |
110 | 64.20 | ||||||||||
Forfeited equity classified |
(10 | ) | 64.20 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Outstanding at end of year |
406 | 64.20 | 9.42 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Exercisable and vested at year end |
| | | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Unvested at year end |
406 | 64.20 | 9.42 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Vested and expected to vest at end of year |
362 | 64.20 | 9.42 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Fair value of options granted during the year |
$ | 29.29 |
The following table summarizes information about the nonvested stock option grants as of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014:
Number of
Shares |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|||||||
Unvested at beginning of year |
| $ | | |||||
Granted |
416 | 29.29 | ||||||
Vested |
| | ||||||
Forfeited |
(10 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|||||||
Unvested at end of year |
406 | $ | 29.29 | |||||
|
|
Restricted Stock
On September 16, 2008, the Board of Directors adopted the restricted stock plan for which restricted stock awards may be granted to certain key employees. The restricted stock will vest ratably over a five-year period from the original restricted stock grant date with the risk of forfeiture being stipulated only by the employees continuous employment by ADS. A portion of the grants vested immediately. Under the restricted stock plan, the vested shares granted are considered issued and outstanding. Employees with restricted stock have the right to dividends on the shares awarded (vested and unvested) in addition to voting rights on nonforfeited shares. The Company recognized compensation expense of $356, $1,462 and $1,849 in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, relating to the issuance of these shares; of this amount, $316, $533 and $385 relates to the restricted shares that vested immediately during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. We had approximately 71 shares available for granting under this plan as of March 31, 2014.
F-34
The information about the unvested restricted stock grants as of March 31 is as follows:
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Number
of Shares |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
Number of
Shares |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
Number of
Shares |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|||||||||||||||||||
Unvested at beginning of year |
40 | $ | 48.69 | 38 | $ | 48.90 | 58 | $ | 54.75 | |||||||||||||||
Granted |
18 | 50.35 | 32 | 59.25 | 33 | 64.20 | ||||||||||||||||||
Vested |
(18 | ) | 47.97 | (10 | ) | 48.45 | (22 | ) | 55.45 | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(2 | ) | 48.45 | (2 | ) | 49.07 | (3 | ) | 57.06 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Unvested at end of year |
38 | $ | 48.90 | 58 | $ | 54.75 | 66 | $ | 58.35 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
We expect most, if not all, restricted stock grants to vest.
At March 31, 2013 and 2014, there was approximately $3,154 and $2,812, respectively, of unrecognized compensation expense related to the restricted stock that will be recognized over the remaining service period.
18. | INCOME TAXES |
The components of Income before income taxes for the fiscal years ended March 31 are as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
United States |
$ | 62,719 | $ | 32,730 | $ | 29,121 | ||||||
Foreign |
8,072 | 13,955 | 7,920 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 70,791 | $ | 46,685 | $ | 37,041 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The components of the provision for income taxes for the fiscal years ended March 31 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Current: |
||||||||||||
Federal |
$ | 26,089 | $ | 16,096 | $ | 22,021 | ||||||
State and local |
4,731 | 3,217 | 4,141 | |||||||||
Foreign |
1,800 | 2,385 | 1,347 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total current tax provision |
32,620 | 21,698 | 27,509 | |||||||||
Deferred: |
||||||||||||
Federal |
(4,199 | ) | (3,828 | ) | (3,768 | ) | ||||||
State and local |
(766 | ) | (698 | ) | (1,800 | ) | ||||||
Foreign |
(591 | ) | (278 | ) | 634 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total deferred tax benefit |
(5,556 | ) | (4,804 | ) | (4,934 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total income tax provision |
$ | 27,064 | $ | 16,894 | $ | 22,575 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-35
For the fiscal years ended March 31, our effective tax rate varied from the statutory Federal income tax rate as a result of the following factors:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Federal statutory rate |
35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | ||||||
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock dividend |
(0.3 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (9.3 | ) | ||||||
ESOP stock appreciation |
2.2 | 5.0 | 6.8 | |||||||||
ESOP compensation for Special Dividend on unallocated shares |
| | 21.1 | |||||||||
Effect of tax rate of foreign subsidiaries |
(1.5 | ) | (4.4 | ) | 0.3 | |||||||
State and local taxes net of federal income tax benefit |
3.6 | 3.0 | 2.7 | |||||||||
Noncontrolling interest |
(0.5 | ) | (1.5 | ) | (1.7 | ) | ||||||
Uncertain tax position change |
| | 10.8 | |||||||||
Qualified production activity credit |
(2.4 | ) | (1.9 | ) | (4.6 | ) | ||||||
Other |
1.8 | 1.2 | (0.2 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Effective rate |
37.9 | % | 35.9 | % | 60.9 | % |
The Companys effective tax rate will vary based on a variety of factors, including overall profitability, the geographical mix of income before taxes and the related tax rates in the jurisdictions where it operates, restructuring and other one-time charges, as well as discrete events, such as settlements of future audits. The increase in our effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was primarily driven by the expected Special Dividend payment to participants in the ESOP Plan which increased our effective tax rate by 21.1%. Please refer to Notes 13 and 15 for additional information on the Special Dividend.
The tax effect of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at March 31 were comprised of:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets: |
||||||||
State income taxes |
$ | 3,915 | $ | 3,285 | ||||
ESOP loan repayment |
1,529 | 1,493 | ||||||
Receivable and other allowances |
1,631 | 1,055 | ||||||
Goodwill |
2,428 | 3,304 | ||||||
Other assets and liabilities |
2,676 | 6,250 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax assets |
12,179 | 15,387 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
||||||||
Intangible assets |
18,178 | 14,561 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
51,711 | 54,336 | ||||||
Inventory and other assets and liabilities |
14,538 | 10,402 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
84,427 | 79,299 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net deferred tax liability |
$ | 72,248 | $ | 63,912 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Net current deferred tax assets were included in Deferred income taxes and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The related balances at March 31 were as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
Net current deferred tax assets |
$ | 1,867 | $ | 5,257 |
The Company has not provided for U.S. federal income taxes or foreign withholding taxes on approximately $32,450 of undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries at March 31, 2014 because such earnings are intended to be reinvested indefinitely with the exception of cash dividends paid by our ADS Mexicana joint venture. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of U.S. tax that might be payable on the eventual remittance of such earnings.
F-36
Accounting for uncertain tax positions
A reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended March 31, 2012, March 31, 2013 and 2014 is as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | ||||
Balance as of March 31, 2012 |
$ | 1,615 | ||
Increases in tax positions in prior periods |
| |||
Increases in current period tax positions |
| |||
Lapse in statute of limitations |
| |||
Settlement of uncertain tax positions with tax authorities |
| |||
|
|
|||
Balance as of March 31, 2013 |
$ | 1,615 | ||
Increases in tax positions in prior periods |
1,369 | |||
Increases in current period tax positions |
2,954 | |||
Lapse in statute of limitations |
| |||
Settlement of uncertain tax positions with tax authorities |
| |||
|
|
|||
Balance as of March 31, 2014 |
$ | 5,938 | ||
|
|
The Companys increase in tax positions is attributed to transfer pricing, ESOP and UNICAP.
The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax. The Company has potential cumulative interest and penalties with respect to unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $395 as of March 31, 2014.
At March 31, 2014, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $4,888 that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The remaining unrecognized tax benefits related to tax position for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty as to the timing of such deductibility. Recognition of these tax benefits would not affect our effective tax rate. We included the full amount of the unrecognized tax benefits in deferred income taxes and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
It is reasonably possible that there could be a change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months due to activities of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or other taxing authorities, including proposed assessments of additional tax, possible settlement of audit issues (primarily IRS audit settlements for various fiscal years), reassessment of existing unrecognized tax benefits or the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations. We estimate that the range of the possible change in unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months is a net decrease of approximately zero to $500, exclusive of penalties and interest.
The Company is currently open to audit under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2010 through March 31, 2013. The majority of the Companys state income tax returns are open to audit under the statute of limitations for the years ended March 31, 2010 through March 31, 2013. The foreign income tax returns are open to audit under the statute of limitations for the years ended March 31, 2007 through March 31, 2011.
We have reviewed the application of the new Repair Regulations, and as of 3/31/14, have estimated that such regulations are not expected to have a material impact to the financial statements. The Company intends to be in compliance with these rules when they first apply, which will be the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015.
19. | NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE |
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic net income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing the Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period.
F-37
Holders of unvested restricted stock have nonforfeitable rights to dividends when declared on common stock, and holders Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock participate in dividends on an as-converted basis when declared on common stock. As a result, unvested restricted stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock meet the definition of participating securities, which requires us to apply the two-class method to compute both basic and diluted net income (loss) per share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that treats participating securities as having rights to earnings that would otherwise have been available to common stockholders.
The dilutive effect of stock options and unvested restricted stock is based on the more dilutive of the treasury stock method or the diluted two-class method. Diluted net income (loss) per share assumes the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock would be cash settled as we have the choice of settling in cash or shares, and we have demonstrated past practice and intent of cash settlement; therefore these shares are excluded from the calculation. For purposes of the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share, stock options and unvested restricted stock are considered to be potential common stock and are only included in the calculations when their effect is dilutive.
The Companys Redeemable Common Stock is included in the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for calculating basic and diluted net income per share.
The following table presents information necessary to calculate net income (loss) per share for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013, and 2014, as well as potentially dilutive securities excluded from the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE BASIC: |
||||||||||||
Net income attributable to ADS |
$ | 43,260 | $ | 28,159 | $ | 11,124 | ||||||
Adjustment for: |
||||||||||||
Change in fair value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |
(10,257 | ) | (5,869 | ) | (3,979 | ) | ||||||
Dividends paid to Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stockholders |
(668 | ) | (736 | ) | (10,139 | ) | ||||||
Dividends paid to unvested restricted stockholders |
(34 | ) | (52 | ) | (418 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders and participating securities |
32,301 | 21,502 | (3,412 | ) | ||||||||
Undistributed income allocated to participating securities |
(3,241 | ) | (2,042 | ) | | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders Basic |
29,060 | 19,460 | (3,412 | ) | ||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic |
9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net income (loss) per common share Basic |
$ | 2.95 | $ | 1.96 | $ | (0.34 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE DILUTED: |
||||||||||||
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders Basic |
$ | 29,060 | $ | 19,460 | $ | (3,412 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic |
9,835 | 9,921 | 10,044 | |||||||||
Assumed exercise of stock options |
161 | 117 | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Diluted |
9,996 | 10,038 | 10,044 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net income (loss) per common share Diluted |
$ | 2.91 | $ | 1.94 | $ | (0.34 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Potentially dilutive securities excluded as anti-dilutive |
4 | 17 | 19 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Net Income (Loss) Per Share
On January 6, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a Special Dividend of $7.50 per share, for a total amount of approximately $108,101, on all outstanding shares of our common stock and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, which was financed through our Revolving Credit Facility. Additionally, we anticipate using a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the amount borrowed under the Revolving Credit Facility used to fund the Special Dividend.
In accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 1.B.3 and SAB 3.A, we are presented with two required calculations to present unaudited supplemental pro forma net income per share amounts, calculated in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, which are included in the Consolidated
F-38
Statement of Income for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2014. These calculations include a methodology outlined in SAB 1.B.3 as a result of the Special Dividend which was declared in contemplation of the offering, which may be in excess of current period earnings, and the methodology outlined in SAB 3.A, as a result of the anticipation of a portion of the net proceeds from the offering being used to repay our Revolving Credit Facility. We assume SAB Topic 1B3 will be applicable, however, we will use the most dilutive of that or SAB Topic 3A.
The below table sets forth the computation of unaudited pro forma basic and diluted income (loss) per share as of March 31, 2014:
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | Basic | Diluted | ||
PRO FORMA NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: |
||||
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders |
||||
Pro forma adjustment for: |
||||
|
|
|||
Pro forma net income (loss) available to common stockholders |
||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding |
||||
Pro forma adjustment for: |
||||
|
|
|||
Pro forma weighted average number of common shares outstanding |
||||
|
|
|||
Pro forma net income (loss) per common share |
||||
|
|
20. | BUSINESS SEGMENTS INFORMATION |
We operate our business in two distinct operating and reportable segments based on the markets we serve: Domestic and International. The Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) evaluates segment reporting based on net sales and Segment EBITDA and Segment Adjusted EBITDA. We calculate Segment EBITDA as net income or loss before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We calculate Segment Adjusted EBITDA as Segment EBITDA before non-cash stock-based compensation expense, non-cash charges and certain other expenses.
Domestic Our Domestic segment manufactures and markets products throughout the United States. We maintain and serve these markets through strong product distribution relationships with many of the largest national and independent waterworks distributors, major national retailers as well as an extensive network of hundreds of small to medium-sized distributors across the U.S. We also sell through a broad variety of buying groups and co-ops in the United States. Products include Singlewall pipe, N-12 HDPE pipe sold into the Storm sewer and Infrastructure markets, N-12 High Performance PP pipe sold into the Storm sewer and sanitary sewer markets, and our broad line of Allied Products including Stormtech, Nyloplast, Arc Septic Chambers, Inserta Tee, Baysaver filters and water quality structures, Fittings, and FleXstorm. Our Domestic segment sales are diversified across all regions of the country.
International Our international segment manufactures and markets products in regions outside of the United States, with a growth strategy focused on our owned facilities in Canada and through our joint-ventures, with best-in-class local partners in Mexico, Central America and South America. Our joint venture strategy provides us with local and regional access to new markets such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia. We have been serving the Canadian market through Hancor of Canada since 2003. Our Mexican joint venture through ADS Mexicana primarily serves the Mexican markets, while our Brazilian joint venture through Tigre ADS is our primary channel to serve the South American markets. Our product line includes Singlewall pipe, N-12 HDPE pipe, and N-12 High Performance PP pipe. The Canadian market also sells our broad line of Allied Products, while sales in Latin America are currently concentrated in fittings and Nyloplast.
F-39
The following table sets forth reportable segment information with respect to the amount of net sales contributed by each class of similar products of our consolidated gross profit in each of the fiscal years ending March 31:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Domestic |
||||||||||||
Pipe |
$ | 678,934 | $ | 654,068 | $ | 700,663 | ||||||
Allied Products |
209,736 | 223,676 | 234,729 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Domestic |
888,670 | 877,744 | 935,392 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
International |
||||||||||||
Pipe |
104,107 | 114,349 | 108,162 | |||||||||
Allied Products |
20,979 | 24,948 | 25,455 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total International |
125,086 | 139,297 | 133,617 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total net sales |
$ | 1,013,756 | $ | 1,017,041 | $ | 1,069,009 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following sets forth certain additional financial information attributable to our reportable segments for the fiscal years ended March 31:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Net sales |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | 888,670 | $ | 877,744 | $ | 935,392 | ||||||
International |
125,086 | 139,297 | 133,617 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 1,013,756 | $ | 1,017,041 | $ | 1,069,009 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Gross profit |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | 170,518 | $ | 177,717 | $ | 182,841 | ||||||
International |
24,840 | 31,594 | 30,050 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 195,358 | $ | 209,311 | $ | 212,891 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | 102,241 | $ | 109,726 | $ | 131,155 | ||||||
International |
14,632 | 20,033 | 15,854 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 116,873 | $ | 129,759 | $ | 147,009 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Interest expense |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | 21,597 | $ | 16,045 | $ | 16,093 | ||||||
International |
240 | 50 | 48 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 21,837 | $ | 16,095 | $ | 16,141 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | 49,631 | $ | 50,691 | $ | 50,660 | ||||||
International |
5,540 | 4,914 | 5,238 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 55,171 | $ | 55,605 | $ | 55,898 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Equity in net income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | | $ | | $ | 417 | ||||||
International |
704 | 387 | (2,009 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 704 | $ | 387 | $ | (1,592 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Capital expenditures |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | 22,281 | $ | 37,800 | $ | 36,450 | ||||||
International |
4,186 | 2,204 | 3,838 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 26,467 | $ | 40,004 | $ | 40,288 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-40
The following sets forth certain additional financial information attributable to our reporting segments as of March 31:
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | | $ | | $ | 5,202 | ||||||
International |
20,758 | 22,012 | 20,029 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 20,758 | $ | 22,012 | $ | 25,231 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total identifiable assets |
||||||||||||
Domestic |
$ | 797,297 | $ | 795,646 | $ | 835,736 | ||||||
International |
110,142 | 114,060 | 115,167 | |||||||||
Eliminations |
(2,411 | ) | (1,967 | ) | (13,308 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 905,028 | $ | 907,739 | $ | 937,595 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation of Segment EBITDA and Segment Adjusted EBITDA to Consolidated Net Income
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic | International | Domestic | International | Domestic | International | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to ADS |
$ | 37,894 | $ | 5,366 | $ | 18,332 | $ | 9,827 | $ | 6,084 | $ | 5,040 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization (a) |
52,832 | 6,524 | 50,691 | 6,235 | 50,808 | 6,646 | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
21,597 | 240 | 16,045 | 50 | 16,093 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
25,855 | 1,209 | 14,787 | 2,107 | 20,594 | 1,981 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA |
138,178 | 13,339 | 99,855 | 18,219 | 93,579 | 13,715 | ||||||||||||||||||
Derivative fair value adjustments |
2,315 | | (4 | ) | | (53 | ) | | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction losses |
| 378 | | 1,085 | | 845 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of Septic Chamber business |
(44,634 | ) | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Unconsolidated affiliates interest and tax |
| 915 | | 729 | 8 | 196 | ||||||||||||||||||
Management fee to minority interest holder JV |
| | | | | 1,098 | ||||||||||||||||||
Special Dividend compensation expense |
| | | | 22,624 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration remeasurement |
| | | | 259 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Share based compensation |
1,425 | | 2,592 | | 5,287 | | ||||||||||||||||||
ESOP deferred compensation |
4,957 | | 7,283 | | 7,891 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Transaction costs (b) |
| | | | 1,560 | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 102,241 | $ | 14,632 | $ | 109,726 | $ | 20,033 | $ | 131,155 | $ | 15,854 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) | Includes our proportionate share of depreciation and amortization expense of $985, $1,321 and $1,556 related to our Tigre ADS joint venture and BaySaver joint venture, which is included in Net income of unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. Depreciation and amortization for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 also includes a charge of $3,200 related to the impairment of our Hancor trademark. |
(b) | Represents expenses recorded related to legal, accounting and other professional fees incurred in connection with our recent debt refinancing and in connection with this offering. |
F-41
Geographic Sales and Assets Information
Net sales are attributed to the geographic location based on the location of the customer. The table below represents the sales and long-lived asset information by geographic location for each of the fiscal years ended March 31:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Net sales |
||||||||||||
North America |
$ | 996,136 | $ | 998,617 | $ | 1,051,220 | ||||||
Other |
17,620 | 18,424 | 17,789 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 1,013,756 | $ | 1,017,041 | $ | 1,069,009 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Long-Lived Assets |
||||||||||||
North America |
$ | 495,767 | $ | 486,885 | ||||||||
Other |
24,551 | 22,211 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
$ | 520,318 | $ | 509,096 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
21. | SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION |
The increase and (decrease) in cash due to the changes in working capital accounts for the fiscal years ended March 31, were as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Changes in working capital: |
||||||||||||
Receivables |
$ | (29,657 | ) | $ | 22,501 | $ | (6,716 | ) | ||||
Inventories |
13,721 | (34,846 | ) | (33,104 | ) | |||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(1,241 | ) | (639 | ) | (4,815 | ) | ||||||
Other assets |
(2,656 | ) | (2,576 | ) | (3,509 | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities |
13,013 | (7,652 | ) | 12,107 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total changes in working capital: |
$ | (6,820 | ) | $ | (23,212 | ) | $ | (36,037 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information for the fiscal years ended March 31 were as follows:
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information cash paid during years: |
||||||||||||
Interest |
$ | 20,994 | $ | 15,872 | $ | 14,546 | ||||||
Income taxes |
16,932 | 23,893 | 23,701 | |||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities: |
||||||||||||
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock dividend (Note 16) |
$ | 104 | $ | 110 | $ | 118 | ||||||
Redemption of common stock to exercise stock options |
1,278 | 805 | 1,187 | |||||||||
Receivable recorded to exercise stock options |
36 | 142 | 76 | |||||||||
Purchases of plant, property, and equipment included in accounts payable |
127 | 3,884 | 634 | |||||||||
Receivable recorded for sale of assets/businesses (Note 2) |
| | 1,241 | |||||||||
Inventory contributed for Investment in unconsolidated affiliate (Note 9) |
| | 1,285 |
F-42
22. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
We evaluated subsequent events through May 19, 2014, the date these consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.
In April 2014, ADS Ventures, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Tigre S.A. Tubos e Conexões entered into a stock purchase agreement whereby ADS Ventures, Inc. acquired 49% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Tigre USA, Inc. for $3,566 and entered into a joint venture agreement with Tigre S.A. Tubos e Conexões to form Tigre-ADS USA Inc. The new joint venture will manufacture and sell PVC fittings for waterworks, plumbing and HVAC applications and primarily serve the United States and Canadian markets. The new joint venture represents a continuation of the existing activities of Tigre USA through its Janesville, Wisconsin manufacturing facility.
* * * * * *
F-43
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
For the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (in thousands):
Accumulated Provision for Uncollectible
|
Balance at
Beginning of Period |
Charged to Costs
and Expenses |
Charged to Other
Accounts(a) |
Deductions |
Balance at
End of Period |
|||||||||||||||
Year ended March 31, 2012 |
3,920 | 1,154 | 28 | (933) | 4,169 | |||||||||||||||
Year ended March 31, 2013 |
4,169 | 1,421 | (2) | (899) | 4,689 | |||||||||||||||
Year ended March 31, 2014 |
4,689 | 872 | (67) | (1,517) | 3,977 |
(a) | Amounts represent the impact of foreign currency translation. |
F-44
Shares
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
Common Stock
Prospectus
, 2014
Barclays
Deutsche Bank Securities
Citigroup
RBC Capital Markets
Through and including , 2014 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealers obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The following table sets forth the estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts or commissions. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filing fee.
SEC Registration Fee |
$ | 12,880 | ||
FINRA Filing Fee |
$ | 15,500 | ||
Stock Exchange Listing Fee |
$ | * | ||
Printing Fees and Expenses |
$ | * | ||
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
$ | * | ||
Legal Fees and Expenses |
$ | * | ||
Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses |
$ | * | ||
Miscellaneous |
$ | * | ||
|
|
|||
Total |
$ | * | ||
|
|
* | To be filed by amendment. |
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Delaware General Corporation Law
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the persons conduct was unlawful.
Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
II-1
Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145 of the DGCL. Such expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred by former directors and officers or other persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
Section 145(g) of the DGCL specifically allows a Delaware corporation to purchase liability insurance on behalf of its directors and officers and to insure against potential liability of such directors and officers regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify such directors and officers under Section 145 of the DGCL.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will contain provisions permitted under the DGCL relating to the liability of directors. These provisions will eliminate a directors personal liability to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, except in circumstances involving:
| any breach of the directors duty of loyalty; |
| acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; |
| under Section 174 of the DGCL (unlawful dividends); or |
| any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit. |
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws will require us to indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL and other applicable law, except in the case of a proceeding instituted by the director without the approval of our board of directors. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws will provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for all judgments, fines, settlements, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings because of the directors or officers positions with us or another entity that the director or officer serves at our request, subject to various conditions, and to advance funds to our directors and officers to enable them to defend against such proceedings. To receive indemnification, the director or officer must have been successful in the legal proceeding or have acted in good faith and in what was reasonably believed to be a lawful manner in our best interest and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. This provision, however, may not eliminate or limit a directors liability (1) for breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will contain such a provision.
II-2
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain of our officers. The indemnification agreements will provide the directors and officers with contractual rights to the indemnification and expense advancement rights provided under our amended and restated bylaws, as well as contractual rights to additional indemnification as provided in the indemnification agreements.
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
We have obtained directors and officers liability insurance which insures against certain liabilities that our directors and officers and our subsidiaries directors and officers may, in such capacities, incur.
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
Since three years before the date of the initial filing of this Registration Statement, we have sold securities without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as described below:
Issuance of Common Stock
In May 2011, we issued an aggregate of 1,272 shares of common stock to four directors who elected to receive the equivalent of their compensation in common stock at $50.35 per share.
In May 2012, we issued an aggregate of 1,080 shares of common stock to four directors who elected to receive the equivalent of their compensation in common stock at $59.25 per share.
In February 2013, we issued an aggregate of 2,609 shares of common stock to four directors who elected to receive the equivalent of their compensation in common stock at $64.20 per share.
Restricted Stock Grants
On May 3, 2011, we issued an aggregate of 19,400 shares of restricted common stock to 53 employees pursuant to the 2008 Plan in consideration of services provided or to be provided.
On November 3, 2011, we issued 500 shares of restricted common stock to one employee pursuant to the 2008 Plan in consideration of services provided or to be provided.
On May 1, 2012, we issued an aggregate of 32,400 shares of restricted common stock to 66 employees pursuant to the 2008 Plan in consideration of services provided or to be provided.
On May 1, 2013, we issued an aggregate of 33,400 shares of restricted common stock to 63 employees pursuant to the 2008 Plan in consideration of services provided or to be provided.
On August 6, 2013, we issued an aggregate of 320 shares of restricted common stock to one employee pursuant to the 2008 Plan in consideration of services provided or to be provided.
Options Grants and Common Stock Issued upon Exercise of Options
Since April 1, 2011, we have issued to directors, officers and employees options to purchase an aggregate of 453,704.383 shares of common stock with exercise prices ranging from $50.35 to $64.20 per share pursuant to the 2000 Plan and 2013 Plan.
Since April 1, 2011, upon the exercise of stock options, we have issued 260,586 shares of common stock to certain officers, directors and employees in exchange for an aggregate of $5,890,527.
II-3
These transactions did not involve any underwriters or any public offerings. These transactions were exempt from registration under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D or Rule 701 promulgated thereunder, as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. No general solicitation was made either by us or any person acting on our behalf; the recipients of our common stock agreed that the securities would be subject to the standard restrictions applicable to a private placement of securities under applicable state and federal securities laws; and appropriate legends were affixed to the certificates issued.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) | Exhibits. |
The following exhibits are included as exhibits to this Registration Statement.
Exhibit List
Exhibit
|
Exhibit Description |
|
1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement.* | |
3.1 | Form of Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.* | |
3.2 | Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.* | |
3.3 | Form of Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.* | |
4.1 | Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.* | |
4.2 | Form of Common Stock Certificate.* | |
4.3 | Form of Termination of Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement.* | |
4.4 | Form of Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and the stockholders from time to time party thereto.* | |
4.5 | Form of 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018.* | |
4.6 | Form of 4.05% Senior Series B Secured Notes due September 24, 2019.* | |
5.1 | Opinion of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP.* | |
10.1 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., as borrower, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto. | |
10.1A | First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2013. | |
10.2 | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, the lenders party thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto. | |
10.2A | First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2013. | |
10.3 | Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., as seller, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as a purchaser, and the other purchasers from time to time party thereto. | |
10.3A | Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2011. | |
10.3B | Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2012. | |
10.3C | Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2012. |
II-4
Exhibit
|
Exhibit Description |
|
10.3D | Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2013. | |
10.3E | Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2013. | |
10.3F | Supplement to Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2013. | |
10.3G | Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2013. | |
10.3H | Amendment No. 7 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2013. | |
10.4 | Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., as borrower, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, as collateral agent for certain secured parties. | |
10.5 | Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and certain other parties thereto, as pledgors, in favor of PNC Bank, National Association, as collateral agent for certain secured parties. | |
10.6 | Amended and Restated Intercompany Subordination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., the guarantors from time to time party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for certain lenders. | |
10.7 | Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as collateral agent for certain secured parties, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for certain lenders, and certain noteholders. | |
10.8 | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Non-Employee Director and Consultant Compensation Plan.* | |
10.9 | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Amended 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.10 | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. 2008 Restricted Stock Plan * | |
10.11 | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. 2013 Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.12 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2009, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Joseph A. Chlapaty, as amended on January 27, 2010.* | |
10.13 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2009, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Mark B. Sturgeon, as amended on January 27, 2010.* | |
10.14 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2009, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Thomas M. Fussner, as amended on January 27, 2010.* | |
10.15 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2012, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Ronald R. Vitarelli.* | |
10.16 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2009, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Robert M. Klein, as amended on January 27, 2010.* | |
10.17 | Form of Indemnification Agreement. | |
10.18 | Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement pursuant to 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.19 | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (other than for Joseph A. Chlapaty) pursuant to 2013 Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.19A | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (for Joseph A. Chlapaty) pursuant to 2013 Stock Option Plan.* |
II-5
Exhibit
|
Exhibit Description |
|
10.20 | Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (other than for Joseph A. Chlapaty) pursuant to 2008 Restricted Stock Plan.* | |
10.20A | Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (for Joseph A. Chlapaty) pursuant to 2008 Restricted Stock Plan.* | |
10.21 | Form of Director Stock Agreement.* | |
10.22 | Participation Agreement, dated as of July 17, 2000, by and between ADS Worldwide, Inc., Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V., and ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (formerly known as Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V.), as amended on April 19, 2010, May 19, 2011, May 24, 2011, April 26, 2013 and January 31, 2014. | |
10.23 | Interestholders Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2009, by and among Tubos y Plasticos ADS Chile Limitada, Tigre Chile S.A., and Tuberias T-A Limitada, joined by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Tigre S.A. Tubos e Conexoes, as amended on July 31, 2009, October 2009, December 15, 2009, May 18, 2010, August 10, 2010, April 1, 2011 and January 25, 2012.* | |
10.23A | First Addendum to Interestholders Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2011.* | |
10.24 | Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated July 15, 2013, by and among ADS Ventures, Inc., BaySaver Technologies, Inc. and Mid-Atlantic Storm Water Research Center, Inc. | |
21.1 | List of Subsidiaries.* | |
23.1 | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. | |
23.2 | Consent of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).* | |
23.3 | Consent of Freedonia Custom Research, Inc.# | |
24.1 | Power of Attorney.# |
* | To be filed by amendment. |
| Filed herewith. |
# | Previously filed. |
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) |
For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and |
II-6
contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
(2) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(d) For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(e) For the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(1) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
(2) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(3) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(4) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
II-7
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Hilliard, State of Ohio, on June 6, 2014.
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Joseph A. Chlapaty |
|||
Name: Title: |
Joseph A. Chlapaty President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement has been signed on June 6, 2014 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.
Signature |
Title |
|
/s/ Joseph A. Chlapaty |
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
Joseph A. Chlapaty |
||
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | |
Mark B. Sturgeon |
||
* |
Director | |
Robert M. Eversole |
||
* |
Director | |
Alexander R. Fischer |
||
* |
Director | |
Tanya Fratto |
||
* |
Director | |
M.A. (Mark) Haney |
||
* |
Director | |
David L. Horing |
||
* |
Director | |
C. Robert Kidder |
||
* |
Director | |
Mark A. Lovett |
||
* |
Director | |
Richard A. Rosenthal |
||
* |
Director | |
Abigail S. Wexner |
||
* |
Director | |
Scott M. Wolff |
*By: | /s/ Joseph A. Chlapaty | |
Joseph A. Chlapaty Attorney-in-Fact |
II-8
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit List
Exhibit
|
Exhibit Description |
|
1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement.* | |
3.1 | Form of Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.* | |
3.2 | Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.* | |
3.3 | Form of Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.* | |
4.1 | Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.* | |
4.2 | Form of Common Stock Certificate.* | |
4.3 | Form of Termination of Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement.* | |
4.4 | Form of Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and the stockholders from time to time party thereto.* | |
4.5 | Form of 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018.* | |
4.6 | Form of 4.05% Senior Series B Secured Notes due September 24, 2019.* | |
5.1 | Opinion of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP.* | |
10.1 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., as borrower, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto. | |
10.1A | First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2013. | |
10.2 | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, the lenders party thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto. | |
10.2A | First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2013. | |
10.3 | Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., as seller, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as a purchaser, and the other purchasers from time to time party thereto. | |
10.3A | Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2011. | |
10.3B | Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2012. | |
10.3C | Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2012. | |
10.3D | Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2013. | |
10.3E | Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2013. | |
10.3F | Supplement to Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2013. | |
10.3G | Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2013. | |
10.3H | Amendment No. 7 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2013. |
II-9
Exhibit
|
Exhibit Description |
|
10.4 | Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., as borrower, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, as collateral agent for certain secured parties. | |
10.5 | Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and certain other parties thereto, as pledgors, in favor of PNC Bank, National Association, as collateral agent for certain secured parties. | |
10.6 | Amended and Restated Intercompany Subordination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., the guarantors from time to time party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for certain lenders. | |
10.7 | Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as collateral agent for certain secured parties, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for certain lenders, and certain noteholders. | |
10.8 | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Non-Employee Director and Consultant Compensation Plan.* | |
10.9 | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Amended 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.10 | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. 2008 Restricted Stock Plan * | |
10.11 | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. 2013 Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.12 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2009, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Joseph A. Chlapaty, as amended on January 27, 2010.* | |
10.13 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2009, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Mark B. Sturgeon, as amended on January 27, 2010.* | |
10.14 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2009, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Thomas M. Fussner, as amended on January 27, 2010.* | |
10.15 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2012, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Ronald R. Vitarelli.* | |
10.16 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2009, by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Robert M. Klein, as amended on January 27, 2010.* | |
10.17 | Form of Indemnification Agreement. | |
10.18 | Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement pursuant to 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.19 | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (other than for Joseph A. Chlapaty) pursuant to 2013 Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.19A | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (for Joseph A. Chlapaty) pursuant to 2013 Stock Option Plan.* | |
10.20 | Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (other than for Joseph A. Chlapaty) pursuant to 2008 Restricted Stock Plan.* | |
10.20A | Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (for Joseph A. Chlapaty) pursuant to 2008 Restricted Stock Plan.* | |
10.21 | Form of Director Stock Agreement.* | |
10.22 | Participation Agreement, dated as of July 17, 2000, by and between ADS Worldwide, Inc., Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V., and ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (formerly known as Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V.), as amended on April 19, 2010, May 19, 2011, May 24, 2011, April 26, 2013 and January 31, 2014. |
II-10
Exhibit
|
Exhibit Description |
|
10.23 | Interestholders Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2009, by and among Tubos y Plasticos ADS Chile Limitada, Tigre Chile S.A., and Tuberias T-A Limitada, joined by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Tigre S.A. Tubos e Conexoes, as amended on July 31, 2009, October 2009, December 15, 2009, May 18, 2010, August 10, 2010, April 1, 2011 and January 25, 2012.* | |
10.23A | First Addendum to Interestholders Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2011.* | |
10.24 | Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated July 15, 2013, by and among ADS Ventures, Inc., BaySaver Technologies, Inc. and Mid-Atlantic Storm Water Research Center, Inc. | |
21.1 | List of Subsidiaries.* | |
23.1 | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. | |
23.2 | Consent of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).* | |
23.3 | Consent of Freedonia Custom Research, Inc.# | |
24.1 | Power of Attorney.# |
* | To be filed by amendment. |
| Filed herewith. |
# | Previously filed. |
II-11
Exhibit 10.1
$325,000,000 REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
$100,000,000 TERM LOAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
by and among
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
THE GUARANTORS AND THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,
RBS CITIZENS, N.A.
and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Joint Bookrunners
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,
RBS CITIZENS, N.A.
and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Joint Lead Arrangers
RBS CITIZENS, N.A.
and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents
and
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Co-Documentation Agents
Dated as of June 12, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
ii
iii
8.2.6 |
Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions |
74 | ||||||||
8.2.7 |
Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries |
75 | ||||||||
8.2.8 |
Affiliate Transactions |
76 | ||||||||
8.2.9 |
Subsidiaries and Partnerships |
77 | ||||||||
8.2.10 |
Continuation of or Change in Business |
77 | ||||||||
8.2.11 |
Fiscal Year |
77 | ||||||||
8.2.12 |
Issuance of Stock |
77 | ||||||||
8.2.13 |
Changes in Organizational Documents |
77 | ||||||||
8.2.14 |
Real Property |
78 | ||||||||
8.2.15 |
Intentionally Omitted |
78 | ||||||||
8.2.16 |
Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio |
78 | ||||||||
8.2.17 |
Maximum Leverage Ratio |
78 | ||||||||
8.2.18 |
Most Favored Lender |
78 | ||||||||
8.3 |
Reporting Requirements |
79 | ||||||||
8.3.1 |
Quarterly Financial Statements |
79 | ||||||||
8.3.2 |
Annual Financial Statements |
79 | ||||||||
8.3.3 |
Certificate of the Borrower |
79 | ||||||||
8.3.4 |
Notices |
80 | ||||||||
9. | DEFAULT | 81 | ||||||||
9.1 |
Events of Default |
81 | ||||||||
9.1.1 |
Payments Under Loan Documents |
81 | ||||||||
9.1.2 |
Breach of Warranty |
81 | ||||||||
9.1.3 |
Breach of Negative Covenants or Visitation Rights |
81 | ||||||||
9.1.4 |
Breach of Other Covenants |
82 | ||||||||
9.1.5 |
Defaults in Other Agreements or Indebtedness |
82 | ||||||||
9.1.6 |
Final Judgments or Orders |
82 | ||||||||
9.1.7 |
Loan Document Unenforceable |
82 | ||||||||
9.1.8 |
Events Relating to Pension Plans and Multiemployer Plans |
82 | ||||||||
9.1.9 |
Change of Control |
83 | ||||||||
9.1.10 |
Liquidity Event |
83 | ||||||||
9.1.11 |
Relief Proceedings |
83 | ||||||||
9.2 |
Consequences of Event of Default |
83 | ||||||||
9.2.1 |
Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings |
83 | ||||||||
9.2.2 |
Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings |
84 | ||||||||
9.2.3 |
Set-off |
84 | ||||||||
9.2.4 |
Application of Proceeds |
84 | ||||||||
10. | THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 85 | ||||||||
10.1 |
Appointment and Authority |
85 | ||||||||
10.2 |
Rights as a Lender |
85 | ||||||||
10.3 |
Exculpatory Provisions |
86 | ||||||||
10.4 |
Reliance by Administrative Agent |
86 | ||||||||
10.5 |
Delegation of Duties |
87 | ||||||||
10.6 |
Resignation of Administrative Agent |
87 | ||||||||
10.7 |
Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders |
88 | ||||||||
10.8 |
No Other Duties, etc. |
88 | ||||||||
10.9 |
Administrative Agents Fee |
88 |
iv
10.10 | Authorization to Release Collateral and Guarantors | 88 | ||||||||
10.11 | No Reliance on Administrative Agents Customer Identification Program | 89 | ||||||||
10.12 | Right of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guaranties | 89 | ||||||||
10.13 | Understandings and Authorizations with respect to the Intercreditor Agreement | 89 | ||||||||
11. | MISCELLANEOUS | 90 | ||||||||
11.1 |
Modifications, Amendments or Waivers |
90 | ||||||||
11.1.1 |
Increase of Commitment |
90 | ||||||||
11.1.2 |
Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment |
90 | ||||||||
11.1.3 |
Release of Collateral or Guarantor |
90 | ||||||||
11.1.4 |
Change in Control |
90 | ||||||||
11.1.5 |
Miscellaneous |
90 | ||||||||
11.2 |
No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies |
91 | ||||||||
11.3 |
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
92 | ||||||||
11.3.1 |
Costs and Expenses |
92 | ||||||||
11.3.2 |
Indemnification by the Borrower |
92 | ||||||||
11.3.3 |
Reimbursement by Lenders |
93 | ||||||||
11.3.4 |
Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. |
93 | ||||||||
11.3.5 |
Payments |
93 | ||||||||
11.4 |
Holidays |
93 | ||||||||
11.5 |
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication |
94 | ||||||||
11.5.1 |
Notices Generally |
94 | ||||||||
11.5.2 |
Electronic Communications |
94 | ||||||||
11.5.3 |
Change of Address, Etc. |
94 | ||||||||
11.6 |
Severability |
95 | ||||||||
11.7 |
Duration; Survival |
95 | ||||||||
11.8 |
Successors and Assigns |
95 | ||||||||
11.8.1 |
Successors and Assigns Generally |
95 | ||||||||
11.8.2 |
Assignments by Lenders |
95 | ||||||||
11.8.3 |
Register |
97 | ||||||||
11.8.4 |
Participations |
98 | ||||||||
11.8.5 |
Reserved |
99 | ||||||||
11.8.6 |
Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally |
99 | ||||||||
11.8.7 |
Below-Par Purchases |
99 | ||||||||
11.9 |
Confidentiality |
101 | ||||||||
11.9.1 |
General |
101 | ||||||||
11.9.2 |
Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders |
101 | ||||||||
11.10 |
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
101 | ||||||||
11.10.1 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 101 | ||||||||
11.11 |
CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
102 | ||||||||
11.11.1 |
Governing Law |
102 | ||||||||
11.11.2 |
SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION |
102 | ||||||||
11.11.3 |
WAIVER OF VENUE |
102 | ||||||||
11.11.4 |
SERVICE OF PROCESS |
103 | ||||||||
11.11.5 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
103 |
v
11.12 |
USA Patriot Act Notice |
103 | ||||||||
11.13 |
Joinder of Loan Party |
103 | ||||||||
11.14 |
Limitation on Rights of Sponsor Affiliated Lenders |
104 | ||||||||
11.15 |
Amendment and Restatement, No Novation |
104 |
vi
LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
SCHEDULES | ||||
SCHEDULE 1.1(A) | - | PRICING GRID | ||
SCHEDULE 1.1(B) | - | COMMITMENTS OF LENDERS AND ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES | ||
SCHEDULE 1.1(P) | - | PERMITTED LIENS | ||
SCHEDULE 2.8 | - | EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT | ||
SCHEDULE 6.1.1 | - | QUALIFICATIONS TO DO BUSINESS | ||
SCHEDULE 6.1.2 | - | SUBSIDIARIES | ||
SCHEDULE 6.1.14 | - | ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURES | ||
SCHEDULE 7.1.1 | - | OPINION OF COUNSEL | ||
SCHEDULE 8.1.3 | - | INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO COLLATERAL | ||
SCHEDULE 8.2.1 | - | PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS | ||
SCHEDULE 8.2.3 | - | GUARANTIES | ||
EXHIBITS | ||||
EXHIBIT 1.1(A) | - | ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(1) | - | GUARANTOR JOINDER | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(2) | - | GUARANTY AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(I) | - | INTERCOMPANY SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(N)(1) | - | REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(N)(2) | - | SWING LOAN NOTE | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(N)(3) | - | TERM NOTE | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(P) | - | PLEDGE AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(S) | - | SECURITY AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 2.5.1 | - | LOAN REQUEST | ||
EXHIBIT 2.5.2 | - | SWING LOAN REQUEST | ||
EXHIBIT 2.10 | - | NEW LENDER JOINDER | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(A) | - | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(B) | - | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(C) | - | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(D) | - | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 8.3.3 | - | COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE |
vii
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (as hereafter amended, the Agreement ) is dated as of June 12, 2013 and is made by and among ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Borrower ), each of the GUARANTORS (as hereinafter defined), the LENDERS (as hereinafter defined), PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement (hereinafter referred to in such capacity, as well as its successors and assigns, as the Administrative Agent ), PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Joint Bookrunners (hereinafter collectively referred to in such capacity as the Joint Bookrunners ), PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Joint Lead Arrangers (hereinafter collectively referred to in such capacity as the Joint Lead Arrangers ) and RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents (hereinafter collectively referred to in such capacity as the Co-Syndication Agents ) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents (hereinafter referred to in such capacity as the Co-Documentation Agents ).
The Borrower, the Lenders and PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of September 24, 2010, as amended (the Existing Credit Agreement ), pursuant to which the lenders thereunder have made available to the Borrower (i) a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $265,000,000 and (ii) a $100,000,000 term loan facility.
The Borrower has requested the Lenders to provide (i) a revolving credit facility to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $325,000,000 and (ii) a $100,000,000 term loan facility, each subject to increase upon the request of the Borrower on the terms and conditions set forth herein. In connection with such request, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement. In consideration of their mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. In addition to words and terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context hereof clearly requires otherwise:
Administrative Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and its successors and assigns.
Administrative Agents Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.9 [Administrative Agents Fee].
Administrative Agents Letter shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.9 [Administrative Agents Fee].
ADS Mexicana Credit Facility shall mean a revolving credit facility being made available to ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. pursuant to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of even date herewith, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Affiliate shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person (excluding, with respect to Sponsor, the Borrower) (i) which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, (ii) which beneficially owns or holds 10% or more of any class of the voting or other equity interests of such Person, or (iii) 10% or more of any class of voting interests or other equity interests of which is beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
Anti-Terrorism Laws shall mean any Laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224, the USA Patriot Act, the Laws comprising or implementing the Bank Secrecy Act, and the Laws administered by the United States Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Asset Control (as any of the foregoing Laws may from time to time be amended, renewed, extended, or replaced).
Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall mean the percentage rate per annum based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Commitment Fee.
Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall mean the percentage rate per annum based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Letter of Credit Fee.
Applicable Margin shall mean, as applicable:
(A) the percentage spread to be added to the Base Rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Revolving Credit Base Rate Spread,
(B) the percentage spread to be added to the Base Rate applicable to Term Loans under the Base Rate Option based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Term Loan Base Rate Spread,
(C) the percentage spread to be added to the LIBOR Rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Spread, or
(D) the percentage spread to be added to the LIBOR Rate applicable to Term Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Term Loan LIBOR Rate Spread.
Approved Fund shall mean any fund that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
- 2 -
Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall mean an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee permitted under Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns], in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(A) .
Authorized Officer shall mean, with respect to any Loan Party, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or General Manager of such Loan Party or such other individuals, designated by written notice to the Administrative Agent from the Borrower, authorized to execute notices, reports and other documents on behalf of the Loan Parties required hereunder. The Borrower may amend such list of individuals from time to time by giving written notice of such amendment to the Administrative Agent.
Base Rate shall mean, for any day, a fluctuating per annum rate of interest equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Open Rate, plus fifty basis points (0.5%), and (b) the Prime Rate, and (c) the Daily LIBOR Rate, plus 100 basis points (1.0%). Any change in the Base Rate (or any component thereof) shall take effect at the opening of business on the day such change occurs.
Base Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to have Loans bear interest at the rate and under the terms set forth in either Section 4.1.1(i) [Revolving Credit Base Rate Option] or Section 4.1.2(i) [Term Loan Base Rate Option], as applicable.
Borrower shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
Borrowing Date shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the date for the making thereof or the renewal or conversion thereof at or to the same or a different Interest Rate Option, which shall be a Business Day.
Borrowing Tranche shall mean specified portions of Loans outstanding as follows: (i) any Loans to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies which become subject to the same Interest Rate Option under the same Loan Request by the Borrower and which have the same Interest Period shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche, and (ii) all Loans to which a Base Rate Option applies shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks are authorized or required to be closed for business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and if the applicable Business Day relates to any Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, such day must also be a day on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.
Canadian Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized or formed under the laws of Canada or any province thereof.
Capital Distribution shall mean a payment made, liability incurred or other consideration given for the purchase, acquisition, redemption or retirement of any capital stock
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or other equity interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or as a dividend, return of capital or other distribution (other than any stock dividend, stock split or other equity distribution payable only in capital stock or other equity of the Borrower or such Subsidiary) in respect of the Borrowers or any Subsidiarys capital stock or other equity interest.
Capital Expenditures shall mean the amount of capital expenditures of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
Cash Equivalents shall mean, at any time, any of the following investments which are not subject to a Lien in favor of any Person other than the Administrative Agent: (i) Indebtedness with a maturity of one year or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof), (ii) certificates of deposit or acceptances with a maturity of one year or less of any financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000, (iii) commercial paper with a maturity of 270 days or less issued by a corporation (except an Affiliate of the Borrower) organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poors or at least P-1 by Moodys Investors Services, Inc., (iv) repurchase agreements with institutions described in clause (ii) with respect to investments described in clause (i), (v) money market mutual funds or cash management trusts rated in the highest rating by Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Services, Inc. (and not rated other than in the highest rating by Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Services, Inc.) or investing solely in investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above and (vi) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, Permitted Investments made locally of a type comparable to those described in clause (i) through (v) of this definition.
CFC shall mean a Controlled Foreign Corporation as such term is defined in Section 957 of the Code.
Change in Law shall mean the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (i) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (ii) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Official Body or (iii) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) by any Official Body; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities (whether or not having the force of Law), in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a Change in Law regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.
CIP Regulations shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.11 [No Reliance on Administrative Agents Customer Identification Program].
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Closing Date shall mean the Business Day on which the first Loan shall be made, which shall be June 12, 2013.
Co-Documentation Agent shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
Co-Syndication Agent shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.
Collateral shall mean the collateral in which a Lien is granted to the Collateral Agent under any of the (i) Security Agreement or (ii) Pledge Agreement, which shall in any event not include: (v) equity interests in Domestic Subsidiaries which are Foreign Holding Companies, (w) any assets not located in the United States (other than assets which Liens against can be perfected against by the filing of a UCC financing statement), (x) any assets owned by a Foreign Subsidiary, (y) any right, title and interest of any Loan Parties or Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties in any fee or leasehold interest in real property, and (z) any right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in, to and under the Fleet Leases and the equipment leased thereunder.
Collateral Agent shall mean PNC, as the collateral agent pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement and holding a security interests under the Collateral Documents for the benefit of the Senior Secured Obligations.
Collateral Documents shall mean the Security Agreement and the Pledge Agreement.
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.
Commitment shall mean as to any Lender the aggregate of its Revolving Credit Commitment and Term Loan Commitment and, in the case of PNC, its Swing Loan Commitment, and Commitments shall mean the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments, Term Loan Commitments and Swing Loan Commitment of all of the Lenders.
Commitment Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3 [Commitment Fees].
Compliance Authority shall mean each and all of the (a) U.S. Treasury Department/Office of Foreign Assets Control, (b) U.S. Treasury Department/Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, (c) U.S. State Department/Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, (d) U.S. Commerce Department/Bureau of Industry and Security, (e) U.S. Internal Revenue Service, (f) U.S. Justice Department, and (g) U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.3.3 [Certificate of the Borrower].
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Connection Income Taxes shall mean Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Consolidated EBITDAE for any period of determination shall mean, without duplication, (i) net income, plus , to the extent reducing net income, the sum, of amounts for (a) consolidated interest expense, (b) charges for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, (c) total depreciation expense, (d) total amortization expense, (e) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,100,000, (f) non-cash charges reducing net income for such period, (g) ESOP Compensation, and (h) non-cash compensation related to stock options and restricted stock, minus (ii) non-cash gains increasing net income, in each case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP .
For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAE (a) with respect to a business acquired by the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries thereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 or Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as interpreted by the staff of the United States of America Securities and Exchange Commission), using historical numbers of any business so acquired, in accordance with GAAP as if the Permitted Acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period, and (b) with respect to a business or assets liquidated, sold or disposed of by the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 8.2.7 [Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries], Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on the basis stated above), using historical numbers of any business or assets so liquidated, sold or disposed of, in accordance with GAAP as if such liquidation, sale or disposition had been consummated at the beginning of such period.
Covered Entity means (a) the Borrower, all Subsidiaries of the Borrower, all Guarantors and pledgors of Collateral and (b) each Person which, directly or indirectly, controls any Person described in clause (a) above. For purposes of this definition, control of a Person shall mean the direct or indirect (x) ownership of, or power to vote, 10% or more of any class of the voting or other equity interests of such Person or (y) power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by ownership of voting or other equity interests, contract or otherwise.
Daily LIBOR Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (x) the Published Rate by (y) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage on such day.
Defaulting Lender shall mean any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Loans or (iii) pay over to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, PNC (as the Swing Loan Lender) or any Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower
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or the Administrative Agent in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within two Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swing Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon the Administrative Agents or the Borrowers receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, as the case may be, (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event or (e) has failed at any time to comply with the provisions of Section 5.3[Sharing of Payments by Lenders] with respect to purchasing participations from the other Lenders, whereby such Lenders share of any payment received, whether by setoff or otherwise, is in excess of its Ratable Share of such payments due and payable to all of the Lenders.
As used in this definition and in Section 2.10 [Defaulting Lenders], the term Bankruptcy Event means, with respect to any Person, such Person or such Persons direct or indirect parent company becoming the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or having had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person or such Persons direct or indirect parent company by an Official Body or instrumentality thereof if, and only if, such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Official Body or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
Dollar, Dollars, U.S. Dollars and the symbol $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
Domestic Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized or formed under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof.
Drawing Date shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Effective Yield means, as to any class of Loans (being a class of either Initial Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans), the effective yield on such class of Loans, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, taking into account the applicable interest rate margins, interest rate benchmark floors and all fees, including recurring, up-front or similar fees or original issue discount (amortized over five years following the date of incurrence
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thereof; provided , that if the stated maturity date of a new class of Loans is less than five years from the date of determination, then the Effective Yield for such class of Loans shall be determined using an assumed amortization period equal to the actual remaining life to maturity of such class) payable generally to the Lenders making such class of Loans, but excluding any arrangement, structuring or other fees payable in connection therewith that are not generally shared with the Lenders thereunder.
Environmental Laws shall mean all applicable federal, state, local, tribal, territorial and foreign Laws (including common law), constitutions, statutes, treaties, regulations, rules, ordinances and codes and any consent decrees, settlement agreements, judgments, orders, directives, policies or programs issued by or entered into with an Official Body pertaining or relating to: (i) pollution or pollution control; (ii) protection of human health from exposure to regulated substances; (iii) protection of the environment and/or natural resources; (iv) employee safety in the workplace; (v) the presence, use, management, generation, manufacture, processing, extraction, treatment, recycling, refining, reclamation, labeling, packaging, sale, transport, storage, collection, distribution, disposal or release or threat of release of regulated substances; (vi) the presence of contamination; (vii) the protection of endangered or threatened species; and (viii) the protection of environmentally sensitive areas.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.
ERISA Event shall mean (a) with respect to a Pension Plan, a reportable event under Section 4043 of ERISA as to which event (after taking into account notice waivers provided for in the regulations) there is a duty to give notice to the PBGC; (b) a withdrawal by Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group from a Multiemployer Plan, notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, or occurrence of an event described in Section 4041A(a) of ERISA that results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(e) of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group.
ERISA Group shall mean, at any time, the Borrower and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control and all other entities which, together with the Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA.
ESOP shall mean the Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., Employee Stock Ownership Plan and the Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust.
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ESOP Compensation shall mean the non-cash charge portion of the ESOP compensation expense reflected in Borrowers financial statements.
Event of Default shall mean any of the events described in Section 9.1 [Events of Default] and referred to therein as an Event of Default.
Excluded Swap Obligations 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 Guarantors failure for any reason to constitute an eligible contract participant as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder 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 shall mean any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (a) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (b) that are Other Connection Taxes, (ii) withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Recipient with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (a) such Recipient acquires such interest in such Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender]) or (b) such Recipient changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders], amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Recipients assignor immediately before such Recipient became a party hereto or to such Recipient immediately before it changed its lending office, (iii) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders], and (iv) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
Executive Order No. 13224 shall mean the Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.
Existing Credit Facility shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Expiration Date shall mean June 12, 2018.
FATCA shall mean 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
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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.
Federal Funds Effective Rate for any day shall mean the rate per annum (based on a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed and rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any successor) on such day as being the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions arranged by federal funds brokers on the previous trading day, as computed and announced by such Federal Reserve Bank (or any successor) in substantially the same manner as such Federal Reserve Bank computes and announces the weighted average it refers to as the Federal Funds Effective Rate as of the date of this Agreement; provided , if such Federal Reserve Bank (or its successor) does not announce such rate on any day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the last day on which such rate was announced.
Federal Funds Open Rate for any day shall mean the rate per annum (based on a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) which is the daily federal funds open rate as quoted by ICAP North America, Inc. (or any successor) as set forth on the Bloomberg Screen BTMM for that day opposite the caption OPEN (or on such other substitute Bloomberg Screen that displays such rate), or as set forth on such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate as selected by the Administrative Agent (for purposes of this definition, an Alternate Source ) (or if such rate for such day does not appear on the Bloomberg Screen BTMM (or any substitute screen) or on any Alternate Source, or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Screen BTMM (or any substitute screen) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error); provided however, that if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Open Rate for such day shall be the open rate on the immediately preceding Business Day. If and when the Federal Funds Open Rate changes, the rate of interest with respect to any advance to which the Federal Funds Open Rate applies will change automatically without notice to the Borrower, effective on the date of any such change.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall mean for any period of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDAE for such period of determination, minus the amount of Capital Expenditures paid during such period of determination, minus cash income taxes paid during such period of determination, to (b) Fixed Charges for such period of determination. For the avoidance of doubt, any make-whole payment or yield maintenance payment required in connection with the prepayment of the Senior Notes (2010) or any other Indebtedness after the Closing Date shall be included in the denominator of the foregoing ratio as a component of cash interest expense.
Fixed Charges shall mean for any period of determination the sum of (i) cash interest expense, plus (ii) scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness, plus (iii) such portion of Capital Distributions pursuant to the ESOP exceeding $10,000,000 during any fiscal year, in each case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
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Fleet Leases shall mean each of the equipment leases entered into by Loan Parties in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices with respect to leased trucks, trailers, cars, forklifts, and other rolling stock to the extent that such leases are operating leases and not capital leases.
Foreign Holding Company shall mean any Person which has as its principal purpose the holding of ownership interest in one or more CFCs and has no other material assets or operations, and shall include, as of the Closing Date, ADS Worldwide, Inc. and ADS International, Inc.
Foreign Lender shall mean any Lender that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each state thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
Foreign Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
Fronting Exposure shall mean, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentage of the outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank other than Letter of Credit Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or cash collateralized in accordance with Section 2.11(iii)(B) hereof, and (b) with respect to PNC as maker of Swing Loans, such Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentage of outstanding Swing Loans made by PNC other than Swing Loans as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as are in effect from time to time, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3 [Accounting Principles], and applied on a consistent basis both as to classification of items and amounts.
Guarantor shall mean each Material Subsidiary of the Borrower and any other Subsidiary of the Borrower which is designated by the Borrower as a Guarantor as of the date of this Agreement (in each case, which is designated as a Guarantor on the signature page hereof) and each other Person which joins this Agreement as a Guarantor after the date hereof by execution of a Guaranty Agreement or a Guarantor Joinder; provided, however, that no Foreign Subsidiary shall be, or be required to continue to be, a Guarantor.
Guarantor Joinder shall mean a joinder by a Person as a Guarantor under the Loan Documents in the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(1).
Guaranty of any Person shall mean any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any liability or obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any agreement to indemnify or hold harmless any other Person, any performance bond or other suretyship arrangement and any other form of assurance against loss, except endorsement of negotiable or other instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.
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Guaranty Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Continuing Agreement of Guaranty and Suretyship in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(2) executed and delivered by each of the Guarantors.
IDRB Facilities shall mean (i) the $7,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount Variable Rate Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2002 (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Project) of the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority having an outstanding principal balance on the Closing Date in the amount of $1,070,000, and (ii) the $9,000,000 Variable Rate Demand Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Project), Series 2007, of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, having an outstanding principal balance on the Closing Date in the amount of $4,930,000.
Increasing Lender shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.10.
Incremental Term Loans shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.10 [Increase in Commitments and Incremental Term Loans].
Indebtedness shall mean, as to any Person at any time, without duplication, any and all indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or joint or several) of such Person for or in respect of: (i) borrowed money, (ii) amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any note purchase or acceptance credit facility, (iii) reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under any letter of credit agreement, (iv) obligations under any currency swap agreement, interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate management device, (v) any other transaction (including forward sale or purchase agreements, capitalized leases and conditional sales agreements) having the commercial effect of a borrowing of money entered into by such Person to finance its operations or capital requirements (but not including, for purposes of this definition, trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not represented by a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness, nor any obligations or liabilities relating to Fleet Leases), or (vi) any Guaranty of Indebtedness for borrowed money.
Indemnified Taxes shall mean (i) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document, and (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in the preceding clause (i), Other Taxes.
Indemnitee shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower].
Information shall mean all information received from the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries relating to the Loan Parties or any of such 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 non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries, provided that, in the case of information received from the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.
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Initial Term Loans shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.10 [Increase in Commitments and Incremental Term Loans].
Insolvency Proceeding shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) a case, action or proceeding with respect to such Person (i) before any court or any other Official Body under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar Law now or hereafter in effect, or (ii) for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of any Loan Party or otherwise relating to the liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or relief of such Person, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of such Persons creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors; undertaken under any Law.
Intercompany Subordination Agreement shall mean an Amended and Restated Subordination Agreement among the Loan Parties in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1(I) .
Intercreditor Agreement shall mean an amended and restated intercreditor agreement dated as of the Closing Date by and among Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders, the Senior Noteholders (2010), ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V. and the Borrower pursuant to which, inter alia , the parties agree that the Indebtedness under the Loan Documents and the Indebtedness under the Senior Notes (2010) shall be secured on a pari passu basis and that the Administrative Agent shall act as collateral agent with respect to the collateral securing all such Indebtedness.
Interest Period shall mean the period of time selected by the Borrower in connection with (and to apply to) any election permitted hereunder by the Borrower to have Revolving Credit Loans or Term Loans bear interest under the LIBOR Rate Option. Subject to the last sentence of this definition, such period shall be one, two, three or six Months. Such Interest Period shall commence on the effective date of such Interest Rate Option, which shall be (i) the Borrowing Date if the Borrower is requesting new Loans, or (ii) the date of renewal of or conversion to the LIBOR Rate Option if the Borrower is renewing or converting to the LIBOR Rate Option applicable to outstanding Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (A) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a date which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and (B) the Borrower shall not select, convert to or renew an Interest Period for any portion of the Loans that would end after the Expiration Date.
Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an interest rate exchange, collar, cap, swap, adjustable strike cap, adjustable strike corridor or similar agreements entered into by the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries in order to provide protection to, or minimize the impact upon, the Borrower, any Guarantor and/or their Subsidiaries of increasing floating rates of interest applicable to Indebtedness.
Interest Rate Option shall mean any LIBOR Rate Option or Base Rate Option.
IRS shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service.
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Issuing Lender shall mean PNC, in its individual capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, its permitted successors in such capacity hereunder, and any other Lender that Borrower, Administrative Agent and such other Lender may agree may from time to time issue Letters of Credit hereunder. Unless otherwise specified, in respect of any Letter of Credit, Issuing Lender shall refer to the issuing bank which has issued such Letter of Credit.
Joint Bookrunner shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
Joint Lead Arranger shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
Joint Venture shall mean a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement whether in corporate, partnership or other entity; provided that no corporate Subsidiary of any Loan Party shall be considered to be a Joint Venture other than ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V. and ADS Corporativo S.A. de C.V. (each of which shall be considered to be a Joint Venture). For the avoidance of doubt, any Subsidiary of a Joint Venture shall be considered to be a Joint Venture.
Law shall mean any law (including common law), constitution, statute, treaty, regulation, rule, ordinance, opinion, release, ruling, order, injunction, writ, decree, bond, judgment, authorization or approval, lien or award by or settlement agreement with any Official Body.
Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an Interest Rate Hedge which is provided to the Loan Parties by any Lender or its Affiliate and with respect to which the Administrative Agent confirms: (i) is documented in a standard International Swaps and Derivatives Association Agreement, and (ii) provides for the method of calculating the reimbursable amount of the providers credit exposure in a reasonable and customary manner.
Lenders shall mean the financial institutions named on Schedule 1.1(B) and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a Lender. For the purpose of any Loan Document which provides for the granting of a security interest or other Lien to the Lenders or to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders as security for the Obligations, Lenders shall include any Affiliate of a Lender to which such Obligation is owed.
Letter of Credit shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.1 [Issuance of Letters of Credit].
Letter of Credit Borrowing shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Letter of Credit Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees].
Letter of Credit Obligation shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit on such date (if any Letter of Credit shall increase in amount automatically in the future, such aggregate amount available to be drawn shall currently give effect to any such future increase) plus the aggregate, without duplication, of the Reimbursement Obligations and Letter of Credit Borrowings on such date.
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Letter of Credit Sublimit shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.1 [Issuance of Letters of Credit].
Leverage Ratio shall mean ratio of consolidated total Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding (i) any Indebtedness arising from reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under standby Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not exceeding $10,000,000 and (ii) obligations with respect to interest rate swaps, fuel hedges and other commodity hedging arrangements and related marked-to-market liabilities, but including termination obligations arising by reason of the termination or close out of such interest rate swaps, fuel hedges and other commodity hedge arrangements the value of which being determined as of such time of such termination or close out in accordance with the terms of such agreements) to Consolidated EBITDAE, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended.
LIBOR Rate shall mean, with respect to the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies for any Interest Period, the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (the resulting quotient rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1% per annum) (i) the rate which appears on the Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or on such other substitute Bloomberg page that displays rates at which US dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market), or the rate which is quoted by another source selected by the Administrative Agent which has been approved by the British Bankers Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying rates at which US dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market (for purposes of this definition, an Alternate Source ), at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period as the London interbank offered rate for U.S. Dollars for an amount comparable to such Borrowing Tranche and having a borrowing date and a maturity comparable to such Interest Period (or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or any substitute page) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error)), by (ii) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage. LIBOR may also be expressed by the following formula:
London interbank offered rates quoted by Bloomberg | ||
LIBOR Rate = |
or appropriate successor as shown on Bloomberg Page BBAM1 1.00 - LIBOR Reserve Percentage |
The LIBOR Rate shall be adjusted with respect to any Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies that is outstanding on the effective date of any change in the LIBOR Reserve Percentage as of such effective date. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower of the LIBOR Rate as determined or adjusted in accordance herewith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
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LIBOR Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to have Loans bear interest at the rate and under the terms set forth in Section 4.1.1(ii) [Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option] or Section 4.1.2(ii) [Term Loan LIBOR Rate Option], as applicable.
LIBOR Reserve Percentage shall mean the maximum percentage (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1% per annum) as determined by the Administrative Agent as being in effect during the relevant period (i) as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the reserve requirements (including supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve requirements) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency Liabilities ) of a member bank in such system and (ii) to be maintained by a Lender as required for reserve liquidity, special deposit, or a similar purpose by any governmental or monetary authority of any country or political subdivision thereof (including any central bank), against (A) any category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which a LIBOR Rate is to be determined, or (B) any category of extension of credit or other assets that includes Loans or Borrowing Tranches to which a LIBOR Rate applies.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given, including any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of, security and any filed financing statement or other notice of any of the foregoing (whether or not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at the time of the filing).
Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Administrative Agents Letter, the Guaranty Agreement, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement, and any other instruments, certificates or documents delivered in connection herewith or therewith.
Loan Parties shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors; provided, however that Stormtech LLC shall not be a Loan Party for the purposes of Sections 6 [Representations and Warranties] and 8 [Covenants] unless and until such time as StormTech LLC becomes a Material Subsidiary as defined in this Agreement.
Loan Request shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests].
Loans shall mean collectively and Loan shall mean separately all Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Loans, and the Term Loans or any Revolving Credit Loan, Swing Loan or the Term Loan.
Management shall mean the current officers and directors of the Borrower (other than directors which are nominated by the Sponsor) that are serving as of the Closing Date.
Material Adverse Change shall mean any set of circumstances or events which (a) has or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than circumstances or events arising by reason of action or failures to act by the Administrative Agent or a Lender, (b) is or
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could reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to the business, assets, financial condition, results of operations or properties of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (c) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Loan Parties taken as a whole to duly and punctually pay or perform any of the Obligations, or (d) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders, to the extent permitted, to enforce their legal remedies pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than circumstances or events arising by reason of action or failures to act by the Administrative Agent or a Lender.
Material Subsidiary shall mean each Domestic Subsidiary or Canadian Subsidiary of the Borrower which has total assets in excess of 3% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries and Canadian Subsidiaries; provided, that if the consolidated total assets of all Non-Material Subsidiaries shall exceed 10% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall by written notice to the Administrative Agent designate one or more Non-Material Subsidiaries to be Material Subsidiaries to the extent necessary to cause the consolidated total assets of all Non-Material Subsidiaries to be less than 10% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in which event such Non-Material Subsidiary so designated shall thereafter be a Material Subsidiary.
Month , with respect to an Interest Period under the LIBOR Rate Option, shall mean the interval between the days in consecutive calendar months numerically corresponding to the first day of such Interest Period. If any LIBOR Rate Interest Period begins on a day of a calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which such Interest Period is to end, the final month of such Interest Period shall be deemed to end on the last Business Day of such final month.
Multiemployer Plan shall mean any employee pension benefit plan which is a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and to which the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or, within the preceding five plan years, has made or had an obligation to make such contributions.
New Lender shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.10 [Increase in Commitments and Incremental Term Loans].
Non-Consenting Lender shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers].
Non-Material Subsidiaries shall mean any Subsidiary which is not a Material Subsidiary.
Notes shall mean, collectively, the promissory notes in the form of Exhibit 1.1(N)(1) evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans, in the form of Exhibit 1.1(N)(2) evidencing the Swing Loan, and in the form of Exhibit 1.1(N)(3) evidencing the Term Loans.
Obligation shall mean any obligation or liability of any of the Loan Parties, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now
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or hereafter existing, or due or to become due, under or in connection with (i) this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agents Letter or any other Loan Document whether to the Administrative Agent, any of the Lenders or their Affiliates or other persons provided for under such Loan Documents, (ii) any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge and (iii) any Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions in this definition, Obligations shall not include Excluded Swap Obligations.
Offer shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases].
Offer Loans shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases].
Official Body 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) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).
Other Connection Taxes shall mean, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient (or an agent or affiliate thereof) and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product shall mean agreements or other arrangements under which any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender provides any of the following products or services to any of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions, (f) cash management, including overdrafts, controlled disbursement, accounts or services, or (g) foreign currency exchange transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions, and (h) commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts and any other similar transactions.
Other Taxes shall mean all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender]).
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Participant has the meaning specified in Section 11.8.4 [Participations].
Participation Advance shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Payment Date shall mean the first day of each calendar quarter after the date hereof and on the Expiration Date or upon acceleration of the Notes.
Payment In Full or Paid In Full shall mean the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Loans and other Obligations hereunder, termination of the Commitments and expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA or any successor.
Pension Plan shall mean at any time an employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) (including a multiple employer plan as described in Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA, but not a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or is a defined benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(35) of ERISA subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code and either (i) is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.
Permitted Acquisition shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions].
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America maturing in twelve (12) months or less from the date of acquisition;
(ii) commercial paper maturing in 180 days or less rated not lower than A-1, by Standard & Poors or P-1 by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. on the date of acquisition;
(iii) demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit maturing within one year in commercial banks whose obligations are rated A-1, A or the equivalent or better by Standard & Poors on the date of acquisition;
(iv) money market or mutual funds whose investments are limited to those types of investments described in clauses (i)-(iii) above; and
(v) Cash Equivalents.
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Permitted Liens shall mean:
(i) Liens for taxes, assessments, customs duties, or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable;
(ii) Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of workmens compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with workmens compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs;
(iii) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable and Liens of landlords securing obligations to pay lease payments that are not yet due and payable or in default;
(iv) Good-faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in excess of the aggregate amount due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or surety, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the ordinary course of business;
(v) Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements or other restrictions on the use of real property, none of which materially impairs the use of such property or the value thereof, and none of which is violated in any material respect by existing or proposed structures or land use;
(vi) Security interests and other Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent securing the Senior Secured Obligations granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents (including senior notes in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25,000,000 issued after the Closing Date pursuant to the Private Shelf Agreement);
(vii) Any Lien existing on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 1.1(P) , and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that the principal amount secured thereby is not hereafter or thereafter increased, and no additional assets become subject to such Lien;
(viii) Purchase Money Security Interests (including security interests in connection with capitalized leases); provided that the aggregate amount of loans and deferred payments secured by such Purchase Money Security Interests shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding (excluding for the purpose of this computation any loans or deferred payments secured by Liens described on Schedule 1.1(P) );
(ix) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease and covering only the assets so leased and any interest of non-exclusive licensors under license agreements in the ordinary course of business;
(x) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
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(xi) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases of personal property, consignments that are not Purchase Money Security Interests and similar arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(xii) non-exclusive outbound licenses of patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights granted by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any respect with the ordinary conduct of or materially detracting from the value of the business of Borrower or such Subsidiary;
(xiii) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory, contractual or common law provision relating to rights of set-off or similar rights relating to the establishment of depository relations in the ordinary course of business with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness;
(xiv) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;
(xv) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods arising under Article 2 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code in the ordinary course of business securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances and letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods, in any case covering only goods actually sold;
(xvi) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of premiums with respect thereto to the extent permitted hereunder;
(xvii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by any Loan Party as the seller of such goods, and Liens incurred on specific items of inventory identified to any contract with the government of the United States in respect of progress payments received by any Loan Party, in each case as made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of such Loan Party;
(xviii) [Intentionally Omitted]
(xix) Liens on real property, improvements to real property and fixtures of the Loan Parties or Material Subsidiaries to secure Indebtedness of such Loan Party or such Material Subsidiary in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(xx) Liens not to exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding on fixed assets acquired or property of a Subsidiary of the Borrower acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, excluding a Purchase Money Security Interest which secures a payment obligation to the seller of such assets or Subsidiary; provided however (A) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Persons becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower, as the case may be, (B) such Lien shall not attach or apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, and (C) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be;
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(xxi) Liens not otherwise permitted above in this definition securing Indebtedness in an amount not exceeding $25,000,000 at any time outstanding; and
(xxii) The following, (A) if the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted so long as levy and execution thereon have been stayed and continue to be stayed or (B) if a final judgment is entered and such judgment is discharged within thirty (30) days of entry, and in either case they do not affect the Collateral in a material or adverse manner or, in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of any Loan Party to perform its Obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents:
(1) Claims or Liens for taxes, assessments or charges due and payable and subject to interest or penalty; provided that the applicable Loan Party maintains such reserves or other appropriate provisions as shall be required by GAAP and pays all such taxes, assessments or charges forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any such Lien;
(2) Claims, Liens or encumbrances upon, and defects of title to, real or personal property other than the Collateral, including any attachment of personal or real property or other legal process prior to adjudication of a dispute on the merits;
(3) Claims or Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other statutory nonconsensual Liens; or
(4) Liens resulting from final judgments or orders described in Section 9.1.6 [Final Judgments or Orders].
Permitted Refinancing means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided , that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder; (b) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended (except by virtue of amortization of or prepayment of Indebtedness prior to such date of determination); (c) at the time thereof, no Potential Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; (e) the original
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obligors in respect of such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended remain the only obligors thereon; and (f) the terms and conditions of any such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended.
Permitted Transferee shall mean, with respect to the holder of beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Borrower, any person that is (i) a spouse or surviving spouse, descendant or sibling of such holder, any spouse or surviving spouse or descendant of any of these persons, any religious, charitable or educational organization, any trust of which any such holder, or any of these other persons or entities, or any combination thereof, are primary beneficiaries (such holder, any such other person or entity, and each settlor of any such trust, each a Permitted Beneficiary ), (ii) any Permitted Beneficiary of such holder that is a trust (determined, for this purpose, as if any settlor of the trust was the holder of such voting capital stock as of the date of this Agreement), (iii) the estate of any such holder who is an individual, (iv) any Permitted Beneficiary of any such holder as a beneficiary of such holders estate or trust, including without limitation pursuant to applicable will, trust or contract provision or applicable law, (v) in the case of a holder that is a trust, any current or former employee of the Borrower as a beneficiary of the trust, (vi) in the case of a holder that is a partnership, limited liability company or other entity, any one or more partners, members or other owners of such entity as of the date of this Agreement or to any Permitted Beneficiary of any such partner, member or other owner, or (vii) in the case of the ESOP, any person that receives distribution of shares of Voting Stock from the ESOP as a result of the termination of the ESOP or the retirement of such person, including in each such case, any such Person that received such Persons beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Borrower from such holder prior to the Closing Date.
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, government or political subdivision or agency thereof, or any other entity.
Pledge Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(P) executed and delivered by each of the Loan Parties to the Collateral Agent as security for the Senior Secured Obligations pursuant to which each Loan Party pledges, inter alia , (i) all the outstanding ownership interests held by each such Loan Party in any Domestic Subsidiary other than a Domestic Subsidiary that is a Foreign Holding Company, and (ii) sixty-five percent (65%) of the outstanding ownership interests held by each such Loan Party in any first tier Foreign Subsidiary owned directly by such Loan Party.
PNC shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, its successors and assigns.
Potential Default shall mean any event or condition which with notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Prime Rate shall mean the interest rate per annum announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent at its Principal Office as its then prime rate, which rate may not be
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the lowest or most favorable rate then being charged commercial borrowers or others by the Administrative Agent. Any change in the Prime Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day such change is announced.
Principal Office shall mean the main banking office of the Administrative Agent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Prior Security Interest shall mean a valid and enforceable perfected first-priority security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code in the Collateral which is subject only to Liens of the type described in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), (vii), (viii), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv), (xvii), (xx) and (xxii)(1) and (3) of the definition of Permitted Liens.
Private Shelf Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated as of September 24, 2010, as the same may be amended from time to time, relating to the Borrowers Senior Notes (2010).
Public Market shall exist if (a) a Public Offering has been consummated and (b) any Equity Interests of the Borrower have been distributed by means of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
Public Offering shall mean a public offering of the Equity Interests of the Borrower pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
Published Rate shall mean the rate of interest published each Business Day in The Wall Street Journal Money Rates listing under the caption London Interbank Offered Rates for a one month period (or, if no such rate is published therein for any reason, then the Published Rate shall be the rate at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market for a one month period as published in another publication selected by the Administrative Agent).
Purchase Money Security Interest shall mean Liens (including security interests in connection with capitalized leases) upon tangible personal property securing loans to any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party or deferred payments by such Loan Party or Subsidiary for the purchase of such tangible personal property.
Ratable Share shall mean
(i) with respect to a Lenders obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans, participate in Letters of Credit and other Letter of Credit Obligations, and receive payments, interest, and fees related thereto, the proportion that such Lenders Revolving Credit Commitment bears to the Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders, provided however that if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, such Ratable Share shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
(ii) with respect to a Lenders obligation to make Term Loans and receive payments, interest, and fees related thereto, the proportion that such Lenders Term Loans bears to the Term Loans of all of the Lenders, provided however that if the Term Loans have not yet been funded, the computation in this clause shall be determined based upon the Term Loan Commitments of the Lenders and not the amount of their Term Loans.
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(iii) with respect to all other matters as to a particular Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lenders Revolving Credit Commitment plus Term Loan, by (ii) the sum of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments plus Term Loans of all Lenders; provided however that if that if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the computation in this clause shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments, and not on the current amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments and provided further that if the Term Loans have not yet been funded, the computation in this clause shall be determined based upon the Term Loan Commitments and not the current amount of the Term Loans; and provided further, in the case of Section 2.11 [Defaulting Lenders] when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, Ratable Share shall mean the percentage of the aggregate Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lenders Commitment) represented by such Lenders Commitment.
Recipient shall mean (i) the Administrative Agent, (ii) any Lender and (iii) the Issuing Lender, as applicable.
Reimbursement Obligation shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Related Investor shall mean the University of Notre Dame.
Related Parties shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Persons Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Persons Affiliates.
Relief Proceeding shall mean any proceeding seeking a decree or order for relief in respect of any Person in a voluntary or involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of any Person for any substantial part of its property, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, or an assignment for the benefit of its creditors.
Reportable Compliance Event shall mean any Covered Entity becomes a Sanctioned Person, or is indicted, arraigned, subject to formal investigation or custodially detained, or receives a subpeona or other formal request for information from regulatory or law enforcement officials, in connection with any Anti-Terrorism Law or any predicate crime to any Anti-Terrorism Law, or self-discovers facts or circumstances to the effect that it is reasonably likely that an aspect of its operations are in actual or probable violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law.
Required Lenders means, at any time, Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) whose Ratable Share in the aggregate exceeds 50% as determined pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Ratable Share.
Required Share shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11 [Settlement Date Procedures].
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Revolving Credit Commitment shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount initially set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1.1(B) in the column labeled Amount of Commitment for Revolving Credit Loans, as such Commitment is thereafter assigned or modified and Revolving Credit Commitments shall mean the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders.
Revolving Credit Loans shall mean collectively and Revolving Credit Loan shall mean separately all Revolving Credit Loans or any Revolving Credit Loan made by the Lenders or one of the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments] or 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Revolving Facility Usage shall mean at any time the sum of the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, the outstanding Swing Loans, and the Letter of Credit Obligations.
Sanctioned Country means a country subject to a sanctions program maintained by any Compliance Authority.
Sanctioned Person means any individual person, group, regime, entity or thing listed or otherwise recognized as a specially designated, prohibited, sanctioned or debarred person or entity, or subject to any limitations or prohibitions (including but not limited to the blocking of property or rejection of transactions), under any order or directive of any Compliance Authority or otherwise subject to, or specially designated under, any sanctions program maintained by any Compliance Authority.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder, which shall be in effect from time to time.
Security Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Security Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(S) executed and delivered by each of the Loan Parties to the Collateral Agent as security for the Senior Secured Obligations.
Senior Noteholders (2010) shall mean the holders of the Senior Notes (2010).
Senior Notes (2010) shall mean the Borrowers 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018 in the original aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 issued pursuant to the Private Shelf Agreement.
Senior Secured Obligations shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.
Settlement Date shall mean the Business Day on which the Administrative Agent elects to effect settlement pursuant Section 5.11 [Settlement Date Procedures].
Solvent shall mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, taking into account rights of reimbursement, contribution or similar rights in respect of obligations for which such Person has provided a Guaranty or are otherwise available to such
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Person from other Persons, that on such date (i) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (iv) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Persons ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (v) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Persons property would constitute unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
Sponsor shall mean American Securities LLC or any of its Affiliates (but excluding any operating portfolio companies of the foregoing).
Sponsor Affiliated Lender shall mean the Sponsor in its capacity as a Lender hereunder.
Standard & Poors shall mean Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Statements shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.6(i) [Historical Statements].
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any Person, at the time of determination, any corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity: (i) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies thereof is at such time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries or (ii) which is at such time controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries; provided that in determining the percentage of ownership interest of any Person , no ownership interest in the nature of a qualifying share of any such corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity shall be deemed outstanding; provided further , so long as no Loan Party owns more than 51.0% of the total voting power of ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V. or ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V., respectively, each such entity shall not constitute a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement and in no event shall any Subsidiary thereof constitute a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement.
Subsidiary Equity Interests shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.2 [Subsidiaries and Owners; Investment Companies].
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Swap Obligation shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation 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.
Swing Loan Commitment shall mean PNCs commitment to make Swing Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment] hereof in an aggregate principal amount up to $20,000,000.
Swing Loan Note shall mean the Swing Loan Note of the Borrower in the form of Exhibit 1.1(N)(2) evidencing the Swing Loans, together with all amendments, extensions, renewals, replacements, refinancings or refundings thereof in whole or in part.
Swing Loan Request shall mean a request for Swing Loans made in accordance with Section 2.5.2 [Swing Loan Requests] hereof.
Swing Loans shall mean collectively and Swing Loan shall mean separately all Swing Loans or any Swing Loan made by PNC to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment] hereof.
Taxes shall mean all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Official Body, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Term Lender shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases].
Term Loan shall mean collectively, and Term Loan shall mean separately, all Term Loans, any Term Loan made by the Term Loan Lenders or one of the Term Loan Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.1 [Term Loans] or any Incremental Term Loans made by any Lender or New Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10 [Increase in Commitments and Incremental Term Loans].
Term Loan Commitment shall mean as to any Lender at any time, the amount initially set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1.1(B) in the column labeled Amount of Commitment for Term Loans, as such Commitment is thereafter assigned or modified and Term Loan Commitments shall mean the aggregate Term Loan Commitments of all of the Lenders.
Transaction shall mean the transaction pursuant to which (i) existing Indebtedness is being refinanced and (ii) the facility evidenced hereby is being made available to Borrower.
UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Ohio on the date hereof and as amended from time to time, except to the extent that the conflict of law rules of such Uniform Commercial Code shall apply the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in any other state to specific property or other matters.
USA Patriot Act shall mean the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.
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U.S. Person shall mean any Person that is a United States Person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders].
Voting Stock shall mean, with respect to any corporation, any shares of stock of such corporation whose holders are entitled under ordinary circumstances to vote for the election of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
Weighted Average Life to Maturity shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) 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 thereof, 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 (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
Withholding Agent shall mean any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.
Yield Differential shall mean, with respect to any Incremental Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.10 [Increase in Commitments and Incremental Term Loans], (i) the Effective Yield applicable to such Incremental Term Loans minus (ii) the Effective Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans minus (iii) 50 basis points.
1.2 Construction. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires, the following rules of construction shall apply to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents: (i) references to the plural include the singular, the plural, the part and the whole and the words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation; (ii) the words hereof, herein, hereunder, hereto and similar terms in this Agreement or any other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document as a whole; (iii) article, section, subsection, clause, schedule and exhibit references are to this Agreement or other Loan Document, as the case may be, unless otherwise specified; (iv) reference to any Person includes such Persons successors and assigns; (v) reference to any agreement, including this Agreement and any other Loan Document together with the schedules and exhibits hereto or thereto, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended, modified, replaced, substituted for, superseded or restated; (vi) relative to the determination of any period of time, from means from and including, to means to but excluding, and through means through and including; (vii) 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, (viii) section headings herein and in each other Loan Document are included for convenience and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or such Loan Document, and (ix) unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern Time .
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1.3 Accounting Principles. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all computations and determinations as to accounting or financial matters and all financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation where appropriate), and all accounting or financial terms shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms by GAAP; provided , however , that all accounting terms used in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] (and all defined terms used in the definition of any accounting term used in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] shall have the meaning given to such terms (and defined terms) under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof applied on a basis consistent with those used in preparing Statements referred to in Section 6.1.6(i) [Historical Statements]. In the event of any change after the date hereof in GAAP, and if such change would affect the computation of any of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] or would affect the Loan Parties compliance with the negative covenant set forth in Section 8.2.2 [Liens; Lien Covenants] (including, without limitation, the accounting treatment of the Fleet Leases pursuant to GAAP as in effect on the date hereof), then the parties hereto agree to endeavor, in good faith, to agree upon an amendment to this Agreement that would adjust such financial covenants or other negative covenant in a manner that would preserve the original intent thereof, but would allow compliance therewith to be determined in accordance with the Borrowers financial statements at that time, provided that , until so amended such financial covenants shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein.
2. REVOLVING CREDIT AND SWING LOAN FACILITIES
2.1 Revolving Credit Commitments.
2.1.1 Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower at any time or from time to time on or after the date hereof to the Expiration Date; provided that after giving effect to each such Loan (i) the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Loans from such Lender shall not exceed such Lenders Revolving Credit Commitment minus such Lenders Ratable Share of the Letter of Credit Obligations and outstanding Swing Loans, and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments. Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.
2.1.2 Swing Loan Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, and in order to facilitate loans and repayments between Settlement Dates, PNC may, at its option, cancelable at any time for any reason whatsoever, make swing loans (the Swing Loans ) to the Borrower at any time or from time to time after the date hereof to, but not including, the Expiration Date, in an aggregate principal amount up to but not in excess of the Swing Loan Commitment, provided that after giving effect to such Loan, the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments. Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.2.
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2.1.3 Reduction in Revolving Credit Commitment. The Borrower shall have the right at any time after the Closing Date upon five (5) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent to permanently reduce (ratably among the Lenders in proportion to their Ratable Shares) the Revolving Credit Commitments, in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and whole multiples of $1,000,000, or to terminate completely the Revolving Credit Commitments, without penalty or premium except as hereinafter set forth; provided that any such reduction or termination shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Notes, together with outstanding Commitment Fees, and the full amount of interest accrued on the principal sum to be prepaid (and all amounts referred to in Section 5.10 [Indemnity] hereof) to the extent necessary to cause the aggregate Revolving Facility Usage after giving effect to such prepayments to be equal to or less than the Revolving Credit Commitments as so reduced or terminated. Any notice to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.1.3 shall be irrevocable.
2.2 Nature of Lenders Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans. Each Lender shall be obligated to participate in each request for Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests] in accordance with its Ratable Share. The aggregate of each Lenders Revolving Credit Loans outstanding hereunder to the Borrower at any time shall never exceed its Revolving Credit Commitment minus its Ratable Share of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations. The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several. The failure of any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall not affect the Obligations of the Borrower to any other party nor shall any other party be liable for the failure of such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder. The Lenders shall have no obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder on or after the Expiration Date.
2.3 Commitment Fees. Accruing from the Closing Date until the Expiration Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender according to its Ratable Share, a nonrefundable commitment fee (the Commitment Fee ) equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) multiplied by the average daily difference between the amount of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments (for purposes of this computation, PNCs Swing Loans shall be deemed to be borrowed amounts under its Revolving Credit Commitment) and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage; provided , however , that any Commitment Fee accrued with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrower so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender except to the extent that such Commitment Fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrower prior to such time; and provided further that no Commitment Fee shall accrue with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. Subject to the proviso in the directly preceding sentence, all Commitment Fees shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date.
2.4 Intentionally Omitted.
2.5 Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests.
2.5.1 Revolving Credit Loan Requests . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request the Lenders to make
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Revolving Credit Loans, or renew or convert the Interest Rate Option applicable to existing Revolving Credit Loans or Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], by delivering to the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Revolving Credit Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies or the conversion to or the renewal of the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans; and (ii) the same Business Day of the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of a Revolving Credit Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies or the last day of the preceding Interest Period with respect to the conversion to the Base Rate Option for any Loan, of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5.1 or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex in such form (each, a Loan Request ), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the aggregate amount of the proposed Loans comprising each Borrowing Tranche, and, if applicable, the Interest Period, which amounts shall be in (x) integral multiples of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000 for each Borrowing Tranche under the LIBOR Rate Option, and (y) integral multiples of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 for each Borrowing Tranche under the Base Rate Option.
2.5.2 Swing Loan Requests . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request PNC to make Swing Loans by delivery to PNC not later than 12:00 noon on the proposed Borrowing Date of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5.2 hereto or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex (each, a Swing Loan Request ), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Swing Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed Borrowing Date and the principal amount of such Swing Loan, which shall be not less than $100,000.
2.6 Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans.
2.6.1 Making Revolving Credit Loans. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly after receipt by it of a Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests], notify the Lenders of its receipt of such Loan Request specifying the information provided by the Borrower and the apportionment among the Lenders of the requested Revolving Credit Loans as determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.2 [Nature of Lenders Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans]. Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan to the Administrative Agent such that the Administrative Agent is able to, and the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose and subject to Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit], fund such Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 2:00 p.m., on the applicable Borrowing Date; provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Administrative Agent in a timely manner, the Administrative Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender on such Borrowing Date, and such Lender shall be subject to the repayment obligation in Section 2.6.2 [Presumptions by the Administrative Agent].
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2.6.2 Presumptions by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Loan that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Loan, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.6.1 [Making Revolving Credit Loans] and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Loan available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Loans under the Base Rate Option. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Loan to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders Loan. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
2.6.3 Making Swing Loans . So long as PNC elects to make Swing Loans, PNC shall, after receipt by it of a Swing Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5.2 [Swing Loan Requests], fund such Swing Loan to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 4:00 oclock p.m. on the Borrowing Date.
2.6.4 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay the Revolving Credit Loans together with all outstanding interest thereon on the Expiration Date.
2.6.5 Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans . PNC may, at its option, exercisable at any time for any reason whatsoever, demand repayment of the Swing Loans, and each Lender shall make a Revolving Credit Loan in an amount equal to such Lenders Ratable Share of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Swing Loans, plus, if PNC so requests, accrued interest thereon, provided that no Lender shall be obligated in any event to make Revolving Credit Loans in excess of its Revolving Credit Commitment minus its Ratable Share of Letter of Credit Obligations. Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall bear interest at the Base Rate Option and shall be deemed to have been properly requested in accordance with Section 2.5.1 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests] without regard to any of the requirements of that provision. PNC shall provide notice to the Lenders (which may be telephonic or written notice by letter, facsimile or telex) that such Revolving Credit Loans are to be made under this Section 2.6.5 and of the apportionment among the Lenders, and the Lenders shall be unconditionally obligated to fund such Revolving Credit Loans (whether or not the conditions specified in Section 2.5.1 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests] are then satisfied) by the time PNC so requests, which shall not be earlier than 3:00 p.m. on the Business Day next after the date the Lenders receive such notice from PNC.
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2.7 Notes. If so requested by any Lender by written notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) prior to the Closing Date, or at any time thereafter, the Obligation of the Borrower to repay the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Loans and Term Loans made to it by each Lender, together with interest thereon, shall be evidenced by a revolving credit Note, a swing Note and a term Note, dated the Closing Date payable to the order of such Lender in a face amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment, Swing Loan Commitment or Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, of such Lender. Such Note shall be executed on the Closing Date with respect to requests made prior to the Closing Date and shall be executed within two (2) Business Days after request with respect to requests made after the Closing Date.
2.8 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used (i) for the repurchase of capital stock of the Borrower, (ii) to finance the fees associated with the transactions contemplated hereunder; (iii) to refinance existing Indebtedness of the Borrower; and (iv) to provide for the ongoing working capital and capital expenditure needs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (v) to finance Permitted Acquisitions and Capital Distributions permitted under Section 8.2.5 [Dividends and Related Distributions], and for general corporate purposes of the Loan Parties.
2.9 Letter of Credit Subfacility.
2.9.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit. Borrower may at any time prior to the Expiration Date request the issuance of a standby or trade letter of credit (each a Letter of Credit ) on behalf of itself, another Loan Party or a Subsidiary, or the amendment or extension of an existing Letter of Credit, by delivering or having such other Loan Party deliver to the Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a completed application and agreement for letters of credit, or request for such amendment or extension, as applicable, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time by no later than 10:00 a.m. at least five (5) Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Issuing Lender, in advance of the proposed date of issuance. In the event that a Letter of Credit is requested on behalf of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, the applicant or co-applicant shall be either Borrower or another Loan Party. Promptly after receipt of any letter of credit application, the Issuing Lender shall confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit application and if not, such Issuing Lender will provide Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the Issuing Lender has received notice from any Lender, Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one day prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] is not satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.9, the Issuing Lender or any of the Issuing Lenders Affiliates will issue a Letter of Credit or agree to such amendment or extension, provided that each Letter of Credit shall (A) have a maximum maturity of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance, and (B) in no event expire later than the Expiration Date and provided further that in no event shall (i) the Letter of Credit Obligations exceed, at any one time, $15,000,000 (the Letter of Credit Sublimit ) or (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage exceed, at any one time, the Revolving Credit Commitments. Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable Issuing Lender will also deliver to Borrower and Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
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From and after the Closing Date, the letters of credit issued by PNC under the Existing Credit Agreement which are set forth on Schedule 2.8 (the Existing Letters of Credit ) shall be deemed to have been issued under this Agreement and shall each constitute a Letter of Credit in all respects for purposes of this Agreement. On the Closing Date, each Lender, other than PNC, shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from PNC as Issuing Bank a participation in such Existing Letter of Credit and each drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Lenders Ratable Share of the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Existing Letter of Credit and the amount of such drawing, respectively. The provisions of Section 2.9.7 shall apply to the Existing Letters of Credit, including with respect to any drawing thereunder, mutatis mutandis.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, no Issuing Lender shall be required to issue any Letter of Credit, if any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless such Issuing Lender is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto (it being understood that the Issuing Lender would consider the Borrower or such Defaulting Lender providing cash collateral to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Lender, to secure the Defaulting Lenders Ratable Share of the Letter of Credit, a satisfactory arrangement).
2.9.2 Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrower shall pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders a fee (the Letter of Credit Fee ) equal to the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate, and (ii) to the Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum (in each case computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed), which fees shall be computed on the daily average Letter of Credit Obligations (other than Letter of Credit Borrowings) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Payment Date following issuance of each Letter of Credit. The Borrower shall also pay to the Issuing Lender for the Issuing Lenders sole account the Issuing Lenders then in effect customary fees and administrative expenses payable with respect to the Letters of Credit as the Issuing Lender may generally charge or incur from time to time in connection with the issuance, maintenance, amendment (if any), assignment or transfer (if any), negotiation, and administration of Letters of Credit.
2.9.3 Disbursements, Reimbursement . Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Issuing Lender a participation in such Letter of Credit and each drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Lenders Ratable Share of the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and the amount of such drawing, respectively.
2.9.3.1 In the event of any request for a drawing under a Letter of Credit by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, the Issuing Lender will promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Provided that it shall have received such notice, the Borrower shall reimburse (such obligation to reimburse the Issuing Lender shall sometimes be referred to as a Reimbursement Obligation ) the Issuing Lender either with funds other than proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans prior to 12:00 noon on each date that an amount is paid by the Issuing
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Lender under any Letter of Credit (each such date, a Drawing Date ) by paying to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount equal to the amount so paid by the Issuing Lender or with proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.9.3.1. In the event the Borrower elects not to so reimburse the Issuing Lender (through the Administrative Agent) directly for the full amount of any drawing under any Letter of Credit by 12:00 noon on the Drawing Date, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender thereof, and the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that Revolving Credit Loans be made by the Lenders under the Base Rate Option to be disbursed on the Drawing Date under such Letter of Credit, subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements. Any notice given by the Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.9.3.1 may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
2.9.3.2 Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.9.3.1 make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount in immediately available funds equal to its Ratable Share of the amount of the drawing, whereupon the participating Lenders shall (subject to Section 2.9.3 [Disbursement; Reimbursement]) each be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in that amount. If any Lender so notified fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of such Lenders Ratable Share of such amount by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the Drawing Date, then interest shall accrue on such Lenders obligation to make such payment, from the Drawing Date to the date on which such Lender makes such payment (i) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate during the first three (3) days following the Drawing Date and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to the rate applicable to Loans under the Base Rate Option applicable to Revolving Credit Loans on and after the fourth day following the Drawing Date. The Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender will promptly give notice (as described in Section 2.9.3.1 above) of the occurrence of the Drawing Date, but failure of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender to give any such notice on the Drawing Date or in sufficient time to enable any Lender to effect such payment on such date shall not relieve such Lender from its obligation under this Section 2.9.3.2.
2.9.3.3 With respect to any unreimbursed drawing that is not converted into Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in whole or in part as contemplated by Section 2.9.3.1, because of the Borrowers failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements, or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the Issuing Lender a borrowing (each a Letter of Credit Borrowing ) in the amount of such drawing. Such Letter of Credit Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the rate per annum applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option. Each Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement] shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of its participation in such Letter of Credit Borrowing (each a Participation Advance ) from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.9.3.
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2.9.4 Repayment of Participation Advances.
2.9.4.1 Upon (and only upon) receipt by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender of immediately available funds from the Borrower (i) in reimbursement of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under the Letter of Credit with respect to which any Lender has made a Participation Advance to the Administrative Agent, or (ii) in payment of interest on such a payment made by the Issuing Lender under such a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Issuing Lender will pay to each Lender, in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent, the amount of such Lenders Ratable Share of such funds, except the Administrative Agent shall retain for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of the Ratable Share of such funds of any Lender that did not make a Participation Advance in respect of such payment by the Issuing Lender.
2.9.4.2 If the Administrative Agent is required at any time to return to any Loan Party, or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian, or any official in any Insolvency Proceeding, any portion of any payment made by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section in reimbursement of a payment made under the Letter of Credit or interest or fee thereon, each Lender shall, on demand of the Administrative Agent, forthwith return to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of its Ratable Share of any amounts so returned by the Administrative Agent plus interest thereon from the date such demand is made to the date such amounts are returned by such Lender to the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect from time to time.
2.9.5 Documentation. Each Loan Party agrees to be bound by the terms of the Issuing Lenders application and agreement for letters of credit and the Issuing Lenders written regulations and customary practices relating to letters of credit, though such interpretation may be different from such Loan Partys own. In the event of a conflict between such application or agreement and this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern. It is understood and agreed that, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error, negligence and/or mistakes, whether of omission or commission, in following any Loan Partys instructions or those contained in the Letters of Credit or any modifications, amendments or supplements thereto.
2.9.6 Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests. In determining whether to honor any request for drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the Issuing Lender shall be responsible only to determine that the documents and certificates required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit.
2.9.7 Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations. Each Lenders obligation in accordance with this Agreement to make the Revolving Credit Loans or Participation Advances, as contemplated by Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement], as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit, and the Obligations of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender upon a draw under a Letter of Credit, shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.9 under all circumstances, including the following circumstances:
(i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, or which any Loan Party may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, any Lender or any other Person for any reason whatsoever;
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(ii) the failure of any Loan Party or any other Person to comply, in connection with a Letter of Credit Borrowing, with the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments], 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests], 2.6 [Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Etc.] or 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement for the making of a Revolving Credit Loan, it being acknowledged that such conditions are not required for the making of a Letter of Credit Borrowing and the obligation of the Lenders to make Participation Advances under Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement];
(iii) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;
(iv) any claim of breach of warranty that might be made by any Loan Party or any Lender against any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit, or the existence of any claim, set-off, recoupment, counterclaim, crossclaim, defense or other right which any Loan Party or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary, successor beneficiary any transferee or assignee of any Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates or any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between any Loan Party or Subsidiaries of a Loan Party and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured);
(v) the lack of power or authority of any signer of (or any defect in or forgery of any signature or endorsement on) or the form of or lack of validity, sufficiency, accuracy, enforceability or genuineness of any draft, demand, instrument, certificate or other document presented under or in connection with any Letter of Credit, or any fraud or alleged fraud in connection with any Letter of Credit, or the transport of any property or provision of services relating to a Letter of Credit, in each case even if the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates has been notified thereof;
(vi) payment by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document which does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;
(vii) the solvency of, or any acts or omissions by, any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or any other Person having a role in any transaction or obligation relating to a Letter of Credit, or the existence, nature, quality, quantity, condition, value or other characteristic of any property or services relating to a Letter of Credit;
(viii) any failure by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates to issue any Letter of Credit in the form requested by any Loan Party, unless the Issuing Lender has received written notice from such Loan Party of such failure within three Business Days after the
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Issuing Lender shall have furnished such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent a copy of such Letter of Credit and such error is material and no drawing has been made thereon prior to receipt of such notice;
(ix) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Loan Party or Subsidiaries of a Loan Party;
(x) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any party thereto;
(xi) the occurrence or continuance of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to any Loan Party;
(xii) the fact that an Event of Default or a Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(xiii) the fact that the Expiration Date shall have passed or this Agreement or the Commitments hereunder shall have been terminated; and
(xiv) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
2.9.8 Indemnity. The Borrower hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and save harmless the Issuing Lender and any of its Affiliates that has issued a Letter of Credit from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, taxes, penalties, interest, judgments, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel and allocated costs of internal counsel) which the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of the issuance of any Letter of Credit, other than as a result of (A) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Lender as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the wrongful dishonor by the Issuing Lender or any of Issuing Lenders Affiliates of a proper demand for payment made under any Letter of Credit, except if such dishonor resulted from any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Official Body.
2.9.9 Liability for Acts and Omissions. As between any Loan Party and the Issuing Lender, or the Issuing Lenders Affiliates, such Loan Party assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for any of the following, including any losses or damages to any Loan Party or other Person or property relating therefrom: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for an issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged (even if the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates shall have been notified thereof); (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) the failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of
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Credit, or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred, to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit or any other claim of any Loan Party against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit, or any such transferee, or any dispute between or among any Loan Party and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any such transferee; (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 any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates, as applicable, including any act or omission of any Official Body, and none of the above shall affect or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of the Issuing Lenders or its Affiliates rights or powers hereunder. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall relieve the Issuing Lender from liability for the Issuing Lenders gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with actions or omissions described in such clauses (i) through (viii) of such sentence. In no event shall the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates be liable to any Loan Party for any indirect, consequential, incidental, punitive, exemplary or special damages.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender and each of its Affiliates (i) may rely on any oral or other communication believed in good faith by the Issuing Lender or such Affiliate to have been authorized or given by or on behalf of the applicant for a Letter of Credit, (ii) may honor any presentation if the documents presented appear on their face substantially to comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant Letter of Credit; (iii) may honor a previously dishonored presentation under a Letter of Credit, whether such dishonor was pursuant to a court order, to settle or compromise any claim of wrongful dishonor, or otherwise, and shall be entitled to reimbursement to the same extent as if such presentation had initially been honored, together with any interest paid by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate; (iv) may honor any drawing that is payable upon presentation of a statement advising negotiation or payment, upon receipt of such statement (even if such statement indicates that a draft or other document is being delivered separately), and shall not be liable for any failure of any such draft or other document to arrive, or to conform in any way with the relevant Letter of Credit; (v) may pay any paying or negotiating bank claiming that it rightfully honored under the laws or practices of the place where such bank is located; and (vi) may settle or adjust any claim or demand made on the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate in any way related to any order issued at the applicants request to an air carrier, a letter of guarantee or of indemnity issued to a carrier or any similar document (each an Order ) and honor any drawing in connection with any Letter of Credit that is the subject of such Order, notwithstanding that any drafts or other documents presented in connection with such Letter of Credit fail to conform in any way with such Letter of Credit.
In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions set forth above, any action taken or omitted by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under or in connection with the Letters of Credit issued by it or any documents and certificates delivered thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not put the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under any resulting liability to the Borrower or any Lender absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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2.9.10 Issuing Lender Reporting Requirements. Each Issuing Lender shall, on the first Business Day of each month, provide to Administrative Agent and Borrower a schedule of the Letters of Credit issued by it, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, showing the date of issuance of each Letter of Credit, the account party, the original face amount (if any), and the expiration date of any Letter of Credit outstanding at any time during the preceding month, and any other information relating to such Letter of Credit that the Administrative Agent may request.
2.10 Increase in Commitments and Incremental Term Loans.
(i) Increasing Lenders and New Lenders . The Borrower may, at any time following the Closing Date, request that (1) the current Lenders increase their Revolving Credit Commitments, (2) one or more new lenders (each a New Lender ) join this Agreement and provide a Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, (3) the current Lenders and/or one or more New Lenders participate in an increase of Term Loan Commitments or (4) the current Lenders and/or one or more New Lenders join this Agreement and provide one or more additional tranches of Term Loans (the Incremental Term Loans ), subject to the following terms and conditions (any current Lender which elects to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, shall be referred to as an Increasing Lender ):
(A) No Obligation to Increase . No current Lender shall be obligated to (x) increase its Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment and any increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment by any current Lender shall be in the sole discretion of such current Lender or (y) provide Incremental Term Loans and any Incremental Term Loans provided by any current Lender shall be in the sole discretion of such current Lender.
(B) Defaults . There shall exist no Events of Default or Potential Default on the effective date of such increase after giving effect to such increase.
(C) Maximum Amount of Increases and Aggregate Credit Commitments . The Borrower may request up to 4 separate increases of the Revolving Credit Commitments, increases of the Term Loan Commitments or incurrences of Incremental Term Loans issued pursuant to this Section (the New Tranche of Term Loan Commitments), so long as after giving effect to such increase, (i) the sum of the total aggregate increase to the Revolving Credit Commitments plus the total aggregate increase to the Term Loan Commitments does not exceed $50,000,000 and (ii) the sum of the total aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and the aggregate Term Loan Commitments (including any Incremental Term Loans), does not exceed $475,000,000.
(D) Minimum Revolving Credit Commitments . After giving effect to such increase, the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments provided by each of the New Lenders and each of the Increasing Lenders shall be at least $10,000,000.
(E) Terms of Incremental Term Loans . (i) the Incremental Term Loans (A) shall rank pari passu in right of payment and of security with the initial Term Loans incurred on the
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Closing Date (the Initial Term Loans ), (B) shall not mature earlier than the Initial Term Loans, (C) shall not have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity than the Initial Term Loans and (D) shall have an amortization schedule (subject to clause (C) above), and interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and prepayment premiums as determined by the Borrower and the lenders subject to clause (ii) below; and
(ii) If the Effective Yield applicable to Incremental Term Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.10 exceeds the Effective Yield for the Initial Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.3.1 by more than 50 basis points, then the interest rates applicable to the Initial Term Loans set forth in Section 4 shall increase by the Yield Differential (it being understood and agreed that any increase in the interest rates payable pursuant to Section 4 that is required under this clause (ii) may, as determined by the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, (x) take the form of interest rate increases or fees, with any such fees being equated to such interest margins in a manner determined by the Administrative Agent or (y) be accomplished by a combination of an increase in the weighted average interest rates and fees).
(A) Resolutions; Opinion . The Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on or before the effective date of such increase the following documents in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent: (1) certifications of their corporate secretaries with attached resolutions certifying that the applicable increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment or incurrence of Incremental Term Loans has been approved by such Loan Parties, and (2) an opinion of counsel addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders addressing the authorization and execution of the Loan Documents by, and enforceability of the Loan Documents against, the Loan Parties.
(B) Notes . The Borrower shall (at the request of any such Lender) execute and deliver (1) to each Increasing Lender a replacement revolving credit Note or term note reflecting the new amount of such Increasing Lenders Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment, as applicable after giving effect to the increase (and the prior Note issued to such Increasing Lender shall be deemed to be terminated) and (2) to each New Lender a revolving credit Note or term note reflecting the amount of such New Lenders Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment.
(C) Approval of New Lenders . Any New Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent.
(D) Increasing Lenders . Each Increasing Lender shall confirm its agreement to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment pursuant to an acknowledgement in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent, signed by it and the Borrower and delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) days before the effective date of such increase.
(E) New LendersJoinder . Each New Lender shall execute a lender joinder in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.10 pursuant to which such New Lender shall join and become a party to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with a Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment in the amount set forth in such lender joinder.
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(F) Amendment . Incremental Term Loans shall be effected by an amendment to this Agreement setting forth the terms of the Incremental Term Loans executed by (x) the Administrative Agent, (y) each Lender or New Lender agreeing to provide any portion of such Incremental Term Loan and (z) the Loan Parties, as reaffirmations of the Loan Documents executed by the Loan Parties, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Such amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.10.
(iii) Treatment of Outstanding Loans and Letters of Credit.
(A) Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans . On the effective date of such increase, the Borrower shall repay all Loans then outstanding, subject to the Borrowers indemnity obligations under Section 5.10 [Indemnity]; provided that it may borrow new Loans with a Borrowing Date on such date. Each of the Lenders shall participate in any new Loans made on or after such date in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares after giving effect to the increase in Revolving Credit Commitments contemplated by this Section 2.5.
(B) Outstanding Letters of Credit; Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans . On the effective date of such increase, each Increasing Lender and each New Lender (i) will be deemed to have purchased a participation in each then outstanding Letter of Credit equal to its Ratable Share of such Letter of Credit and the participation of each other Lender in such Letter of Credit shall be adjusted accordingly and (ii) will acquire, (and will pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, in immediately available funds, an amount equal to) its Ratable Share of all outstanding Participation Advances.
2.11 Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(i) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.3 [Commitment Fees];
(ii) the Commitment and outstanding Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers]); provided, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;
(iii) if any Swing Loans are outstanding or any Letter of Credit Obligations exist at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then:
(A) all or any part of the Fronting Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares but only to the extent that (x) the Revolving Facility Usage does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Credit Commitments, and (y) no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time;
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(B) if the reallocation described in clause (a) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first , prepay such outstanding Swing Loans, and (y) second , cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Lender the Borrowers obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (a) above) in a deposit account held at the Administrative Agent for so long as such Letter of Credit Obligations are outstanding;
(C) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations pursuant to clause (b) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] with respect to such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations during the period such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations are cash collateralized;
(D) if the Letter of Credit Obligations of the non-Defaulting Lenders are reallocated pursuant to clause (a) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders Ratable Share; and
(E) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations are neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Lender or any other Lender hereunder, all Letter of Credit Fees payable under Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] with respect to such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations shall be payable to the Issuing Lender (and not to such Defaulting Lender) until and to the extent that such Letter of Credit Obligations are reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and
(iv) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, PNC shall not be required to fund any Swing Loans and the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless PNC or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a parent company of any Lender shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue, or (ii) PNC or the Issuing Lender has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, PNC shall not be required to fund any Swing Loan and the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless PNC or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, PNC and the Issuing Lender agree in writing that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, and the Ratable Share of the Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations of the Lenders shall be
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readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lenders Commitment, and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swing Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Ratable Share.
3. TERM LOANS
3.1 Term Loan Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make a term loan (the Term Loan ) to the Borrower on the Closing Date in such principal amount as the Borrower shall request up to, but not exceeding such Lenders Term Loan Commitment.
3.2 Nature of Lenders Obligations with Respect to Term Loans; Repayment Terms. The obligations of each Lender to make Term Loans to the Borrower shall be in the proportion that such Lenders Term Loan Commitment bears to the Term Loan Commitments of all Lenders to the Borrower, but each Lenders Term Loan to the Borrower shall never exceed its Term Loan Commitment. The failure of any Lender to make a Term Loan shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations to make a Term Loan nor shall it impose any additional liability on any other Lender hereunder. The Lenders shall have no obligation to make Term Loans hereunder after the Closing Date. The Term Loan Commitments are not revolving credit commitments, and the Borrower shall not have the right to borrow, repay and reborrow under Section 3.1 [Term Loan Commitments]. The Term Loans shall be payable in nineteen consecutive quarterly installments of principal on the first day of each October, January, April and July as follows: (i) four quarterly principal payments, each in the amount of $1,250,000, on October 1, 2013, January 1, 2014, April 1, 2014 and July 1, 2014; (ii) four quarterly principal payments, each in the amount of $1,875,000, on October 1, 2014, January 1, 2015, April 1, 2015 and July 1, 2015; (iii) eleven quarterly principal payments, each in the amount of $2,500,000, commencing on October 1, 2015 and continuing on the first day of January, April, July and October thereafter through and including April 1, 2018, with all remaining principal on the Term Loans due and payable on the Expiration Date.
4. INTEREST RATES
4.1 Interest Rate Options. The Borrower shall pay interest in respect of the outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Loans as selected by it from the Base Rate Option or LIBOR Rate Option set forth below applicable to the Loans, it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may select different Interest Rate Options and different Interest Periods to apply simultaneously to the Loans comprising different Borrowing Tranches and may convert to or renew one or more Interest Rate Options with respect to all or any portion of the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche; provided that there shall not be at any one time outstanding more than eight (8) Borrowing Tranches in the aggregate among all of the Loans and provided further that if an Event of Default or Potential Default exists and is continuing, the Borrower may not request, convert to, or renew the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans. If at any time the designated rate applicable to any Loan made by any Lender exceeds such Lenders highest lawful rate, the rate of interest on such Lenders Loan shall be limited to such Lenders highest lawful rate.
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4.1.1 Revolving Credit Interest Rate Options; Swing Loan Interest Rate. The Borrower shall have the right to select from the following Interest Rate Options applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans:
(i) Revolving Credit Base Rate Option : A fluctuating rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate; or
(ii) Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option : A rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) equal to the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin.
Subject to Section 4.3 [Interest After Default], only (x) the Base Rate Option applicable to Revolving Credit Loans, or (y) such other rate as is offered by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion shall apply to the Swing Loans.
4.1.2 Term Loan Interest Rate Options. The Borrower shall have the right to select from the following Interest Rate Options applicable to the Term Loans:
(i) Term Loan Base Rate Option : A fluctuating rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate; or
(ii) Term Loan LIBOR Rate Option : A rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) equal to the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin.
4.1.3 Rate Quotations. The Borrower may call the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which a Loan Request is to be delivered to receive an indication of the rates then in effect, but it is acknowledged that such projection shall not be binding on the Administrative Agent or the Lenders nor affect the rate of interest which thereafter is actually in effect when the election is made.
4.2 Interest Periods. At any time when the Borrower shall select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such LIBOR Rate Option by delivering a Loan Request. The notice shall specify an Interest Period during which such Interest Rate Option shall apply. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the following provisions shall apply to any selection of, renewal of, or conversion to a LIBOR Rate Option:
4.2.1 Amount of Borrowing Tranche. Each Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be in integral multiples of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000; and
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4.2.2 Renewals. In the case of the renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option at the end of an Interest Period, the first day of the new Interest Period shall be the last day of the preceding Interest Period, without duplication in payment of interest for such day.
4.3 Interest After Default. To the extent permitted by Law, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and until such time such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived, and at the discretion of the Administrative Agent or upon written demand by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent:
4.3.1 Letter of Credit Fees, Interest Rate. The Letter of Credit Fees and the rate of interest for each Loan otherwise applicable pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] or Section 4.1 [Interest Rate Options], respectively, shall be increased by 2.0% per annum; and
4.3.2 Other Obligations. Each other Obligation hereunder if not paid when due shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the rate of interest applicable under the Base Rate Option applicable to Revolving Credit Loans plus an additional 2.0% per annum from the time such Obligation becomes due and payable and until it is paid in full.
4.4 LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available.
4.4.1 Unascertainable. If on any date on which a LIBOR Rate would otherwise be determined, the Administrative Agent shall have determined that:
(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining such LIBOR Rate, or
(ii) a contingency has occurred which materially and adversely affects the London interbank eurodollar market relating to the LIBOR Rate, the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights].
4.4.2 Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available. If at any time any Lender shall have determined that:
(i) the making, maintenance or funding of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies has been made impracticable or unlawful by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Law or any interpretation or application thereof by any Official Body or with any request or directive of any such Official Body (whether or not having the force of Law), or
(ii) such LIBOR Rate Option will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender of the establishment or maintenance of any such Loan, or
(iii) after making all reasonable efforts, deposits of the relevant amount in Dollars for the relevant Interest Period for a Loan, or to banks generally, to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, respectively, are not available to such Lender with respect to such Loan, or to banks generally, in the interbank eurodollar market,
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then the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights].
4.4.3 Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights. In the case of any event specified in Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] above, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders and the Borrower thereof, and in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available] above, such Lender shall promptly so notify the Administrative Agent and endorse a certificate to such notice as to the specific circumstances of such notice, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly send copies of such notice and certificate to the other Lenders and the Borrower. Upon such date as shall be specified in such notice (which shall not be earlier than the date such notice is given), the obligation of (A) the Lenders, in the case of such notice given by the Administrative Agent, or (B) such Lender, in the case of such notice given by such Lender, to allow the Borrower to select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall have later notified the Borrower, or such Lender shall have later notified the Administrative Agent, of the Administrative Agents or such Lenders, as the case may be, determination that the circumstances giving rise to such previous determination no longer exist. If at any time the Administrative Agent makes a determination under Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] and the Borrower has previously notified the Administrative Agent of its selection of, conversion to or renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option and such Interest Rate Option has not yet gone into effect, such notification shall be deemed to provide for selection of, conversion to or renewal of the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loans. If any Lender notifies the Administrative Agent of a determination under Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], the Borrower shall, subject to the Borrowers indemnification Obligations under Section 5.10 [Indemnity], as to any Loan of the Lender to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, either convert such Loan to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan at the earlier of the expiration of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan or when required by Law, or prepay such Loan in accordance with Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments]. Absent due notice from the Borrower of conversion or prepayment, such Loan shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan upon such specified date.
4.5 Selection of Interest Rate Options. If the Borrower fails to select a new Interest Period to apply to any Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option at the expiration of an existing Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing Tranche in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], the Borrower shall be deemed to have converted such Borrowing Tranche to the Base Rate Option applicable to Revolving Credit Loans or Term Loans, as applicable, commencing upon the last day of the existing Interest Period.
5. PAYMENTS
5.1 Payments. All payments and prepayments to be made in respect of principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, Administrative Agents Fee or other fees or amounts due from the Borrower hereunder shall be payable prior to 11:00 a.m. on the date when due without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, and without set-off, counterclaim or other deduction of any
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nature, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue. Such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office for the account of PNC with respect to the Swing Loans and for the ratable accounts of the Lenders with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans or Term Loans in U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute such amounts to the Lenders in immediately available funds; provided that in the event payments are received by 11:00 a.m. by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Loans and such payments are not distributed to the Lenders on the same day received by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall pay the Lenders the Federal Funds Effective Rate with respect to the amount of such payments for each day held by the Administrative Agent and not distributed to the Lenders. The Administrative Agents and each Lenders statement of account, ledger or other relevant record shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as the statement of the amount of principal of and interest on the Loans and other amounts owing under this Agreement and shall be deemed an account stated.
5.2 Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders. Each borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be allocated to each Lender according to its Ratable Share, and each selection of, conversion to or renewal of any Interest Rate Option and each payment or prepayment by the Borrower with respect to principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, or other fees (except for the Administrative Agents Fee and the Issuing Lenders fronting fee) or amounts due from the Borrower hereunder to the Lenders with respect to the Commitments and Loans, shall (except as otherwise may be provided with respect to a Defaulting Lender and except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights] in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] or 5.8 [Increased Costs]) be payable ratably among the Lenders entitled to such payment in accordance with the amount of principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, and other fees or amounts then due or payable such Lenders as set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, each borrowing or payment or prepayment by the Borrower of principal, interest fees or other amounts from the Borrower with respect to Swing Loans shall be made by or to PNC according to Section 2.6.5 [Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans].
5.3 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff, counterclaim or bankers lien, by receipt of voluntary payment, by realization upon security, or by any other non-pro rata source, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lenders receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than the pro-rata share of the amount such Lender is entitled thereto, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, together with interest or other amounts, if any, required by Law (including court order) to be paid by the Lender or the holder making such purchase; and
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(ii) the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Loan Parties pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of the Loan Documents or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or Participation Advances to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall apply), excluding repurchases of Term Loans by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof in accordance with Section 11.8.7 [Below Par Purchases].
Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against each Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Loan Party in the amount of such participation.
Any Lender that fails at any time to comply with the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall be deemed a Defaulting Lender until such time as it performs its obligations hereunder and is not otherwise a Defaulting Lender for any other reason. A Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments due to it from the Borrower, whether on account of or relating to outstanding Loans, Letters of Credit, interest, fees or otherwise, to the remaining non-defaulting Lenders for application to, and reduction of, their respective Ratable Share of all outstanding Loans and other unpaid Obligations of any of the Loan Parties. The Defaulting Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to distribute such payments to the non-defaulting Lenders in proportion to their respective Ratable Share of all outstanding Loans and other unpaid Obligations of any of the Loan Parties to which such Lenders are entitled. A Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have satisfied the provisions of this Section 5.3 when and if, as a result of application of the assigned payments to all outstanding Loans and other unpaid Obligations of any of the Loan Parties to the non-defaulting Lenders, the Lenders respective Ratable Share of all outstanding Loans and unpaid Obligations have returned to those in effect immediately prior to such violation of this Section 5.3.
5.4 Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the 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.
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5.5 Interest Payment Dates. Interest on Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies shall be due and payable in arrears on each Payment Date. Interest on Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period for those Loans and, if such Interest Period is longer than three (3) Months, also on the 90th day of such Interest Period. Interest on mandatory prepayments of principal under Section 5.7 [Mandatory Prepayments] shall be due on the date such mandatory prepayment is due. Interest on the principal amount of each Loan or other monetary Obligation shall be due and payable on demand after such principal amount or other monetary Obligation becomes due and payable (whether on the stated Expiration Date, upon acceleration or otherwise).
5.6 Voluntary Prepayments.
5.6.1 Right to Prepay. The Borrower shall have the right at its option from time to time to prepay the Loans in whole or part without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] below, in Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] and Section 5.10 [Indemnity]). Whenever the Borrower desires to prepay any part of the Loans, it shall provide a prepayment notice to the Administrative Agent by 1:00 p.m. at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date of prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans or Term Loans or no later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of prepayment of Swing Loans, setting forth the following information:
(w) the date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the proposed prepayment is to be made;
(x) a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between the Revolving Credit Loans, Term Loans and Swing Loans consistent with the provisions of this Section 5.6.1 [Right to Prepay];
(y) a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies and Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies; and
(z) the total principal amount of such prepayment, which shall not be less than the lesser of (i) the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, or (ii) $100,000 for any Swing Loan or $500,000 for any Revolving Credit Loan or Term Loan.
All prepayment notices shall be irrevocable. The principal amount of the Loans for which a prepayment notice is given, together with interest on such principal amount except with respect to Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, shall be due and payable on the date specified in such prepayment notice as the date on which the proposed prepayment is to be made. All prepayments permitted pursuant to this Section 5.6.1 [Right to Prepay] shall be applied first to the unpaid installments of principal of the Term Loans in the inverse order of scheduled maturities and second to the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, provided that such prepayment of any Revolving Credit Loans shall not permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments. Any amounts prepaid with respect to Term Loans may not be reborrowed. Except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights], if the Borrower prepays a Loan but fails to specify the applicable Borrowing Tranche which the Borrower is prepaying, the prepayment shall be applied (i) first to Revolving Credit Loans and then to Term Loans; and (ii) after giving effect to the allocations in clause (i) above and in the
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preceding sentence, first to Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, then to Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies. Any prepayment hereunder shall be subject to the Borrowers Obligation to indemnify the Lenders under Section 5.10 [Indemnity].
5.6.2 Replacement of a Lender. In the event any Lender (i) gives notice under Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], (ii) requests compensation under Section 5.8 [Increased Costs], or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], (iii) is a Defaulting Lender, (iv) becomes subject to the control of an Official Body (other than normal and customary supervision), or (v) is a Non-Consenting Lender referred to in Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers], then in any such event the Borrower may, at its sole expense, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns]), all of its interests, rights (other than existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 5.8 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes]) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns];
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and Participation Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 5.10 [Indemnity]) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Law.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
5.6.3 Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.8 [Increased Costs], or the Borrower is or will be required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.8 [Increased
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Costs] or Section 5.9 [Taxes], as the case may be, in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment
5.7 Mandatory Prepayments.
5.7.1 Sale of Assets. If, at the time of such sale or disposition, the Borrowers Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.25 to 1.00, within five (5) Business Days of any sale or other disposition of assets authorized by Section 8.2.7(x) [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries] which results in either (i) net cash proceeds greater than $5,000,000, or (ii) Borrower and/or any other Loan Party receiving more than $20,000,000 in aggregate in net cash proceeds from all assets sales, the Borrower shall make a mandatory prepayment of principal on the Term Loans (or the Revolving Credit Loans, if the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans has been reduced to zero). The amount of such prepayment shall be equal to the product of (x) the amount of the aggregate net cash proceeds (as estimated in good faith by the Borrower) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by the Lenders on the date of prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.7.1 and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness under the Notes, the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility, and the Senior Notes (2010) on such date of prepayment; provided however, to the extent that prepayment of net cash proceeds is declined or not required to be made under either the Senior Notes (2010) or under the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility, such amounts shall be paid to the Lenders under this Section 5.7.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing and provided no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such prepayment of net cash proceeds shall not be required to the extent the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries reinvests the net cash proceeds of such asset sale in productive assets of a kind then used or usable in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of such asset sale or enters into a binding commitment thereof within said one hundred eighty (180) day period and subsequently makes such reinvestment, each as evidenced in writing to the Administrative Agent. In the event the assets sold are subject to a Prior Security Interest in favor of the Collateral Agent, all such replacement assets also shall be subject to a Prior Security Interest in favor of the Collateral Agent. All prepayments of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 5.7.1 shall be applied to payment of the principal amount of the Term Loans by application to the unpaid installments of principal in the inverse order of scheduled maturities. All prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 5.7.1 [Sale of Assets] shall not permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment. Any amounts prepaid with respect to the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
5.7.2 Recovery of Insurance or Condemnation Proceeds. If, at the time of receipt of such insurance proceeds, the Borrowers Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.25 to 1.00, in connection with the Collateral Agents receipt of insurance proceeds with respect to assets of any Loan Party in accordance with Schedule 8.1.3 or condemnation proceeds with respect to assets of any Loan Party taken as a result of an Official Bodys exercise of or threat to exercise the power of eminent domain, condemnation or similar power, when such insurance or condemnation proceeds are greater than $5,000,000, the Borrower shall make a mandatory prepayment of principal on the Term Loans. The amount of such prepayment shall be equal to the product of (x) the amount of the aggregate net cash proceeds (as estimated in good faith by
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the Borrower) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by the Lenders on the date of prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.7.2 and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness under the Notes, the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility, and the Senior Notes (2010) on such date of prepayment; provided however, to the extent that prepayment of net cash proceeds is declined or not required to be made under either the Senior Notes (2010) or under the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility, such amounts shall be paid to the Lenders under this Section 5.7.2. Such mandatory prepayment shall be applied to payment in full of the principal amount of the Term Loans by application to the unpaid installments of principal in inverse order of scheduled maturities. To the extent that any such mandatory prepayment exceeds the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans or to the extent the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans has been reduced to zero, such prepayment shall be applied to reduce the outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit Loans, provided, however, that such prepayments shall not permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment. Any amounts prepaid with respect to the Term Loans may not be reborrowed. Notwithstanding the foregoing and provided no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such prepayment of net cash proceeds of insurance or condemnation shall not be required to the extent the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries reinvests the net cash proceeds of such insurance or condemnation in the purchase, rebuilding or replacement of productive assets of a kind then used or usable in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of receipt of such net cash proceeds or enters into a binding commitment thereof within said one hundred eighty (180) day period and subsequently makes such reinvestment, each as evidenced in writing to the Administrative Agent. In the event that such purchase, rebuilding or replacement or such commitment to purchase, rebuild or replace has not occurred within 180 days after the receipt of such insurance or condemnation proceeds, the Borrower shall promptly make a mandatory prepayment on the Loans as required above.
5.7.3 Issuance of Certain Debt, Issuance of Equity. If, at the time of such issuance, the Borrowers Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.25 to 1.00, within five (5) Business Days of (A) the issuance by a Loan Party of any equity security for cash proceeds, excluding any cash proceeds received with respect to (i) any capital contribution to a Loan Party by another Loan Party or by the Sponsor or any owner of equity securities in any Loan Party on the Closing Date, or (ii) any issuance or sale of any equity security (a) to a Loan Party, (b) constituting directors qualifying shares, (c) to management or employees of any Loan Party under any employee stock option, stock purchase plan, employee benefit plan or other similar arrangements in existence from time to time, (d) in connection with a Public Offering or (e) as consideration for or to finance a Permitted Acquisition), or (B) the incurrence of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.2.1 [Indebtedness] with the exception of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.2.1(xiii)) by such Loan Party, the Borrower shall make a mandatory prepayment of principal on the Loans. In the case of the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the amount of such prepayment shall be equal to the product of (x) the amount of the aggregate net cash proceeds (as estimated in good faith by the Borrower) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by the Lenders on the date of prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.7.3 and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness under the Notes, the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility, and the Senior Notes (2010) on such date of prepayment; in the case of the issuance of any such equity security, the amount of such prepayment shall be equal to 50% of
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the product of (x) the amount of the aggregate net cash proceeds (as estimated in good faith by the Borrower) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by the Lenders on the date of prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.7.3 and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness under the Notes, the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility, and the Senior Notes (2010) on such date of prepayment; provided however , to the extent that prepayment of net cash proceeds from such Indebtedness or from such equity security is declined or not required to be made under either the Senior Notes (2010) or under the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility, such amounts shall be paid to the Lenders under this Section 5.7.4. Such mandatory prepayment shall be applied to payment in full of the principal amount of the Term Loans by application to the unpaid installments of principal in inverse order of scheduled maturities. To the extent that any such mandatory prepayment exceeds the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans or to the extent the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans has been reduced to zero, such prepayment shall be applied to reduce the outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit Loans, provided, however, that with the exception of prepayments resulting from issuance of Indebtedness under Section 8.2.1(xiii) (which shall result in a permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time as principal amount of the Term Loans has been reduced to zero) such prepayments shall not permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment. Any amounts prepaid with respect to the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
5.7.4 Application Among Interest Rate Options. All prepayments required pursuant to this Section 5.7 shall first be applied among the Interest Rate Options to the principal amount of the Loans subject to the Base Rate Option, then to Loans subject to a LIBOR Rate Option. In accordance with Section 5.10 [Indemnity], the Borrower shall indemnify the Lenders for any loss or expense, including loss of margin, incurred with respect to any such prepayments applied against Loans subject to a LIBOR Rate Option on any day other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period.
5.7.5 Net Cash Proceeds. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to net cash proceeds shall mean proceeds consisting of Cash and Cash Equivalents net of all fees, including all fees for professionals, expenses (whether relating to collection, adjustment, settlement, or otherwise), taxes, underwriting discounts and commissions, reserves for indemnification obligations, and payments for the release of related Liens.
5.8 Increased Costs.
5.8.1 Increased Costs Generally.
If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate) or the Issuing Lender;
(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender, the Issuing Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
5.8.2 Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the Issuing Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the Issuing Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders capital or on the capital of such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Lender or such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders policies and the policies of such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender or such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company for any such reduction suffered.
5.8.3 Certificates for Reimbursement; Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans. A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or 5.8.2 [Capital Requirements] and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
5.8.4 Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Lender pursuant to this
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Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the one hundred eighty (180) day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
5.9 Taxes.
5.9.1 Issuing Lender. For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term Lender includes the Issuing Lender and the term applicable Law includes FATCA.
5.9.2 Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Law. If any applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.9 [Taxes]) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
5.9.3 Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
5.9.4 Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.9 [Taxes]) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Official Body. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
5.9.5 Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of any of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lenders failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.8.4 [Participations] relating to the maintenance of a
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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 Loan 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 Official Body. 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 Loan 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 Section 5.9.5 [Indemnification by the Lenders].
5.9.6 Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to an Official Body pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes], such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Official Body evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
5.9.7 Status of Lenders.
(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 5.9.7(ii)(a), (ii)(b) and (ii)(d) below) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower,
(a) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(b) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of
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copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(A) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty;
(B) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(C) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(A) to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a 10 percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a controlled foreign corporation described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or
(D) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(B) or Exhibit 5.9.7(C) , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(D) on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(c) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
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(d) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
5.9.8 Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes] (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes]), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 5.9 [Taxes] with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Official Body with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party incurred in connection with obtaining such refund, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds] (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Official Body) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Official Body. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds]), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds] the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the 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. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
5.9.9 Survival. Each partys obligations under this Section 5.9 [Taxes] shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations.
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5.10 Indemnity. In addition to the compensation or payments required by Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] or Section 5.9 [Taxes], the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against all liabilities, losses or expenses (including loss of anticipated profits, any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract) which such Lender sustains or incurs as a consequence of any:
(i) payment, prepayment, conversion or renewal of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies on a day other than the last day of the corresponding Interest Period (whether or not such payment or prepayment is mandatory, voluntary or automatic and whether or not such payment or prepayment is then due),
(ii) attempt by the Borrower to revoke (expressly, by later inconsistent notices or otherwise) in whole or part any Loan Requests under Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests] or Section 4.2 [Interest Periods] or notice relating to prepayments under Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments], or
(iii) default by the Borrower in the performance or observance of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including any failure of the Borrower to pay when due (by acceleration or otherwise) any principal, interest, Commitment Fee or any other amount due hereunder.
If any Lender sustains or incurs any such loss or expense, it shall from time to time notify the Borrower of the amount determined in good faith by such Lender (which determination may include such assumptions, allocations of costs and expenses and averaging or attribution methods as such Lender shall deem reasonable) to be necessary to indemnify such Lender for such loss or expense. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such determination. Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrower to such Lender ten (10) Business Days after such notice is given.
5.11 Settlement Date Procedures. In order to minimize the transfer of funds between the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Swing Loans and PNC may make Swing Loans as provided in Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitments] hereof during the period between Settlement Dates. The Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of its Ratable Share of the total of the Revolving Credit Loans and the Swing Loans (each a Required Share ). On such Settlement Date, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent the amount equal to the difference between its Required Share and its Revolving Credit Loans, and the Administrative Agent shall pay to each Lender its Ratable Share of all payments made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans. The Administrative Agent shall also effect settlement in accordance with the foregoing sentence on the proposed Borrowing Dates for Revolving Credit Loans and on mandatory prepayment dates and may at its option effect settlement on any other Business Day. These settlement procedures are established solely as a matter of administrative convenience, and nothing contained in this Section 5.11 shall relieve the Lenders of their obligations to fund Revolving Credit Loans on dates other than a Settlement Date pursuant to Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment]. The Administrative Agent may at any time at its
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option for any reason whatsoever require each Lender to pay immediately to the Administrative Agent such Lenders Ratable Share of the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and each Lender may at any time require the Administrative Agent to pay immediately to such Lender its Ratable Share of all payments made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
6.1 Representations and Warranties. The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders as follows:
6.1.1 Organization and Qualification; Power and Authority; Compliance With Laws; Event of Default. Each Loan Party and each Domestic Subsidiary and Canadian Subsidiary of each Loan Party (i) is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company (or foreign equivalent thereof) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has the lawful power to own or lease its properties and to engage in the business it presently conducts or proposes to conduct, (iii) (A) as of the Closing Date, is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 6.1.1 and in all other jurisdictions where the property owned or leased by it or the nature of the business transacted by it or both makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, and (B) after the Closing Date, is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the property owned or leased by it or the nature of the business transacted by it or both makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, (iv) has full power to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, to incur the Indebtedness contemplated by the Loan Documents and to perform its Obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and all such actions have been duly authorized by all necessary proceedings on its part and (v) with respect to Loan Parties and Material Subsidiaries only, is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws (other than Environmental Laws which are specifically addressed in Section 6.1.14 [Environmental Matters]) in all jurisdictions in which any such Loan Party or any such Material Subsidiary of any Loan Party is doing business except where the failure to do so would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. No Event of Default or Potential Default exists or is continuing. The Borrower has no brokers or other agents acting in any capacity in connection with the Loans.
6.1.2 Subsidiaries; Investment Companies. Schedule 6.1.2 states, as of the Closing Date, (i) the name of each of the Borrowers Domestic Subsidiaries and Canadian Subsidiaries, its jurisdiction of organization and the name of each holder of an equity interest in each such Subsidiary, the amount, percentage and type of equity interests in such Subsidiary (the Subsidiary Equity Interests ) and (ii) any options, warrants or other rights outstanding to purchase any such equity interests referred to in clause (i) (collectively, the Equity Interests ). The Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary and Canadian Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and marketable title to all of the Subsidiary Equity Interests it purports to own (subject to restrictions on assignments, pledges, transfers, or sales of any such Subsidiary Equity Interests issued by ADS Latina, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company), free and clear in each case
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of any Lien (other than Liens for taxes not yet due and payable) and all such Subsidiary Equity Interests have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an investment company registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under the control of a registered investment company as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and shall not become such a registered investment company or under such control.
6.1.3 Validity and Binding Effect. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents (i) has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each Loan Party which is a party thereto, and (ii) constitutes, or will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of each Loan Party which is or will be a party thereto, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
6.1.4 No Conflict; Material Agreements; Consents. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by any Loan Party nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by any of them will conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any breach of (i) the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of any Loan Party or (ii) any Law or any material agreement or instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to which any Loan Party or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its Material Subsidiaries is bound or to which it is subject, or result in the creation or enforcement of any Lien, charge or encumbrance whatsoever upon any property (now or hereafter acquired) of any Loan Party or any of its Material Subsidiaries (other than Liens granted under the Loan Documents). No consent, approval, exemption, order or authorization of, or a registration or filing with, any Official Body or any other Person is required by any Law or any agreement in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents except (A) for filings and recordings with respect to the Collateral to be made, or otherwise delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing and/or recordation, as of the Closing Date, (B) for those approvals, consents, exemptions, registrations, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and (C) with respect carrying out only, approvals, consents, exemptions, registrations, authorizations, actions, notices and filings, which are not material to the operation of the Loan Parties or the rights of the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Lenders.
6.1.5 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against such Loan Party or any Subsidiary of such Loan Party at law or in equity before any Official Body which individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. None of the Loan Parties nor any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is in violation of any order, writ, injunction or any decree of any Official Body which would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
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6.1.6 Financial Statements.
(i) Historical Statements . The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of its audited consolidated year-end financial statements for and as of the end of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. In addition, the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of its unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for the fiscal year to date and as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2013 (all such annual and interim statements being collectively referred to as the Statements ). The Statements were compiled from the books and records maintained by the Borrowers management, are correct and complete and fairly represent, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations for the fiscal periods then ended and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject (in the case of the interim statements) to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
(ii) Accuracy of Financial Statements . Neither the Borrower nor any of its consolidated Subsidiaries has, as of the respective dates thereof, any material liabilities, contingent or otherwise, that are not disclosed in the Statements or in the notes thereto, and except as disclosed therein there are no unrealized or anticipated losses from any commitments of the Borrower or such Subsidiary which would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. Since March 31, 2012 , no Material Adverse Change has occurred.
6.1.7 Margin Stock. None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party engages or intends to engage principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U, T or X as promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of any Loan has been or will be used, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party holds or intends to hold margin stock in such amounts that more than 25% of the reasonable value of the assets of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary are or will be represented by margin stock.
6.1.8 Full Disclosure. Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document, nor any certificate, statement, agreement or other documents furnished in writing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection herewith or therewith, contains any statement by or on behalf of a Loan Party that is untrue in any material respect of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in any material respect as of the date thereof.
6.1.9 Taxes. All federal and material state, local and foreign income Tax returns and material non-income Tax returns and reports of each Loan Party and each Material Subsidiary required to be filed by any of them have been timely filed, and payment or adequate provision in accordance with GAAP has been made for the payment of all material Taxes shown
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on such Tax returns to be due and payable and all material assessments, fees, and other governmental charges upon each Loan Party and each Material Subsidiary and upon their respective properties, assets, income, businesses and franchises which are due and payable, except in each case as permitted by Section 8.1.2 of this Agreement.
6.1.10 Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc. Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, each Loan Party and each Material Subsidiary of each Loan Party owns or possesses all the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, registrations, franchises, permits and rights necessary to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted by such Loan Party or Material Subsidiary, without known, alleged or actual conflict with the rights of others.
6.1.11 Reserved.
6.1.12 Insurance. The properties of each Loan Party and each of its Material Subsidiaries are insured pursuant to policies and other bonds which are valid and in full force and effect and which provide adequate coverage from reputable and financially sound insurers in amounts sufficient to insure the assets and risks of each such Loan Party and Material Subsidiary in accordance with prudent business practice in the industry of such Loan Parties and such Material Subsidiaries.
6.1.13 ERISA Compliance .
(i) Each Pension Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws. Each Pension Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received from the IRS a favorable determination or opinion letter, which has not by its terms expired, that such Pension Plan is so qualified, or such Pension Plan is entitled to rely on an IRS advisory or opinion letter with respect to an IRS-approved master and prototype or volume submitter plan, or a timely application for such a determination or opinion letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto; and, to the best knowledge of Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. Borrower and each member of the ERISA Group have made all required contributions to each Pension Plan subject to Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Sections 412 or 430 of the Code has been made with respect to any Pension Plan.
(ii) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (a) no Pension Plan has any unfunded pension liability (i.e., excess of benefit liabilities over the current value of that Pension Plans assets, determined pursuant to the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan for the applicable plan year in accordance with Section 430 of the Code); (b) neither Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (c) neither Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 of ERISA, with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; (d)
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neither Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has received notice pursuant to Section 4242(a)(1)(B) of ERISA that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization and that additional contributions are due to the Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 4243 of ERISA; and (e) neither Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
6.1.14 Environmental Matters. Each Loan Party is and, to the knowledge of each respective Loan Party, each of its Material Subsidiaries is and has been in compliance in all material respects with applicable Environmental Laws except as disclosed on Schedule 6.1.14 ; provided that such matters so disclosed would not be reasonably likely, in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.15 Solvency. Before and immediately after giving effect to the initial advance of Loans hereunder, the Loan Parties and their Material Subsidiaries are Solvent on a consolidated basis.
6.1.16 Anti-Money Laundering/International Trade Law Compliance. No Covered Entity (i) is a Sanctioned Person; (ii) has any of its assets in a Sanctioned Country in violation of any law, regulation, order or directive enforced by any Compliance Authority or has any assets in the possession, custody or control of a Sanctioned Person; or (iii) does business in or with, or derives any of its operating income from investments in or transactions with, any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any law, regulation, order or directive enforced by any Compliance Authority. In addition to the foregoing, each of the Loan Parties represents and warrants that (i) the proceeds of the Loans will not be used to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or, make any payments to, a Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any law, regulation, order or directive enforced by any Compliance Authority; (ii) the funds used to repay the Loans are not derived from any unlawful activity; and (iii) each Covered Entity is in compliance with, and no Covered Entity engages in any dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Terrorism Laws.
7. CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT
The obligation of each Lender to make Loans and of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the performance by each of the Loan Parties of its Obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of any such Loans or issuance of such Letters of Credit and to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:
7.1 First Loans and Letters of Credit.
7.1.1 Deliveries. On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following:
(i) A certificate of each of the Loan Parties signed by an Authorized Officer of such Loan Party, dated the Closing Date stating that (w) all representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects, (x) the Loan Parties are in compliance with each of the covenants and other conditions hereunder, (y) no Event of Default or Potential Default exists, and (z) no Material Adverse Change has occurred since the date of the last audited financial statements of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent;
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(ii) A certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each of the Loan Parties, certifying as appropriate as to: (a) all action taken by each Loan Party in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (b) the names of the Authorized Officers authorized to sign the Loan Documents and their true signatures; and (c) copies of its organizational documents as in effect on the Closing Date certified by the appropriate state official where such documents are filed in a state office together with certificates from the appropriate state officials as to the continued existence and good standing of each Loan Party in each state where organized and in a state listed on Schedule 6.1.1 where such Loan Party maintains a principal place of business;
(iii) This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents signed by an Authorized Officer and all appropriate financing statements and appropriate stock powers and certificates evidencing the pledged Collateral, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(iv) A written opinion of counsel for the Loan Parties, dated the Closing Date and as to the matters set forth in Schedule 7.1.1 , which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(v) Evidence that adequate insurance, including flood insurance, if applicable, required to be maintained under this Agreement is in full force and effect, with additional insured and lender loss payable special endorsements attached thereto in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel naming the Administrative Agent as additional insured and lender loss payee, all of which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(vi) A duly completed closing date certificate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of Borrower most recently ended prior to the Closing Date, signed by an Authorized Officer of Borrower, which closing date certificate shall show a Leverage Ratio less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00, which certificate shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(vii) All material consents required to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby, including all regulatory approvals and licenses, absent any legal or regulatory prohibitions or material restrictions;
(viii) Evidence that amendments to the Senior Notes (2010), the Private Shelf Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement have been entered into in form and substance consistent with the terms set forth herein and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(ix) A Lien search in acceptable scope and with acceptable results, showing no Liens other than Permitted Liens;
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(x) Evidence that the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility has been entered into in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the commitment letter and term sheet applicable thereto;
(xi) Evidence that the indebtedness and obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been amended and restated and shall from and after the Closing Date be evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and
(xii) Such other documents in connection with such transactions as the Administrative Agent or said counsel may reasonably request.
7.1.2 Payment of Fees. The Borrower shall have paid all fees payable on or before the Closing Date as required by this Agreement, the Administrative Agents Letter or any other Loan Document.
7.2 Each Loan or Letter of Credit. At the time of making any Loans or issuing, extending or increasing any Letters of Credit and after giving effect to the proposed extensions of credit: (i) the representations, warranties of the Loan Parties (other than the representation and warranty in the last sentence of Section 6.1.6(ii) hereof) shall then be true and correct in all material respects, provided , however , that to the extent any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Change, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, (ii) no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (iii) the making of the Loans or issuance, extension or increase of such Letter of Credit shall not contravene any Law applicable to any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any of the Lenders; provided, however, that with respect to requests for Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, the obligation of each Lender to make such Loans shall be governed by Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], and (iv) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a duly executed and completed Loan Request or to the Issuing Lender an application for a Letter of Credit, as the case may be.
8. COVENANTS
The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that until Payment In Full, the Loan Parties shall comply at all times with the following covenants:
8.1 Affirmative Covenants.
8.1.1 Preservation of Existence, Etc. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, maintain its legal existence as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company (or foreign equivalent thereof) and, except where the failure to do so would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, its license or qualification and good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such license or qualification necessary, except as otherwise expressly permitted in Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Etc.].
8.1.2 Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, Etc. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, pay all material Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its income, businesses or franchises before any
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penalty or fine accrues thereon, and all material claims (including claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums that have become due and payable and that by law have or may become a Lien upon any of its properties or assets, prior to the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto; provided , that no such Tax or claim need to be paid to the extent it is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long as (i) adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor, and (ii) in the case of a Tax or claim which has or may become a Lien against any of the Collateral, such contest proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Collateral to satisfy such Tax or claim. No Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person (other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries).
8.1.3 Maintenance of Insurance. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, insure its material properties and assets against loss or damage by fire and such other insurable hazards as such assets are commonly insured (including fire, extended coverage, property damage, workers compensation, public liability and business interruption insurance) and against other risks (including errors and omissions) in such amounts as similar properties and assets are insured by prudent companies in similar circumstances carrying on similar businesses, and with reputable and financially sound insurers, including self-insurance to the extent customary, all as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent. The Loan Parties shall comply with the covenants and provide the endorsement set forth on Schedule 8.1.3 relating to property and related insurance policies covering the Collateral.
8.1.4 Maintenance of Properties. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, maintain in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) in accordance with the general practice of other businesses of similar character and size, all of those material properties useful or necessary to its business, and from time to time, such Loan Party will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals or replacements thereof.
8.1.5 Visitation Rights. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, permit any of the officers or authorized employees or representatives of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties and to examine and make excerpts from its books and records and discuss its business affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all in such detail and at such times during normal business hours and as often as any of the Lenders may reasonably request; provided , that in the case of any meeting with any independent public accountants, representatives of the Loan Parties may be present; provided , further , that in the absence of an Event of Default, no more than two such visits for the Lenders will be permitted in any fiscal year. The Lenders shall provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with reasonable notice prior to any visit or inspection and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate any visits made pursuant to this Section 8.1.5 so as to minimize inconvenience to the Loan Parties.
8.1.6 Keeping of Records and Books of Account. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Domestic Subsidiary and Canadian Subsidiary of the Borrower to, maintain and keep proper books of record and account which enable the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries
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to issue financial statements in accordance with GAAP and as otherwise required by applicable Laws of any Official Body having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any such Domestic Subsidiary or Canadian Subsidiary of the Borrower, and in which full, true and correct entries shall be made in all material respects of all its dealings and business and financial affairs.
8.1.7 Compliance with Laws; Use of Proceeds. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable Laws, including all Environmental Laws, in all material respects; provided that it shall not be deemed to be a violation of this Section 8.1.7 if any failure to comply with any Law would not result in fines, penalties, remediation costs, other similar liabilities or injunctive relief which in the aggregate would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Loan Parties will use the Letters of Credit and the proceeds of the Loans only in accordance with Section 2.8 [Use of Proceeds] and as permitted by applicable Law.
8.1.8 Further Assurances. Each Loan Party shall, from time to time, at its expense, preserve and protect the Collateral Agents Lien on and Prior Security Interest in the Collateral whether now owned or hereafter acquired as a continuing first priority perfected Lien, subject only to Permitted Liens (provided, that the Loan Parties shall not be required to maintain a first-priority Lien under the UCC on personal property in which a Lien cannot be perfected solely by the filing of a UCC financing statement), and shall do such other acts and things as the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion may deem necessary or advisable from time to time in order to preserve, perfect and protect the Liens granted under the Loan Documents and to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies thereunder with respect to the Collateral.
8.1.9 Anti-Terrorism Laws. None of the Loan Parties is or shall be (i) a Person with whom any Lender is restricted from doing business under Executive Order No. 13224 or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, (ii) engaged in any business involved in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of such a Person or in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) otherwise in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law. The Loan Parties shall provide to the Lenders any certifications or information that a Lender requests to confirm compliance by the Loan Parties with Anti-Terrorism Laws.
8.2 Negative Covenants.
8.2.1 Indebtedness. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(i) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
(ii) Existing Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 8.2.1 , including extensions, renewals or Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided there is no increase in the amount thereof or other significant change in the terms thereof unless otherwise specified on Schedule 8.2.1;
(iii) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries with respect to Purchase Money Security Interests and capitalized leases as and to the extent permitted
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under clause (viii) or clause (xx) of the definition of Permitted Lien with respect to the aggregate amount of unpaid principal loans and deferred payments (including, without limitation, imputed principal under capitalized leases);
(iv) (A) Any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge, (B) any other Interest Rate Hedge approved by the Administrative Agent; or (C) any other Indebtedness under any Other Lender Provided Financial Services Product or under any currency swap or hedging arrangement or commodity hedging arrangement; provided , however , the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall enter into Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedges, other Interest Rate Hedges, Other Lender Provided Financial Services Products and currency swap or hedging arrangements of commodity hedging arrangements for hedging (rather than speculative) purposes;
(v) The Senior Notes (2010) in the aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000, and other senior notes issued after the Closing Date in the aggregate principal amount of not more than $25,000,000, all such Indebtedness being issued pursuant to the Private Shelf Agreement;
(vi) Indebtedness of a Loan Party to another Loan Party which is subordinated pursuant to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement; and Indebtedness of a Loan Party owing to a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party and which is subordinated on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(vii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien on real property, improvements to real property and fixtures permitted under clause (xix) of the definition of Permitted Liens;
(viii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted under clause (xx) of the definition of Permitted Liens with respect to Permitted Acquisitions;
(ix) Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Payment In Full of the Obligations on terms and conditions acceptable to Administrative Agent;
(x) Guaranties permitted under Section 8.2.3 [Guaranties];
(xi) Indebtedness for employer contributions to the ESOP not in excess of limitations set forth in Section 404 of the Code;
(xii) Indebtedness arising under Borrowers stock repurchase liability under the ESOP;
(xiii) unsecured Indebtedness that (A) matures after, and does not require any scheduled amortization or other scheduled amortizations or other scheduled payments of principal prior to the Expiration Date (it being understood that such Indebtedness may have mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption provisions satisfying the requirement of clause (B) hereof), and (B) has terms and conditions (other than interest rate, redemption premiums and subordination terms), taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable to the Borrower than the terms and conditions customary at the time for high-yield debt securities issued in a public offering (or if applicable, high-yield subordinated debt securities so issued); provided, however, that both immediately prior and after giving effect to
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the incurrence thereof, (x) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom and (y) the Borrower shall be in compliance with the covenants set forth in Sections 8.2.16 [Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio] and 8.2.17 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] and provided further than the proceeds of such unsecured Indebtedness shall be applied to prepay the Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Loans as set forth in Section 5.7.4 [Issuance of Certain Debt, Issuance of Equity]; and
(xiv) other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000.
8.2.2 Liens; Lien Covenants. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, or agree or become liable to do so, except Permitted Liens.
8.2.3 Guaranties. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, at any time, directly or indirectly, become or be liable in respect of any Guaranty, or assume, guarantee, become surety for, endorse or otherwise agree, become or remain directly or contingently liable upon or with respect to any obligation or liability of any other Person, except for:
(i) Guaranties of Indebtedness or any other obligations or liabilities of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries permitted hereunder;
(ii) Guaranties executed in connection with the ADS Mexicana Credit Facility;
(iii) Guaranties by Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties of the Indebtedness of other Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures;
(iv) Guaranties executed in connection with the Senior Notes (2010);
(v) Guaranties by any Loan Party of Indebtedness owing by any Joint Venture in an amount not to exceed, when taken together with any investment permitted pursuant to Section 8.2.4(viii) [Investments], $25,000,000 in any fiscal year; and
(vi) the Guaranties specified on Schedule 8.2.3 .
8.2.4 Loans and Investments. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, at any time make or suffer to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or purchase, acquire or own any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest (whether general or limited) or limited liability company interest in, or any other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person, or agree, become or remain liable to do any of the foregoing, except:
(i) Trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business;
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(ii) Advances to employees to meet expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business;
(iii) Permitted Investments;
(iv) Loans and advances to, investments and interests in, and capital contributions to Persons (including Joint Ventures) other than Loan Parties and Material Subsidiaries thereof not exceeding $100,000,000 outstanding at any time;
(v) Loans and advances to, such investments and interests in, and capital contributions to, Loan Parties and Material Subsidiaries thereof;
(vi) Transfer of certain assets to Foreign Subsidiaries permitted by Section 8.2.7(x) [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries] in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate;
(vii) Investments in any interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor or other interest rate management instrument permitted under Section 8.2.1(iv);
(viii) Investments acquired by a Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary thereof: (A) in exchange for any other investment held by such Loan Party or such Material Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other investment, or (B) as a result of a foreclosure by such Loan Party or such Material Subsidiary with respect to any secured investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured investment in default;
(ix) advances to a Foreign Subsidiary consisting of raw materials purchased for consumption or processing in the ordinary course of business and otherwise permitted by Section 8.2.8 [Affiliate Transactions]; and
(x) Permitted Acquisitions, and loans and advances to, and investments and interest in, third Persons by any Person which are outstanding at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of any Loan Party or a Material Subsidiary thereof as a result of a Permitted Acquisition, but not any increase in the amount thereof.
8.2.5 Capital Distributions. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Domestic Subsidiaries or Canadian Subsidiaries to, make or pay, or agree to become or remain liable to make or pay, any Capital Distribution of any nature (whether in cash, property, securities or otherwise), except as follows:
(i) any Loan Party may make a Capital Distribution to another Loan Party;
(ii) any Domestic Subsidiary may make a Capital Distribution to its parent company or a Loan Party;
(iii) any Canadian Subsidiary may make a Capital Distribution to its parent company or a Loan Party;
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(iv) so long as prior to and immediately after giving effect to such Capital Distribution, no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may make Capital Distributions if the Borrowers pro forma Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00; provided that if the Borrowers pro forma Leverage Ratio is greater than 3:00 to 1:00, such Capital Distributions shall not exceed $50,000,000 in any fiscal year; and
(v) as long as no Event of Default exists, the Borrower may make Capital Distributions to repurchase stock as required by the ESOP; provided, however, that (i) if an Event of Default exists, the Borrower may make Capital Distributions to the extent necessary in order to satisfy its payment requirements under Code Section 409(h)(5) and (6) with respect to put options (within the meaning of Section 409(h) of the Code) exercised by ESOP participants and their beneficiaries and (ii) any such Capital Distributions shall be made in cash only to the extent necessary to comply with said provisions of the Code.
8.2.6 Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any other Person, except:
8.2.6.1 any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) may consolidate or merge into another Loan Party;
8.2.6.2 any Subsidiary of a Loan Party may be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, assets or property may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to a Loan Party;
8.2.6.3 any Subsidiary of a Loan Party may merge into its parent;
8.2.6.4 any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge into any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;
8.2.6.5 any Loan Party may acquire, whether by merger or by purchase, lease or otherwise, (A) of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the equity interests of another Person or (B) all or substantially all of the assets of another Person or of a business or division of another Person (each, a Permitted Acquisition ), provided that each of the following requirements is met:
(i) if such Loan Party is acquiring the equity interests in such Person and such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary and shall constitute a Material Subsidiary upon the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition, such Person shall execute within thirty (30) days after acquisition a Guarantor Joinder and join this Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.13 [Joinder of Loan Party];
(ii) the Loan Parties or such Person, if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary and shall constitute a Material Subsidiary upon the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition, as applicable, shall grant Liens which can be created and perfected by the filing of financing statements in the assets of such Person or acquired from such Person and otherwise comply with Section 11.13 [Joinder of Loan Party] within thirty (30) days of the date of such Permitted Acquisition;
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(iii) the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person shall have approved such Permitted Acquisition and, if the Loan Parties shall use any portion of the Loans to fund such Permitted Acquisition, the Loan Parties also shall have delivered to the Lenders written evidence of the approval of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of such Person for such Permitted Acquisition;
(iv) the business or assets acquired, or the business conducted by the Person whose ownership interests are being acquired, as applicable, shall be reasonably related to as one or more line or lines of business conducted by the Loan Parties and shall comply with Section 8.2.10 [Continuation of or Change in Business];
(v) no Potential Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition;
(vi) the Borrower shall demonstrate (1) that it shall be in compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 8.2.16 [Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio] and 8.2.17 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] hereof immediately after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (including in such computation Indebtedness or other liabilities assumed or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and income earned or expenses incurred by the Person, business or assets to be acquired prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition); and
(vii) the aggregate consideration for all Permitted Acquisitions shall not exceed $50,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower if on a pro forma basis the Borrowers Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.00 to 1.00 at the time of such acquisition (including in such computation Indebtedness or other liabilities assumed or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and income earned or expenses incurred by the Person, business or assets to be acquired prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition).
8.2.7 Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, sell, convey, assign, lease, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties or assets, tangible or intangible (including sale, assignment, discount or other disposition of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or general intangibles with or without recourse or of capital stock, shares of beneficial interest, partnership interests or limited liability company interests of a Subsidiary of such Loan Party), except:
(i) transactions involving the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) any disposal of damaged, obsolete, worn out or surplus assets or any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are no longer necessary or required in the conduct of such Loan Partys or such Subsidiarys business;
(iii) any sale, transfer or lease of assets by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to another Loan Party;
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(iv) any sale, transfer or lease of assets by a Material Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to another Material Subsidiary;
(v) any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are replaced by substitute assets acquired or leased; provided such substitute assets are subject to the Collateral Agents Prior Security Interest;
(vi) any disposition of real property to a governmental authority that results in net cash proceeds after payment of related expenses are applied as a mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to and to the extent required by the provisions of Section 5.7.3 [Insurance and Condemnation Proceeds] above;
(vii) the abandonment, cancellation or other disposition of intellectual property that is not material or is no longer used or useful in any material respect in the operation of the Borrower and the Loan Parties;
(viii) the sale or discount, in each case without recourse and in the ordinary course of business, of overdue accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof consistent with customary industry practice (and not as part of any bulk sale or financing of receivables);
(ix) any sale, transfer or other disposition of equipment to a Foreign Subsidiary which equipment is not being used or necessary in the operations of the Loan Parties in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Borrower; or
(x) any sale, transfer or lease of assets, other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above, so long as (a) such disposition is for not less than fair market value, (b) the net cash proceeds (as reasonably estimated by the Borrower) are applied as a mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to and to the extent required by the provisions of Section 5.7.1 [Sale of Assets] above, (c) the aggregate book value of such assets sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of in any fiscal year (other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above) does not exceed 10% of the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, and (d) the aggregate book value of such assets sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of after the date of this Agreement (other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above) does not exceed 30% of the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year.
8.2.8 Affiliate Transactions. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or carry out any transaction with any Affiliate of any Loan Party (including purchasing property or services from or selling property or services to any Affiliate of any Loan Party or other Person) unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement (including any intercompany transaction expressly permitted under this Agreement), is entered into in the ordinary course of business upon fair and reasonable arms-length terms and conditions and is in accordance with all applicable Law.
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8.2.9 Subsidiaries and Partnerships. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to own or create directly or indirectly any Subsidiaries other than (i) any Domestic Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary which has joined this Agreement as Guarantor on the Closing Date; (ii) any Non-Material Subsidiary, (iii) any Foreign Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date and any Foreign Subsidiary formed and funded with investments made as permitted by Section 8.2.4 or acquired after the Closing Date as permitted under Section 8.2.4, (iv) any Domestic Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date as permitted under Section 8.2.6, (v) any Domestic Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary formed after the Closing Date which joins this Agreement as a Guarantor by delivering to the Administrative Agent, within thirty (30) days after the formation thereof (A) a signed Guarantor Joinder; (B) documents in the forms described in Section 7.1 [First Loans] modified as appropriate; and (C) documents necessary to grant and perfect Prior Security Interests to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in the equity interests of (or, as to CFCs, 65% of the equity interest of), and Collateral held by (to the extent such perfection can be obtained by filing UCC financing statements), such Subsidiary excluding the equity interests held in any Foreign Holding Company, provided that recourse under the Guaranty of any Foreign Holding Company shall be limited to the Collateral pledged to secure such Guaranty.
8.2.10 Continuation of or Change in Business. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Domestic Subsidiaries or Canadian Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than the manufacture, sale and distribution of corrugated polyethylene, polypropylene and concrete pipe, storm and septic chambers, drainage structures and other related water drainage and water filtration products, and businesses which are related, supplemental or complementary thereto. Each Foreign Holding Company shall not engage in any business or operations or acquire any assets or incur any liabilities other than: (i) holding the ownership interests of one or more CFCs, and (ii) such other activities as are required or prudent in connection with the maintenance of good standing and administration of such Loan Party.
8.2.11 Fiscal Year. The Borrower shall not change its fiscal year from the twelve-month period beginning April 1st and ending March 31st.
8.2.12 Issuance of Stock. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Domestic Subsidiaries or Canadian Subsidiaries to, issue any additional shares of its capital stock or any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof to the extent that the such issued shares, options, warrants and other rights are required to be Collateral, unless such shares, options, warrants and other rights are pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement and only to the extent required by Section 8.2.9; provided however, the foregoing restriction shall not apply to the issuance of additional shares of capital stock of the Borrower, or options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof, so long as such issuance does not result in an Event of Default under Section 9.1.10 [Change of Control].
8.2.13 Changes in Organizational Documents. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, amend in any respect its certificate of incorporation (including any provisions or resolutions relating to capital stock), by-laws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents which change would be reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the Lenders, without obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.
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8.2.14 Real Property. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, grant any Liens on any fee or leasehold interest in real property owned or held by such Loan Party or such Material Subsidiary to any other Person other than Permitted Liens.
8.2.15 Intentionally Omitted.
8.2.16 Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Loan Parties shall not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended, to be less than 1.25 to 1:00.
8.2.17 Maximum Leverage Ratio. The Loan Parties shall not permit the Leverage Ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended to exceed 4.00 to 1.00:
8.2.18 Most Favored Lender. The Loan Parties covenants that if, on any date, any Loan Party or any Subsidiary enters into, assumes or otherwise becomes bound or obligated under the Senior Notes (2010) or any related agreements that contain, or amends the agreement with respect to the Senior Notes (2010) to contain or amend, one or more additional affirmative covenants or additional negative covenants, or the definition related thereto, or any additional or amended events of default, then on such date the terms of this Agreement shall, without any further action on the part of the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, be deemed to be amended automatically to include each additional covenant and each event of default contained in such agreement, and the Loan Parties shall provide prompt written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of such event. The Loan Parties further covenant, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, to promptly execute and deliver at the Borrowers expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent) an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Lenders evidencing the amendment of this Agreement to include such additional covenants and additional events of default, provided that the execution and delivery of such amendment shall not be a precondition to the effectiveness of such amendment as provided for in this Section 8.2.18 [Most Favored Lender], but shall merely be for the convenience of the parties hereto; provided that, upon the subsequent elimination of such additional covenant or additional event of default under the Senior Notes (2010), as the case may be, and the Borrower providing notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, the same shall be deemed eliminated hereunder if (i) no Potential Default or Event of Default then exists, (ii) such elimination of such additional covenant or additional event of default shall not make this Agreement any less restrictive with respect to the Loan Parties than as in effect on the date of this Agreement, as amended by any other amendments hereto, other than as a result of such additional covenant or additional event of default and (iii) if any fee or other compensation is paid to any person in respect of such elimination of such additional covenant or additional event of default, the Borrower shall pay each Lender such fee or compensation on a ratable basis relative to the then outstanding aggregate principal amounts of the Notes. The Loan Parties further covenant to promptly execute and deliver at their expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of
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counsel for the Administrative Agent) an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Lenders evidencing (x) the amendment of this Agreement to include such additional covenants and additional events of default, or (y) the elimination of such additional covenants and additional events of default, as applicable, provided that the execution and delivery of such amendment shall not be a precondition to the effectiveness of such amendment as provided for in this Section 8.2.18 [Most Favored Lender], but shall merely be for the convenience of the parties hereto.
8.3 Reporting Requirements. The Loan Parties will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
8.3.1 Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) calendar days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year, financial statements of the Borrower, consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended and the fiscal year through that date, all in reasonable detail and certified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the addition of footnotes) by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President, or Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and setting forth in comparative form the respective financial statements for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year.
8.3.2 Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, financial statements of the Borrower consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year, and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the financial statements as of the end of and for the preceding fiscal year, and certified by independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The certificate or report of accountants shall be free of qualifications (other than any consistency qualification that may result from a change in the method used to prepare the financial statements as to which such accountants concur) and shall not indicate the occurrence or existence of any event, condition or contingency which would materially impair the prospect of payment or performance of any covenant, agreement or duty of any Loan Party under any of the Loan Documents. The Loan Parties shall deliver with such financial statements and certification by their accountants a letter of such accountants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders substantially to the effect that, based upon their ordinary and customary examination of the affairs of the Borrower, performed in connection with the preparation of such consolidated financial statements, and in accordance with GAAP, (i) the computations by Borrower set forth on the Compliance Certificate show compliance with the financial covenants set forth in this Agreement, and (ii) they are not aware of the existence of any Event of Default or Potential Default or, if they are aware of such Event of Default or Potential Default, stating the nature thereof.
8.3.3 Certificate of the Borrower. Concurrently with the financial statements of the Borrower furnished to the Administrative Agent and to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 8.3.1 [Quarterly Financial Statements] and 8.3.2 [Annual Financial Statements], a
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certificate (each a Compliance Certificate ) of the Borrower signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President, or Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower, in the form of Exhibit 8.3.3 .
8.3.4 Notices.
8.3.4.1 Default . Promptly after any Authorized Officer or the general counsel of any Loan Party has learned of the occurrence of an Event of Default or Potential Default, a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Potential Default and the action which such Loan Party proposes to take with respect thereto.
8.3.4.2 Litigation . Promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions, suits, proceedings or investigations before or by any Official Body or other Person against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary which if adversely determined to the Loan Party or such Subsidiary would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.3.4.3 Proceedings of Official Bodies . Promptly upon the occurrence or receipt of any of the following, notice of (i) any citation, summons, subpoena, order to show cause or other order naming any Loan Party or any Subsidiary a party in any proceeding before any Official Body, (ii) any lapse or other termination of any license, permit, franchise or other authorization issued to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary by any Official Body, (iii) any refusal by any Official Body to renew or extend any such license, permit, franchise or other authorization, or (iv) any dispute between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Official Body or Person; provided however, that notices with respect to each of the above shall be required only in if the event giving rise to such notice would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.3.4.4 Erroneous Financial Information . Immediately in the event that the Authorized Officers of Borrower conclude or have been advised by its accountants that any previously issued financial statement, audit report or interim review should no longer be relied upon or that disclosure should be made or action should be taken to prevent future reliance.
8.3.4.5 ERISA Event . Immediately upon the occurrence of any ERISA Event.
8.3.4.6 Annual Budget; Projected Financial Statements . By April 15th of each year, a projected balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement for each fiscal quarter of the fiscal year beginning April 1st of such year;
8.3.4.7 Environmental Events . As soon as possible and in any event within ten (10) days after receipt by Borrower or any Loan Party, a copy of (i) any written notice or claim to the effect that Borrower or any Subsidiary is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, which liability if established would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, and (ii) any notice alleging any violation of any federal, state or local environmental, health or safety law or regulation by Borrower or any Subsidiary which violation if established would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change,
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8.3.4.8 Noteholder Notices . Simultaneously with the transmission thereof, copies of all notices, reports, financial statements or other communications given to the Senior Noteholders (2010) excluding routine account statements and payment information,
8.3.4.9 Reportable Compliance Event . Upon the occurrence of a Reportable Compliance Event, and
8.3.4.10 Other Information . Such other reports and information as any of the Required Lenders may from time to time reasonably request.
9. DEFAULT
9.1 Events of Default. An Event of Default shall mean the occurrence or existence of any one or more of the following events or conditions (whatever the reason therefor and whether voluntary, involuntary or effected by operation of Law):
9.1.1 Payments Under Loan Documents. The Borrower shall (i) fail to pay any principal of any Loan (including scheduled installments, mandatory prepayments or the payment due at maturity) or any Reimbursement Obligation on the date on which such principal or Reimbursement Obligation becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof, or (ii) fail to pay any interest or other amount owing hereunder or under the other Loan Documents within three (3) Business Days after the date on which such amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof;
9.1.2 Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty made at any time by any of the Loan Parties herein or by any of the Loan Parties in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, other instrument or statement furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof or thereof, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect as of the time it was made or furnished;
9.1.3 Breach of Negative Covenants or Visitation Rights. Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant contained in Section 8.1.5 [Visitation Rights] or Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants]; provided , however , upon any default by the Borrower with any financial covenant contained in Section 8.2.14 [Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio] or Section 8.2.15 [Maximum Leverage Ratio], an Event of Default shall not occur if within ten (10) Business Days following the earlier to occur of (i) the date the applicable financial statements are required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.3.2 [Quarterly Financial Statements] or Section 8.3.3 [Annual Financial Statements] and (ii) the date such financial statements are in fact delivered to the Administrative Agent, (x) a cash equity contribution is made into the Borrower by Sponsor in an aggregate amount equal to the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 8.2.14 [Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio] or Section 8.2.15 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] (the Make Whole Amount ) pursuant to terms and evidenced by documentation acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (y) any corresponding event of default under the Senior Notes must be waived or cured. Any increase to Consolidated EBITDAE resulting from the making of any cash equity contribution pursuant to this Section
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9.1.3 shall not result in any adjustment to Consolidated EBITDAE or any amendment to any other financial definition for any purpose under this Agreement other than for purposes of calculating compliance with the financial covenants contained Section 8.2.14 [Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio] or Section 8.2.15 [Maximum Leverage Ratio], as applicable, for the applicable fiscal quarter and the three (3) consecutive fiscal quarters immediately thereafter. The cure rights provided for in this Section 9.1.3 may not be exercised (i) in two (2) consecutive fiscal quarters, or (ii) more than four (4) times in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement, and no such cash equity contribution shall exceed the amount necessary to cause compliance with the applicable covenant for the period then ended;
9.1.4 Breach of Other Covenants. Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any other covenant, condition or provision hereof or of any other Loan Document to which it is a party and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of: (i) actual knowledge thereof by an Authorized Officer of a Loan Party thereof and (ii) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent;
9.1.5 Defaults in Other Agreements or Indebtedness. A default or event of default shall occur at any time under the terms of any other agreement involving borrowed money or the extension of credit or any other Indebtedness under which any Loan Party may be obligated as a borrower or guarantor in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate, and such breach, default or event of default consists of the failure to pay (beyond any period of grace permitted with respect thereto, whether waived or not) any Indebtedness when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) or if such breach or default permits or causes the acceleration of any Indebtedness (whether or not such right shall have been waived) or the termination of any commitment to lend;
9.1.6 Final Judgments or Orders. Any final judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate (to the extent not adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and unaffiliated insurance company has acknowledged coverage) shall be entered against any Loan Party by a court having jurisdiction in the premises, which judgment is not discharged, vacated, bonded or stayed pending appeal within a period of sixty (60) days from the date of entry;
9.1.7 Loan Document Unenforceable. Any of the Loan Documents shall cease to be legal, valid and binding agreements enforceable against the party executing the same or such partys successors and assigns (as permitted under the Loan Documents) in accordance with the respective terms thereof or shall in any way be terminated (except in accordance with its terms) or shall in any way be challenged or contested by any Loan Party or, except as the result of actions or failures to take action within the control of the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any Lender, cease to give or provide the respective remedies, powers or privileges intended to be created thereby;
9.1.8 Events Relating to Pension Plans and Multiemployer Plans. An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000, or Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable
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grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan, where the aggregate amount of unamortized withdrawal liability is in excess of $5,000,000;
9.1.9 Change of Control.
(i) at any time prior to the creation of a Public Market, Management, the ESOP, the Related Investor and their Permitted Transferees shall cease to have beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the Voting Stock of the Borrower (on a present, non-fully diluted basis and as adjusted for any stock splits, dividends or similar events), or
(ii) at any time prior to the creation of a Public Market, within a period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Borrower on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board; provided that , for purposes of subsection (i) above, a member of Management shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Borrower as long as such member or Management or his/her Permitted Transferee has beneficial ownership of such Voting Stock of the Borrower, or
(iii) at any time after the creation of a Public Market, any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, but excluding the ESOP, Management, the Related Investor and their Permitted Transferees) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d 3 and 13d 5 under the Securities Exchange Act, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all Voting Stock that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an option right)), directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of the Voting Stock of the Borrower on a fully diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);
9.1.10 Liquidity Event. A Liquidity Event, as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement, shall have occurred and not been waived by the parties to the Intercreditor Agreement; or
9.1.11 Relief Proceedings. (i) A Relief Proceeding shall have been instituted against any Loan Party or Material Subsidiary and such Relief Proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days or such court shall enter a decree or order granting any of the relief sought in such Relief Proceeding, or (ii) any Loan Party or Material Subsidiary institutes, or takes any action in furtherance of, a Relief Proceeding, or (iii) any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, or (iv) the Loan Parties and the Material Subsidiaries cease to be solvent on a consolidated basis.
9.2 Consequences of Event of Default.
9.2.1 Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings. If an Event of Default specified under Sections 9.1.1 through 9.1.10 shall occur and be continuing, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be under no further obligation to make Loans and the Issuing Lender
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shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the Administrative Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders, shall (i) by written notice to the Borrower, declare the unpaid principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder to be forthwith due and payable, and the same shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each Lender without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and (ii) require the Borrower to, and the Borrower shall thereupon, deposit in a non-interest-bearing account with the Administrative Agent, as cash collateral for its Obligations under the Loan Documents, an amount equal to the maximum amount currently or at any time thereafter available to be drawn on all outstanding Letters of Credit, and the Borrower hereby pledges to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and grants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a security interest in, all such cash as security for such Obligations; and
9.2.2 Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings. If an Event of Default specified under Section 9.1.11 [Relief Proceedings] shall occur, the Lenders shall be under no further obligations to make Loans hereunder and the Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder shall be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived; and
9.2.3 Set-off. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Lender, and each of their respective Affiliates and any participant of such Lender or Affiliate which has agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments] is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or any such Affiliate or participant to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the Obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, the Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the Issuing Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Lender and their respective Affiliates and participants under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Lender or their respective Affiliates and participants may have. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application; and
9.2.4 Application of Proceeds. From and after the date on which the Administrative Agent has taken any action pursuant to this Section 9.2 and until all Obligations
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of the Loan Parties have been paid in full, any and all proceeds received by the Administrative Agent from any sale or other disposition of the Collateral, or any part thereof, or the exercise of any other remedy by the Administrative Agent, shall be, subject to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, applied as follows:
(i) first, to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys and paralegals fees and legal expenses, incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in connection with realizing on the Collateral or collection of any Obligations of any of the Loan Parties under any of the Loan Documents, including advances made by the Lenders or any one of them or the Administrative Agent for the reasonable maintenance, preservation, protection or enforcement of, or realization upon, the Collateral, including advances for taxes, insurance, repairs and the like and reasonable expenses incurred to sell or otherwise realize on, or prepare for sale or other realization on, any of the Collateral;
(ii) second, to the repayment of all Obligations then due and unpaid of the Loan Parties to the Lenders or their Affiliates incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or agreements evidencing any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge or Other Lender Provided Financial Service Products, whether of principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise and to cash collateralize the Letter of Credit Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts payable to them with respect to such Obligations; and
(iii) the balance, if any, as required by Law.
10. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
10.1 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints PNC to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent, subject to the terms and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, 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 Section 10 are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
10.2 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term Lender or Lenders shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in 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 Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
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10.3 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan 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 Potential Default or Event of 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 Loan 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 Loan 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 Loan Document or applicable Law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the 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 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers] and 9.2 [Consequences of Event of Default]) 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 Potential Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Potential Default or Event of 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 Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Potential Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
10.4 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 to be genuine and to have
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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 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 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.
10.5 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the 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 Section 10 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.
10.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right (with approval from the Borrower so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. 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 Lender, appoint a successor Administrative Agent; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) 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 the Issuing Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 10.6. Upon the acceptance of a successors 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 Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this
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Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agents resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Section 10 and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver] 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.
If PNC resigns as Administrative Agent under this Section 10.6, PNC shall also resign as an Issuing Lender and the Lender with respect to the Swing Loans. Upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall (i) succeed to all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of PNC as the retiring Issuing Lender, Lender with respect to Swing Loans and Administrative Agent and PNC shall be discharged from all of its respective duties and obligations as Issuing Lender, Lender with respect to Swing Loans and Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, and (ii) issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by PNC, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession and repay any Swing Loans outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangement satisfactory to PNC to effectively assume the obligations of PNC with respect to such Letters of Credit or Swing Loans.
10.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative 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 the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
10.8 No Other Duties, etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Co-Syndication Agents, Co-Documentation Agent, Joint Bookrunners, or Joint Lead Arrangers listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Lender hereunder.
10.9 Administrative Agents Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent a nonrefundable fee (the Administrative Agents Fee ) under the terms of a letter (the Administrative Agents Letter ) between the Borrower and Administrative Agent, as amended from time to time.
10.10 Authorization to Release Collateral and Guarantors. The Lenders and Issuing Lenders authorize the Administrative Agent to release (i) any Collateral consisting of assets or equity interests sold or otherwise disposed of in a sale or other disposition or transfer permitted under Section 8.2.7 [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries] or 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers,
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Consolidations, Acquisitions], and (ii) any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement if the ownership interests in such Guarantor are sold or otherwise disposed of or transferred to persons other than Loan Parties or Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties in a transaction permitted under Section 8.2.7 [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries] or 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions].
10.11 No Reliance on Administrative Agents Customer Identification Program. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender, nor any of its Affiliates, participants or assignees, may rely on the Administrative Agent to carry out such Lenders, Affiliates, participants or assignees customer identification program, or other obligations required or imposed under or pursuant to the USA Patriot Act or the regulations thereunder, including the regulations contained in 31 CFR 103.121 (as hereafter amended or replaced, the CIP Regulations ), or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, including any programs involving any of the following items relating to or in connection with any of the Loan Parties, their Affiliates or their agents, the Loan Documents or the transactions hereunder or contemplated hereby: (i) any identity verification procedures, (ii) any recordkeeping, (iii) comparisons with government lists, (iv) customer notices or (v) other procedures required under the CIP Regulations or such other Laws.
10.12 Right of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guaranties. Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, each of the Borrower, each Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender or Issuing Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any of the Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender in accordance with the terms hereof and of the other Loan Documents, all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and (ii) subject to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other disposition.
10.13 Understandings and Authorizations with respect to the Intercreditor Agreement . Each Lender agrees that it will be bound by, and shall take no actions contrary to (and shall take all actions required by), the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as well as the Collateral Documents and hereby authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf, and (ii) the Collateral Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as well as the Collateral Documents on its behalf and to act on its behalf to the extent set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as well as the Collateral Documents. The Lenders acknowledge the
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Intercreditor Agreement provides for the allocation of proceeds of and value of the Collateral among the Senior Secured Obligations as set forth therein and contains limits on the ability of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to take remedial actions with respect to the Collateral. The Lenders acknowledge that the Secured Obligations are secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis to the extent set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. By its execution of this Agreement, each Lender agrees to cause each Affiliate of such Lender which enters into a Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge or Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product to comply with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, and the parties to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be third party beneficiaries with respect to such agreement of the Lenders.
11. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Modifications, Amendments or Waivers. With the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of all the Lenders, and the Borrower, on behalf of the Loan Parties, may from time to time enter into written agreements amending or changing any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the rights of the Lenders or the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder, or may grant written waivers or consents hereunder or thereunder. Any such agreement, waiver or consent made with such written consent shall be effective to bind all the Lenders and the Loan Parties; provided , that no such agreement, waiver or consent may be made which will:
11.1.1 Increase of Commitment. Increase the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment of any Lender hereunder without the consent of such Lender;
11.1.2 Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment. Whether or not any Loans are outstanding, extend the Expiration Date or the time for payment of principal or interest of any Loan (excluding the due date of any mandatory prepayment of a Loan), the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, or reduce the principal amount of or the rate of interest borne by any Loan or reduce the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
11.1.3 Release of Collateral or Guarantor. Except for sales of assets permitted by Section 8.2.7 [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries], release all or substantially all of the Collateral or any Guarantor from its Obligations under the Guaranty Agreement without the consent of all Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders);
11.1.4 Change in Control. Waive a Potential Default or Event of Default under Section 9.1.10 [Change in Control] without the consent of Lenders whose Ratable Shares exceed 85% as determined pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Ratable Share (other than Defaulting Lenders); or
11.1.5 Miscellaneous. Amend Section 5.2 [Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders], 10.3 [Exculpatory Provisions, Etc.] or 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] or this Section 11.1, alter any provision regarding the pro rata treatment of the Lenders or requiring all Lenders to authorize the taking of any action or reduce any percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, in each case without the consent of all of the Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders);
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provided that:
(A) no agreement, waiver or consent which would modify the interests, rights or obligations of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender may be made without the written consent of such Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender, as applicable;
(B) if in connection with any proposed waiver, amendment or modification referred to in Sections 11.1.1 through 11.1.5 above, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (each a Non-Consenting Lender ), then the Borrower shall have the right to replace any such Non-Consenting Lender with one or more replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender];
(C) Anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement notwithstanding, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender, and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;
(D) Anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement notwithstanding, (A) except as expressly set forth to the contrary in Section 11.14 [Limitation on Rights of Sponsor Affiliated Lenders], the consent of any Sponsor Affiliate Lender shall not be required for any matter set forth in this Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers] and (B) all Loans held by Sponsor Affiliated Lenders shall be disregarding in computing Ratable Shares for the purposes of this Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers]; and
(E) The Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties shall be permitted to amend any provision of any Loan Document (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision.
11.2 No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies. No course of dealing and no delay or failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any other or future exercise thereof or operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power, remedy or privilege. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and any other Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have.
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11.3 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
11.3.1 Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent but not including counsel for any other Lenders), and shall pay all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, (iii) all documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender (including the invoiced reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender), and shall pay all reasonable invoiced fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit, and (iv) all reasonable invoiced out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agents regular employees and agents engaged periodically to perform audits of the Loan Parties books, records and business properties.
11.3.2 Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the Issuing Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee ) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance or nonperformance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (provided that only the reasonable invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent shall be indemnified under this clause (i)), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) breach of representations, warranties or covenants of the Borrower under the Loan Documents, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, including any such items or losses relating to or arising under Environmental Laws or pertaining to environmental matters, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the
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Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or such Indemnitees Subsidiaries or the officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and other representatives of such Indemnitee or its Subsidiaries, or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach of such Indemnitees obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower] shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.
11.3.3 Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Sections 11.3.1 [Costs and Expenses] or 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower] to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Issuing Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lenders Ratable Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the Issuing Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or Issuing Lender in connection with such capacity.
11.3.4 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by Borrower] shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
11.3.5 Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) days after demand therefor.
11.4 Holidays. Whenever payment of a Loan to be made or taken hereunder shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day such payment shall be due on the next Business Day (except as provided in Section 4.2 [Interest Periods]) and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest and fees, except that the Loans shall be due on the Business Day preceding the Expiration Date if the Expiration Date is not a Business Day. Whenever any payment or action to be made or taken hereunder (other than payment of the Loans) shall be
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stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall not be included in computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.
11.5 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
11.5.1 Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 11.5.2 [Electronic Communications]), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier (i) if to a Lender, to it at its address set forth in its administrative questionnaire, or (ii) if to any other Person, to it at its address set forth on Schedule 1.1(B) .
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.5.2 [Electronic Communications], shall be effective as provided in such Section.
11.5.2 Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Lender if such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
11.5.3 Change of Address, Etc. Any party hereto may change its address, e-mail address or telecopier number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
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11.6 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction.
11.7 Duration; Survival. All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained herein or made in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the completion of the transactions hereunder and Payment In Full. All covenants and agreements of the Borrower contained herein relating to the payment of principal, interest, premiums, additional compensation or expenses and indemnification, including those set forth in the Notes, Section 5 [Payments] and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver], shall survive Payment In Full. All other covenants and agreements of the Loan Parties shall continue in full force and effect from and after the date hereof and until Payment In Full.
11.8 Successors and Assigns.
11.8.1 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 the Borrower nor any other Loan 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 Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders], (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.8.4 [Participations], or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.8.6 [Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally] (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 Section 11.8.4 [Participations] 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.
11.8.2 Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the 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 Lenders Commitment and the Loans 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
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(B) in any case not described in clause (i)(A) of this Section 11.8.2, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (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 Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if Trade Date is specified in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000 with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments and $1,000,000 with respect to Term Loan Commitments, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned.
(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except for the consent of the Administrative Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for an assignment 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 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 (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and
(B) the consent of the Issuing Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding).
(iv) Assignment and Assumption Agreement . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3500, and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire provided by the Administrative Agent.
(v) No Assignment to Borrower . No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates or Subsidiaries, except (x) pursuant to Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases] or (y) to a Sponsor Affiliated Lender, subject to the following conditions:
(A) such assignment may be of Term Loans only;
(B) after giving effect to such assignment, to all other assignments and participations with all Sponsor Affiliated Lenders and to all Offer Loans purchased and cancelled pursuant to Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases], the aggregate principal amount of all Loans and Commitments then held by the Borrower and all Sponsor Affiliated Lenders (whether by assignment, participation, or other derivative transaction) shall not exceed 15% of the sum of (x) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding and (y) the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders then outstanding; and
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(C) such Sponsor Affiliated Lender shall execute a waiver in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it shall have no right whatsoever, so long as such Person is a Sponsor Affiliate Lender (i) to consent to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other such action with respect to any of the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except to the extent set forth in Section 11.14 [Limitation on Rights of Sponsor Affiliate Lenders], (ii) to require Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) to attend (or receive any notice of) any meeting, conference call or correspondence with any Agent or Lender or receive any information (including, without limitation, any notices delivered to the Lenders hereunder or delivered to any party to the Intercreditor Agreement) from Administrative Agent or any Lender, (iv) to have access to any information platform (including, without limitation, that portion of the platform that has been designated for private-side Lenders) or (v) to make or bring any claim, in its capacity as Lender, against Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to the duties and obligations of such Persons under the Loan Documents, but no amendment, modification or waiver shall deprive any Sponsor Affiliated Lender of its share of any payments which the Lenders are entitled to share on a pro rata basis hereunder.
By purchasing or being assigned the Loans and by its acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement, each Sponsor Affiliated Lender acknowledges and agrees that the Loans owned by it shall be non-voting under sections 1126 and 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code in the event that any proceeding thereunder shall be instituted by or against Borrower or any other Loan Party.
(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons . No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.8.3 [Register], from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, 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 Agreement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement covering all of the assigning Lenders 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 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], 5.8 [Increased Costs], and 11.3 [Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver] 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 comply with this Section 11.8.2 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 Section 11.8.4 [Participations].
11.8.3 Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain a record of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and
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the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time. Such register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is in such register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. Such register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
11.8.4 Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a Participant ) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, Issuing Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree (other than as is already provided for herein) to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to Sections 11.1.1 [Increase of Commitment], 11.1.2 [Extension of Payment, Etc.], or 11.1.3 [Release of Collateral or Guarantor]) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4 [Libor Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], 5.8 [Increased Costs], 5.10 [Indemnity] and 5.9 [Taxes] (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders] (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders] shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] and Section 5.6.3 [Designation of a Different Lending Office] as if it were an assignee under Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.8 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes], with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrowers request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] and Section 5.6.3 [Designation of Different Lending Office] with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.2.3 [Set-off] as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] as though it were a Lender. 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
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of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participants 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 Participants 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.
11.8.5 Reserved.
11.8.6 Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
11.8.7 Below-Par Purchases. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns] or any other provision of this Agreement and without otherwise limiting the rights in respect of prepayments of the Loans of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or the rights of any Term Lender (as defined below) to receive payments of the Term Loans at par value, so long as no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may repurchase outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases] on the following basis:
(i) The Borrower may make one or more offers (each, an Offer ) to repurchase all or any portion of the Term Loans (such Term Loans, the Offer Loans ), provided that, (A) the Borrower delivers notice of its intent to make such Offer to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days in advance of the launch of any proposed Offer, (B) upon the launch of such proposed Offer, the Borrower delivers an irrevocable notice of such Offer to the Administrative Agent (and upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender holding a Term Loan (each such Lender, a Term Lender ) thereof) indicating (1) the last date on which such Offer may be accepted, (2) the maximum dollar amount of such Offer and (3) the repurchase price per dollar of principal amount of such Offer Loans at which the Borrower is willing to repurchase such Offer Loans (which price shall be below par), (C) the maximum dollar amount of each Offer shall be an amount reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent prior to the making of any such Offer; (D) the Borrower shall hold such Offer open for a minimum period of days to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower prior to the making of any such Offer; (E) a Term Lender who elects to participate in the Offer may choose to sell all or part of such Term Lenders Offer Loans; (F) such Offer shall
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be made to all Term Lenders holding the Offer Loans on a pro rata basis in accordance with the respective principal amount then due and owing to the Term Lenders; provided, further that, if any Term Lender elects not to participate in the Offer, either in whole or in part, the amount of such Term Lenders Offer Loans not being tendered shall be excluded in calculating the pro rata amount applicable to the balance of such Offer Loans and (G) such Offer shall be conducted pursuant to such procedures the Administrative Agent may establish in consultation with the Borrower (which shall be consistent with this Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases]) and that a Lender must follow in order to have its Offer Loans repurchased, which procedures may include a requirement that the Borrower represent and warrant that it does not have any material non-public information with respect to any Loan Party (or its Subsidiaries) that could be material to a Lenders decision to participate in such Offer;
(ii) With respect to all repurchases made by the Borrower such repurchases shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments pursuant to Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments] in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Term Loans, provided that such repurchases shall not be subject to the provisions of clause (z) thereof or to any provision of this Agreement that requires prepayments to be shared ratably among Lenders;
(iii) Upon the purchase by the Borrower of any Term Loans, (A) automatically and without the necessity of any notice or any other action, all principal and accrued and unpaid interest on the Term Loans so repurchased shall be deemed to have been paid for all purposes and shall be cancelled and no longer outstanding for all purposes of this Agreement and all other Loan Documents (and in connection with any Term Loan purchased pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent is authorized to make appropriate entries in its register to reflect such cancellation) and (B) the Borrower will promptly advise the Administrative Agent of the total amount of Offer Loans that were repurchased from each Lender who elected to participate in the Offer;
(iv) Failure by the Borrower to make any payment to a Lender required by an agreement permitted by this Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases] shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 9.1.1 [Payments Under Loan Documents];
(v) No proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loans may be used to purchase any Offer Loans; and
(vi) At the time of any purchase of Offer Loans, with respect to the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries and Canadian Subsidiaries, the sum of (i) all cash not subject to any Lien (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent) and (ii) the then available Revolving Credit Commitments shall be no less than $20,000,000 in the aggregate.
After giving effect to all Offer Loans purchased and cancelled pursuant to this Section 11.8.7 [Below-Par Purchases], the aggregate principal amount of all Loans and Commitments then held by the Borrower and all Sponsor Affiliated Lenders (whether by assignment, participation, or other derivative transaction) shall not exceed 15% of the sum of (x) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding and (y) the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders then outstanding.
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11.9 Confidentiality.
11.9.1 General. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (i) 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), (ii) 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), (iii) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any other party hereto, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (B) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (vii) with the consent of the Borrower or (viii) to the extent such Information (Y) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (Z) 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 Borrower or the other Loan Parties. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
11.9.2 Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders. Each Loan Party acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Affiliates (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of such Lender and each of the Loan Parties hereby authorizes each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by such Loan Party and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement to any such Subsidiary or Affiliate subject to the provisions of Section 11.9.1 [General].
11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.
11.10.1 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof including any prior confidentiality agreements and commitments. Except as provided in Section 7 [Conditions Of Lending And Issuance Of Letters Of Credit], this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have
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received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or e-mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
11.11 CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
11.11.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the Laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Each standby Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement shall be subject either to the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the ICC ) at the time of issuance ( UCP ) or the rules of the International Standby Practices (ICC Publication Number 590) ( ISP98 ), as determined by the Issuing Lender, and each trade Letter of Credit shall be subject to UCP, and in each case to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the Laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
11.11.2 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER, EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY, EACH LENDER, EACH ISSUING LENDER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH OTHER PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR OHIO STATE COURT SITTING IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH OHIO STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE ISSUING LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
11.11.3 WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER, EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY, EACH LENDER, EACH ISSUING LENDER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH OTHER PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
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RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION 11.11. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND AGREES NOT ASSERT ANY SUCH DEFENSE.
11.11.4 SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.5 [NOTICES; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION]. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
11.11.5 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
11.12 USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.
11.13 Joinder of Loan Party.
Any Domestic Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary (other than a CFC) which is required to join this Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions] or Section 8.2.9 [Subsidiaries and Partnerships] (and any Subsidiary the Borrower elects to have become a Guarantor or is designated as such by the Borrower pursuant to the definition of Material Subsidiary) shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (i) a Guarantor Joinder in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1(G)(1) pursuant to which it shall join as Guarantor each of the documents to which the Guarantors are parties; (ii) documents in the forms described in Section 7.1 [First Loans] modified as appropriate to relate to such Subsidiary; and (iii) documents necessary to grant the
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Administrative Agent a Lien on the Collateral and create a security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in all personal property held by such Subsidiary. In the case of a Permitted Acquisition, the Loan Parties shall cause such Guarantor Joinder and related documents to be delivered to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the closing of such Permitted Acquisition. In the case of a newly formed Person required to join this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2.9 [Subsidiaries and Partnerships], the Loan Parties shall deliver such Guarantor Joinder and related documents to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the date of the filing of such Subsidiarys articles of incorporation if the Subsidiary is a corporation, the date of the filing of its certificate of limited partnership if it is a limited partnership or the date of its organization if it is an entity other than a limited partnership or corporation. In the case of a Subsidiary designated or elected by the Borrower to be Guarantor, the Loan Parties shall cause such Guarantor Joinder and related documents to be delivered to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of such election or designation.
11.14 Limitation on Rights of Sponsor Affiliated Lenders.
No Sponsor Affiliate Lender shall have any right, (i) to consent to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other such action with respect to any of the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) to require Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) to otherwise vote on any matter related to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iv) to attend any meeting with Administrative Agent or any Lender or receive any information from Administrative Agent or any Lender, (v) to make or bring any claim, in its capacity as a Lender, against Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to the duties and obligations of such Persons under the Loan Documents or (vi) to receive any notice required to be given to Lenders under this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any other Loan Document, but no amendment, modification or waiver shall deprive such Sponsor Affiliate Lender of its share of any payments which the Lenders are entitled to share on a pro rata basis or disproportionately affects such Sponsor Affiliate Lender more adversely than any other Term Lender.
11.15 Amendment and Restatement, No Novation.
This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement, and the Borrower and the Guarantors confirm that: the Existing Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Collateral for the Obligations thereunder (as all such capitalized terms are defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) have at all times, since the date of the execution and delivery of such documents, remained in full force and effect and continued to secure such obligations which are continued as the Obligations hereunder as amended hereby. The Loans hereunder are a continuation of the Loans under (and as such term is defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement. The Borrower, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement and any Loan Documents expressly amended by this Agreement is not intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, a novation, interruption, suspension of continuity, satisfaction, discharge or termination of the obligations, loans, liabilities, or indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents thereunder or the collateral security therefor (except as such collateral security is expressly modified in accordance with this Agreement and the other
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Loan Document amended in connection therewith), and this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are entitled to all rights and benefits originally pertaining to the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the date hereof, (i) except to the extent specifically amended and restated on the terms set forth in the Guaranty with respect to StormTech LLC, each of the Guarantors (other than StormTech LLC, the Existing Guarantors) under that certain Continuing Agreement of Guaranty and Suretyship, dated as of September 24, 2010 (as amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified or supplemented from time to time, the Existing Guaranty) is hereby released from the Existing Guaranty and each such other Loan Document (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to which such Guarantor is a party and such Existing Guaranty and such other Loan Document (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) is terminated with respect to each Existing Guarantor and any and all collateral pledged by each such Existing Guarantor under the Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) is hereby released and terminated and (ii) each of the Existing Guarantors (each as a Company under the Intercompany Subordination Agreement (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement)) is hereby released from its obligations under such Intercompany Subordination Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto duly authorized, have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
BORROWER: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: |
Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Title: |
Secretary, Executive Vice President, |
|
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | ||
GUARANTOR: | ||
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: |
Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Title: |
Secretary and Treasurer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, individually and as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ George M. Gevas |
|
Name: | George M. Gevas | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., individually and as Co-Documentation Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ Maria L. Mendes |
|
Name: | Maria L. Mendes | |
Title: | Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BMO HARRIS BANK N.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael Gift |
|
Name: |
Michael Gift |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Brian J. Blomeke |
|
Name: | Brian J. Blomeke | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA | ||
By: |
/s/ Carl S. Tabacjar, Jr. |
|
Name: |
Carl S. Tabacjar, Jr. |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
FIFTH THIRD BANK, individually and as Co-Syndication Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ William J. Whitley |
|
Name: | William J. Whitley | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
FIRSTMERIT BANK, N.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ Robert G. Morlan |
|
Name: | Robert G. Morlan | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually and as Co-Documentation Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ Warren Bebinger |
|
Name: |
Warren Bebinger |
|
Title: |
Authorized Officer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael J. Kingsley |
|
Name: |
Michael J. Kingsley |
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
TRISTATE CAPITAL BANK | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael P. Morris |
|
Name: |
Michael P. Morris |
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
SCHEDULE 1.1(A)
PRICING GRID
VARIABLE PRICING AND FEES BASED ON LEVERAGE RATIO
(IN BASIS POINTS)
Level |
Leverage Ratio |
Commitment
Fee |
Letter
of Credit Fee |
Revolving
Credit Base Rate Spread |
Term
Loan Base Rate Spread |
Revolving
Credit LIBOR Rate Spread |
Term
Loan LIBOR Rate Spread |
|||||||||||||||||||
I |
Less than 1.50 to 1.00 |
15.0 | 125.0 | 25.0 | 25 | 125.0 | 125.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
II |
Greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 but less than 2.00 to 1.00 |
20.0 | 150.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 150.0 | 150.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
III |
Greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 but less than 2.50 to 1.00 |
25.0 | 175.0 | 75.0 | 75.0 | 175.0 | 175.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
IV |
Greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 but less than 3.00 to 1.00 |
30.0 | 200.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 200.0 | 200.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
V |
Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 but less than 3.50 to 1.00 |
35.0 | 225.0 | 125.0 | 125.0 | 225.0 | 225.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
VI |
Greater than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00 |
35.0 | 250.0 | 150.0 | 150.0 | 250.0 | 250.0 |
For purposes of determining the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate:
(a) The Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall be at determined on the Closing Date based on the Leverage Ratio computed on such date pursuant to a Compliance Certificate to be delivered on the Closing Date.
(b) The Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall be recomputed as of the end of each fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date based on the Leverage Ratio as of such quarter end. Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate or the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate computed as of a quarter end shall be effective on the date on which the Compliance Certificate evidencing such computation is due to be delivered under Section 8.3.3 [Certificate of Borrower]. If a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section 8.3.3, then the rates in Level VI shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.
(c) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under Title 11 of the United States Code, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, under Section 2.9 [Letter of Credit Subfacility] or Section 4.3 [Interest After Default] or Section 9 [Default]. The Borrowers obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
SCHEDULE 1.1(P)
Permitted Liens
| Liens securing the obligations under each of the following: |
| The IDRB Facilities |
| Promissory Note, dated as of February 29, 2008, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with respect to property related to the premises located at 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 |
| Commercial Term Note, dated as of August 17, 2004, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of PNC Bank, National Association (successor to National City Bank) with respect to property related to the premises located at 2650 Hamilton-Eaton Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011 |
| Any Liens or security interests in Collateral or the Purchase Documents (both as defined in the Aircraft Lease described below as in effect on March 30, 2012) in favor of The Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee under Trust Agreement dated as of April 3, 2006 (the Lessor ), relating to that certain leased Cessna Model 560XL aircraft or arising under that certain (i) Aircraft Lease (S/N 560-6103) dated on or about March 30, 2012 between the Lessor and Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., (ii) that certain Assignment of Purchase Agreement, dated on or about March 30, 2012, among the Lessor, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Cessna Aircraft Company (as in effect on March 30, 2012) or (iii) any other documentation related to any of the foregoing documents or to the transactions described therein. |
| The following Liens: |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2238904 1 Filed 09/17/02
Continued 05/04/07 Continued 06/11/12 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | In lieu filing from multiple jurisdictions pertaining to specific leased equipment |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
4054588 1 Filed 02/26/04
62 amendments to add collateral filed 2/27/04 through 07/19/06
Continued 01/23/09 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | Specific leased equipment (lift trucks/forklifts) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
6348376 5 Filed 10/09/06
Continued 08/10/11 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (forklifts) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2007-1199156 Filed 03/30/07
19 amendments to add collateral filed 03/30/07 through 12/19/08
Continued 01/06/12 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (forklifts/lift trucks) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2007-1425312 Filed 04/17/07
4 amendments to add collateral filed 04/20/07 through 05/16/07
Continued 02/13/12 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (forklifts) |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2007-4445465 Filed 11/19/07
Continued 10/31/12 |
LaSalle National Leasing Corporation | Leased Cessna Citation Model 560XL aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2008-1831955 Filed 05/29/08 |
COMDOC, Inc. | Leased equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2009-4121445 Filed 12/23/09
17 amendments to add collateral filed 12/28/09 through 04/18/11 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (lift trucks/forklifts) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2010-0075642 Filed 01/08/10
Secured Party name change amendment filed 01/22/10 |
COMDOC, INC. | Specific leased Xerox office equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2010-2255481 Filed 06/29/10 |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Specific equipment (Cat walk-behind scrubber S/N 57077) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2010-2255499 Filed 06/29/10 |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Specific equipment (Cat walk-behind scrubber S/N 56863) |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2011 1586489 Filed 04/28/11
6 amendments to add collateral filed 05/11/11 through 04/03/12 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 0826109 Filed 03/02/12 |
United Rentals Northwest, Inc. | Specific equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 0939845 Filed 03/12/12 |
United Rentals (North America), Inc. | Specific equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 1442385 Filed 04/03/12
36 amendments to add collateral filed 05/02/12 through 04/01/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 1442492 Filed 04/03/12 |
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST AGREEMENT DATED AS OF APRIL 3, 2006 | Leased Cessna Model 560XL Aircraft, Serial Number 560-6103, two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545C Engines, one Honeywell Model RE100(XL) Auxiliary Power Unit, all leased pursuant to Aircraft Lease Agreement dated as of 3/30/12 | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1170274 Filed 3/20/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1171009 Filed 03/20/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1172403 Filed 03/20/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1180299 Filed 03/27/13 |
COMDOC, INC. | Specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1226019 Filed 03/21/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1228221 Filed 03/21/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1231597 Filed 03/21/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1244616 Filed 03/21/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1254755 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State | 2013 1254987 | Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1255026 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1255091 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1256032 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1256057 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1658872 Filed 05/01/13 |
Oracle Credit Corporation | Hardware and other personal property identified in the Order, specified in Payment Schedule No. 55033 between secured party and debtor which incorporates the terms of the Payment Plan Agreement No. 5063 (server and database computer equipment) |
UCC FILINGS FOR WHICH NO DEBT IS OUTSTANDING TERMINATIONS IN PROCESS
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
31824385 Filed 07/17/03
Continued 04/09/08 |
General Electric Capital Business Asset Funding Corporation | Blanket filing on property related to the premises in Ludlow, Massachusetts (includes legal description of real property) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
5243200 4 Filed 08/05/05
Continued 04/26/10 |
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance Inc. | Leased 1995 Cessna Citation Ultra Aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 3711951 Filed 9/26/12 |
Henry Company LLC | All of buyers goods and materials, inventory, instruments, accounts receivable, notes, chattel paper, equipment, general and payment intangibles and choses in action relating to goods sold to buyer |
SCHEDULE 2.8
Existing Letters of Credit
The following letters of credit issued for the benefit of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. by PNC Bank, National Association:
Outstanding Balance as of
Closing Date |
||||
St. Paul Travelers Insurance Co. |
$ | 8,155,000 | ||
The Hartford Insurance Co. |
$ | 100,000 | ||
State Health Commissioner (VA) |
$ | 100,000 | ||
State Health Commissioner (SC) City of Albuquerque (NM) |
$
$ |
100,000
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|||
Subtotal |
$ | 8,505,000 |
SCHEDULE 6.1.1
Qualifications to do Business
Entity Name |
Jurisdiction of Organization |
Other Jurisdictions | ||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware | Ohio | ||
Hancor Holding Corporation | Delaware | |||
Hancor, Inc. | Ohio | |||
Media Plus, Inc. | Ohio | |||
Hancor International, Inc. | Delaware | |||
ADS Ventures, Inc. | Delaware | Ohio | ||
PSA, Inc. | Maine | |||
ADS Structures, Inc. | Delaware | Ohio | ||
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | Delaware | |||
ADS International, Inc. | Delaware | |||
Spartan Concrete, Inc. | Delaware | North Carolina | ||
StormTech LLC | Delaware | Connecticut | ||
Sewer Tap, Inc. | Oregon | |||
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. | Ohio | |||
Green Line Polymers, Inc. | Delaware | Iowa | ||
Hancor Leasing Corp. | Ohio | |||
Hancor, Inc. (NV) | Nevada | |||
Inlet & Pipe Protection, Inc. | Illinois | |||
Hancor of Canada, Inc. | Ontario |
SCHEDULE 6.1.2
Subsidiaries and Owners
Subsidiary Equity Interests:
Name |
Jurisdiction | Organization | Equity Owner |
Percentage
Owned |
Certificate No. and
No. of Shares |
|||||||
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. |
Ohio | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. N-2
(100 shares) |
||||||
ADS Worldwide, Inc. |
Delaware | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 1
(10 shares) |
||||||
PSA, Inc. |
Maine | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 5
(100 shares) |
||||||
ADS Structures, Inc. |
Delaware | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 1
(100 shares) |
||||||
ADS Ventures, Inc. |
Delaware | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 1
(10 shares) |
||||||
Hancor Holding Corporation |
Delaware | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 1
(100 shares) |
||||||
Spartan Concrete, Inc. |
Delaware | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 1
(100 shares) |
||||||
Sewer Tap, Inc. |
Oregon | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 2
(100 shares) |
||||||
Green Line Polymers, Inc. |
Delaware | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 1
(100 shares) |
||||||
Inlet & Pipe Protection, Inc. |
Illinois | Corporation | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert No. 6
(100 shares) |
||||||
ADS International, Inc. |
Delaware | Corporation | ADS Worldwide, Inc. | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 2
(10 shares) |
||||||
StormTech LLC |
Delaware |
Limited Liability
Company |
ADS Ventures, Inc. | 100 | % | Uncertificated |
Name |
Jurisdiction | Organization | Equity Owner |
Percentage
Owned |
Certificate No. and
No. of Shares |
|||||||
Hancor of Canada, Inc. |
Ontario | Corporation | Hancor Holding Corporation | 100 | % |
Cert. No. C-4
(650 shares) Cert. No. C-5 (350 shares) |
||||||
Hancor, Inc. |
Ohio | Corporation | Hancor Holding Corporation | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 2
(500 shares) |
||||||
Hancor Leasing Corp. |
Ohio | Corporation | Hancor, Inc. (OH) | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 4
(100 shares) |
||||||
Media Plus, Inc. |
Ohio | Corporation | Hancor, Inc. (OH) | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 2
(500 shares) |
||||||
Hancor International, Inc. |
Delaware | Corporation | Hancor, Inc. (OH) | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 1
(100 shares) |
||||||
Hancor, Inc. (NV) |
Nevada | Corporation | Hancor, Inc. (OH) | 100 | % |
Cert. No. 2
(10 shares) |
Subsidiary options, warrants or other rights: None.
SCHEDULE 6.1.14
Environmental Disclosures
1. Oelwein, Iowa (18575 60 th St.) : The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for this ADS facility, expired in 2006. Also at Oelwein, water use permit No. 9157 allows usage of 16.4 million gallons per year (MGY); however, current usage at the site is 22.7 MGY. There have been periodic violations of the NPDES permit from having floating matter in the drainage ditch that discharges to Otter Creek. The August 2010 GaiaTech Phase I of the facility reported that its assessor observed pieces of plastic resin floating in the water past the outfall.
2. New Miami, Ohio (2650 Hamilton Eaton Rd.) : GaiaTech, in its August 2010 Phase I, reported that this ADS property has been used for various industrial purposes since 1965. Details regarding chemical use, waste and materials management are not entirely known. It is possible that chlorinated solvents were used for cleaning operations at the site during this time, as was a common industrial practice during the 1960s and 70s. Drywells were used as floor drains in several of the buildings and as storm water drains along the exterior of the site until most of the drywells were plugged with concrete by ADS shortly after beginning its lease of the property in the early 1990s. Additionally, the site buildings have been connected to septic systems since development. Subsurface investigations were performed around the drywells and leach fields in 2004 and included the collection of soil and groundwater samples. The investigations identified trichloroethylene (TCE) levels in the groundwater around Building 4 and along the southern site boundary above Ohio cleanup and drinking water standards. No detections of TCE were observed in the water wells used at the site. It does not appear that any further investigation or remedial actions have been conducted at the site in association with the TCE detections. Based on the results of the 2004 subsurface investigations, it appears that low level TCE impacts still likely exist at the site, especially at the southern portion of the site near Building 4 and along the site boundary. Civil and Environmental Consultants (CEC), in its June 8, 2004 Supplemental Groundwater Assessment concluded that the most likely source of the TCE impacts is the landfill adjacent to the south of the ADS facility; however, the CEC report also stated that the detected concentrations of TCE did not clearly indicate if the TCE has originated from the landfill, the dry well, or both. GaiaTech believes the source of TCE impacts is not clear; however, GaiaTech believes that it is more likely that the impacts are from solvent used at the ADS site, particularly in Building 4, as it is the machine shop for the site. Parts washer solvent is currently used and it is likely that other solvents were used historically. GaiaTech characterized the presence of the TCE detections above the Ohios Voluntary Action Program groundwater standards and maximum contaminant levels as a recognized environmental condition (REC).
3. Brazil, IN (2430 East HWY 40) : This facility does not maintain an air permit, but one may be required.
4. Findlay, OH (12370 County Road 172 ): This facility does not maintain an NPDES permit associated with outfalls that discharge perimeter drainage, surface water runoff, contact cooling water and trench drain/sump to an unnamed tributary.
5. NPDES Permits : The ADS facilities in Bakersfield, CA and Brazil, IN may not maintain NPDES permits associated with stormwater discharges, including those associated with outdoor storage practices. Further, the NPDES stormwater permits for certain other ADS facilities may be expired and require renewal.
SCHEDULE 8.2.1
Permitted Indebtedness
| Indebtedness in connection with each of the following: |
| The IDRB Facilities |
| Promissory Note, dated as of February 29, 2008, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with respect to property related to the premises located at 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 |
| Commercial Term Note, dated as of August 17, 2004, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of PNC Bank, National Association (successor to National City Bank) with respect to property related to the premises located at 2650 Hamilton-Eaton Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011 |
| The following letters of credit issued for the benefit of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.: |
Outstanding Balance as of
Closing Date |
||||
IDRBs |
||||
Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority
|
$ | 1,070,000 | ||
New Jersey Economic Development Authority |
$ | 4,930,000 | ||
|
|
|||
Subtotal |
$ | 6,000,000 |
SCHEDULE 8.2.3
Guaranties
| Guaranty by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (up to $7,000,000, plus 50% of interest, fees and expenses related thereto) of the $14,000,000 credit facility of Tubos y Plásticos Tigre-ADS de Chile Limitada from Banco Itau Chile. |
Exhibit 10.1A
FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (the First Amendment ), dated as of December 20, 2013, amends that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (the Credit Agreement ), by and among ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Borrower ), the GUARANTORS (as defined in the Credit Agreement), the LENDERS (as defined in the Credit Agreement) PARTY THERETO, and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent ).
WITNESSETH :
WHEREAS, the Borrower desires to make a Capital Distribution to its shareholders in the amount of approximately $107,966,100, which Capital Distribution is contemplated to occur in January, 2014.
WHEREAS, approximately $22,624,300 of the contemplated Capital Distribution will be paid with respect to shares held by the ESOP which have not been allocated to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof.
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested an amendment of the Credit Agreement in order to increase Consolidated EDITDAE by the amount of the Capital Distribution paid with respect to unallocated shares held by the ESOP, and the Lenders have agreed to such amendment subject to the terms and conditions herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of their mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, covenant and agree as follows:
1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
2. Recitals . The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
3. Amendments to Credit Agreement .
(a) The following new defined terms are hereby added to Section 1.1 [Certain Definitions] of the Credit Agreement in alphabetical order as follows:
ESOP Dividends on Unallocated Shares shall mean the Capital Distributions made by the Borrower in January, 2014 with respect to the shares of stock of the Borrower held by the ESOP which have not been allocated to the ESOP accounts of employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which Capital Distributions shall not exceed $22,624,300 in the aggregate.
First Amendment shall mean the First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2013.
First Amendment Effective Date shall mean the date upon which the First Amendment became effective pursuant to its terms.
(b) The following definitions in Section 1.1 [Certain Definitions] of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
Consolidated EBITDAE for any period of determination shall mean, without duplication, (x) net income, plus , to the extent reducing net income, the sum, of amounts for (a) consolidated interest expense, (b) charges for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, (c) total depreciation expense, (d) total amortization expense, (e) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,100,000, (f) non-cash charges reducing net income for such period, (g) ESOP Compensation, (h) ESOP Dividends on Unallocated Shares, and (i) non-cash compensation related to stock options and restricted stock, minus (y) non-cash gains increasing net income, in each case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP .
For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAE (a) with respect to a business acquired by the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries thereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 or Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as interpreted by the staff of the United States of America Securities and Exchange Commission), using historical numbers of any business so acquired, in accordance with GAAP as if the Permitted Acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period, and (b) with respect to a business or assets liquidated, sold or disposed of by the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 8.2.7 [Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries], Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on the basis stated above), using historical numbers of any business or assets so liquidated, sold or disposed of, in accordance with GAAP as if such liquidation, sale or disposition had been consummated at the beginning of such period.
Fixed Charges shall mean for any period of determination the sum of (i) cash interest expense, plus (ii) scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness, plus (iii) such portion of Capital Distributions pursuant to the ESOP exceeding $10,000,000 during any fiscal year (excluding the Capital Distributions with respect to the ESOP Dividends on Unallocated Shares), in each case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
4. Conditions Precedent . The Borrower, the Guarantors and the Lenders acknowledge that this First Amendment shall not be effective until the date each of the following conditions precedent has been satisfied (such date is referred to herein as the First Amendment Effective Date ):
(a) The Borrower, the Guarantors, the Required Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall have executed, and delivered to the Administrative Agent, this First Amendment;
2
(b) The Senior Noteholders (2010) under the Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement for the Borrowers 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018 and 4.05% Senior Series B Secured Notes due September 24, 2019 have executed and delivered an amendment to such Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement between such Senior Noteholders (2010) and the Borrower pursuant to which such Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement is amended to be consistent with the amendments of the Credit Agreement as set forth in this First Amendment;
(c) The Borrower and each Guarantor, by its execution and delivery of this First Amendment, shall have and be deemed to have certified to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that the certificates dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, on behalf of itself and the Guarantors, remain true, correct and complete on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date;
(d) Since March 31, 2013, no Material Adverse Change shall have occurred with respect to the Borrower or any of the Guarantors;
(e) The Borrower and the Guarantors shall have obtained all approvals and consents necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this First Amendment;
(f) The Borrower shall have reimbursed the Administrative Agent all fees and expenses, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees, for which the Administrative Agent is entitled to be reimbursed; and
(g) All legal details and proceedings to be consummated and/or otherwise completed as of the First Amendment Effective Date in connection with the transactions contemplated by this First Amendment and all other Loan Documents to be delivered to the Lenders shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
5. Incorporation into Credit Agreement . This First Amendment shall be incorporated into the Credit Agreement by this reference.
6. Full Force and Effect . Except as expressly modified by this First Amendment, all of the terms, conditions, representations, warranties and covenants of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct and shall continue in full force and effect without modification, including without limitation, all liens and security interests securing the Borrowers indebtedness to the Lenders and all Guaranty Agreements executed and delivered by the Guarantors.
7. Reimbursement of Expenses . The Borrower unconditionally agrees to pay and reimburse the Administrative Agent and save the Administrative Agent harmless against liability
3
for the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements, including without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the development, preparation, execution, administration, interpretation or performance of this First Amendment and all other documents or instruments to be delivered in connection herewith.
8. Counterparts . This First Amendment may be executed by different parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered shall be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
9. Entire Agreement . This First Amendment sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof. No representation, promise, inducement or statement of intention has been made by any party which is not embodied in this First Amendment, and no party shall be bound by or liable for any alleged representation, promise, inducement or statement of intention not set forth herein.
10. Governing Law . This First Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of Ohio, U.S.A. and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Ohio, U.S.A. without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
4
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto duly authorized, have executed this First Amendment as of the day and year first above written.
BORROWER: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: |
Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Title: |
Secretary, Executive Vice President, |
|
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | ||
GUARANTOR: | ||
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: |
Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Title: |
Secretary and Treasurer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, individually and as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ George M. Gevas |
|
Name: | George M. Gevas | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., individually and as Co-Documentation Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ Joseph R. Jackson |
|
Name: |
Joseph R. Jackson |
|
Title: | Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BMO HARRIS BANK N.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael Gift |
|
Name: |
Michael Gift |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Brian J. Blomeke |
|
Name: | Brian J. Blomeke | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA | ||
By: |
/s/ Carl S. Tabacjar, Jr. |
|
Name: |
Carl S. Tabacjar, Jr. |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
FIFTH THIRD BANK, individually and as Co-Syndication Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ William J. Whitley |
|
Name: | William J. Whitley | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
FIRSTMERIT BANK, N.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ Robert G. Morlan |
|
Name: | Robert G. Morlan | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually and as Co-Documentation Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ Jana Herzog |
|
Name: |
Jana Herzog |
|
Title: |
Authorized Officer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Jeffrey P. Sullivan |
|
Name: |
Jeffrey P. Sullivan |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
TRISTATE CAPITAL BANK | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael P. Morris |
|
Name: |
Michael P. Morris |
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
Exhibit 10.2
$12,000,000 REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
by and among
ADS MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V., as Borrower,
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent,
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,
RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and
FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Joint Bookrunners,
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,
RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and
FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Joint Lead Arrangers, and
RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and
FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents
Dated as of June 12, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||
1.1 Certain Definitions |
1 | |||
1.2 Construction |
25 | |||
1.3 Accounting Principles |
26 | |||
2. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY | 26 | |||
2.1 Revolving Credit Commitments |
26 | |||
2.1.1 Revolving Credit Loans |
26 | |||
2.1.2 [Intentionally Omitted] |
26 | |||
2.1.3 Reduction in Revolving Credit Commitment |
27 | |||
2.2 Nature of Lenders Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans |
27 | |||
2.3 Commitment Fees |
27 | |||
2.4 [Intentionally Omitted] |
27 | |||
2.5 Revolving Credit Loan Requests |
27 | |||
2.5.1 Revolving Credit Loan Requests |
27 | |||
2.5.2 [Intentionally Omitted] |
28 | |||
2.6 Making Revolving Credit Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans |
28 | |||
2.6.1 Making Revolving Credit Loans |
28 | |||
2.6.2 Presumptions by the Administrative Agent |
28 | |||
2.6.3 [Intentionally Omitted] |
29 | |||
2.6.4 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans |
29 | |||
2.6.5 [Intentionally Omitted] |
29 | |||
2.7 Notes |
29 | |||
2.8 Use of Proceeds |
29 | |||
2.9 Letter of Credit Subfacility |
29 | |||
2.9.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit |
29 | |||
2.9.2 Letter of Credit Fees |
30 | |||
2.9.3 Disbursements, Reimbursement |
30 | |||
2.9.4 Repayment of Participation Advances |
32 | |||
2.9.5 Documentation |
32 | |||
2.9.6 Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests |
32 | |||
2.9.7 Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations |
33 | |||
2.9.8 Indemnity |
34 | |||
2.9.9 Liability for Acts and Omissions |
34 | |||
2.9.10 Issuing Lender Reporting Requirements |
36 | |||
2.10 [Intentionally Omitted] |
36 | |||
2.11 Defaulting Lenders |
36 | |||
3. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED] | 37 | |||
4. INTEREST RATES | 37 | |||
4.1 Interest Rate Options |
37 |
i
4.1.1 Revolving Credit Interest Rate Options |
38 | |||
4.1.2 [Intentionally Omitted] |
38 | |||
4.1.3 Rate Quotations |
38 | |||
4.2 Interest Periods |
38 | |||
4.2.1 Amount of Borrowing Tranche |
38 | |||
4.2.2 Renewals |
38 | |||
4.3 Interest After Default |
38 | |||
4.3.1 Letter of Credit Fees, Interest Rate |
39 | |||
4.3.2 Other Obligations |
39 | |||
4.4 LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available |
39 | |||
4.4.1 Unascertainable |
39 | |||
4.4.2 Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available |
39 | |||
4.4.3 Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights |
39 | |||
4.5 Selection of Interest Rate Options |
40 | |||
5. PAYMENTS | 40 | |||
5.1 Payments |
40 | |||
5.2 Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders |
41 | |||
5.3 Sharing of Payments by Lenders |
41 | |||
5.4 Presumptions by Administrative Agent |
42 | |||
5.5 Interest Payment Dates |
42 | |||
5.6 Voluntary Prepayments |
42 | |||
5.6.1 Right to Prepay |
42 | |||
5.6.2 Replacement of a Lender |
43 | |||
5.6.3 Designation of a Different Lending Office |
44 | |||
5.7 [Intentionally Omitted] |
44 | |||
5.8 Increased Costs |
44 | |||
5.8.1 Increased Costs Generally |
44 | |||
5.8.2 Capital Requirements |
45 | |||
5.8.3 Certificates for Reimbursement; Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans |
45 | |||
5.8.4 Delay in Requests |
45 | |||
5.9 Taxes |
46 | |||
5.9.1 Issuing Lender |
46 | |||
5.9.2 Payments Free of Taxes |
46 | |||
5.9.3 Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower |
46 | |||
5.9.4 Indemnification by the Borrower |
46 | |||
5.9.5 Indemnification by the Lenders |
46 | |||
5.9.6 Evidence of Payments |
47 | |||
5.9.7 Status of Lenders |
47 | |||
5.9.8 Treatment of Certain Refunds |
50 | |||
5.9.9 Survival |
50 | |||
5.10 Indemnity |
50 | |||
5.11 [Intentionally Omitted] |
51 | |||
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 51 |
ii
6.1 Representations and Warranties of Borrower |
51 | |||
6.1.1 Organization and Qualification; Power and Authority; Compliance With Laws; Title to Properties; Event of Default |
51 | |||
6.1.2 Subsidiaries and Owners; Investment Companies |
52 | |||
6.1.3 Validity and Binding Effect |
52 | |||
6.1.4 No Conflict; Material Agreements; Consents |
52 | |||
6.1.5 Litigation |
53 | |||
6.1.6 Financial Statements |
53 | |||
6.1.7 Margin Stock |
53 | |||
6.1.8 Full Disclosure |
54 | |||
6.1.9 Taxes |
54 | |||
6.1.10 Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc. |
54 | |||
6.1.11 [Intentionally Omitted] |
54 | |||
6.1.12 Insurance |
54 | |||
6.1.13 ERISA Compliance |
54 | |||
6.1.14 Environmental Matters |
55 | |||
6.1.15 Solvency |
55 | |||
6.1.16 Anti-Money Laundering/International Trade Law Compliance |
55 | |||
7. CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT | 56 | |||
7.1 First Loans and Letters of Credit |
56 | |||
7.1.1 Deliveries |
56 | |||
7.1.2 Payment of Fees |
57 | |||
7.2 Each Loan or Letter of Credit |
57 | |||
8. COVENANTS | 57 | |||
8.1 Affirmative Covenants |
57 | |||
8.1.1 Preservation of Existence, Etc. |
57 | |||
8.1.2 Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, Etc. |
58 | |||
8.1.3 Maintenance of Insurance |
58 | |||
8.1.4 Maintenance of Properties |
58 | |||
8.1.5 Visitation Rights |
58 | |||
8.1.6 Keeping of Records and Books of Account |
58 | |||
8.1.7 Compliance with Laws; Use of Proceeds |
59 | |||
8.1.8 [Intentionally Omitted] |
59 | |||
8.1.9 Anti-Terrorism Laws |
59 | |||
8.2 Negative Covenants |
59 | |||
8.2.1 Indebtedness |
59 | |||
8.2.2 Liens; Negative Pledges |
60 | |||
8.2.3 Guaranties |
60 | |||
8.2.4 Loans and Investments |
60 | |||
8.2.5 Capital Distributions |
61 | |||
8.2.6 Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions |
62 | |||
8.2.7 Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries |
63 | |||
8.2.8 Affiliate Transactions |
64 | |||
8.2.9 Subsidiaries and Partnerships |
64 | |||
8.2.10 Continuation of or Change in Business |
64 |
iii
8.2.11 Fiscal Year |
64 | |||
8.2.12 Issuance of Stock |
64 | |||
8.2.13 Changes in Organizational Documents |
64 | |||
8.2.14 Real Property |
64 | |||
8.2.15 [Intentionally Omitted] |
64 | |||
8.2.16 [Intentionally Omitted] |
64 | |||
8.2.17 [Intentionally Omitted] |
64 | |||
8.2.18 [Intentionally Omitted] |
64 | |||
8.3 Reporting Requirements |
64 | |||
8.3.1 Quarterly Financial Statements |
65 | |||
8.3.2 Annual Financial Statements |
65 | |||
8.3.3 Compliance Certificate of Borrower |
65 | |||
8.3.4 Notices |
66 | |||
8.3.5 English Language and Dollars |
67 | |||
9. DEFAULT | 67 | |||
9.1 Events of Default |
67 | |||
9.1.1 Payments Under Loan Documents |
67 | |||
9.1.2 Breach of Warranty |
67 | |||
9.1.3 Breach of Negative Covenants or Visitation Rights |
67 | |||
9.1.4 Breach of Other Covenants |
67 | |||
9.1.5 Defaults in ADS Credit Agreement or Other Agreements or Indebtedness |
67 | |||
9.1.6 Final Judgments or Orders |
68 | |||
9.1.7 Termination of ADS Credit Agreement or Loan Document Unenforceable |
68 | |||
9.1.8 [Intentionally Omitted] |
68 | |||
9.1.9 Change of Control |
68 | |||
9.1.10 Liquidity Event |
68 | |||
9.1.11 Relief Proceedings |
68 | |||
9.2 Consequences of Event of Default |
68 | |||
9.2.1 Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings |
69 | |||
9.2.2 Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings |
69 | |||
9.2.3 Set-off |
69 | |||
9.2.4 Application of Proceeds |
70 | |||
10. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 70 | |||
10.1 Appointment and Authority |
70 | |||
10.2 Rights as a Lender |
70 | |||
10.3 Exculpatory Provisions |
71 | |||
10.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent |
72 | |||
10.5 Delegation of Duties |
72 | |||
10.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent |
72 | |||
10.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders |
73 | |||
10.8 No Other Duties, etc. |
73 | |||
10.9 Administrative Agents Fee |
73 |
iv
10.10 Authorization to Release Collateral and Guarantors |
73 | |||
10.11 No Reliance on Administrative Agents Customer Identification Program |
74 | |||
10.12 Right of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guaranties |
74 | |||
10.13 Understandings and Authorizations with respect to the Intercreditor Agreement |
74 | |||
11. MISCELLANEOUS | 75 | |||
11.1 Modifications, Amendments or Waivers |
75 | |||
11.1.1 Increase of Commitment |
75 | |||
11.1.2 Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment |
75 | |||
11.1.3 Release of Collateral or Guarantor |
75 | |||
11.1.4 [Intentionally Omitted] |
75 | |||
11.1.5 Miscellaneous |
75 | |||
11.2 No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies |
76 | |||
11.3 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
76 | |||
11.3.1 Costs and Expenses |
76 | |||
11.3.2 Indemnification by the Borrower |
77 | |||
11.3.3 Reimbursement by Lenders |
78 | |||
11.3.4 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. |
78 | |||
11.3.5 Payments |
78 | |||
11.4 Holidays |
78 | |||
11.5 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication |
78 | |||
11.5.1 Notices Generally |
79 | |||
11.5.2 Electronic Communications |
79 | |||
11.5.3 Change of Address, Etc. |
79 | |||
11.6 Severability |
79 | |||
11.7 Duration; Survival |
79 | |||
11.8 Successors and Assigns |
80 | |||
11.8.1 Successors and Assigns Generally |
80 | |||
11.8.2 Assignments by Lenders |
80 | |||
11.8.3 Register |
82 | |||
11.8.4 Participations |
82 | |||
11.8.5 [Intentionally Omitted] |
83 | |||
11.8.6 Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally |
83 | |||
11.8.7 [Intentionally Omitted] |
83 | |||
11.9 Confidentiality |
83 | |||
11.9.1 General |
83 | |||
11.9.2 Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders |
84 | |||
11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
84 | |||
11.11 CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
84 | |||
11.11.1 Governing Law |
84 | |||
11.11.2 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION |
84 | |||
11.11.3 WAIVER OF VENUE |
85 | |||
11.11.4 SERVICE OF PROCESS |
85 |
v
11.11.5 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
85 | |||
11.12 USA Patriot Act Notice |
86 | |||
11.13 Joinder of Guarantors |
86 | |||
11.14 [Intentionally Omitted] |
86 | |||
11.15 Amendment and Restatement, No Novation |
87 |
vi
LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
SCHEDULES | ||||
SCHEDULE 1.1(A) | | PRICING GRID | ||
SCHEDULE 1.1(B) | | COMMITMENTS OF LENDERS AND ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES | ||
SCHEDULE 1.1(P) | | PERMITTED LIENS | ||
SCHEDULE 2.8 | | EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT | ||
SCHEDULE 6.1.1 | | QUALIFICATIONS TO DO BUSINESS | ||
SCHEDULE 6.1.2 | | SUBSIDIARIES | ||
SCHEDULE 6.1.14 | | ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURES | ||
SCHEDULE 7.1.1 | | OPINION OF COUNSEL | ||
SCHEDULE 8.2.1 | | PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS | ||
SCHEDULE 8.2.3 | | GUARANTIES | ||
SCHEDULE 8.2.4 | | EXISTING INVESTMENTS | ||
EXHIBITS | ||||
EXHIBIT 1.1(A) | | ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(1) | | GUARANTOR JOINDER | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(2) | | GUARANTY AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(N) | | REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(P) | | PLEDGE AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(S) | | SECURITY AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 2.5 | | LOAN REQUEST | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(A) | | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(B) | | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(C) | | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(D) | | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 8.3.3 | | COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE |
vii
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (as hereafter amended, the Agreement ) is dated as of June 12, 2013 and is made by and among ADS MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V., a corporation organized under the laws of the United Mexican States (the Borrower ),the LENDERS (as hereinafter defined), PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement (hereinafter referred to in such capacity, as well as its successors and assigns, as the Administrative Agent ), PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Joint Bookrunners (hereinafter collectively referred to in such capacity as the Joint Bookrunners ), PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Joint Lead Arrangers (hereinafter collectively referred to in such capacity as the Joint Lead Arrangers ), and RBS CITIZENS, N.A. and FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents (hereinafter collectively referred to in such capacity as the Co-Syndication Agents ).
RECITALS:
A. The Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend credit to the Borrower to refinance the Existing Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined) and to provide working capital and funds for general corporate purposes and capital expenditures.
B. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lenders are willing to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement to extend credit and make available to the Borrower the credit facility provided for herein for the foregoing purposes.
In consideration of the premises and mutual agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the parties hereto, the parties hereto amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions . In addition to words and terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context hereof clearly requires otherwise:
Administrative Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and its successors and assigns.
Administrative Agents Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.9 [Administrative Agents Fee].
Administrative Agents Letter shall have the meaning specified in Section10.9 [Administrative Agents Fee].
ADS shall mean Advanced Draining Systems, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, affiliated with the Borrower.
ADS Corporativo shall mean ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United Mexican States, affiliated with the Borrower.
ADS Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, of even date herewith, among ADS, as the borrower thereunder, the Guarantors (as defined therein) time to time party thereto, the Lenders (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, and PNC, as Administrative Agent (as defined therein) for such Lenders, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Affiliate shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person (i) which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, (ii) which beneficially owns or holds 10% or more of any class of the voting or other equity interests of such Person, or (iii) 10% or more of any class of voting interests or other equity interests of which is beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
Anti-Terrorism Laws shall mean any Laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224, the USA Patriot Act, the Laws comprising or implementing the Bank Secrecy Act, and the Laws administered by the United States of America Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Asset Control (as any of the foregoing Laws may from time to time be amended, renewed, extended, or replaced).
Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall mean the percentage rate per annum based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Commitment Fee.
Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall mean the percentage rate per annum based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Letter of Credit Fee.
Applicable Margin shall mean, as applicable:
(A) the percentage spread to be added to the Base Rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Revolving Credit Base Rate Spread, or
(B) the percentage spread to be added to the LIBOR Rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option based on the Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Spread.
Approved Fund shall mean any fund that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
2
Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall mean an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee permitted under Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns], in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(A) .
Authorized Officer shall mean, with respect to any Loan Party, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or General Manager of such Loan Party or such other individuals, designated by written notice to the Administrative Agent from the Borrower, authorized to execute notices, reports and other documents on behalf of the Loan Parties required hereunder. The Borrower may amend such list of individuals from time to time by giving written notice of such amendment to the Administrative Agent.
Base Rate shall mean, for any day, a fluctuating per annum rate of interest equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Open Rate, plus fifty basis points (0.5%), and (b) the Prime Rate, and (c) the Daily LIBOR Rate, plus 100 basis points (1.0%). Any change in the Base Rate (or any component thereof) shall take effect at the opening of business on the day such change occurs.
Base Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to have Loans bear interest at the rate and under the terms set forth in Section 4.1.1(i) [Revolving Credit Base Rate Option].
Borrower shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
Borrowing Date shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the date for the making thereof or the renewal or conversion thereof at or to the same or a different Interest Rate Option, which shall be a Business Day.
Borrowing Tranche shall mean specified portions of Loans outstanding as follows: (i) any Loans to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies which become subject to the same Interest Rate Option under the same Loan Request by the Borrower and which have the same Interest Period shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche, and (ii) all Loans to which a Base Rate Option applies shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks are authorized or required to be closed for business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America and if the applicable Business Day relates to any Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, such day must also be a day on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.
Capital Distribution shall mean a payment made, liability incurred or other consideration given for the purchase, acquisition, redemption or retirement of any capital stock or other equity interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or as a dividend, return of capital or other distribution (other than any stock dividend, stock split or other equity distribution payable only in capital stock or other equity of the Borrower or such Subsidiary) in respect of the Borrowers or any Subsidiarys capital stock or other equity interest.
3
Cash Equivalents shall mean, at any time, any of the following investments which are not subject to a Lien in favor of any Person other than the Administrative Agent: (i) Indebtedness with a maturity of one year or less 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), (ii) certificates of deposit or acceptances with a maturity of one year or less of any financial institution that is a member of the United States of Americas Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000, (iii) commercial paper with a maturity of 270 days or less issued by a corporation (except an Affiliate of the Borrower) organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America or the District of Columbia thereof and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poors or at least P-1 by Moodys Investors Services, Inc., (iv) repurchase agreements with institutions described in clause (ii) with respect to investments described in clause (i), (v) money market mutual funds or cash management trusts rated in the highest rating by Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Services, Inc. (and not rated other than in the highest rating by Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Services, Inc.) or investing solely in investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above and (vi) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, Permitted Investments made locally of a type comparable to those described in clause (i) through (v) of this definition.
CFC shall mean a Controlled Foreign Corporation as such term is defined in Section 957 of the Code.
Change in Law shall mean the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (i) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (ii) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Official Body or (iii) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) by any Official Body; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the United States of Americas Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities (whether or not having the force of Law), in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a Change in Law regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.
CIP Regulations shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.11 [No Reliance on Administrative Agents Customer Identification Program].
Closing Date shall mean the Business Day on which the first Loan shall be made, which shall be June 12, 2013.
Co-Syndication Agent shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
4
Code shall mean the United States of Americas Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.
Collateral shall mean the collateral in which a Lien is granted to the Collateral Agent under any of the (i) Security Agreement or (ii) Pledge Agreement.
Collateral Agent shall mean PNC, as the collateral agent pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement and holding a security interests under the Collateral Documents for the benefit of the Senior Secured Obligations.
Collateral Documents shall mean the Security Agreement and the Pledge Agreement.
Commodity Exchange Act shall mean the United States of America Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq .), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Commitment shall mean as to any Lender its Revolving Credit Commitment and Commitments shall mean the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders.
Commitment Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3 [Commitment Fees].
Compliance Authority shall mean each and all of the (a) United States of America Treasury Department/Office of Foreign Assets Control, (b) United States of America Treasury Department/Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, (c) United States of America State Department/Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, (d) United States of America Commerce Department/Bureau of Industry and Security, (e) United States of America Internal Revenue Service, (f) United States of America Justice Department, and (g) United States of America Securities and Exchange Commission.
Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.3.3 [Certificate of the Borrower].
Connection Income Taxes shall mean Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Consolidated EBITDAE for any period of determination shall mean, without duplication, (i) net income, plus , to the extent reducing net income, the sum of amounts for (a) consolidated interest expense, (b) charges for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, (c) total depreciation expense, (d) total amortization expense, (e) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,100,000, (f) non-cash charges reducing net income for such period, (g) ESOP Compensation (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement), and (h) non-cash compensation related to stock options and restricted stock, minus (ii) non-cash gains increasing net income, in each case of ADS and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
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For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAE (a) with respect to a business acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition (for the purposes of this definition, as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement), Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 or Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as interpreted by the staff of the United States of America Securities and Exchange Commission), using historical numbers of any business so acquired, in accordance with GAAP as if such Permitted Acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period, and (b) with respect to a business or assets liquidated, sold or disposed of as permitted in the ADS Credit Agreement, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on the basis stated above), using historical numbers of any business or assets so liquidated, sold or disposed of, in accordance with GAAP as if such liquidation, sale or disposition had been consummated at the beginning of such period.
Covered Entity shall mean (a) the Borrower, all Subsidiaries of the Borrower, all Guarantors and pledgors of Collateral and (b) each Person which, directly or indirectly, controls any Person described in clause (a) above. For purposes of this definition, control of a Person shall mean the direct or indirect (x) ownership of, or power to vote, 10% or more of any class of the voting or other equity interests of such Person or (y) power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by ownership of voting or other equity interests, contract or otherwise.
Daily LIBOR Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (x) the Published Rate by (y) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage on such day.
Defaulting Lender shall mean any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or (iii) pay over to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or any Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within two Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon the Administrative Agents or the Borrowers receipt of such certification in form and substance
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satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, as the case may be, (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event or (e) has failed at any time to comply with the provisions of Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] with respect to purchasing participations from the other Lenders, whereby such Lenders share of any payment received, whether by setoff or otherwise, is in excess of its Ratable Share of such payments due and payable to all of the Lenders.
As used in this definition and in Section 2.10 [Defaulting Lenders], the term Bankruptcy Event shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person or such Persons direct or indirect parent company becoming the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or having had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person or such Persons direct or indirect parent company by an Official Body or instrumentality thereof if, and only if, such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Official Body or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
Dollar, Dollars, U.S. Dollars and the symbol $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
Domestic Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized or formed under the laws of the United States of America or any state of the United States of America.
Drawing Date shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Eligible Foreign Institution shall mean any of the following: (i) a non-Mexican bank, investment bank or financial institution which is (or its main office is, if lending through a branch or agency) (A) registered with the Hacienda for purposes of Article 195-I of the Mexican Income Tax Law (or any successor provisions thereof), (B) a resident for tax purposes of a country with which the United Mexican States has entered into a treaty for the avoidance of double-taxation which is in effect, and (C) the effective beneficiary ( beneficiario efectivo ) of any interest paid hereunder or under the Notes; (ii) a non-Mexican insurance institution or company which is (or its main office is, if lending through a branch or agency) (A) a resident for tax purposes of a country with which the United Mexican States has entered into a treaty for the avoidance of double-taxation which is in effect that is entitled pursuant to such treaty and upon execution of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement to receive additional amounts under Section 5.9 [Status of Lenders] in amounts that are not greater that such assignor would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights assigned at the time such insurance institution or company became a party to this Agreement, and (C) the effective beneficiary ( beneficiario efectivo ) of any interest paid hereunder or under the Notes; (iii) a non-Mexican pension and retirement fund which is (or its main office is, if lending through a branch or agency) (A)
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registered with Hacienda for purposes of Article 195-I of the Mexican Income Tax Law (or any successor provisions thereof), (B) a resident for tax purposes of a country with which the United Mexican States has entered into a treaty for the avoidance of double-taxation which is in effect, and (C) the effective beneficiary ( beneficiario efectivo ) of any interest paid hereunder or under the Notes, and that such interest payments are exempt from income tax in the country in which it is a resident for tax purposes; and/or (iv) an Export Credit Agency.
Environmental Laws shall mean all applicable federal, state, local, tribal, territorial and foreign Laws (including common law), constitutions, statutes, treaties, regulations, rules, ordinances and codes and any consent decrees, settlement agreements, judgments, orders, directives, policies or programs issued by or entered into with an Official Body pertaining or relating to: (i) pollution or pollution control; (ii) protection of human health from exposure to regulated substances; (iii) protection of the environment and/or natural resources; (iv) employee safety in the workplace; (v) the presence, use, management, generation, manufacture, processing, extraction, treatment, recycling, refining, reclamation, labeling, packaging, sale, transport, storage, collection, distribution, disposal or release or threat of release of regulated substances; (vi) the presence of contamination; (vii) the protection of endangered or threatened species; and (viii) the protection of environmentally sensitive areas.
ERISA shall mean the United States of Americas Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.
ERISA Event shall mean (a) with respect to a Pension Plan, a reportable event under Section 4043 of ERISA as to which event (after taking into account notice waivers provided for in the regulations) there is a duty to give notice to the PBGC; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group from a Multiemployer Plan, notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, or occurrence of an event described in Section 4041A(a) of ERISA that results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(e) of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group.
ERISA Group shall mean, at any time, the Borrower and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control and all other entities which, together with the Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA.
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Event of Default shall mean any of the events described in Section 9.1 [Events of Default] and referred to therein as an Event of Default.
Excluded Swap Obligations 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 Guarantors failure for any reason to constitute an eligible contract participant as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder 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 shall mean any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (a) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (b) that are Other Connection Taxes, (ii) U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Recipient with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (a) such Recipient acquires such interest in such Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender]) or (b) such Recipient changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders], amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Recipients assignor immediately before such Recipient became a party hereto or to such Recipient immediately before it changed its lending office, (iii) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders], (iv) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA; (v) any tax pursuant to the provisions of section 501 of the United States of Americas Title V of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (H.R. 2847) except to the extent imposed as a result of the Borrower not providing required documentation or information to the IRS; and (vi) any withholding taxes to the extent imposed by reason of such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent (that is not a Mexican Entity), or its respective assignees or participants, if any, failing to be an Eligible Foreign Institution and/or to maintain its registration, for the purposes of Article 195(I) or Article 196(II) of the Mexican Income Tax Law ( Ley del Impuesto Sobre la Renta ) or any successor provision with the Hacienda, so long as such registration is necessary for such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent as a precondition to exemption from, or the reduction in the rate of, deduction or withholding of Taxes and to the extent such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent is lawfully able to do so.
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Executive Order No. 13224 shall mean the United States of Americas Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.
Existing Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 24, 2010 among the Borrower, the guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and PNC, as the administrative agent, as amended.
Expiration Date shall mean June 12, 2018.
Export Credit Agency shall mean an official non-Mexican financial institution for the promotion of exports duly registered with Hacienda for purposes of Article 196-II of the Mexican Income Tax Law (or any successor provisions thereof).
FATCA shall mean 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.
Federal Funds Effective Rate for any day shall mean the rate per annum (based on a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed and rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) announced by the United States of Americas Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any successor) on such day as being the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions arranged by federal funds brokers on the previous trading day, as computed and announced by such Federal Reserve Bank (or any successor) in substantially the same manner as such Federal Reserve Bank computes and announces the weighted average it refers to as the Federal Funds Effective Rate as of the date of this Agreement; provided , if such Federal Reserve Bank (or its successor) does not announce such rate on any day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the last day on which such rate was announced.
Federal Funds Open Rate for any day shall mean the rate per annum (based on a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) which is the daily federal funds open rate as quoted by ICAP North America, Inc. (or any successor) as set forth on the Bloomberg Screen BTMM for that day opposite the caption OPEN (or on such other substitute Bloomberg Screen that displays such rate), or as set forth on such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate as selected by the Administrative Agent (for purposes of this definition, an Alternate Source ) (or if such rate for such day does not appear on the Bloomberg Screen BTMM (or any substitute screen) or on any Alternate Source, or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Screen BTMM (or any substitute screen) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error); provided however, that if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Open Rate for such day shall be the open rate on the immediately preceding Business Day. If and when the Federal Funds Open Rate changes, the rate of interest with respect to any advance to which the Federal Funds Open Rate applies will change automatically without notice to the Borrower, effective on the date of any such change.
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Foreign Holding Company shall mean any Person which has as its principal purpose the holding of ownership interest in one or more CFCs and has no other material assets or operations.
Foreign Lender shall mean any Lender that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which ADS is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each state thereof and the District of Columbia thereof shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
Foreign Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
Fronting Exposure shall mean, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentage of the outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank other than Letter of Credit Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or cash collateralized in accordance with Section 2.11(iii)(B) hereof.
GAAP shall mean (i) as applied in connection with ADS, generally accepted accounting principles as are in effect from time to time in the United States of America, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3 [Accounting Principles], which shall include the official interpretations thereof by the United States of Americas Financial Accounting Standards Board, and (ii) as applied in connection with the Borrower, generally accepted accounting principles as are in effect from time to time in the United Mexican States, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3 [Accounting Principles], which shall include the official interpretations thereof by any equivalent to such Financial Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied.
Guarantor shall mean ADS and each Material Subsidiary (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) of ADS as of the date of this Agreement and each other Person which joins this Agreement as a Guarantor after the date hereof by execution of a Guaranty Agreement or a Guarantor Joinder; provided , however , that no Foreign Subsidiary shall be, or be required to continue to be, a Guarantor.
Guarantor Joinder shall mean a joinder by a Person as a Guarantor under the Loan Documents in the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(1).
Guaranty of any Person shall mean any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any liability or obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any agreement to indemnify or hold harmless any other Person, any performance bond or other suretyship arrangement and any other form of assurance against loss, except endorsement of negotiable or other instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.
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Guaranty Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Continuing Agreement of Guaranty and Suretyship in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(2) executed and delivered by each of the Guarantors.
Hacienda shall mean the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (Ministry of Finance and Public Credit) of the United Mexican States.
Indebtedness shall mean, as to any Person at any time, without duplication, any and all indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or joint or several) of such Person for or in respect of: (i) borrowed money, (ii) amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any note purchase or acceptance credit facility, (iii) reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under any letter of credit agreement, (iv) obligations under any currency swap agreement, interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate management device, (v) any other transaction (including forward sale or purchase agreements, capitalized leases and conditional sales agreements) having the commercial effect of a borrowing of money entered into by such Person to finance its operations or capital requirements (but not including, for purposes of this definition, trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not represented by a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness), or (vi) any Guaranty of Indebtedness for borrowed money.
Indemnified Taxes shall mean (i) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document, and (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in the preceding clause (i), Other Taxes.
Indemnitee shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower].
Information shall mean all information received from the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries relating to the Loan Parties or any of such 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 non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries, provided that, in the case of information received from the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.
Insolvency Proceeding shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) a case, action or proceeding with respect to such Person (i) before any court or any other Official Body under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar Law now or hereafter in effect, or (ii) for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of any Loan Party or otherwise relating to the liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or relief of such Person, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of such Persons creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors; undertaken under any Law.
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Intercreditor Agreement shall mean an amended and restated intercreditor agreement dated as of the Closing Date by and among Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders, the holders of ADS 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018 due in the original aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 (the Senior Notes (2010) ), Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., and the Borrower pursuant to which, inter alia , the parties agree that the Indebtedness under the Loan Documents and the Indebtedness under the Senior Notes (2010) shall be secured on a pari passu basis and that the Administrative Agent shall act as collateral agent with respect to the collateral securing all such Indebtedness.
Interest Period shall mean the period of time selected by the Borrower in connection with (and to apply to) any election permitted hereunder by the Borrower to have Revolving Credit Loans bear interest under the LIBOR Rate Option. Subject to the last sentence of this definition, such period shall be one, two, three or six Months. Such Interest Period shall commence on the effective date of such Interest Rate Option, which shall be (i) the Borrowing Date if the Borrower is requesting new Loans, or (ii) the date of renewal of or conversion to the LIBOR Rate Option if the Borrower is renewing or converting to the LIBOR Rate Option applicable to outstanding Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (A) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a date which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and (B) the Borrower shall not select, convert to or renew an Interest Period for any portion of the Loans that would end after the Expiration Date.
Interest Rate Option shall mean any LIBOR Rate Option or Base Rate Option.
IRS shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America.
Issuing Lender shall mean PNC, in its individual capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, its permitted successors in such capacity hereunder, and any other Lender that Borrower, Administrative Agent and such other Lender may agree may from time to time issue Letters of Credit hereunder. Unless otherwise specified, in respect of any Letter of Credit, Issuing Lender shall refer to the issuing bank which has issued such Letter of Credit.
Joint Bookrunner shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
Joint Lead Arranger shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.
Joint Venture shall mean a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement whether in corporate, partnership or other entity. For the avoidance of doubt, any Subsidiary of a Joint Venture shall be considered to be a Joint Venture.
Law shall mean any law (including common law), constitution, statute, treaty, regulation, rule, ordinance, opinion, release, ruling, order, injunction, writ, decree, bond, judgment, authorization or approval, lien or award by or settlement agreement with any Official Body.
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Lenders shall mean the financial institutions named on Schedule 1.1(B) and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a Lender. For the purpose of any Loan Document which provides for the granting of a security interest or other Lien to the Lenders or to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders as security for the Obligations, Lenders shall include any Affiliate of a Lender to which such Obligation is owed.
Letter of Credit shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.1 [Issuance of Letters of Credit].
Letter of Credit Borrowing shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Letter of Credit Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees].
Letter of Credit Obligation shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit on such date (if any Letter of Credit shall increase in amount automatically in the future, such aggregate amount available to be drawn shall currently give effect to any such future increase) plus the aggregate, without duplication, of the Reimbursement Obligations and Letter of Credit Borrowings on such date.
Letter of Credit Sublimit shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.1 [Issuance of Letters of Credit].
Leverage Ratio shall mean ratio of consolidated total Indebtedness of ADS and its Subsidiaries (excluding (i) any Indebtedness arising from reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under standby Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not exceeding $10,000,000 and (ii) obligations with respect to interest rate swaps, fuel hedges and other commodity hedging arrangements and related marked-to-market liabilities, but including termination obligations arising by reason of the termination or close out of such interest rate swaps, fuel hedges and other commodity hedge arrangements the value of which being determined as of such time of such termination or close out in accordance with the terms of such agreements) to Consolidated EBITDAE, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended.
LIBOR Rate shall mean, with respect to the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies for any Interest Period, the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (the resulting quotient rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1% per annum) (i) the rate which appears on the Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or on such other substitute Bloomberg page that displays rates at which US dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market), or the rate which is quoted by another source selected by the Administrative Agent which has been approved by the British Bankers Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying rates at which US dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market (for purposes of this definition, an Alternate Source ), at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of
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such Interest Period as the London interbank offered rate for U.S. Dollars for an amount comparable to such Borrowing Tranche and having a borrowing date and a maturity comparable to such Interest Period (or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or any substitute page) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error)), by (ii) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage. LIBOR may also be expressed by the following formula:
London interbank offered rates quoted by Bloomberg | ||||
LIBOR Rate | = | or appropriate successor as shown on Bloomberg Page BBAM1 | ||
1.00 - LIBOR Reserve Percentage |
The LIBOR Rate shall be adjusted with respect to any Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies that is outstanding on the effective date of any change in the LIBOR Reserve Percentage as of such effective date. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower of the LIBOR Rate as determined or adjusted in accordance herewith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
LIBOR Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to have Loans bear interest at the rate and under the terms set forth in Section 4.1.1(ii) [Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option].
LIBOR Reserve Percentage shall mean the maximum percentage (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1% per annum) as determined by the Administrative Agent as being in effect during the relevant period (i) as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the United States of Americas Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the reserve requirements (including supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve requirements) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency Liabilities) of a member bank in such system and (ii) to be maintained by a Lender as required for reserve liquidity, special deposit, or a similar purpose by any governmental or monetary authority of any country or political subdivision thereof (including any central bank), against (A) any category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which a LIBOR Rate is to be determined, or (B) any category of extension of credit or other assets that includes Loans or Borrowing Tranches to which a LIBOR Rate applies.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given, including any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of, security and any filed financing statement or other notice of any of the foregoing (whether or not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at the time of the filing).
Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Administrative Agents Letter, the Guaranty Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement, and any other instruments, certificates or documents delivered in connection herewith or therewith.
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Loan Parties shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors.
Loan Request shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests].
Loans shall mean collectively and Loan shall mean separately all Revolving Credit Loans or any Revolving Credit Loan.
Material Adverse Change shall mean any set of circumstances or events which (a) has or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than circumstances or events arising by reason of action or failures to act by the Administrative Agent or a Lender, (b) is or could reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to the business, assets, financial condition, results of operations or properties of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (c) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Loan Parties taken as a whole to duly and punctually pay or perform any of the Obligations, or (d) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders, to the extent permitted, to enforce their legal remedies pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than circumstances or events arising by reason of action or failures to act by the Administrative Agent or a Lender.
Mexican Entity shall mean a Mexican Financial Institution or a Mexican legal entity ( persona moral ) that is a tax resident of the United Mexican States.
Mexican Financial Institution shall mean an institución de banca múltiple or an institución de banca de desarrollo organized or created, as appropriate, and existing pursuant to and in accordance with the laws of the United Mexican States and authorized to engage in the business of banking by the Hacienda or under applicable Law, as applicable.
Month , with respect to an Interest Period under the LIBOR Rate Option, shall mean the interval between the days in consecutive calendar months numerically corresponding to the first day of such Interest Period. If any LIBOR Rate Interest Period begins on a day of a calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which such Interest Period is to end, the final month of such Interest Period shall be deemed to end on the last Business Day of such final month.
Multiemployer Plan shall mean any employee benefit pension plan which is a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and to which the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or, within the preceding five plan years, has made or had an obligation to make such contributions.
Non-Consenting Lender shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers].
Notes shall mean, collectively, the promissory notes in the form of Exhibit 1.1(N) evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans.
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Obligation shall mean any obligation or liability of any of the Loan Parties, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing, or due or to become due, under or in connection with this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agents Letter or any other Loan Document whether to the Administrative Agent, any of the Lenders or their Affiliates or other persons provided for under such Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions in this definition, Obligations shall not include Excluded Swap Obligations.
Official Body 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) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).
Other Connection Taxes shall mean, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient (or an agent or affiliate thereof) and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Taxes shall mean all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender]).
Participant has the meaning specified in Section 11.8.4 [Participations].
Participation Advance shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Payment Date shall mean the first day of each calendar quarter after the date hereof and on the Expiration Date or upon acceleration of the Notes.
Payment In Full or Paid In Full shall mean the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Loans and other Obligations hereunder, termination of the Commitments and expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit.
PBGC shall mean the United States of Americas Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA or any successor.
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Pension Plan shall mean at any time an employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) (including a multiple employer plan as described in Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA, but not a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or is a defined benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(35) of ERISA subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code and either (i) is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.
Permitted Acquisition shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions], unless the context otherwise provides.
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America maturing in twelve (12) months or less from the date of acquisition;
(ii) commercial paper maturing in 180 days or less rated not lower than A-1, by Standard & Poors or P-1 by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. on the date of acquisition;
(iii) demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit maturing within one year in commercial banks whose obligations are rated A-1, A or the equivalent or better by Standard & Poors on the date of acquisition;
(iv) money market or mutual funds whose investments are limited to those types of investments described in clauses (i)-(iii) above; and
(v) Cash Equivalents.
Permitted Liens shall mean:
(i) Liens for taxes, assessments, customs duties, or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable;
(ii) Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of workmens compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with workmens compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs;
(iii) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable and Liens of landlords securing obligations to pay lease payments that are not yet due and payable or in default;
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(iv) Good-faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in excess of the aggregate amount due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or surety, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the ordinary course of business;
(v) Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements or other restrictions on the use of real property, none of which materially impairs the use of such property or the value thereof, and none of which is violated in any material respect by existing or proposed structures or land use;
(vi) [Intentionally omitted];
(vii) Any Lien existing on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 1.1(P) , and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that the principal amount secured thereby is not hereafter or thereafter increased, and no additional assets become subject to such Lien;
(viii) Purchase Money Security Interests (including security interests in connection with capitalized leases); provided that the aggregate amount of loans and deferred payments secured by such Purchase Money Security Interests shall not exceed in the aggregate at any one time outstanding $2,000,000 (excluding for the purpose of this computation any loans or deferred payments secured by Liens described on Schedule 1.1(P) );
(ix) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease and covering only the assets so leased and any interest of non-exclusive licensors under license agreements in the ordinary course of business;
(x) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or ADS Corporativo, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(xi) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary financing statements under the applicable Uniform Commercial Code of any state of the United States of America, or similar applicable Law, relating solely to operating leases of personal property, consignments that are not Purchase Money Security Interests and similar arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(xii) non-exclusive outbound licenses of patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights granted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any respect with the ordinary conduct of or materially detracting from the value of the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;
(xiii) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory, contractual or common law provision relating to rights of set-off or similar rights relating to the establishment of depository relations in the ordinary course of business with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness;
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(xiv) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code of any state of the United States of America or under other Law applicable to the Borrower on items in the course of collection;
(xv) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods arising under Article 2 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code of any state of the United States of America or under other Law applicable to the Borrower in the ordinary course of business securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances and letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods, in any case covering only goods actually sold;
(xvi) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of premiums with respect thereto to the extent permitted hereunder;
(xvii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Borrower as the seller of such goods, and Liens incurred on specific items of inventory identified to any contract with the government of the United States of America in respect of progress payments received by the Borrower, in each case as made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Borrower;
(xviii) [Intentionally omitted];
(xix) Liens on real property, improvements to real property and fixtures of the the Borrower or ADS Corporativo to secure Indebtedness of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(xx) Liens not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding on fixed assets acquired or property of a Subsidiary of the Borrower pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, excluding a Purchase Money Security Interest which secures a payment obligation to the seller of such assets or Subsidiary; provided however (A) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Persons becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower, as the case may be, (B) such Lien shall not attach or apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, and (C) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(xxi) Liens not otherwise permitted above in this definition securing Indebtedness in an amount not exceeding $2,000,000 at any time outstanding; and
(xxii) The following, (A) if the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted so long as levy and execution thereon have been stayed and continue to be stayed or (B) if a final judgment is entered and such judgment is discharged within thirty (30) days of entry, and in either case they do not, in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of the Borrower to perform its Obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents:
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(1) Claims or Liens for taxes, assessments or charges due and payable and subject to interest or penalty; provided that the Borrower maintains such reserves or other appropriate provisions as shall be required by GAAP and pays all such taxes, assessments or charges forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any such Lien;
(2) Claims, Liens or encumbrances upon, and defects of title to, real or personal property, including any attachment of personal or real property or other legal process prior to adjudication of a dispute on the merits;
(3) Claims or Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other statutory nonconsensual Liens; or
(4) Liens resulting from final judgments or orders described in Section 9.1.6 [Final Judgments or Orders].
Permitted Refinancing shall mean, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided, that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder; (b) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended (except by virtue of amortization of or prepayment of Indebtedness prior to such date of determination); (c) at the time thereof, no Potential Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; (e) the original obligors in respect of such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended remain the only obligors thereon; and (f) the terms and conditions of any such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended.
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, government or political subdivision or agency thereof, or any other entity.
Pledge Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(P) executed and delivered by each of the Guarantors to the Collateral Agent as security for the Senior Secured Obligations pursuant to which each Guarantor pledges, inter
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alia , (i) all the outstanding ownership interests held by each such Guarantor in any Domestic Subsidiary of such Guarantor other than a Domestic Subsidiary that is a Foreign Holding Company, and (ii) sixty-five percent (65%) of the outstanding ownership interests held by each such Guarantor in any first tier Foreign Subsidiary owned directly by such Guarantor.
PNC shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, its successors and assigns.
Potential Default shall mean any event or condition which with notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Prime Rate shall mean the interest rate per annum announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent at its Principal Office as its then prime rate, which rate may not be the lowest or most favorable rate then being charged commercial borrowers or others by the Administrative Agent. Any change in the Prime Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day such change is announced.
Principal Office shall mean the main banking office of the Administrative Agent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Published Rate shall mean the rate of interest published each Business Day in The Wall Street Journal Money Rates listing under the caption London Interbank Offered Rates for a one month period (or, if no such rate is published therein for any reason, then the Published Rate shall be the rate at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market for a one month period as published in another publication selected by the Administrative Agent).
Purchase Money Security Interest shall mean Liens (including security interests in connection with capitalized leases) upon tangible personal property securing loans to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or ADS Corporativo, or deferred payments by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or ADS Corporativo for the purchase of such tangible personal property.
Ratable Share shall mean
(i) with respect to a Lenders obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans, participate in Letters of Credit and other Letter of Credit Obligations, and receive payments, interest, and fees related thereto, the proportion that such Lenders Revolving Credit Commitment bears to the Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders, provided however that if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, such Ratable Share shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
(ii) with respect to all other matters as to a particular Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) such Lenders Revolving Credit Commitment, by (B) the sum of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders; provided , however, that if that if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the computation in this clause shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments, and not on the current amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments; and provided further , in the case of Section 2.11 [Defaulting Lenders] when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, Ratable Share shall mean the percentage of the aggregate Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lenders Commitment) represented by such Lenders Commitment.
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Recipient shall mean (i) the Administrative Agent, (ii) any Lender and (iii) the Issuing Lender, as applicable.
Reimbursement Obligation shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Related Parties shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Persons Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Persons Affiliates.
Relief Proceeding shall mean any proceeding seeking a decree or order for relief in respect of any Person in a voluntary or involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of any Person for any substantial part of its property, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, or an assignment for the benefit of its creditors.
Required Lenders shall mean, at any time, Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) whose Ratable Share in the aggregate exceeds 66.67% as determined pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of Ratable Share.
Revolving Credit Commitment shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount initially set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1.1(B) in the column labeled Amount of Commitment for Revolving Credit Loans, as such Commitment is thereafter assigned or modified, and Revolving Credit Commitments shall mean the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders.
Revolving Credit Loans shall mean collectively and Revolving Credit Loan shall mean separately all Revolving Credit Loans or any Revolving Credit Loan made by the Lenders or one of the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments] or 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Revolving Facility Usage shall mean at any time the sum of the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and the Letter of Credit Obligations.
Sanctioned Country shall mean a country subject to a sanctions program maintained by any Compliance Authority.
Sanctioned Person shall mean any individual person, group, regime, entity or thing listed or otherwise recognized as a specially designated, prohibited, sanctioned or debarred person or entity, or subject to any limitations or prohibitions (including but not limited to the blocking of property or rejection of transactions), under any order or directive of any Compliance Authority or otherwise subject to, or specially designated under, any sanctions program maintained by any Compliance Authority.
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Securities Act shall mean the United States of Americas Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder, which shall be in effect from time to time.
Security Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Security Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(S) executed and delivered by each of the Guarantors to the Collateral Agent as security for the Senior Secured Obligations.
Senior Secured Obligations shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.
Solvent shall mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, taking into account rights of reimbursement, contribution or similar rights in respect of obligations for which such Person has provided a Guaranty or are otherwise available to such Person from other Persons, that on such date (i) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (iv) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Persons ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (v) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Persons property would constitute unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
Standard & Poors shall mean Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Statements shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.6(i) [Historical Statements].
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any Person, at the time of determination, any corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity: (i) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies thereof is at such time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries or (ii) which is at such time controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries; provided that in determining the percentage of ownership interest of any Person , no ownership interest in the nature of a qualifying share of any such corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity shall be deemed outstanding.
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Swap Obligation shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation 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.
Subsidiary Equity Interests shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.2 [Subsidiaries and Owners; Investment Companies].
Taxes shall mean all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Official Body, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
USA Patriot Act shall mean the United States of Americas Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.
U.S. Person shall mean any Person that is a United States Person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders].
Weighted Average Life to Maturity shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) 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 thereof, 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 (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
Withholding Agent shall mean any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.
1.2 Construction . Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires, the following rules of construction shall apply to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents: (i) references to the plural include the singular, the plural, the part and the whole and the words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation; (ii) the words hereof, herein, hereunder, hereto and similar terms in this Agreement or any other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document as a whole; (iii) article, section, subsection, clause, schedule and exhibit references are to this Agreement or other Loan Document, as the case may be, unless otherwise specified; (iv) reference to any Person includes such Persons successors and assigns; (v) reference to any agreement, including this Agreement and any other Loan Document together with the schedules and exhibits hereto or thereto, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended, modified, replaced, substituted for, superseded or restated; (vi) relative to the determination of any period of time, from means from and including, to means
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to but excluding, and through means through and including; (vii) 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, (viii) section headings herein and in each other Loan Document are included for convenience and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or such Loan Document, and (ix) unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern Time in the United States of America.
1.3 Accounting Principles . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all computations and determinations as to accounting or financial matters and all financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation where appropriate), and all accounting or financial terms shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms by GAAP; provided , however , that all accounting terms used in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] (and all defined terms used in the definition of any accounting term used in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] shall have the meaning given to such terms (and defined terms) under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof applied on a basis consistent with those used in preparing Statements referred to in Section 6.1.6(i) [Historical Statements]. In the event of any change after the date hereof in GAAP, and if such change would affect the computation of any of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.2[Negative Covenants] or would affect the Borrowers compliance with the negative covenant set forth in Section 8.2.2 [Liens; Lien Covenants], then the parties hereto agree to endeavor, in good faith, to agree upon an amendment to this Agreement that would adjust such financial covenants or other negative covenant in a manner that would preserve the original intent thereof, but would allow compliance therewith to be determined in accordance with the Borrowers financial statements at that time, provided that , until so amended such financial covenants shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein.
2. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
2.1 Revolving Credit Commitments .
2.1.1 Revolving Credit Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower at any time or from time to time on or after the date hereof to the Expiration Date; provided that after giving effect to each such Loan (i) the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Loans from such Lender shall not exceed such Lenders Revolving Credit Commitment minus such Lenders Ratable Share of the Letter of Credit Obligations and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments. Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.
2.1.2 [Intentionally Omitted] .
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2.1.3 Reduction in Revolving Credit Commitment . The Borrower shall have the right at any time after the Closing Date upon five (5) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent to permanently reduce (ratably among the Lenders in proportion to their Ratable Shares) the Revolving Credit Commitments, in a minimum amount of $2,500,000 and whole multiples of $500,000, or to terminate completely the Revolving Credit Commitments, without penalty or premium except as hereinafter set forth; provided that any such reduction or termination shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Notes, together with outstanding Commitment Fees, and the full amount of interest accrued on the principal sum to be prepaid (and all amounts referred to in Section 5.10 [Indemnity] hereof) to the extent necessary to cause the aggregate Revolving Facility Usage after giving effect to such prepayments to be equal to or less than the Revolving Credit Commitments as so reduced or terminated. Any notice to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.1.3 shall be irrevocable.
2.2 Nature of Lenders Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans . Each Lender shall be obligated to participate in each request for Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests] in accordance with its Ratable Share. The aggregate of each Lenders Revolving Credit Loans outstanding hereunder to the Borrower at any time shall never exceed its Revolving Credit Commitment minus its Ratable Share of the outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations. The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several. The failure of any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall not affect the Obligations of the Borrower to any other party nor shall any other party be liable for the failure of such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder. The Lenders shall have no obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder on or after the Expiration Date.
2.3 Commitment Fees . Accruing from the Closing Date until the Expiration Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender according to its Ratable Share, a nonrefundable commitment fee (the Commitment Fee ) equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) multiplied by the average daily difference between the amount of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage; provided , however , that any Commitment Fee accrued with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrower so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender except to the extent that such Commitment Fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrower prior to such time; and provided further that no Commitment Fee shall accrue with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. Subject to the proviso in the directly preceding sentence, all Commitment Fees shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date.
2.4 [Intentionally Omitted] .
2.5 Revolving Credit Loan Requests .
2.5.1 Revolving Credit Loan Requests . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, or renew or convert the Interest Rate Option applicable to existing Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], by delivering to the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Revolving Credit Loans to which the LIBOR Rate
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Option applies or the conversion to or the renewal of the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans; and (ii) the same Business Day of the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of a Revolving Credit Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies or the last day of the preceding Interest Period with respect to the conversion to the Base Rate Option for any Loan, of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5 or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex in such form (each, a Loan Request ), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the aggregate amount of the proposed Loans comprising each Borrowing Tranche, and, if applicable, the Interest Period, which amounts shall be in (x) integral multiples of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000 for each Borrowing Tranche under the LIBOR Rate Option, and (y) integral multiples of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 for each Borrowing Tranche under the Base Rate Option.
2.5.2 [Intentionally Omitted] .
2.6 Making Revolving Credit Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans .
2.6.1 Making Revolving Credit Loans . The Administrative Agent shall, promptly after receipt by it of a Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests], notify the Lenders of its receipt of such Loan Request specifying the information provided by the Borrower and the apportionment among the Lenders of the requested Revolving Credit Loans as determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.2 [Nature of Lenders Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans]. Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan to the Administrative Agent such that the Administrative Agent is able to, and the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose and subject to Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit], fund such Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 2:00 p.m., on the applicable Borrowing Date; provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Administrative Agent in a timely manner, the Administrative Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender on such Borrowing Date, and such Lender shall be subject to the repayment obligation in Section 2.6.2 [Presumptions by the Administrative Agent].
2.6.2 Presumptions by the Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Loan that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Loan, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.6.1 [Making Revolving Credit Loans] and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Loan available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the 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
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Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Loans under the Base Rate Option. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Loan to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders Loan. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
2.6.3 [Intentionally Omitted] .
2.6.4 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans . The Borrower shall repay the Revolving Credit Loans together with all outstanding interest thereon on the Expiration Date.
2.6.5 [ Intentionally Omitted ].
2.7 Notes . If so requested by any Lender by written notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) prior to the Closing Date, or at any time thereafter, the Obligation of the Borrower to repay the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans made to it by each Lender, together with interest thereon, shall be evidenced by a revolving credit Note dated the Closing Date payable to the order of such Lender in a face amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender. Such Note shall be executed on the Closing Date with respect to requests made prior to the Closing Date and shall be executed within two (2) Business Days after request with respect to requests made after the Closing Date.
2.8 Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Loans shall be used (i) to finance the fees associated with the transactions contemplated hereunder; (ii) to refinance the Existing Credit Agreement; and (iii) to provide for the ongoing working capital and capital expenditure needs, and for general corporate purposes, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
2.9 Letter of Credit Subfacility .
2.9.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit . Borrower may at any time prior to the Expiration Date request the issuance of a standby or trade letter of credit (each a Letter of Credit ) on behalf of itself, or the amendment or extension of an existing Letter of Credit, by delivering to the Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a completed application and agreement for letters of credit, or request for such amendment or extension, as applicable, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time by no later than 10:00 a.m. at least five (5) Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Issuing Lender, in advance of the proposed date of issuance. Promptly after receipt of any letter of credit application, the Issuing Lender shall confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit application and if not, such Issuing Lender will provide Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the Issuing Lender has received notice from any Lender, Administrative Agent or the Borrower, at least one day prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] is not satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.9, the Issuing Lender or any of the Issuing Lenders Affiliates will issue a Letter of
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Credit or agree to such amendment or extension, provided that each Letter of Credit shall (A) have a maximum maturity of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance, and (B) in no event expire later than the Expiration Date and provided further that in no event shall (i) the Letter of Credit Obligations exceed, at any one time, $1,000,000 (the Letter of Credit Sublimit ) or (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage exceed, at any one time, the Revolving Credit Commitments. Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable Issuing Lender will also deliver to Borrower and Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
From and after the Closing Date, the letters of credit issued by PNC under the Existing Credit Agreement which are set forth on Schedule 2.8 (the Existing Letters of Credit ) shall be deemed to have been issued under this Agreement and shall each constitute a Letter of Credit in all respects for purposes of this Agreement. On the Closing Date, each Lender, other than PNC, shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from PNC as Issuing Bank a participation in such Existing Letter of Credit and each drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Lenders Ratable Share of the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Existing Letter of Credit and the amount of such drawing, respectively. The provisions of Section 2.9.7 shall apply to the Existing Letters of Credit, including with respect to any drawing thereunder, mutatis mutandis.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, no Issuing Lender shall be required to issue any Letter of Credit, if any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless such Issuing Lender is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto (it being understood that the Issuing Lender would consider the Borrower or such Defaulting Lender providing cash collateral to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Lender, to secure the Defaulting Lenders Ratable Share of the Letter of Credit, a satisfactory arrangement).
2.9.2 Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrower shall pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders a fee (the Letter of Credit Fee ) equal to the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate, and (ii) to the Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum (in each case computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed), which fees shall be computed on the daily average Letter of Credit Obligations (other than Letter of Credit Borrowings) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Payment Date following issuance of each Letter of Credit. The Borrower shall also pay to the Issuing Lender for the Issuing Lenders sole account the Issuing Lenders then in effect customary fees and administrative expenses payable with respect to the Letters of Credit as the Issuing Lender may generally charge or incur from time to time in connection with the issuance, maintenance, amendment (if any), assignment or transfer (if any), negotiation, and administration of Letters of Credit.
2.9.3 Disbursements, Reimbursement . Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Issuing Lender a participation in such Letter of Credit and each drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Lenders Ratable Share of the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and the amount of such drawing, respectively.
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2.9.3.1 In the event of any request for a drawing under a Letter of Credit by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, the Issuing Lender will promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Provided that it shall have received such notice, the Borrower shall reimburse (such obligation to reimburse the Issuing Lender shall sometimes be referred to as a Reimbursement Obligation ) the Issuing Lender either with funds other than proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans prior to 12:00 noon on each date that an amount is paid by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit (each such date, a Drawing Date ) by paying to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount equal to the amount so paid by the Issuing Lender or with proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.9.3.1. In the event the Borrower elects not to so reimburse the Issuing Lender (through the Administrative Agent) directly for the full amount of any drawing under any Letter of Credit by 12:00 noon on the Drawing Date, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender thereof, and the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that Revolving Credit Loans be made by the Lenders under the Base Rate Option to be disbursed on the Drawing Date under such Letter of Credit, subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements. Any notice given by the Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.9.3.1 may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
2.9.3.2 Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.9.3.1 make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount in immediately available funds equal to its Ratable Share of the amount of the drawing, whereupon the participating Lenders shall (subject to Section 2.9.3 [Disbursement; Reimbursement]) each be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in that amount. If any Lender so notified fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of such Lenders Ratable Share of such amount by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the Drawing Date, then interest shall accrue on such Lenders obligation to make such payment, from the Drawing Date to the date on which such Lender makes such payment (i) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate during the first three (3) days following the Drawing Date and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to the rate applicable to Loans under the Base Rate Option on and after the fourth day following the Drawing Date. The Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender will promptly give notice (as described in Section 2.9.3.1 above) of the occurrence of the Drawing Date, but failure of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender to give any such notice on the Drawing Date or in sufficient time to enable any Lender to effect such payment on such date shall not relieve such Lender from its obligation under this Section 2.9.3.2.
2.9.3.3 With respect to any unreimbursed drawing that is not converted into Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in whole or in part as contemplated by Section 2.9.3.1, because of the Borrowers failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements, or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the Issuing Lender a borrowing (each a Letter of Credit Borrowing ) in the amount of such drawing. Such Letter of Credit Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the rate per annum applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans
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under the Base Rate Option. Each Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement] shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of its participation in such Letter of Credit Borrowing (each a Participation Advance ) from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.9.3.
2.9.4 Repayment of Participation Advances .
2.9.4.1 Upon (and only upon) receipt by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender of immediately available funds from the Borrower (i) in reimbursement of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under the Letter of Credit with respect to which any Lender has made a Participation Advance to the Administrative Agent, or (ii) in payment of interest on such a payment made by the Issuing Lender under such a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Issuing Lender will pay to each Lender, in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent, the amount of such Lenders Ratable Share of such funds, except the Administrative Agent shall retain for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of the Ratable Share of such funds of any Lender that did not make a Participation Advance in respect of such payment by the Issuing Lender.
2.9.4.2 If the Administrative Agent is required at any time to return to any Loan Party, or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian, or any official in any Insolvency Proceeding, any portion of any payment made by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section in reimbursement of a payment made under the Letter of Credit or interest or fee thereon, each Lender shall, on demand of the Administrative Agent, forthwith return to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of its Ratable Share of any amounts so returned by the Administrative Agent plus interest thereon from the date such demand is made to the date such amounts are returned by such Lender to the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect from time to time.
2.9.5 Documentation . The Borrower agrees to be bound by the terms of the Issuing Lenders application and agreement for letters of credit and the Issuing Lenders written regulations and customary practices relating to letters of credit, though such interpretation may be different from the Borrowers own. In the event of a conflict between such application or agreement and this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern. It is understood and agreed that, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error, negligence and/or mistakes, whether of omission or commission, in following the Borrowers instructions or those contained in the Letters of Credit or any modifications, amendments or supplements thereto.
2.9.6 Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests . In determining whether to honor any request for drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the Issuing Lender shall be responsible only to determine that the documents and certificates required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit.
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2.9.7 Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations . Each Lenders obligation in accordance with this Agreement to make the Revolving Credit Loans or Participation Advances, as contemplated by Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement], as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit, and the Obligations of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender upon a draw under a Letter of Credit, shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.9 under all circumstances, including the following circumstances:
(i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, or which the Borrower may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, any Lender or any other Person for any reason whatsoever;
(ii) the failure of the Borrower or any other Person to comply, in connection with a Letter of Credit Borrowing, with the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments], 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests], 2.6 [Making Revolving Credit Loans; Etc.] or 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement for the making of a Revolving Credit Loan, it being acknowledged that such conditions are not required for the making of a Letter of Credit Borrowing and the obligation of the Lenders to make Participation Advances under Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement];
(iii) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;
(iv) any claim of breach of warranty that might be made bythe Borrower or any Lender against any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit, or the existence of any claim, set-off, recoupment, counterclaim, crossclaim, defense or other right which the Borrower or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary, successor beneficiary any transferee or assignee of any Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates or any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between the Borrower or Subsidiaries of the Borrower and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured);
(v) the lack of power or authority of any signer of (or any defect in or forgery of any signature or endorsement on) or the form of or lack of validity, sufficiency, accuracy, enforceability or genuineness of any draft, demand, instrument, certificate or other document presented under or in connection with any Letter of Credit, or any fraud or alleged fraud in connection with any Letter of Credit, or the transport of any property or provision of services relating to a Letter of Credit, in each case even if the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates has been notified thereof;
(vi) payment by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document which does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;
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(vii) the solvency of, or any acts or omissions by, any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or any other Person having a role in any transaction or obligation relating to a Letter of Credit, or the existence, nature, quality, quantity, condition, value or other characteristic of any property or services relating to a Letter of Credit;
(viii) any failure by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates to issue any Letter of Credit in the form requested by the Borrower, unless the Issuing Lender has received written notice from the Borrower of such failure within three Business Days after the Issuing Lender shall have furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a copy of such Letter of Credit and such error is material and no drawing has been made thereon prior to receipt of such notice;
(ix) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;
(x) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any party thereto;
(xi) the occurrence or continuance of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to the Borrower;
(xii) the fact that an Event of Default or a Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(xiii) the fact that the Expiration Date shall have passed or this Agreement or the Commitments hereunder shall have been terminated; and
(xiv) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
2.9.8 Indemnity . The Borrower hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and save harmless the Issuing Lender and any of its Affiliates that has issued a Letter of Credit from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, taxes, penalties, interest, judgments, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel and allocated costs of internal counsel) which the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of the issuance of any Letter of Credit, other than as a result of (A) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Lender as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the wrongful dishonor by the Issuing Lender or any of Issuing Lenders Affiliates of a proper demand for payment made under any Letter of Credit, except if such dishonor resulted from any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Official Body.
2.9.9 Liability for Acts and Omissions . As between any Loan Party and the Issuing Lender, or the Issuing Lenders Affiliates, the Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for any of the following, including any losses or damages to the Borrower or other Person or property relating therefrom: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for an issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects
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invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged (even if the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates shall have been notified thereof); (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) the failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit, or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred, to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit or any other claim of the Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit, or any such transferee, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any such transferee; (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 any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates, as applicable, including any act or omission of any Official Body, and none of the above shall affect or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of the Issuing Lenders or its Affiliates rights or powers hereunder. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall relieve the Issuing Lender from liability for the Issuing Lenders gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with actions or omissions described in such clauses (i) through (viii) of such sentence. In no event shall the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates be liable to any Loan Party for any indirect, consequential, incidental, punitive, exemplary or special damages.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender and each of its Affiliates (i) may rely on any oral or other communication believed in good faith by the Issuing Lender or such Affiliate to have been authorized or given by or on behalf of the applicant for a Letter of Credit, (ii) may honor any presentation if the documents presented appear on their face substantially to comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant Letter of Credit; (iii) may honor a previously dishonored presentation under a Letter of Credit, whether such dishonor was pursuant to a court order, to settle or compromise any claim of wrongful dishonor, or otherwise, and shall be entitled to reimbursement to the same extent as if such presentation had initially been honored, together with any interest paid by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate; (iv) may honor any drawing that is payable upon presentation of a statement advising negotiation or payment, upon receipt of such statement (even if such statement indicates that a draft or other document is being delivered separately), and shall not be liable for any failure of any such draft or other document to arrive, or to conform in any way with the relevant Letter of Credit; (v) may pay any paying or negotiating bank claiming that it rightfully honored under the laws or practices of the place where such bank is located; and (vi) may settle or adjust any claim or demand made on the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate in any way related to any order issued at the applicants request to an air carrier, a letter of guarantee or of indemnity issued to a carrier or any similar document (each an Order ) and honor any drawing in connection with any Letter of Credit that is the subject of such Order, notwithstanding that any drafts or other documents presented in connection with such Letter of Credit fail to conform in any way with such Letter of Credit.
In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions set forth above, any action taken or omitted by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under or in connection with the Letters of Credit issued by it or any documents and certificates delivered thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not put the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under any resulting liability to the Borrower or any Lender absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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2.9.10 Issuing Lender Reporting Requirements . Each Issuing Lender shall, on the first Business Day of each month, provide to Administrative Agent and Borrower a schedule of the Letters of Credit issued by it, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, showing the date of issuance of each Letter of Credit, the account party, the original face amount (if any), and the expiration date of any Letter of Credit outstanding at any time during the preceding month, and any other information relating to such Letter of Credit that the Administrative Agent may request.
2.10 [ Intentionally Omitted ].
2.11 Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(i) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.3 [Commitment Fees];
(ii) the Commitment and outstanding Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers]); provided, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;
(iii) if any Letter of Credit Obligations exist at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then:
(a) | all or any part of the Fronting Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares but only to the extent that (x) the Revolving Facility Usage does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Credit Commitments, and (y) no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time; |
(b) | if the reallocation described in clause (a) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Lender the Borrowers obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (a) above) in a deposit account held at the Administrative Agent for so long as such Letter of Credit Obligations are outstanding; |
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(c) | if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations pursuant to clause (b) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] with respect to such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations during the period such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations are cash collateralized; |
(d) | if the Letter of Credit Obligations of the non-Defaulting Lenders are reallocated pursuant to clause (a) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders Ratable Share; and |
(e) | if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations are neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Lender or any other Lender hereunder, all Letter of Credit Fees payable under Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] with respect to such Defaulting Lenders Letter of Credit Obligations shall be payable to the Issuing Lender (and not to such Defaulting Lender) until and to the extent that such Letter of Credit Obligations are reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and |
(iv) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Issuing Lender is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a parent company of any Lender shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue, or (ii) the Issuing Lender has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Issuing Lender is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, and the Issuing Lender agree in writing that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, and the Ratable Share of the Letter of Credit Obligations of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lenders Commitment, and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Ratable Share.
3. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
4. INTEREST RATES
4.1 Interest Rate Options . The Borrower shall pay interest in respect of the outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Loans as selected by it from the Base Rate Option or LIBOR Rate Option set forth below applicable to the Loans, it being understood that, subject to
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the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may select different Interest Rate Options and different Interest Periods to apply simultaneously to the Loans comprising different Borrowing Tranches and may convert to or renew one or more Interest Rate Options with respect to all or any portion of the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche; provided that there shall not be at any one time outstanding more than four (4) Borrowing Tranches in the aggregate among all of the Loans and provided further that if an Event of Default or Potential Default exists and is continuing, the Borrower may not request, convert to, or renew the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans. If at any time the designated rate applicable to any Loan made by any Lender exceeds such Lenders highest lawful rate, the rate of interest on such Lenders Loan shall be limited to such Lenders highest lawful rate.
4.1.1 Revolving Credit Interest Rate Options . The Borrower shall have the right to select from the following Interest Rate Options applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans:
(i) Revolving Credit Base Rate Option : A fluctuating rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate; or
(ii) Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option : A rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) equal to the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin.
4.1.2 [Intentionally Omitted] .
4.1.3 Rate Quotations . The Borrower may call the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which a Loan Request is to be delivered to receive an indication of the rates then in effect, but it is acknowledged that such projection shall not be binding on the Administrative Agent or the Lenders nor affect the rate of interest which thereafter is actually in effect when the election is made.
4.2 Interest Periods . At any time when the Borrower shall select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such LIBOR Rate Option by delivering a Loan Request. The notice shall specify an Interest Period during which such Interest Rate Option shall apply. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the following provisions shall apply to any selection of, renewal of, or conversion to a LIBOR Rate Option:
4.2.1 Amount of Borrowing Tranche . Each Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be in integral multiples of $ 500,000 and not less than $1,000,000; and
4.2.2 Renewals . In the case of the renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option at the end of an Interest Period, the first day of the new Interest Period shall be the last day of the preceding Interest Period, without duplication in payment of interest for such day.
4.3 Interest After Default . To the extent permitted by Law, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and until such time such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived, and at the discretion of the Administrative Agent or upon written demand by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent:
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4.3.1 Letter of Credit Fees, Interest Rate . The Letter of Credit Fees and the rate of interest for each Loan otherwise applicable pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] or Section 4.1 [Interest Rate Options], respectively, shall be increased by 2.0% per annum; and
4.3.2 Other Obligations . Each other Obligation hereunder if not paid when due shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the rate of interest applicable under the Base Rate Option plus an additional 2.0% per annum from the time such Obligation becomes due and payable and until it is paid in full.
4.4 LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available .
4.4.1 Unascertainable . If on any date on which a LIBOR Rate would otherwise be determined, the Administrative Agent shall have determined that:
(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining such LIBOR Rate, or
(ii) a contingency has occurred which materially and adversely affects the London interbank eurodollar market relating to the LIBOR Rate, the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights].
4.4.2 Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available . If at any time any Lender shall have determined that:
(i) the making, maintenance or funding of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies has been made impracticable or unlawful by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Law or any interpretation or application thereof by any Official Body or with any request or directive of any such Official Body (whether or not having the force of Law), or
(ii) such LIBOR Rate Option will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender of the establishment or maintenance of any such Loan, or
(iii) after making all reasonable efforts, deposits of the relevant amount in Dollars for the relevant Interest Period for a Loan, or to banks generally, to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, respectively, are not available to such Lender with respect to such Loan, or to banks generally, in the interbank eurodollar market,
then the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights].
4.4.3 Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights . In the case of any event specified in Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] above, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders and the Borrower thereof, and in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available] above, such Lender shall
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promptly so notify the Administrative Agent and endorse a certificate to such notice as to the specific circumstances of such notice, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly send copies of such notice and certificate to the other Lenders and the Borrower. Upon such date as shall be specified in such notice (which shall not be earlier than the date such notice is given), the obligation of (A) the Lenders, in the case of such notice given by the Administrative Agent, or (B) such Lender, in the case of such notice given by such Lender, to allow the Borrower to select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall have later notified the Borrower, or such Lender shall have later notified the Administrative Agent, of the Administrative Agents or such Lenders, as the case may be, determination that the circumstances giving rise to such previous determination no longer exist. If at any time the Administrative Agent makes a determination under Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] and the Borrower has previously notified the Administrative Agent of its selection of, conversion to or renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option and such Interest Rate Option has not yet gone into effect, such notification shall be deemed to provide for selection of, conversion to or renewal of the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loans. If any Lender notifies the Administrative Agent of a determination under Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], the Borrower shall, subject to the Borrowers indemnification Obligations under Section 5.10 [Indemnity], as to any Loan of the Lender to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, either convert such Loan to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan at the earlier of the expiration of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan or when required by Law, or prepay such Loan in accordance with Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments]. Absent due notice from the Borrower of conversion or prepayment, such Loan shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan upon such specified date.
4.5 Selection of Interest Rate Options . If the Borrower fails to select a new Interest Period to apply to any Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option at the expiration of an existing Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing Tranche in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], the Borrower shall be deemed to have converted such Borrowing Tranche to the Base Rate Option commencing upon the last day of the existing Interest Period.
5. PAYMENTS
5.1 Payments . All payments and prepayments to be made in respect of principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, Administrative Agents Fee or other fees or amounts due from the Borrower hereunder shall be payable prior to 11:00 a.m. on the date when due without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, and without set-off, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue. Such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office for the ratable accounts of the Lenders in U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute such amounts to the Lenders in immediately available funds; provided that in the event payments are received by 11:00 a.m. by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Loans and such payments are not distributed to the Lenders on the same day received by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall pay the Lenders the Federal Funds Effective Rate with respect to the amount of such payments for each day held by the Administrative Agent and not
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distributed to the Lenders. The Administrative Agents and each Lenders statement of account, ledger or other relevant record shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as the statement of the amount of principal of and interest on the Loans and other amounts owing under this Agreement and shall be deemed an account stated.
5.2 Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders . Each borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be allocated to each Lender according to its Ratable Share, and each selection of, conversion to or renewal of any Interest Rate Option and each payment or prepayment by the Borrower with respect to principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, or other fees (except for the Administrative Agents Fee and the Issuing Lenders fronting fee) or amounts due from the Borrower hereunder to the Lenders with respect to the Commitments and Loans, shall (except as otherwise may be provided with respect to a Defaulting Lender and except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights] in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] or 5.8 [Increased Costs]) be payable ratably among the Lenders entitled to such payment in accordance with the amount of principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, and other fees or amounts then due or payable such Lenders as set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Sharing of Payments by Lenders . If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff, counterclaim or bankers lien, by receipt of voluntary payment, by realization upon security, or by any other non-pro rata source, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lenders receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than the pro-rata share of the amount such Lender is entitled thereto, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, together with interest or other amounts, if any, required by Law (including court order) to be paid by the Lender or the holder making such purchase; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Loan Parties pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of the Loan Documents or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or Participation Advances to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
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Any Lender that fails at any time to comply with the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall be deemed a Defaulting Lender until such time as it performs its obligations hereunder and is not otherwise a Defaulting Lender for any other reason. A Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments due to it from the Borrower, whether on account of or relating to outstanding Loans, Letters of Credit, interest, fees or otherwise, to the remaining non-defaulting Lenders for application to, and reduction of, their respective Ratable Share of all outstanding Loans and other unpaid Obligations of any of the Loan Parties. The Defaulting Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to distribute such payments to the non-defaulting Lenders in proportion to their respective Ratable Share of all outstanding Loans and other unpaid Obligations of any of the Loan Parties to which such Lenders are entitled. A Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have satisfied the provisions of this Section 5.3 when and if, as a result of application of the assigned payments to all outstanding Loans and other unpaid Obligations of any of the Loan Parties to the non-defaulting Lenders, the Lenders respective Ratable Share of all outstanding Loans and unpaid Obligations have returned to those in effect immediately prior to such violation of this Section 5.3.
5.4 Presumptions by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the 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.
5.5 Interest Payment Dates . Interest on Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies shall be due and payable in arrears on each Payment Date. Interest on Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period for those Loans and, if such Interest Period is longer than three (3) Months, also on the 90th day of such Interest Period. Interest on the principal amount of each Loan or other monetary Obligation shall be due and payable on demand after such principal amount or other monetary Obligation becomes due and payable (whether on the stated Expiration Date, upon acceleration or otherwise).
5.6 Voluntary Prepayments .
5.6.1 Right to Prepay . The Borrower shall have the right at its option from time to time to prepay the Loans in whole or part without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] below, in Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] and Section 5.10 [Indemnity]). Whenever the Borrower desires to prepay any part of the Loans, it shall provide a prepayment notice to the Administrative Agent by 1:00 p.m. at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date of prepayment of the Loans setting forth the following information:
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(w) the date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the proposed prepayment is to be made;
(x) [intentionally omitted];
(y) a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies and Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies; and
(z) the total principal amount of such prepayment, which shall not be less than the lesser of (i) the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans or (ii) $500,000.
All prepayment notices shall be irrevocable. The principal amount of the Loans for which a prepayment notice is given, together with interest on such principal amount except with respect to Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, shall be due and payable on the date specified in such prepayment notice as the date on which the proposed prepayment is to be made. All prepayments permitted pursuant to this Section 5.6.1 [Right to Prepay] shall not permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments. Except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agents and Lenders Rights], if the Borrower prepays a Loan but fails to specify the applicable Borrowing Tranche which the Borrower is prepaying, the prepayment shall be applied first to Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, then to Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies. Any prepayment hereunder shall be subject to the Borrowers Obligation to indemnify the Lenders under Section 5.10 [Indemnity].
5.6.2 Replacement of a Lender . In the event any Lender (i) gives notice under Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], (ii) requests compensation under Section 5.8 [Increased Costs], or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], (iii) is a Defaulting Lender, (iv) becomes subject to the control of an Official Body (other than normal and customary supervision), or (v) is a Non-Consenting Lender referred to in Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers], then in any such event the Borrower may, at its sole expense, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns]), all of its interests, rights (other than existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 5.8 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes]) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns];
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and Participation Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 5.10 [Indemnity]) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
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(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Law.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
5.6.3 Designation of a Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.8 [Increased Costs], or the Borrower is or will be required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] or Section 5.9 [Taxes], as the case may be, in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment
5.7 [Intentionally Omitted].
5.8 Increased Costs.
5.8.1 Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate) or the Issuing Lender;
(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender, the Issuing Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
5.8.2 Capital Requirements . If any Lender or the Issuing Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the Issuing Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders capital or on the capital of such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Lender or such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders policies and the policies of such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender or such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders holding company for any such reduction suffered.
5.8.3 Certificates for Reimbursement; Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans . A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or 5.8.2 [Capital Requirements] and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
5.8.4 Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or the Issuing Lenders intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the one hundred eighty (180) day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
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5.9 Taxes .
5.9.1 Issuing Lender . For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term Lender includes the Issuing Lender and the term applicable Law includes FATCA.
5.9.2 Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document shall be without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Law. If any applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.9 [Taxes]) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
5.9.3 Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
5.9.4 Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.9 [Taxes]) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Official Body. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
5.9.5 Indemnification by the Lenders . Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lenders failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.8.4 [Participations] 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 Loan 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 Official Body. 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 Loan 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 Section 5.9.5 [Indemnification by the Lenders].
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5.9.6 Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to an Official Body pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes], such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Official Body evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
5.9.7 Status of Lenders .
(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 5.9.7 (vi), (vii) and (ix) below) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) [Intentionally Omitted]
(iii) If any Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent is not a Mexican Entity, it shall, but without any obligation to do so, at the reasonable request of the Borrower, from time to time furnish to the Borrower, documentation required under applicable Law in the United Mexican States as necessary to establish any available exemption from, or reduction in the amount of, Taxes that are otherwise applicable under such Law; provided , however , that (i) such documentation is reasonably likely to satisfy one or more requirements for establishing such an exemption or reduction, and (ii) such documentation would not, in the judgment of such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, require such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to disclose any confidential or proprietary information or otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable; provided that documentation shall not be considered disadvantageous solely by virtue of administrative inconvenience to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall be entitled to rely upon the accuracy of any such documentation furnished to it by any Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent that is not a Mexican Financial Institution and shall have no obligation to indemnify such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, for any incremental taxes, interest or penalties of any nature whatsoever that may become payable by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, solely as a result of any inaccuracy contained therein or such Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the
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Administrative Agents failure to furnish such documentation unless, in the event that the Borrower knows or has reason to know of any such inaccuracy or failure in time for such inaccuracy or failure to be cured, the Borrower does not notify the appropriate Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, of the relevant inaccuracy or failure. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that nothing in this Section shall interfere with the rights of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to conduct its fiscal or tax affairs in such manner as it deems appropriate.
(iv) Each Lender that is not a Mexican Entity party to this Agreement on the date hereof or on the date of effectiveness of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement making such a Lender a party hereto represents and warrants to the Borrower that, as of the date hereof or as of the date of such assignment, such Lender (i) is an Eligible Foreign Institution that is a resident, for tax purposes, of a country with which the United Mexican States has entered into a treaty for the avoidance of double-taxation which is in effect on the date hereof, and (ii) will use reasonable commercial efforts to (w) comply with the requirements set forth in the Mexican Income Tax Law and the regulations applicable thereto and, in the case of an Eligible Foreign Institution (other than an Export Credit Agency), the applicable double-taxation treaty which is in effect for a reduced withholding tax rate under the Mexican Income Tax Law or such double-taxation treaty to apply, (x) file all documentation necessary to maintain its registration as an Eligible Foreign Institution so long as such registration is necessary for such Lender as a precondition to exemption from, or the reduction in the rate of, deduction or withholding of Taxes and to the extent such Lender is lawfully able to do so, (y) remain as the effective beneficiary ( beneficiario efectivo ) of any interest paid hereunder or under the Notes, and (z) in the case of an Eligible Foreign Institution (other than an Export Credit Agency), maintain its status (directly or through its main office, if lending through a branch or agency) as a resident for tax purposes of the country of which it is currently a resident.
(v) The Borrower shall not be required to pay any amounts to any Lender, the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, that are otherwise due under Section 5.9.1 above to the extent that any withholding of tax giving rise to the obligation to pay such amounts or any portion thereof would not have been required but for the fact that the representation and warranty in subsection (b) above is incorrect with respect to such Lender (that is not a Mexican Financial Institution) on the date it was made.
(vi) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(vii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
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A. | in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty; |
B. | executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI; |
C. | in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(A) to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a 10 percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a controlled foreign corporation described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or |
D. | to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(B) or Exhibit 5.9.7(C) , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(D) on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner; |
(viii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(ix) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as
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prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (ix), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
5.9.8 Treatment of Certain Refunds . If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.9[Taxes] (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes]), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 5.9 [Taxes] with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Official Body with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party incurred in connection with obtaining such refund, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds] (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Official Body) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Official Body. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds]), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds] the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the 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. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
5.9.9 Survival . Each partys obligations under this Section 5.9 [Taxes] shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations.
5.10 Indemnity . In addition to the compensation or payments required by Section 5.8 [Increased Costs]or Section 5.9 [Taxes], the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against all liabilities, losses or expenses (including loss of anticipated profits, any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract) which such Lender sustains or incurs as a consequence of any:
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(i) payment, prepayment, conversion or renewal of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies on a day other than the last day of the corresponding Interest Period (whether or not such payment or prepayment is mandatory, voluntary or automatic and whether or not such payment or prepayment is then due),
(ii) attempt by the Borrower to revoke (expressly, by later inconsistent notices or otherwise) in whole or part any Loan Requests under Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests] or Section 4.2 [Interest Periods] or notice relating to prepayments under Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments], or
(iii) default by the Borrower in the performance or observance of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including any failure of the Borrower to pay when due (by acceleration or otherwise) any principal, interest, Commitment Fee or any other amount due hereunder.
If any Lender sustains or incurs any such loss or expense, it shall from time to time notify the Borrower of the amount determined in good faith by such Lender (which determination may include such assumptions, allocations of costs and expenses and averaging or attribution methods as such Lender shall deem reasonable) to be necessary to indemnify such Lender for such loss or expense. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such determination. Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrower to such Lender ten (10) Business Days after such notice is given.
5.11 [Intentionally Omitted] .
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
6.1 Representations and Warranties of Borrower . The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders as follows:
6.1.1 Organization and Qualification; Power and Authority; Compliance With Laws; Title to Properties; Event of Default . The Borrower and ADS Corporativo (i) is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company (or foreign equivalent thereof) duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent applicable, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has the lawful power to own or lease its properties and to engage in the business it presently conducts or proposes to conduct, (iii) as to the Borrower (A) as of the Closing Date, it is duly licensed or qualified and, to the extent applicable, is in good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 6.1.1 and in all other jurisdictions where the property owned or leased by it or the nature of the business transacted by it or both makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, and (B) after the Closing Date, it is duly licensed or qualified and, to the extent applicable, is in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the property owned or leased by it or the nature of the business transacted by it or both makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, (iv) has full power to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, to incur the Indebtedness contemplated by the Loan Documents and to perform its Obligations under the Loan Documents
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to which it is a party, and all such actions have been duly authorized by all necessary proceedings on its part, (v) is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws (other than Environmental Laws which are specifically addressed in Section 6.1.14 [Environmental Matters]) in all jurisdictions in which each of the Borrower and ADS Corporativo is doing business except where the failure to do so would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, and (vi) has good and marketable title to or valid leasehold interest in all properties, assets and other rights material to the operation of the business which it purports to own or lease or which are reflected as owned or leased on its books and records, free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances except Permitted Liens. No Event of Default or Potential Default exists or is continuing. The Borrower has no brokers or other agents acting in any capacity in connection with the Loans.
6.1.2 Subsidiaries and Owners; Investment Companies . Schedule 6.1.2 states, as of the Closing Date (i) the name of ADS Corporativo and each Subsidiary of the Borrower, its jurisdiction of organization and the amount, percentage and type of equity interests in ADS Corporativo (the Subsidiary Equity Interests ), (ii) the name of each holder of an equity interest in the Borrower, the amount, percentage and type of such equity interest (the Borrower Equity Interests ), and (iii) any options, warrants or other rights outstanding to purchase any such equity interests referred to in clause (i) or (iii) (collectively the Equity Interests ). ADS Corporativo has no Subsidiaries. The Borrower has good and marketable title to all of the Subsidiary Equity Interests it purports to own (subject to restrictions on assignments, pledges, transfers, or sales of any such Subsidiary Equity Interests issued by ADS Latina, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the Borrower, as the case may be), free and clear in each case of any Lien (other than Liens for taxes not yet due and payable) and all such Subsidiary Equity Interests have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. None of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or ADS Corporativo is (i) an investment company registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under the control of a registered investment company as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and shall not become such a registered investment company or under such control, or (ii) otherwise controlling or under common control with any Person subject to any statute or regulation which regulates the incurring of any Indebtedness
6.1.3 Validity and Binding Effect . This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents (i) has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Borrower, and (ii) constitutes, or will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
6.1.4 No Conflict; Material Agreements; Consents . Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by the Borrower nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by any of them will conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any breach of (i) the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of the Borrower or ADV Corporativo, or (ii) any Law or any material agreement or instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to
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which the Borrower or ADS Corporativo is a party or by which it or the Borrower or ADS Corporativo is bound or to which it is subject, or result in the creation or enforcement of any Lien, charge or encumbrance whatsoever upon any property (now or hereafter acquired) of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo (other than Liens granted under the Loan Documents). No consent, approval, exemption, order or authorization of, or a registration or filing with, any Official Body or any other Person is required by any Law or any agreement in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents except (A) for those approvals, consents, exemptions, registrations, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and (B) with respect carrying out only, approvals, consents, exemptions, registrations, authorizations, actions, notices and filings, which are not material to the operation of the Borrower or the rights of the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Lenders.
6.1.5 Litigation . There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or ADS Corporativo at law or in equity before any Official Body which individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. None of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo is in violation of any order, writ, injunction or any decree of any Official Body which would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.6 Financial Statements .
(i) Historical Statements . The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of ADS audited consolidated year-end financial statements for and as of the end of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. In addition, the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of ADS unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for ADS fiscal year to date and as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2013 (all such annual and interim statements being collectively referred to as the Statements ). The Statements were compiled from the books and records maintained by ADS management, are correct and complete, and fairly represent, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of ADS and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations for the fiscal periods then ended and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject (in the case of the interim statements) to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
(ii) Accuracy of Financial Statements . Neither the Borrower, ADS Corporativo nor any consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower has, as of the respective dates thereof, any material liabilities, contingent or otherwise, that are not disclosed in the Statements or in the notes thereto, and except as disclosed therein there are no unrealized or anticipated losses from any commitments of the Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any such Subsidiary of the Borrower which would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. Since March 31, 2012 , no Material Adverse Change has occurred.
6.1.7 Margin Stock . None of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or ADS Corporativo engages or intends to engage principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U, T or X as promulgated by the Board of Governors of the United States of Americas Federal Reserve
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System). No part of the proceeds of any Loan has been or will be used, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the regulations of the Board of Governors of the United States of Americas Federal Reserve System. None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo holds or intends to hold margin stock in such amounts that more than 25% of the reasonable value of the assets of the Borrower, such Subsidiary of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo are or will be represented by margin stock.
6.1.8 Full Disclosure . Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document, nor any certificate, statement, agreement or other documents furnished in writing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection herewith or therewith, contains any statement by or on behalf of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or ADS Corporativo that is untrue in any material respect of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in any material respect as of the date thereof.
6.1.9 Taxes . All federal and material state, local and foreign income Tax returns and material non-income Tax returns and reports of the Borrower and ADS Corporativo required to be filed by any of them have been timely filed, and payment or adequate provision in accordance with GAAP has been made for the payment of all material Taxes shown on such Tax returns to be due and payable and all material assessments, fees, and other governmental charges upon the Borrower and ADS Corporativo and upon their respective properties, assets, income, businesses and franchises which are due and payable, except in each case as permitted by Section 8.1.2 of this Agreement.
6.1.10 Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc . Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, the Borrower and ADS Corporativo owns or possesses all the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, registrations, franchises, permits and rights necessary to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted by the Borrower or ADS Corporativo, without known alleged or actual conflict with the rights of others.
6.1.11 [Intentionally Omitted] .
6.1.12 Insurance . The properties of the Borrower and ADS Corporativo are insured pursuant to policies and other bonds which are valid and in full force and effect and which provide adequate coverage from reputable and financially sound insurers in amounts sufficient to insure the assets and risks of each of the Borrower and ADS Corporativo in accordance with prudent business practice in the industry of the Borrower and ADS Corporativo.
6.1.13 ERISA Compliance .
(i) Each Pension Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws. Each Pension Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received from the IRS a favorable
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determination or opinion letter, which has not by its terms expired, that such Pension Plan is so qualified, or such Pension Plan is entitled to rely on an IRS advisory or opinion letter with respect to an IRS-approved master and prototype or volume submitter plan, or a timely application for such a determination or opinion letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto; and, to the best knowledge of Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. Borrower and each member of the ERISA Group have made all required contributions to each Pension Plan subject to Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Sections 412 or 430 of the Code has been made with respect to any Pension Plan.
(ii) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (a) no Pension Plan has any unfunded pension liability (i.e., excess of benefit liabilities over the current value of that Pension Plans assets, determined pursuant to the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan for the applicable plan year in accordance with Section 430 of the Code); (b) neither Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (c) neither Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 of ERISA, with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) neither Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has received notice pursuant to Section 4242(a)(1)(B) of ERISA that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization and that additional contributions are due to the Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 4243 of ERISA; and (e) neither Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
6.1.14 Environmental Matters . The Borrower and ADS Corporativo is and has been in compliance in all material respects with applicable Environmental Laws except as disclosed on Schedule 6.1.14 ; provided that such matters so disclosed would not be reasonably likely, in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.15 Solvency . Before and immediately after giving effect to the initial advance of the Loans hereunder, the Borrower is Solvent on a consolidated basis.
6.1.16 Anti-Money Laundering/International Trade Law Compliance . No Covered Entity (i) is a Sanctioned Person; (ii) has any of its assets in a Sanctioned Country in violation of any law, regulation, order or directive enforced by any Compliance Authority or has any assets in the possession, custody or control of a Sanctioned Person; or (iii) does business in or with, or derives any of its operating income from investments in or transactions with, any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any law, regulation, order or directive enforced by any Compliance Authority. In addition to the foregoing, the Borrower represents and warrants that (i) the proceeds of the Loans will not be used to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or, make any payments to, a Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any law, regulation, order or directive enforced by any Compliance Authority; (ii) the funds used to repay the Loans are not derived from any unlawful activity; and (iii) each Covered Entity is in compliance with, and no Covered Entity engages in any dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Terrorism Laws.
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7. CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT
The obligation of each Lender to make Loans and of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the performance by the Borrower of its Obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of any such Loans or issuance of such Letters of Credit and to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:
7.1 First Loans and Letters of Credit.
7.1.1 Deliveries . On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following:
(i) A certificate of the Borrower signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, dated the Closing Date stating that (w) all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects; (x) the Borrower is in compliance with each of the covenants and other conditions hereunder, (y) no Event of Default or Potential Default exists, and (z) no Material Adverse Change has occurred since the date of the last audited financial statements of ADS delivered to the Administrative Agent;
(ii) A certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, certifying as appropriate as to: (a) all action taken by the Borrower in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (b) the names of the Authorized Officers authorized to sign the Loan Documents and their true signatures; and (c) copies of its organizational documents as in effect on the Closing Date certified by the appropriate state official where such documents are filed in a state office together with certificates from the appropriate state officials as to the continued existence and good standing of the Borrower Party in each state where organized and in a state listed on Schedule 6.1.1 where the Borrower maintains a principal place of business;
(iii) This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents signed by an Authorized Officer, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent;
(iv) A written opinion of counsel for the Borrower, dated the Closing Date and as to the matters set forth in Schedule 7.1.1 , which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(v) Evidence that adequate insurance, including flood insurance, if applicable, required to be maintained under this Agreement is in full force and effect, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel;
(vi) [Intentionally Omitted];
(vii) All material consents required to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby, including all regulatory approvals and licenses, absent any legal or regulatory prohibitions or material restrictions;
(viii) [Intentionally Omitted];
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(ix) [Intentionally Omitted];
(x) Evidence that the ADS Credit Agreement has been entered into in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the commitment letter and term sheet applicable thereto;
(xi) Evidence that the indebtedness and obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been amended and restated and shall from and after the Closing Date be evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and
(xii) Such other documents in connection with such transactions as the Administrative Agent or said counsel may reasonably request.
7.1.2 Payment of Fees . The Borrower shall have paid all fees payable on or before the Closing Date as required by this Agreement, the Administrative Agents Letter or any other Loan Document.
7.2 Each Loan or Letter of Credit . At the time of making any Loans or issuing, extending or increasing any Letters of Credit and after giving effect to the proposed extensions of credit: (i) the representations, warranties of the Borrower (other than the representation and warranty in the last sentence of Section 6.1.6(ii) hereof) shall then be true and correct in all material respects , provided , however , that to the extent any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Change, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, (ii) no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (iii) the making of the Loans or issuance, extension or increase of such Letter of Credit shall not contravene any Law applicable to the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any of the Lenders; provided, however, that with respect to requests for Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, the obligation of each Lender to make such Loans shall be governed by Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], and (iv) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a duly executed and completed Loan Request or to the Issuing Lender an application for a Letter of Credit, as the case may be.
8. COVENANTS
The Borrower covenants and agrees that until Payment In Full, the Borrower shall comply at all times with the following covenants:
8.1 Affirmative Covenants.
8.1.1 Preservation of Existence, Etc . The Borrower shall, and shall cause ADS Corporativo to, maintain its legal existence as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company (or foreign equivalent thereof) and, except where the failure to do so would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, its license or qualification and good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such license or qualification necessary, except as otherwise expressly permitted in Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Etc.].
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8.1.2 Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, Etc . The Borrower shall, and shall cause ADS Corporativo to, pay all material Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its income, businesses or franchises before any penalty or fine accrues thereon, and all material claims (including claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums that have become due and payable and that by law have or may become a Lien upon any of its properties or assets, prior to the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto; provided , that no such Tax or claim need to be paid to the extent it is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long as adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor. The Borrower shall not, and shall cause ADS Corporativo not to, file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person (other than ADS or any of its Subsidiaries).
8.1.3 Maintenance of Insurance . The Borrower shall, and shall cause ADS Corporativo to, insure its material properties and assets against loss or damage by fire and such other insurable hazards as such assets are commonly insured (including fire, extended coverage, property damage, workers compensation, public liability and business interruption insurance) and against other risks (including errors and omissions) in such amounts as similar properties and assets are insured by prudent companies in similar circumstances carrying on similar businesses, and with reputable and financially sound insurers, including self-insurance to the extent customary, all as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.
8.1.4 Maintenance of Properties . The Borrower shall, and shall cause ADS Corporativo to, maintain in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) in accordance with the general practice of other businesses of similar character and size, all of those material properties useful or necessary to its business, and from time to time, the Borrower will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals or replacements thereof.
8.1.5 Visitation Rights . The Borrower shall, and shall cause ADS Corporativo to, permit any of the officers or authorized employees or representatives of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties and to examine and make excerpts from its books and records and discuss its business affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all in such detail and at such times during normal business hours and as often as any of the Lenders may reasonably request; provided , that in the case of any meeting with any independent public accountants, representatives of the Borrower may be present; provided , further , that in the absence of an Event of Default, no more than two such visits for the Lenders will be permitted in any fiscal year of the Borrower. The Lenders shall provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with reasonable notice prior to any visit or inspection and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate any visits made pursuant to this Section 8.1.5 so as to minimize inconvenience to the Borrower or ADS Corporativo.
8.1.6 Keeping of Records and Books of Account . The Borrower shall, and shall cause ADS Corporativo to, maintain and keep proper books of record and account which enable the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and ADS Corporativo to issue financial statements in accordance with GAAP and as otherwise required by applicable Laws of any Official Body having jurisdiction over the Borrower or ADS Corporativo, and in which full, true and correct entries shall be made in all material respects of all its dealings and business and financial affairs.
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8.1.7 Compliance with Laws; Use of Proceeds . The Borrower shall, and shall cause ADS Corporativo to, comply with all applicable Laws, including all Environmental Laws, in all material respects; provided that it shall not be deemed to be a violation of this Section 8.1.7 if any failure to comply with any Law would not result in fines, penalties, remediation costs, other similar liabilities or injunctive relief which in the aggregate would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Borrower will, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use the Letters of Credit and the proceeds of the Loans only in accordance with Section 2.8 [Use of Proceeds] and as permitted by applicable Law.
8.1.8 [Intentionally Omitted] .
8.1.9 Anti-Terrorism Laws . None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo is or shall be (i) a Person with whom any Lender is restricted from doing business under Executive Order No. 13224 or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, (ii) engaged in any business involved in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of such a Person or in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) otherwise in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law. The Borrower shall provide to the Lenders any certifications or information that a Lender requests to confirm compliance by the Loan Parties with Anti-Terrorism Laws.
8.2 Negative Covenants .
8.2.1 Indebtedness . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(i) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
(ii) Existing Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 8.2.1 including extensions, renewals or Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided there is no increase in the amount thereof or other significant change in the terms thereof unless otherwise specified on Schedule 8.2.1 ;
(iii) Indebtedness of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo with respect to Purchase Money Security Interests and capitalized leases as and to the extent permitted under clause (viii) of the definition of Permitted Lien with respect to the aggregate amount of unpaid principal loans and deferred payments (including, without limitation, imputed principal under capitalized leases);
(iv) [intentionally omitted];
(v) [intentionally omitted];
(vi) Indebtedness of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo to ADS and its Subsidiaries permitted by the ADS Credit Agreement; and Indebtedness of the Borrower owing to its Subsidiaries and which is subordinated on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
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(vii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien on real property, improvements to real property and fixtures permitted under clause (xix) of the definition of Permitted Liens;
(viii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted under clause (xx) of the definition of Permitted Liens with respect to Permitted Acquisitions;
(ix) Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Payment In Full of the Obligations on terms and conditions acceptable to Administrative Agent;
(x) Guaranties permitted under Section 8.2.3 [Guaranties];
(xi) [intentionally omitted];
(xii) [intentionally omitted];
(xiii) [intentionally omitted]; and
(xiv) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower and ADS Corporativo in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000.
8.2.2 Liens; Negative Pledges . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, or agree or become liable to do so, except Permitted Liens.
8.2.3 Guaranties . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, at any time, directly or indirectly, become or be liable in respect of any Guaranty, or assume, guarantee, become surety for, endorse or otherwise agree, become or remain directly or contingently liable upon or with respect to any obligation or liability of any other Person, except for:
(i) Guaranties of Indebtedness or any other obligations or liabilities of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo by the other of ADS Corporativo or the Borrower, respectively, or of their respective Subsidiaries permitted hereunder;
(ii) [intentionally omitted];
(iii) [intentionally omitted];
(iv) [intentionally omitted];
(v) [intentionally omitted];and
(vi) the Guaranties specified on Schedule 8.2.3 .
8.2.4 Loans and Investments . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, at any time make or suffer to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or purchase, acquire or own any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest (whether general or limited) or limited liability company interest in, or any other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person, or agree, become or remain liable to do any of the foregoing, except:
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(i) Trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) Advances to employees of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo to meet expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business;
(iii) Permitted Investments;
(iv) [intentionally omitted];
(v) [intentionally omitted];
(vi) Additional loans and advances to, and such investments and interests in, and capital contributions to, Borrower or ADS Corporativo from the other, and its Subsidiaries, not to exceed $2,000,000, in the aggregate, in any fiscal year;
(vii) Additional loans and advances to, and such investments and interests in, and capital contributions to, Joint Ventures, or any of the Borrowers or ADS Corporativos Subsidiaries, not to exceed $2,000,000, in the aggregate, in any fiscal year;
(viii) Investments acquired by the Borrower or ADS Corporativo: (A) in exchange for any other investment held by the Borrower or ADS Corporativo in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other investment, or (B) as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or ADS Corporativo with respect to any secured investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured investment in default;
(ix) [intentionally omitted];
(x) Permitted Acquisitions, and loans and advances to, and investments and interest in, third Persons by any Person which are outstanding at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower as a result of a Permitted Acquisition, but not any increase in the amount thereof; and
(xi) Existing investments in Subsidiaries and other Investments of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo in existence on the date hereof and described on Schedule 8.2.4 ;
8.2.5 Capital Distributions . (a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, make or pay, or agree to become or remain liable to make or pay, any Capital Distribution of any nature (whether in cash, property, securities or otherwise), except as follows:
(i) the Borrower may make a Capital Distribution to ADS or ADS Subsidiaries;
(ii) [intentionally omitted];
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(iii) ADS Corporativo may make a Capital Distribution to ADS or ADS Subsidiaries;
(iv) [intentionally omitted]; and
(v) [intentionally omitted].
8.2.6 Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any other Person, except:
8.2.6.1 [intentionally omitted];
8.2.6.2 ADS Corporativo may be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, assets or property may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to ADS or ADS Subsidiaries;
8.2.6.3 ADS Corporativo may merge into its parent or the Borrower;
8.2.6.4 [intentionally omitted];
8.2.6.5 Subject to Section 8.2.9 [Subsidiaries and Partnerships], the Borrower may acquire, whether by merger or by purchase, lease or otherwise, (A) of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the equity interests of another Person or (B) all or substantially all of the assets of another Person or of a business or division of another Person (each, a Permitted Acquisition ), provided that each of the following requirements is met:
(i) [intentionally omitted];
(ii) [intentionally omitted];
(iii) the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person shall have approved such Permitted Acquisition and, if the Borrower shall use any portion of the Loans to fund such Permitted Acquisition, the Borrower also shall have delivered to the Lenders written evidence of the approval of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of such Person for such Permitted Acquisition;
(iv) the business or assets acquired, or the business conducted by the Person whose ownership interests are being acquired, as applicable, shall be reasonably related to as one or more line or lines of business conducted by the Borrower and shall comply with Section 8.2.10 [Continuation of or Change in Business];
(v) no Potential Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition;
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(vi) [intentionally omitted]; and
(vii) [intentionally omitted].
8.2.7 Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, sell, convey, assign, lease, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties or assets, tangible or intangible (including sale, assignment, discount or other disposition of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or general intangibles with or without recourse or of capital stock, shares of beneficial interest, partnership interests or limited liability company interests of a Subsidiary of the Borrower), except:
(i) transactions involving the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) any disposal of damaged, obsolete, worn out or surplus assets or any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are no longer necessary or required in the conduct of the Borrowers or ADS Corporativos business;
(iii) any sale, transfer or lease of assets by the Borrower or ADS Corporativo to ADS or ADS Subsidiaries;
(iv) Transfers to Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures which are investments permitted by clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 8.2.4 [Loans and Investments];
(v) any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are replaced by substitute assets;
(vi) any disposition of real property to a governmental authority;
(vii) the abandonment, cancellation or other disposition of intellectual property that is not material or is no longer used or useful in any material respect in the operation of the Borrower and ADS Corporativo;
(viii) the sale or discount, in each case without recourse and in the ordinary course of business, of overdue accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof consistent with customary industry practice (and not as part of any bulk sale or financing of receivables);
(ix) [intentionally omitted]; and
(x) any sale, transfer or lease of assets, other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above, so long as (a) such disposition is for not less than fair market value, (b) the aggregate fair market value of such assets sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of in any fiscal year (other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above) does not exceed $2,000,000.
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8.2.8 Affiliate Transactions . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, enter into or carry out any transaction with any Affiliate of ADS or any of ADS Subsidiaries unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement (including any intercompany transaction expressly permitted under this Agreement), is entered into in the ordinary course of business upon fair and reasonable arms-length terms and conditions and is in accordance with all applicable Law.
8.2.9 Subsidiaries and Partnerships . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, own or create directly or indirectly any Subsidiaries other than any Foreign Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date and any Foreign Subsidiary formed and funded with investments made as permitted by Section 8.2.4 or acquired after the Closing Date as permitted under Section 8.2.6.
8.2.10 Continuation of or Change in Business . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, engage in any business other than the manufacture, sale and distribution of corrugated polyethylene, polypropylene and concrete pipe, storm and septic chambers, drainage structures and other related water drainage and water filtration products, and businesses which are related, supplemental or complementary thereto.
8.2.11 Fiscal Year . The Borrower shall not change its fiscal year from the twelve-month period beginning January 1st and ending December 31st.
8.2.12 Issuance of Stock . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, issue any additional shares of its capital stock or any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof to the extent that the such issued shares, options, warrants and other rights are required to be Collateral.
8.2.13 Changes in Organizational Documents . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, amend in any respect its certificate of incorporation (including any provisions or resolutions relating to capital stock), by-laws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents which change would be reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the Lenders without obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.
8.2.14 Real Property . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit ADS Corporativo to, grant any Liens on any fee or leasehold interest in real property owned or held by the Borrower or ADS Corporativo to any other Person other than Permitted Liens.
8.2.15 [Intentionally Omitted] .
8.2.16 [Intentionally Omitted] .
8.2.17 [Intentionally Omitted] .
8.2.18 [Intentionally Omitted] .
8.3 Reporting Requirements . The Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
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8.3.1 Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) calendar days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year, financial statements of ADS, consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended and the fiscal year through that date, all in reasonable detail and certified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the addition of footnotes) by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President or Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower, as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and setting forth in comparative form the respective financial statements for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be required to provide such certification under this Section 8.3.1 for any fiscal period during which the Borrowers and its Subsidiaries financial results are included in the consolidated financial statements of ADS delivered pursuant to this Agreement and ADS has delivered the related certification of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President or Chief Financial Officer of ADS under this Section 8.3.1.
8.3.2 Annual Financial Statements . As soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of ADS, financial statements of ADS consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year, and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the financial statements as of the end of and for the preceding fiscal year, and certified by independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The certificate or report of accountants shall be free of qualifications (other than any consistency qualification that may result from a change in the method used to prepare the financial statements as to which such accountants concur) and shall not indicate the occurrence or existence of any event, condition or contingency which would materially impair the prospect of payment or performance of any covenant, agreement or duty of any Loan Party under any of the Loan Documents. The Borrower shall deliver with such financial statements and certification by ADS accountants a letter of such accountants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders substantially to the effect that, based upon their ordinary and customary examination of the affairs of ADS performed in connection with the preparation of such consolidated financial statements, and in accordance with GAAP, (i) the computations by ADS set forth on the Compliance Certificate show the applicable Leverage Ratio calculated as set forth in this Agreement, and (ii) they are not aware of the existence of any Event of Default or Potential Default or, if they are aware of such Event of Default or Potential Default, stating the nature thereof.
8.3.3 Compliance Certificate of Borrower . Concurrently with the financial statements of ADS furnished to the Administrative Agent and to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 8.3.1 [Quarterly Financial Statements] and 8.3.2 [Annual Financial Statements], a certificate (each a Compliance Certificate ) of the Borrower signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President or Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower, in the form of Exhibit 8.3.3 . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be required to provide its Compliance Certificate under this Section 8.3.3 for any fiscal period during which the Borrowers and its Subsidiaries financial results are included in the consolidated financial statements of ADS delivered pursuant to this Agreement and ADS has delivered the related Compliance Certificate under this Section 8.3.3.
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8.3.4 Notices .
8.3.4.1 Default . Promptly after any Authorized Officer or the general counsel of the Borrower has learned of the occurrence of an Event of Default or Potential Default, a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Potential Default and the action which the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.
8.3.4.2 Litigation . Promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions, suits, proceedings or investigations before or by any Official Body or other Person against the Borrower or ADS Corporativo which, if adversely determined to the Borrower or ADS Corporativo would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.3.4.3 Proceedings of Official Bodies . Promptly upon the occurrence or receipt of any of the following, notice of (i) any citation, summons, subpoena, order to show cause or other order naming the Borrower or ADS Corporativo a party in any proceeding before any Official Body, (ii) any lapse or other termination of any license, permit, franchise or other authorization issued to the Borrower or ADS Corporativo by any Official Body, (iii) any refusal by any Official Body to renew or extend any such license, permit, franchise or other authorization, or (iv) any dispute between the Borrower or ADS Corporativo and any Official Body or Person; provided however, that notices with respect to each of the above shall be required only in if the event giving rise to such notice would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.3.4.4 Erroneous Financial Information . Immediately in the event that the Authorized Officers of the Borrower conclude or have been advised by its accountants that any previously issued financial statement, audit report or interim review should no longer be relied upon or that disclosure should be made or action should be taken to prevent future reliance.
8.3.4.5 [Intentionally Omitted] ,
8.3.4.6 [Intentionally Omitted] ,
8.3.4.7 Environmental Events . As soon as possible and in any event within ten (10) days after receipt by Borrower, a copy of (i) any written notice or claim to the effect that Borrower or ADS Corporativo is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by the Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, which liability if established would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, and (ii) any notice alleging any violation of any federal, state or local environmental, health or safety law or regulation by Borrower or ADS Corporativo which violation if established would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change,
8.3.4.8 [Intentionally Omitted] ,
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8.3.4.9 [Intentionally Omitted] , and
8.3.4.10 Other Information . Such other reports and information as any of the Required Lenders may from time to time reasonably request.
8.3.5 English Language and Dollars . Any notice, report or other writing required to be made by the Borrower or any other Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under this Agreement shall be in English and the figures in any financial statements shall be reported in Dollars.
9. DEFAULT
9.1 Events of Default . An Event of Default shall mean the occurrence or existence of any one or more of the following events or conditions (whatever the reason therefor and whether voluntary, involuntary or effected by operation of Law):
9.1.1 Payments Under Loan Documents . The Borrower shall (i) fail to pay any principal of any Loan (including scheduled installments, mandatory prepayments or the payment due at maturity) or any Reimbursement Obligation on the date on which such principal or Reimbursement Obligation becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof, or (ii) fail to pay any interest or other amount owing hereunder or under the other Loan Documents within three (3) Business Days after the date on which such amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof;
9.1.2 Breach of Warranty . Any representation or warranty made at any time by the Borrower herein or by any of the Loan Parties in any other Loan Document to which it is a party, or in any certificate, other instrument or statement furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof or thereof, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect as of the time it was made or furnished;
9.1.3 Breach of Negative Covenants or Visitation Rights . The Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant contained in Section 8.1.5 [Visitation Rights] or Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants], or any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any of such corresponding covenants contained in any of the Loan Documents to which any of the Loan Parties is a party;
9.1.4 Breach of Other Covenants . Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any other covenant, condition or provision hereof or of any other Loan Document to which it is a party and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of: (i) actual knowledge thereof by an Authorized Officer of a Loan Party thereof and (ii) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent;
9.1.5 Defaults in ADS Credit Agreement or Other Agreements or Indebtedness . A default or event of default shall occur at any time under the terms of (i) the ADS Credit Agreement or (ii) any other agreement involving borrowed money or the extension of credit or any other Indebtedness under which the Borrower or ADS Corporativo may be obligated as a borrower or guarantor in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate, and such breach,
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default or event of default consists of the failure to pay (beyond any period of grace permitted with respect thereto, whether waived or not) any Indebtedness when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) or if such breach or default permits or causes the acceleration of any Indebtedness (whether or not such right shall have been waived) or the termination of any commitment to lend;
9.1.6 Final Judgments or Orders . Any final judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate (to the extent not adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and unaffiliated insurance company has acknowledged coverage) shall be entered against the Borrower or ADS Corporativo by a court having jurisdiction in the premises, which judgment is not discharged, vacated, bonded or stayed pending appeal within a period of sixty (60) days from the date of entry;
9.1.7 Termination of ADS Credit Agreement or Loan Document Unenforceable . (i) The ADS Credit Agreement expires or is terminated for any reason or no reason whatsoever, or (ii) any of the Loan Documents shall cease to be legal, valid and binding agreements enforceable against the party executing the same or such partys successors and assigns (as permitted under the Loan Documents) in accordance with the respective terms thereof or shall in any way be terminated (except in accordance with its terms) or shall in any way be challenged or contested by any Loan Party or, except as the result of actions or failures to take action within the control of the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any Lender, cease to give or provide the respective remedies, powers or privileges intended to be created thereby;
9.1.8 [Intentionally Omitted] .
9.1.9 Change of Control . (i) ADS shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of ADS Worldwide, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America ( ADS Worldwide ), with the full right to vote such shares, and/or shall cease to have day-to-day control of the business and operations of ADS Worldwide; or (ii) ADS Worldwide shall cease to own at least 50% of each of the Borrower and ADS Corporativo, with the full right to vote such shares, and/or shall cease to have day-to-day control of the business and operations of the Borrower or ADS Corporativo;
9.1.10 Liquidity Event . A Liquidity Event, as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement, shall have occurred and not been waived by the parties to the Intercreditor Agreement; or
9.1.11 Relief Proceedings . (i) A Relief Proceeding shall have been instituted against the Borrower, ADS Corporativo, ADS or any Material Subsidiary (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) of ADS, and such Relief Proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days or such court shall enter a decree or order granting any of the relief sought in such Relief Proceeding, or (ii) the Borrower, ADS Corporativo, ADS or any such Material Subsidiary institutes, or takes any action in furtherance of, a Relief Proceeding, or (iii) the Borrower, ADS Corporativo, ADS or any such Material Subsidiary admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature.
9.2 Consequences of Event of Default .
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9.2.1 Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings . If an Event of Default specified under Sections 9.1.1 through 9.1.10 shall occur and be continuing, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be under no further obligation to make Loans and the Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the Administrative Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders, shall (i) by written notice to the Borrower, declare the unpaid principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder to be forthwith due and payable, and the same shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each Lender without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and (ii) require the Borrower to, and the Borrower shall thereupon, deposit in a non-interest-bearing account with the Administrative Agent, as cash collateral for its Obligations under the Loan Documents, an amount equal to the maximum amount currently or at any time thereafter available to be drawn on all outstanding Letters of Credit, and the Borrower hereby pledges to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and grants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a security interest in, all such cash as security for such Obligations; and
9.2.2 Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings . If an Event of Default specified under Section 9.1.11 [Relief Proceedings] shall occur, the Lenders shall be under no further obligations to make Loans hereunder and the Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder shall be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived; and
9.2.3 Set-off . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Lender, and each of their respective Affiliates and any participant of such Lender or Affiliate which has agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments] is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or any such Affiliate or participant to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the Obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, the Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the Issuing Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Lender and their respective Affiliates and participants under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Lender or their respective Affiliates and participants may have. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application; and
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9.2.4 Application of Proceeds . From and after the date on which the Administrative Agent has taken any action pursuant to this Section 9.2 and until all Obligations of the Borrower have been paid in full, any and all proceeds received by the Administrative Agent from any sale or other disposition of the Collateral, or any part thereof, or the exercise of any other remedy by the Administrative Agent, shall be, subject to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, applied as follows:
(i) first, to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys and paralegals fees and legal expenses, incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in connection with realizing on the Collateral or collection of any Obligations of any of the Loan Parties under any of the Loan Documents, including advances made by the Lenders or any one of them or the Administrative Agent for the reasonable maintenance, preservation, protection or enforcement of, or realization upon, the Collateral, including advances for taxes, insurance, repairs and the like and reasonable expenses incurred to sell or otherwise realize on, or prepare for sale or other realization on, any of the Collateral;
(ii) second, to the repayment of all Obligations then due and unpaid of the Loan Parties to the Lenders or their Affiliates incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, whether of principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise and to cash collateralize the Letter of Credit Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts payable to them with respect to such Obligations; and
(iii) the balance, if any, as required by Law.
10. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
10.1 Appointment and Authority . Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints PNC to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent, subject to the terms and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, 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 Section 10 are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
10.2 Rights as a Lender . The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term Lender or Lenders shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in 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 Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
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10.3 Exculpatory Provisions . The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan 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 Potential Default or Event of 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 Loan 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 Loan 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 Loan Document or applicable Law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the 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 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers] and 9.2 [Consequences of Event of Default]) 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 Potential Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Potential Default or Event of 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 Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Potential Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
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10.4 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 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 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 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.
10.5 Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the 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 Section 10 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.
10.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with approval from the Borrower (so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. 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 Lender, appoint a successor Administrative Agent; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) 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 the Issuing Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 10.6. Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent
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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 Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agents resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Section 10 and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver] 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.
If PNC resigns as Administrative Agent under this Section 10.6, PNC shall also resign as an Issuing Lender. Upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall (i) succeed to all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of PNC as the retiring Issuing Lender and Administrative Agent and PNC shall be discharged from all of its respective duties and obligations as Issuing Lender and Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, and (ii) issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by PNC, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangement satisfactory to PNC to effectively assume the obligations of PNC with respect to such Letters of Credit.
10.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders . Each Lender and the Issuing Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative 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 the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
10.8 No Other Duties, etc . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Co-Syndication Agents, Joint Bookrunners, or Joint Lead Arrangers listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Lender hereunder.
10.9 Administrative Agents Fee . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent a nonrefundable fee (the Administrative Agents Fee ) under the terms of a letter (the Administrative Agents Letter ) between the Borrower and Administrative Agent, as amended from time to time.
10.10 Authorization to Release Collateral and Guarantors . The Lenders and Issuing Lenders authorize the Administrative Agent to release (i) any Collateral consisting of assets or equity interests sold or otherwise disposed of in a sale or other disposition or transfer permitted
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under Section 8.2.7 [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries] or 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions], and (ii) any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement if the ownership interests in such Guarantor are sold or otherwise disposed of or transferred to persons other than Loan Parties or Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties in a transaction permitted under Section 8.2.7 [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries] or 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions].
10.11 No Reliance on Administrative Agents Customer Identification Program . Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender, nor any of its Affiliates, participants or assignees, may rely on the Administrative Agent to carry out such Lenders, Affiliates, participants or assignees customer identification program, or other obligations required or imposed under or pursuant to the USA Patriot Act or the regulations thereunder, including the regulations contained in 31 CFR 103.121 (as hereafter amended or replaced, the CIP Regulations ), or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, including any programs involving any of the following items relating to or in connection with any of the Loan Parties, their Affiliates or their agents, the Loan Documents or the transactions hereunder or contemplated hereby: (i) any identity verification procedures, (ii) any recordkeeping, (iii) comparisons with government lists, (iv) customer notices or (v) other procedures required under the CIP Regulations or such other Laws.
10.12 Right of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guaranties . Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, each of the Borrower, each Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender or Issuing Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any of the Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender in accordance with the terms hereof and of the other Loan Documents, all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and (ii) subject to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other disposition.
10.13 Understandings and Authorizations with respect to the Intercreditor Agreement . Each Lender agrees that it will be bound by, and shall take no actions contrary to (and shall take all actions required by), the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as well as the Collateral Documents and hereby authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf, and (ii) the Collateral Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as well as the Collateral Documents on its behalf and to act on its behalf to the extent set forth in
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the Intercreditor Agreement as well as the Collateral Documents. The Lenders acknowledge the Intercreditor Agreement provides for the allocation of proceeds of and value of the Collateral among the Senior Secured Obligations as set forth therein and contains limits on the ability of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to take remedial actions with respect to the Collateral. The Lenders acknowledge that the Secured Obligations are secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis to the extent set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.
11. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Modifications, Amendments or Waivers . With the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of all the Lenders, and the Borrower or the other Loan Parties, may from time to time enter into written agreements amending or changing any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document to which it is a party or the rights of the Lenders or the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder, or may grant written waivers or consents hereunder or thereunder. Any such agreement, waiver or consent made with such written consent shall be effective to bind all the Lenders and the Loan Parties party thereto; provided , that no such agreement, waiver or consent may be made which will:
11.1.1 Increase of Commitment . Increase the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender hereunder without the consent of such Lender;
11.1.2 Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment . Whether or not any Loans are outstanding, extend the Expiration Date or the time for payment of principal or interest of any Loan (excluding the due date of any mandatory prepayment of a Loan), the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, or reduce the principal amount of or the rate of interest borne by any Loan or reduce the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
11.1.3 Release of Collateral or Guarantor . Except for sales of assets permitted by Section 8.2.7 [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries], release all or substantially all of the Collateral or any Guarantor from its Obligations under the Guaranty Agreement without the consent of all Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders);
11.1.4 [Intentionally Omitted] .
11.1.5 Miscellaneous . Amend Section 5.2 [Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders], 10.3 [Exculpatory Provisions, Etc.] or 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] or this Section 11.1, alter any provision regarding the pro rata treatment of the Lenders or requiring all Lenders to authorize the taking of any action or reduce any percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, in each case without the consent of all of the Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders);
provided that :
(A) | no agreement, waiver or consent which would modify the interests, rights or obligations of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender may be made without the written consent of such Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender, as applicable; |
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(B) | if in connection with any proposed waiver, amendment or modification referred to in Sections 11.1.1 through 11.1.5 above, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (each a Non-Consenting Lender ), then the Borrower shall have the right to replace any such Non-Consenting Lender with one or more replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender]; |
(C) | Anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement notwithstanding, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender, and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender; |
(D) | [Intentionally omitted]; and |
(E) | The Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties shall be permitted to amend any provision of any Loan Document to which it is a party (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision. |
11.2 No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies . No course of dealing and no delay or failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any other or future exercise thereof or operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power, remedy or privilege. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and any other Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have.
11.3 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .
11.3.1 Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay (i) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent but not including counsel for any other Lenders), and shall pay all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration
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of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, (iii) all documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender (including the invoiced reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender), and shall pay all reasonable invoiced fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit, and (iv) all reasonable invoiced out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agents regular employees and agents engaged periodically to perform audits of the Loan Parties books, records and business properties.
11.3.2 Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the Issuing Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee ) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance or nonperformance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (provided that only the reasonable invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent shall be indemnified under this clause (i)), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) breach of representations, warranties or covenants of the Borrower under the Loan Documents, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, including any such items or losses relating to or arising under Environmental Laws or pertaining to environmental matters, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or such Indemnitees Subsidiaries or the officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and other representatives of such Indemnitee or its Subsidiaries, or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach of such Indemnitees obligations hereunder or under any other
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Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower] shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.
11.3.3 Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Sections 11.3.1 [Costs and Expenses] or 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower] to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Issuing Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lenders Ratable Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the Issuing Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or Issuing Lender in connection with such capacity.
11.3.4 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by Borrower] shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
11.3.5 Payments . All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) days after demand therefor.
11.4 Holidays . Whenever payment of a Loan to be made or taken hereunder shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day such payment shall be due on the next Business Day (except as provided in Section 4.2 [Interest Periods]) and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest and fees, except that the Loans shall be due on the Business Day preceding the Expiration Date if the Expiration Date is not a Business Day. Whenever any payment or action to be made or taken hereunder (other than payment of the Loans) shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall not be included in computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.
11.5 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication .
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11.5.1 Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 11.5.2 [Electronic Communications]), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier (i) if to a Lender, to it at its address set forth in its administrative questionnaire, or (ii) if to any other Person, to it at its address set forth on Schedule 1.1(B) .
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.5.2 [Electronic Communications], shall be effective as provided in such Section.
11.5.2 Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Lender if such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
11.5.3 Change of Address, Etc . Any party hereto may change its address, e-mail address or telecopier number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
11.6 Severability . The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction.
11.7 Duration; Survival . All representations and warranties of the Borrower contained herein or made in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the completion of the transactions hereunder and Payment In Full. All covenants
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and agreements of the Borrower contained herein relating to the payment of principal, interest, premiums, additional compensation or expenses and indemnification, including those set forth in the Notes, Section 5 [Payments] and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver], shall survive Payment In Full. All other covenants and agreements of the Borrower shall continue in full force and effect from and after the date hereof and until Payment In Full.
11.8 Successors and Assigns .
11.8.1 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 the Borrower may not 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 Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders], (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.8.4 [Participations], or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.8.6 [Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally] (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 Section 11.8.4 [Participations] 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.
11.8.2 Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the 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 Lenders Commitment and the Loans 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 clause (i)(A) of this Section 11.8.2, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (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 Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if Trade Date is specified in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $1,000,000 with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
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(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned.
(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except for the consent of the Administrative Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for an assignment 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 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 (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and
(B) the consent of the Issuing Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding).
(iv) Assignment and Assumption Agreement . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3500, and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire provided by the Administrative Agent.
(v) No Assignment to Borrower . No such assignment shall be made to the 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.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.8.3 [Register], from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, 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 Agreement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement covering all of the assigning Lenders 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 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], 5.8 [Increased Costs], and 11.3 [Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver] 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 comply with this Section 11.8.2 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 Section 11.8.4 [Participations].
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11.8.3 Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain a record of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time. Such register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is in such register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. Such register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
11.8.4 Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a Participant ) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, Issuing Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree (other than as is already provided for herein) to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to Sections 11.1.1 [Increase of Commitment], 11.1.2 [Extension of Payment, Etc.], or 11.1.3 [Release of Collateral or Guarantor]) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4 [Libor Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], 5.8 [Increased Costs], 5.10 [Indemnity] and 5.9 [Taxes] (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders] (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders] shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] and Section 5.6.3 [Designation of a Different Lending Office] as if it were an assignee under Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.8 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes], with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrowers request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] and Section 5.6.3 [Designation of Different Lending Office] with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.2.3 [Set-off] as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] as
82
though it were a Lender. 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 Participants 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 Participants 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.
11.8.5 [ Intentionally Omitted ].
11.8.6 Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally . 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 of the United States of America; 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.
11.8.7 [ Intentionally Omitted ].
11.9 Confidentiality .
11.9.1 General . Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (i) 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), (ii) 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), (iii) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any other party hereto, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (B) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (vii) with the consent of the Borrower or (viii) to the extent such Information (Y) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (Z) becomes available to the Administrative
83
Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or the other Loan Parties. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
11.9.2 Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders . The Borrower acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Affiliates (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of such Lender and the Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement to any such Subsidiary or Affiliate subject to the provisions of Section 11.9.1 [General].
11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof including any prior confidentiality agreements and commitments. Except as provided in Section 7 [Conditions Of Lending And Issuance Of Letters Of Credit], this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or e-mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
11.11 CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .
11.11.1 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the Laws of the State of Ohio, United States of America without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Each standby Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement shall be subject either to the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the ICC ) at the time of issuance ( UCP ) or the rules of the International Standby Practices (ICC Publication Number 590) ( ISP98 ), as determined by the Issuing Lender, and each trade Letter of Credit shall be subject to UCP, and in each case to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the Laws of the State of Ohio, United States of America without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
11.11.2 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . THE BORROWER, EACH LENDER, EACH ISSUING LENDER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH OTHER PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S.
84
FEDERAL OR OHIO STATE COURT SITTING IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH OHIO STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE ISSUING LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
11.11.3 WAIVER OF VENUE . THE BORROWER, EACH LENDER, EACH ISSUING LENDER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH OTHER PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION 11.11. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND AGREES NOT ASSERT ANY SUCH DEFENSE.
11.11.4 SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.5 [NOTICES; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION]. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
11.11.5 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE 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
85
FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
11.12 USA Patriot Act Notice . Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.
11.13 Joinder of Guarantors The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that any Domestic Subsidiary of ADS which constitutes or is designated a Material Subsidiary (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) at any time after the Closing Date, other than a CFC, is required by Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions] or Section 8.2.9 [Subsidiaries and Partnerships] of the ADS Credit Agreement (and any Subsidiary ADS elects to have become a Guarantor or is designated as such by ADS pursuant to the definition of Material Subsidiary set forth in the ADS Credit Agreement), and is required by this Section 11.13, to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable (i) a Guarantor Joinder in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1(G)(1) pursuant to which it shall join as a Guarantor each of the documents to which the Guarantors are parties, including the Guaranty Agreement, the Security Agreement and the Pledge Agreement; (ii) documents in the forms described in Section 7.1 [First Loans] modified as appropriate to relate to such Subsidiary; and (iii) documents necessary to grant the Collateral Agent a Lien on the Collateral and create a security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in all personal property held by such Subsidiary. In the case of a Permitted Acquisition (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) of a Domestic Subsidiary of ADS which constitutes such a Material Subsidiary, the Borrower shall cause such Guarantor Joinder and related documents to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, within thirty (30) days of the closing of such Permitted Acquisition. In the case of a newly formed Person which is a Domestic Subsidiary of ADS which constitutes such a Material Subsidiary required pursuant to Section 8.2.9 [Subsidiaries and Partnerships] of the ADS Credit Agreement to join in the ADS Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall cause such Guarantor Joinder and related documents to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, within thirty (30) days after the date of the filing of such Subsidiarys articles of incorporation if the Subsidiary is a corporation, the date of the filing of its certificate of limited partnership if it is a limited partnership or the date of its organization if it is an entity other than a limited partnership or corporation. In the case of a Subsidiary designated or elected by ADS to be Guarantor, the Borrower shall cause such Guarantor Joinder and related documents to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as applicable, within thirty (30) days of such election or designation.
11.14 [ Intentionally Omitted ].
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11.15 Amendment and Restatement, No Novation . This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement, and the Borrower confirms that: the Existing Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Collateral for the Obligations thereunder (as all such capitalized terms are defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) have at all times, since the date of the execution and delivery of such documents, remained in full force and effect and continued to secure such obligations which are continued as the Obligations hereunder as amended hereby. The Loans hereunder are a continuation of the Loans under (and as such term is defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement and any Loan Documents expressly amended by this Agreement is not intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, a novation, interruption, suspension of continuity, satisfaction, discharge or termination of the obligations, loans, liabilities, or indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents thereunder or the collateral security therefor (except as such collateral security is expressly modified in accordance with this Agreement and the other Loan Document amended in connection therewith), and this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are entitled to all rights and benefits originally pertaining to the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as such term is defined therein). Notwithstanding the foregoing, except to the extent specifically amended and restated on the terms set forth in the Guaranty Agreement with respect to ADS and StormTech LLC, each of the Guarantors (other than ADS and StormTech LLC, the Existing Guarantors ) under that certain Continuing Agreement of Guaranty and Suretyship, dated as of September 24, 2010 (as amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified or supplemented from time to time, the Existing Guaranty ) is hereby released from the Existing Guaranty and such Existing Guaranty is terminated with respect to each Existing Guarantor and any and all collateral pledged by each such Existing Guarantor under the Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) is hereby released and terminated.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto duly authorized, have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
BORROWER: | ||
ADS MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Sergio Anguiano Lugo |
|
Name: | Sergio Anguiano Lugo | |
Title: | General Manager |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
individually and as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ George M. Gevas |
|
Name: | George M. Gevas | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT]
CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA | ||
By: |
/s/ Carl S. Tabacjar, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl S. Tabacjar, Jr. | |
Title: | Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT]
FIFTH THIRD BANK, individually and as Co-Syndication Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ William J. Whitley |
|
Name: | William J. Whitley | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
SCHEDULE 1.1(A)
PRICING GRID
VARIABLE PRICING AND FEES BASED ON LEVERAGE RATIO
(IN BASIS POINTS)
Level |
Leverage Ratio |
Commitment
Fee |
Letter of
Credit Fee |
Revolving
Credit Base Rate Spread |
Revolving
Credit LIBOR Rate Spread |
|||||||||||||
I |
Less than 1.50 to 1.00 | 15.0 | 125.0 | 25.0 | 125.0 | |||||||||||||
II |
Greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 but less than 2.00 to 1.00 | 20.0 | 150.0 | 50.0 | 150.0 | |||||||||||||
III |
Greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 but less than 2.50 to 1.00 | 25.0 | 175.0 | 75.0 | 175.0 | |||||||||||||
IV |
Greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 but less than 3.00 to 1.00 | 30.0 | 200.0 | 100.0 | 200.0 | |||||||||||||
V |
Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 but less than 3.50 to 1.00 | 35.0 | 225.0 | 125.0 | 225.0 | |||||||||||||
VI |
Greater than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00 | 35.0 | 250.0 | 150.0 | 250.0 |
For purposes of determining the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate:
(a) The Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall be at determined on the Closing Date based on the Leverage Ratio computed on such date pursuant to a Compliance Certificate to be delivered on the Closing Date.
(b) The Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall be recomputed as of the end of each fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date based on the Leverage Ratio as of such quarter end. Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate or the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate computed as of a quarter end shall be effective on the date on which the Compliance
Certificate evidencing such computation is due to be delivered under Section 8.3.3 [Compliance Certificate of Borrower]. If a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section 8.3.3, then the rates in Level VI shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.
(c) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of ADS or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the Leverage Ratio as calculated by ADS as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under Title 11 of the United States Code or otherwise under any bankruptcy or similar law of the United Mexican States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, under Section 2.9 [Letter of Credit Subfacility] or Section 4.3 [Interest After Default] or Section 9 [Default]. The Borrowers obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
2
SCHEDULE 1.1(P)
Permitted Liens
| Liens set forth in each of the following: |
| The ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. Participation Agreement, as amended from time to time |
| The ADS Latina, LLC Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended from time to time |
| Access Easement over the Lot owned by ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., marked with the number 1 of the subdivision located in Excomunidad de Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, which not will exceed 100 square meters of total surface, for the construction of a cistern. The aforesaid easement is continuous, apparent and temporary, and shall remain in full effect as long as the dominant real estate properties are not connected to the General Network of Potable Water. |
SCHEDULE 2.8
Existing Letters of Credit
None.
SCHEDULE 6.1.1
Qualifications to do Business
Entity Name |
Jurisdiction of Organization | Other Jurisdictions | ||
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. |
Mexico | N/A |
SCHEDULE 6.1.2
Subsidiaries and Owners
Subsidiary Equity Interests:
Name |
Jurisdiction | Organization | Equity Owner |
Percentage
Owned |
Certificate No. and No. of
|
|||||||
ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. 1 | Mexico |
Corporation
(Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable) |
ADS Worldwide, Inc.
|
51% |
Cert. No. 2 (50 Series A Shares) Cert. No. 3 (1 Series B Share) |
|||||||
Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. | 49% |
Cert. No. 1 (49 Series A Shares) |
||||||||||
ADS Latina, LLC | Delaware |
Limited Liability
Company |
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | 99% | Uncertificated | |||||||
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | 1% | Uncertificated | ||||||||||
ADSM Centro América, Sociedad Anónima |
Republic
of Costa Rica |
Corporation
(sociedad
|
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | 100% |
Cert. No. 1 (1 share) Cert No. 2 (99 shares) |
|||||||
Grupo Industrial Deplayusa, S.A. de C.V. | Mexico |
Corporation
(Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable) |
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | 99.99% |
6961,838 shares Series A through P |
|||||||
Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. | 0.01% | 1 share Series H |
Subsidiary options, warrants or other rights: None.
1 | Not a Subsidiary of ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. Permitted to be consolidated with Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but treated as a Joint Venture under the ADS Credit Agreement. |
Borrower Equity Interests:
Name |
Jurisdiction |
Organization | Equity Owner | Percentage Owned |
Certificate No. and
|
|||||
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | Mexico |
Corporation
(Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable) |
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | 51% |
Cert No. 2 (1,000 Series A Shares) Cert No. 4 (11,250 Series B Shares) Cert. No. 5 (21,000 Series B Shares) Cert. No 6 (1,108 Series B Shares) |
|||||
Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. | 49% |
Cert. No. 1 (1,000 Series A Shares) Cert. No. 3 (32,010 Series B Shares) |
Borrower options, warrants or other rights: None.
SCHEDULE 6.1.14
Environmental Disclosures
None.
SCHEDULE 8.2.1
Permitted Indebtedness
None.
SCHEDULE 8.2.3
Guaranties
None.
SCHEDULE 8.2.4
Permitted Investments
| Investments in Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 6.1.2 hereto |
Exhibit 10.2A
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (the First Amendment ), dated as of December 20, 2013, amends that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (the Credit Agreement ), by and among ADS MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V., a corporation organized under the laws of the United Mexican States (the Borrower ), the LENDERS (as defined in the Credit Agreement) PARTY THERETO, and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent ).
WITNESSETH :
WHEREAS, Advanced Draining Systems, Inc., the Borrowers parent company ( ADS ), desires to make a Capital Distribution (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) to its shareholders in the amount of approximately $107,966,100, which Capital Distribution is contemplated to occur in January, 2014, approximately $22,624,300 of which will be paid with respect to shares held by the ESOP (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) which have not been allocated to employees of ADS and its Subsidiaries (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) as of the date hereof (the ADS Capital Distribution ).
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested an amendment of the Credit Agreement in order to increase Consolidated EDITDAE by the amount of the ADS Capital Distribution paid with respect to unallocated shares held by the ESOP, and the Lenders have agreed to such amendment subject to the terms and conditions herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of their mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, covenant and agree as follows:
1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
2. Recitals . The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
3. Amendments to Credit Agreement .
(a) The following new defined terms are hereby added to Section 1.1 [Certain Definitions] of the Credit Agreement in alphabetical order as follows:
First Amendment shall mean the First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2013.
First Amendment Effective Date shall mean the date upon which the First Amendment became effective pursuant to its terms.
(b) The definition of Consolidated EBITDAE in Section 1.1 [Certain Definitions] of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
Consolidated EBITDAE for any period of determination shall mean, without duplication, (i) net income, plus , to the extent reducing net income, the sum of amounts for (a) consolidated interest expense, (b) charges for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, (c) total depreciation expense, (d) total amortization expense, (e) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,100,000, (f) non-cash charges reducing net income for such period, (g) ESOP Compensation (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement), (h) ESOP Dividends on Unallocated Shares (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement), and (h) non-cash compensation related to stock options and restricted stock, minus (ii) non-cash gains increasing net income, in each case of ADS and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAE (a) with respect to a business acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition (for the purposes of this definition, as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement), Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 or Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as interpreted by the staff of the United States of America Securities and Exchange Commission), using historical numbers of any business so acquired, in accordance with GAAP as if such Permitted Acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period, and (b) with respect to a business or assets liquidated, sold or disposed of as permitted in the ADS Credit Agreement, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on the basis stated above), using historical numbers of any business or assets so liquidated, sold or disposed of, in accordance with GAAP as if such liquidation, sale or disposition had been consummated at the beginning of such period.
4. Conditions Precedent . The Borrower and the Lenders acknowledge that this First Amendment shall not be effective until the date each of the following conditions precedent has been satisfied (such date is referred to herein as the First Amendment Effective Date ):
(a) The Borrower, the Required Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall have executed, and delivered to the Administrative Agent, this First Amendment;
(b) ADS, the Guarantors (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement), the Required Lenders (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) and the Administrative Agent (as defined in the ADS Credit Agreement) shall have executed and delivered an amendment to the ADS Credit Agreement consistent with the amendments of the Credit Agreement as set forth in this First Amendment;
(c) The Borrower, by its execution and delivery of this First Amendment, shall have and be deemed to have certified to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that the certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower, remains true, correct and complete on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date;
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(d) Since March 31, 2013, no Material Adverse Change shall have occurred with respect to the Borrower;
(e) The Borrower shall have obtained all approvals and consents necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this First Amendment;
(f) The Borrower shall have reimbursed the Administrative Agent all fees and expenses, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees, for which the Administrative Agent is entitled to be reimbursed; and
(g) All legal details and proceedings to be consummated and/or otherwise completed as of the First Amendment Effective Date in connection with the transactions contemplated by this First Amendment and all other Loan Documents to be delivered to the Lenders shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
5. Incorporation into Credit Agreement . This First Amendment shall be incorporated into the Credit Agreement by this reference.
6. Full Force and Effect . Except as expressly modified by this First Amendment, all of the terms, conditions, representations, warranties and covenants of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct and shall continue in full force and effect without modification, including without limitation, all liens and security interests securing the Borrowers indebtedness to the Lenders and all Guaranty Agreements executed and delivered by the Guarantors.
7. Reimbursement of Expenses . The Borrower unconditionally agrees to pay and reimburse the Administrative Agent and save the Administrative Agent harmless against liability for the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements, including without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the development, preparation, execution, administration, interpretation or performance of this First Amendment and all other documents or instruments to be delivered in connection herewith.
8. Counterparts . This First Amendment may be executed by different parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered shall be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
9. Entire Agreement . This First Amendment sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof. No representation, promise, inducement or statement of intention has been made by any party which is not embodied in this First Amendment, and no party shall be bound by or liable for any alleged representation, promise, inducement or statement of intention not set forth herein.
10. Governing Law . This First Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of Ohio, U.S.A. and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Ohio, U.S.A. without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto duly authorized, have executed this First Amendment as of the day and year first above written.
BORROWER: | ||
ADS MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Gerardo H. Maldonado G. |
|
Name: |
Gerardo H. Maldonado G. |
|
Title: |
Alternate Director |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
individually and as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ George M. Gevas |
|
Name: |
George M. Gevas |
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA | ||
By: |
/s/ Carl S. Tabacjar, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl S. Tabacjar, Jr. | |
Title: | Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE - FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]
FIFTH THIRD BANK, individually and as Co-Syndication Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ William J. Whitley |
|
Name: | William J. Whitley | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
Exhibit 10.3
Execution Version
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
$100,000,000
PRIVATE SHELF FACILITY
Dated as of September 24, 2010
Amending and Restating the Private Shelf Agreement Dated December 11, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Not Part of Agreement)
-i-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
-ii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
-iii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | ||||||||
10C. |
Accounting and Legal Principles, Terms and Determinations |
67 | ||||||
11. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
68 | ||||||
11A |
Note Payments |
68 | ||||||
11B |
Expenses |
69 | ||||||
11C |
Consent to Amendments |
70 | ||||||
11D |
Form, Registration, Transfer and Exchange of Notes; Lost Notes |
71 | ||||||
11G |
Persons Deemed Owners; Participations |
71 | ||||||
11H |
Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement |
71 | ||||||
11I |
Successors and Assigns |
72 | ||||||
11J |
Independence of Covenants |
72 | ||||||
11K |
Notices |
72 | ||||||
11L |
Payments Due on Non-Business Days |
72 | ||||||
11M |
Satisfaction Requirement |
73 | ||||||
11N |
GOVERNING LAW |
73 | ||||||
11O |
SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
73 | ||||||
11P |
Severability |
74 | ||||||
11Q |
Descriptive Headings; Advice of Counsel; Interpretation; Time of the Essence |
74 | ||||||
11R |
Counterparts; Facsimile or Electronic Signatures |
74 | ||||||
11S |
Severalty of Obligations |
74 | ||||||
11T |
Independent Investigation |
75 | ||||||
11U |
Directly or Indirectly |
75 | ||||||
11V |
Transaction References |
75 | ||||||
11W |
Confidential Information |
75 | ||||||
11X |
Binding Agreement |
76 |
-iv-
EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
INFORMATION SCHEDULE
EXHIBIT A FORM OF SHELF NOTE
EXHIBIT B FORM OF DISBURSEMENT DIRECTION LETTER
EXHIBIT C FORM OF REQUEST FOR PURCHASE
EXHIBIT D FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE
EXHIBIT E-1 FORM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT E-2 FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF GUARANTY
EXHIBIT F FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY AND GUARANTOR COUNSEL
SCHEDULE 6B EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
SCHEDULE 6C PERMITTED LIENS
SCHEDULE 6D GUARANTIES
SCHEDULE 6E EXISTING LOANS AND INVESTMENTS
SCHEDULE 6J EXISTING JOINT VENTURES
SCHEDULE 8A(1)- SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE 8G AGREEMENTS RESTRICTING INDEBTEDNESS
SCHEDULE 8K GOVERNMENTAL CONSENT
SCHEDULE 8Q COLLATERAL
-v-
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
As of September 24, 2010
Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential )
Each other Prudential Affiliate (as hereinafter
defined) which becomes bound by certain
provisions of this Agreement as hereinafter
provided
c/o Prudential Capital Group
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite
5600 Chicago, Illinois 60601
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., an Delaware corporation (herein called the Company ), hereby agrees with you as set forth below. Reference is made to paragraph 10 hereof for definitions of capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein.
INTRODUCTION
The Company and Prudential are parties to the Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2009 (as heretofore amended the Existing Agreement ).
The Company and Prudential desire to enter into this Agreement so as to, among other things, amend and restate the Existing Agreement to read as set forth herein. Effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the Company and Prudential, the Company and Prudential agree that the Existing Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety to read as set forth in this Agreement.
1. AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF SHELF NOTES. The Company will authorize the issue of its senior secured promissory notes (the Shelf Notes ) in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000, to be dated the date of issue thereof, to mature, in the case of each Shelf Note so issued, no more than 10 years after the date of original issuance thereof, to have an average life, in the case of each Shelf Note so issued, of no more than 10 years after the date of original issuance thereof, to bear interest on the unpaid balance thereof from the date thereof at the rate per annum, and to have such other particular terms, as shall be set forth, in the case of each Shelf Note so issued, in the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to such Shelf Note delivered pursuant to paragraph 2A(5), and to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The terms Shelf Note , Shelf Notes , Note and Notes as used herein
shall include each Shelf Note delivered pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and each Shelf Note delivered in substitution or exchange for any such Shelf Note pursuant to any such provision. Shelf Notes which have (i) the same final maturity, (ii) the same principal prepayment dates, (iii) the same principal prepayment amounts (as a percentage of the original principal amount of each Shelf Note), (iv) the same interest rate, (v) the same interest payment periods and (vi) the same date of issuance (which, in the case of a Shelf Note issued in exchange for another Shelf Note, shall be deemed for these purposes the date on which such Shelf Notes ultimate predecessor Shelf Note was issued), are herein called a Series of Shelf Notes.
2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHELF NOTES.
2A. Purchase and Sale of Shelf Notes.
2A(1). Facility. Prudential is willing to consider, in its sole discretion and within limits which may be authorized for purchase by Prudential Affiliates from time to time, the purchase of Shelf Notes pursuant to this Agreement. The willingness of Prudential to consider such purchase of Shelf Notes is herein called the Facility . At any time, the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes stated in paragraph 1, minus the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes purchased and sold pursuant to this Agreement prior to such time, minus the aggregate principal amount of Accepted Notes (as hereinafter defined) which have not yet been purchased and sold hereunder prior to such time, is herein called the Available Facility Amount at such time. NOTWITHSTANDING THE WILLINGNESS OF PRUDENTIAL TO CONSIDER PURCHASES OF SHELF NOTES BY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATES, THIS AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO ON THE EXPRESS UNDERSTANDING THAT NEITHER PRUDENTIAL NOR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE SHALL BE OBLIGATED TO MAKE OR ACCEPT OFFERS TO PURCHASE SHELF NOTES, OR TO QUOTE RATES, SPREADS OR OTHER TERMS WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIC PURCHASES OF SHELF NOTES, AND THE FACILITY SHALL IN NO WAY BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY PRUDENTIAL OR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE.
2A(2). Issuance Period. Shelf Notes may be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement until the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement (or if the date of such anniversary is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding such anniversary), (ii) the 30 th day after Prudential shall have given to the Company, or the Company shall have given to Prudential, a written notice stating that it elects to terminate the issuance and sale of Shelf Notes pursuant to this Agreement (or if such 30 th day is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding such 30 th day), (iii) the last Closing Day after which there is no Available Facility Amount, (iv) the termination of the Facility under paragraph 7A of this Agreement, and (v) the acceleration of any Note under paragraph 7A of this Agreement. The period during which Shelf Notes may be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement is herein called the Issuance Period .
2A(3). Request for Purchase. The Company may from time to time during the Issuance Period make requests for purchases of Shelf Notes (each such request being herein called a Request for Purchase ). Each Request for Purchase shall be made to Prudential by facsimile transmission or overnight delivery service, and shall (i) specify the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes covered thereby, which shall not be less than $10,000,000 and not be greater than
2
the Available Facility Amount at the time such Request for Purchase is made, (ii) specify the principal amounts, final maturities (which shall be no more than 10 years from the date of issuance), average life (which shall be no more than 10 years from the date of issuance), principal prepayment dates (if any) and amounts and interest payment periods (quarterly or semiannually in arrears) of the Shelf Notes covered thereby, (iii) specify the use of proceeds of such Shelf Notes, (iv) specify the proposed day for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Shelf Notes, which shall be a Business Day during the Issuance Period not less than 10 days and not more than 25 days after the making of such Request for Purchase, (v) specify the number of the account and the name and address of the depository institution to which the purchase prices of such Shelf Notes are to be transferred on the Closing Day for such purchase and sale, (vi) certify that the representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 are true on and as of the date of such Request for Purchase and that there exists on the date of such Request for Purchase no Event of Default or Default, and (vii) be substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto. Each Request for Purchase shall be in writing and shall be deemed made when received by Prudential.
2A(4). Rate Quotes. Not later than five Business Days after the Company shall have given Prudential a Request for Purchase pursuant to paragraph 2A(3), Prudential may, but shall be under no obligation to, provide to the Company by telephone or facsimile transmission, in each case between 9:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. New York City local time (or such later time as Prudential may elect) interest rate quotes for the several principal amounts, maturities, principal prepayment schedules and interest payment periods of Shelf Notes specified in such Request for Purchase. Each quote shall represent the interest rate per annum payable on the outstanding principal balance of such Shelf Notes at which a Prudential Affiliate or Affiliates would be willing to purchase such Shelf Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof.
2A(5). Acceptance. Within the Acceptance Window with respect to any interest rate quotes provided pursuant to paragraph 2A(4), the Company may, subject to paragraph 2A(6), elect to accept such interest rate quotes as to not less than $10,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Shelf Notes specified in the related Request for Purchase. Such election shall be made by an Authorized Officer of the Company notifying Prudential by telephone or facsimile transmission within the Acceptance Window that the Company elects to accept such interest rate quotes, specifying the Shelf Notes (each such Shelf Note being herein called an Accepted Note ) as to which such acceptance (herein called an Acceptance ) relates. The day the Company notifies Prudential of an Acceptance with respect to any Accepted Notes is herein called the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Notes. Any interest rate quotes as to which Prudential does not receive an Acceptance within the Acceptance Window shall expire, and no purchase or sale of Shelf Notes hereunder shall be made based on such expired interest rate quotes. Subject to paragraph 2A(6) and the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company agrees to sell to a Prudential Affiliate or Affiliates, and Prudential agrees to cause the purchase by a Prudential Affiliate or Affiliates of, the Accepted Notes at 100% of the principal amount of such Notes. As soon as practicable following the Acceptance Day, the Company and each Prudential Affiliate which is to purchase any such Accepted Notes will execute a confirmation of such Acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto (herein called a Confirmation of Acceptance ). If the Company should fail to execute and return to Prudential within three Business Days following the Companys receipt thereof a Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to any Accepted Notes, Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate may at its election at any time prior to Prudentials receipt thereof cancel the closing with respect to such Accepted Notes by so notifying the Company in writing.
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2A(6). Market Disruption. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2A(5), if Prudential shall have provided interest rate quotes pursuant to paragraph 2A(4) and thereafter prior to the time an Acceptance with respect to such quotes shall have been notified to Prudential in accordance with paragraph 2A(5) the domestic market for U.S. Treasury securities or other financial instruments shall have closed or there shall have occurred a general suspension, material limitation, or significant disruption of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the domestic market for U.S. Treasury securities or other financial instruments, then such interest rate quotes shall expire, and no purchase or sale of Shelf Notes hereunder shall be made based on such expired interest rate quotes. If the Company thereafter notifies Prudential of the Acceptance of any such interest rate quotes, such Acceptance shall be ineffective for all purposes of this Agreement, and Prudential shall promptly notify the Company that the provisions of this paragraph 2A(6) are applicable with respect to such Acceptance.
2A(7). Facility Closings. Not later than 11:30 A.M. (New York City local time) on the Closing Day for any Accepted Notes, the Company will deliver to each Purchaser listed in the Confirmation of Acceptance relating thereto at the offices of Prudential Capital Group, 180 North Stetson Street, Suite 5600, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Attention: Law Department, or at such other place as Prudential may have directed, the Accepted Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser in the form of one or more Notes in authorized denominations as such Purchaser may request for each Series of Accepted Notes to be purchased on the Closing Day, dated the Closing Day and registered in such Purchasers name (or in the name of its nominee), against payment of the purchase price thereof by transfer of immediately available funds for credit to the Companys account specified in the Request for Purchase of such Notes. If the Company fails to tender to any Purchaser the Accepted Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser on the scheduled Closing Day for such Accepted Notes as provided above in this paragraph 2A(7), or any of the conditions specified in paragraph 3 shall not have been fulfilled by the time required on such scheduled Closing Day, the Company shall, prior to 1:00 P.M., New York City local time, on such scheduled Closing Day notify Prudential (which notification shall be deemed received by each Purchaser) in writing whether (i) such closing is to be rescheduled (such rescheduled date to be a Business Day during the Issuance Period not less than one Business Day and not more than 10 Business Days after such scheduled Closing Day (the Rescheduled Closing Day )) and certify to Prudential (which certification shall be for the benefit of each Purchaser) that the Company reasonably believes that it will be able to comply with the conditions set forth in paragraph 3 on such Rescheduled Closing Day and that the Company will pay the Delayed Delivery Fee in accordance with paragraph 2A(8)(iii) or (ii) such closing is to be canceled. In the event that the Company shall fail to give such notice referred to in the preceding sentence, Prudential (on behalf of each Purchaser) may at its election, at any time after 1:00 P.M., New York City local time, on such scheduled Closing Day, notify the Company in writing that such closing is to be canceled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary appearing in this Agreement, the Company may not elect to reschedule a closing with respect to any given Accepted Notes on more than one occasion, unless Prudential shall have otherwise consented in writing.
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2A(8). Fees.
2A(8)(i). Structuring Fee. At the time of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Prudential, the Company will pay to Prudential or at the direction of Prudential by wire transfer of immediately available funds a fee (herein called the Structuring Fee ) in the amount of $100,000.
2A(8)(ii). Issuance Fee. The Company will pay to each Purchaser in immediately available funds a fee (herein called the Issuance Fee ) on each Closing Day in an amount equal to 0.10% of the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes sold to such Purchaser on such Closing Day; provided that no Issuance Fee shall be due with respect to any Shelf Notes issued on any Closing Day occurring on or before March 11, 2010 to the extent that (and only to the extent that) the principal amount of the Shelf Notes issued on such Closing Day, together with the principal amount of any other Shelf Notes issued prior to such Closing Day, does not exceed $50,000,000.
2A(8)(iii). Delayed Delivery Fee. If the closing of the purchase and sale of any Accepted Note is delayed for any reason beyond the original Closing Day for such Accepted Note, the Company will pay to the Purchaser which shall have agreed to purchase such Accepted Note (a) on the Cancellation Date or actual closing date of such purchase and sale and (b) if earlier, the next Business Day following 90 days after the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note and on each Business Day following 90 days after the prior payment hereunder, a fee (herein called the Delayed Delivery Fee ) calculated as follows:
(BEY MMY) X DTS/360 X PA
where BEY means Bond Equivalent Yield, i.e., the bond equivalent yield per annum of such Accepted Note; MMY means Money Market Yield, i.e., the yield per annum on a commercial paper investment of the highest quality selected by Prudential and having a maturity date or dates the same as, or closest to, the Rescheduled Closing Day or Rescheduled Closing Days for such Accepted Note (a new alternative investment being selected by Prudential each time such closing is delayed); DTS means Days to Settlement, i.e., the number of actual days elapsed from and including the original Closing Day for such Accepted Note (in the case of the first such payment with respect to such Accepted Note) or from and including the date of the next preceding payment (in the case of any subsequent Delayed Delivery Fee payment with respect to such Accepted Note) to but excluding the date of such payment; and PA means Principal Amount, i.e., the principal amount of the Accepted Note for which such calculation is being made. In no case shall the Delayed Delivery Fee be less than zero. Nothing contained herein shall obligate any Purchaser to purchase any Accepted Note on any day other than the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, as the same may be rescheduled from time to time in compliance with paragraph 2A(7).
2A(8)(iv). Cancellation Fee. If the Company at any time notifies Prudential in writing that the Company is canceling the closing of the purchase and sale of any Accepted Note, or if Prudential notifies the Company in writing under the circumstances set forth in the last sentence of paragraph 2A(5) or the penultimate sentence of paragraph 2A(7) that the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is to be canceled, or if the closing of the purchase
5
and sale of such Accepted Note is not consummated on or prior to the last day of the Issuance Period (the date of any such notification or the last day of the Issuance Period, as the case may be, being herein called the Cancellation Date ), the Company will pay to the Purchaser which shall have agreed to purchase such Accepted Note in immediately available funds an amount (the Cancellation Fee ) calculated as follows:
PI X PA
where PI means Price Increase, i.e., the quotient (expressed in decimals) obtained by dividing (a) the excess of the ask price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Note(s) on the Cancellation Date over the bid price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Notes(s) on the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note by (b) such bid price; and PA has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph 2A(8)(iii). The foregoing bid and ask prices shall be as reported by TradeWeb LLC (or, if such data for any reason ceases to be available through TradeWeb LLC, any publicly available source of similar market data). Each price shall be based on a U.S. Treasury security having a part value of $100.00 and shall be rounded to the second decimal place. In no case shall the Cancellation Fee be less than zero.
3. CONDITIONS OF CLOSING. Each Purchasers obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser hereunder on any Closing Day is subject to the satisfaction, on or before such Closing Day, of the following conditions:
3A. Certain Documents. Such Purchaser shall have received original counterparts or, if satisfactory to such Purchaser, certified or other copies of all of the following, each duly executed and delivered by the party or parties thereto, in form and substance satisfactory to such Purchaser dated the date of the applicable Closing Day unless otherwise indicated, and, on the applicable Closing Day, in full force and effect with no event having occurred and being then continuing that would constitute a default thereunder or constitute or provide the basis for the termination thereof:
(i) The Note(s) to be purchased by such Purchaser on such Closing Day in the form of Exhibit A hereto;
(ii) an Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement among the Purchasers, the Bank Agent, on behalf of the Banks, the Mexican Bank Agent and the Collateral Agent (herein, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, called the Intercreditor Agreement );
(iii) a Guaranty Agreement in favor of the holders of the Notes in the form of Exhibit E-1 hereto (together with any other guaranty pursuant to which the Notes are guarantied and which is entered into as contemplated hereby or by any other Transaction Document with any joinder to such Guaranty Agreement or other guaranty, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, collectively called the Guaranty Agreements and individually called a Guaranty Agreement ), made by each Person which is, on such Closing Day, a co-borrower or a co-obligor with the Company under, or is obligated under a Guaranty with respect to, any Indebtedness of the Company under the Primary Working Capital
6
Facility or any other Material Indebtedness Agreement and is not then a party to a Guaranty Agreement, (b) an Officers Certificate certifying as to any Person which is then a co-borrower or co-obligor with the Company under, or obligated under a Guaranty with respect to, any Indebtedness of the Company under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any other Material Indebtedness Agreement and (c) with respect to any Closing Day other than the initial Closing Day, a Confirmation of Guaranty made by each Guarantor as of such Closing Day in the form of Exhibit E-2 hereto (collectively, the Confirmation of Guaranty );
(iv) a Security Agreement made by the Company and each Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent (together with any other security agreement pursuant to which the Notes are secured and with any joinder to such Security Agreement or other security agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, collectively called the Security Agreements and individually called a Security Agreement );
(v) a Pledge Agreement made by the Company and each Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent (together with any other pledge agreement pursuant to which the Notes are secured and with any joinder to such Pledge Agreement or other pledge agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, collectively called the Pledge Agreements and individually called a Pledge Agreement );
(vi) A Patent, Trademark and Copyright Security Agreement made by the Company and each Guarantor owing any patent, trademark or copyright interests in favor of the Collateral Agent (the Patent, Trademark and Copyright Security Agreement );
(vii) [Reserved];
(viii) all chattel paper, instruments and documents of title in which the Collateral Agent has been granted a security interest and are then required under the Collateral Documents to be delivered to the Collateral Agent, together with the related transfer documents executed in blank, in each case received by the Collateral Agent, all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements perfecting the security interests and liens granted to the Collateral Agent, duly filed in all offices necessary to perfect such security interests and liens or deemed by such Purchaser to be advisable, and all such other certificates, documents, agreements, recording and filings necessary to establish a valid and perfected first priority lien and security interest (subject only to Permitted Liens) in favor of the Collateral Agent in all of the Collateral or deemed by such Purchaser to be advisable;
(ix) a Secretarys Certificate signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and one other officer of the Company and each Guarantor certifying, among other things, (a) as to the names, titles and true signatures of the officers of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, authorized to sign the Notes being delivered on such Closing Day and the other documents to be delivered in connection with this Agreement
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and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, is a party, (b) that attached thereto is a true, accurate and complete copy of the certificate of incorporation or other formation document of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, certified by the Secretary of State of the state of organization of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, as of a recent date, (c) that attached thereto is a true, accurate and complete copy of the by-laws, operating agreement or other organizational document of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, which were duly adopted and are in effect as of such Closing Day and have been in effect immediately prior to and at all times since the adoption of the resolutions referred to in clause (d), below, (d) that attached thereto is a true, accurate and complete copy of the resolutions of the board of directors or other managing body of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, duly adopted at a meeting or by unanimous written consent of such board of directors or other managing body, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Notes or other Transaction Documents to which the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, is a party, being delivered on such Closing Day and the other documents to be delivered in connection with this Agreement and such other Transaction Documents to which the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, is a party, and that such resolutions have not been amended, modified, revoked or rescinded, and are in full force and effect and are the only resolutions of the shareholders, partners or members of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, or of such board of directors or other managing body or any committee thereof relating to the subject matter thereof, (e) this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents being delivered on such Closing Day and the other documents to be delivered in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents executed and delivered to such Purchaser by the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, are in the form approved by its board of directors or other managing body in the resolutions referred to in clause (d), above and (f) that no dissolution or liquidation proceedings as to the Company or any Subsidiary have been commenced or are contemplated; provided, however, that with respect to any Closing Day subsequent to the initial Closing Day, if none of the matters certified to in the certificate delivered by the Company or any Guarantor under this clause (ii) on any prior Closing Day have changed and the resolutions referred to in sub-clause (d) of this clause (ii) authorize the execution and delivery of the Notes being delivered on such subsequent Closing Day, then the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, may, in lieu of the certificate described above, deliver a Secretarys Certificate signed by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary certifying that there have been no changes to the matters certified to in the certificate delivered by the Company delivered on such prior Closing Day under this clause (ii);
(x) a certificate of corporate or other type of entity and tax good standing for the Company and each of its Subsidiaries from the Secretary of State dated as of or as of a date reasonably prior to each such Closing Day (x) of the state of organization of the Company and each such Subsidiary and (y) of each state in which the Company or any such Subsidiary is required to be qualified to transact business as a foreign organization and where the failure to be so qualified or licensed could reasonably likely have a Material Adverse effect, in each case dated as of a recent date.
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(xi) certified copies of Requests for Information or Copies (Form UCC-11) or equivalent reports in each case dated as of or as of a date reasonably prior to each such Closing Day listing all effective financing statements which name the Company or any Subsidiary (under its present name and previous names used) as debtor and which are filed in the office of the Secretary of State (or such other office which is, under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the applicable jurisdiction, the proper office in which to file a financing statement under Section 9-501(a)(2) of such Uniform Commercial Code) of the location (as determined under the Uniform Commercial Code) of the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable; and
(xii) such other certificates, documents and agreements as such Purchaser may reasonably request.
3B Opinion of Prudentials Special Counsel. Such Purchaser shall have received from Scott B. Barnett, Vice President and Corporate Counsel of Prudential, or such other counsel who is acting as special counsel for such Purchaser in connection with this transaction, a favorable opinion satisfactory to such Purchaser as to such matters incident to the matters herein contemplated as it may reasonably request.
3C Opinion of Companys and Guarantors Counsel. Such Purchaser shall have received from Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., special counsel for the Company and the Guarantors (or such other counsel designated by the Company and acceptable to such Purchaser), a favorable opinion satisfactory to such Purchaser, dated such Closing Day, and substantially in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto and as to such other matters as such Purchaser may reasonably request. The Company, by its execution hereof, hereby requests and authorizes such special counsel to render such opinions and to allow such Purchaser to rely on such opinions, agrees that the issuance and sale of any Notes will constitute a reconfirmation of such request and authorization, and understands and agrees that each Purchaser receiving such an opinion will and is hereby authorized to rely on such opinion.
3D Representations and Warranties; No Default; Satisfaction of Conditions. The representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 and in any Guaranty Agreement shall be true on and as of such Closing Day, both before and immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the Notes to be issued on such Closing Day and to the consummation of any other transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, with respect to compliance with the provisions of Section 6C(7) of the 2005 Note Agreement, if then in effect); there shall exist on such Closing Day no Event of Default or Default, both before and immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the Notes to be issued on such Closing Day and to the consummation of any other transactions contemplated hereby; the Company and each Guarantor shall have performed all agreements and satisfied all conditions required under this Agreement to be performed or satisfied on or before such Closing Day; and the Company and each Guarantor shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officers Certificate, dated such Closing Day, to each such effect.
3E Purchase Permitted by Applicable Laws. The offering, issuance, purchase and sale of, and payment for, the Notes to be purchased by the Purchasers on such Closing Day on the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the use of proceeds of such Notes by the
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Company) shall not violate any applicable law or governmental regulation (including, without limitation, Section 5 of the Securities Act or Regulation T, U, or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and shall not subject the Purchasers to any tax, penalty, liability or other condition adverse to such Purchaser under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and such Purchase shall have received such certificates or other evidence as such Purchaser may request to establish compliance with this condition.
3F Payment of Fees. The Company shall have paid to such Purchaser in immediately available funds any fees due it pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, including any Structuring Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2A(8)(i), any Issuance Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2A(8)(ii) and any Delayed Delivery Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2A(8)(iii).
3G Certificates of Insurance . The Company shall have delivered from insurance carriers acceptable to such Purchaser certificates and/or other evidence of insurance in such forms and amounts acceptable to such purchaser evidencing insurance required to be maintained under paragraph 5F hereof or under any of the Collateral Documents under insurance policies with loss payable clauses in favor of the Collateral Agent and acceptable to such Purchaser
3H New Credit Agreement; Amendment & Restatement of Mexicana Credit Agreement. Each of (i) the Credit Agreement, providing for a $265,000,000 revolving credit facility to the Company and for a term loan to the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 and having other terms and conditions satisfactory to such Purchaser, shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, the Bank Agent and the Banks, and shall be in full force and effect and (ii) the Mexicana Credit Agreement providing for a $12,000,000 revolving credit facility to ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. and having other terms and conditions satisfactory to such Purchaser, shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, the Bank Agent and the Banks. All conditions precedent to the making of the term loan and the initial revolving loans under each of the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement shall have been satisfied except to the extent waived with the consent of such Purchaser (and, to the extent any part of any such condition requires that any matter be satisfactory to the Bank Agent, the Banks or any portion of the Banks, such matter shall be satisfactory to such Purchaser) and prior to, or concurrently with, the purchase of the Notes, the Company shall have received the proceeds of the term loan and the initial revolving loans thereunder. All necessary authorizations, consents, approvals, exceptions or other actions by or notices to or filings with any court or administrative or governmental body or other Person required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of each of the Credit Agreement and Mexicana Credit Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby shall be final and in full force and effect and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to such Purchaser. Such Purchaser shall have received a copy of each of the Credit Agreement and Mexicana Credit Agreement and all instruments, documents and agreements delivered at the closing of making of the term loan and the initial revolving loans thereunder, certified by an Officers Certificate, dated the date of closing, as correct and complete.
3I Termination of Existing Credit Agreement; Amendment and Restatement of Existing Mexicana Credit Agreement. All obligations of the Company under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been discharged, such Existing Credit Agreement shall have been terminated, all liens and security interests securing any of such obligations, and all financing
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statements or other filings and recordings relating thereto, shall have been terminated and released, and such Purchaser shall have received such evidence as it may reasonably request to demonstrate the satisfaction of the foregoing. All obligations of ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. under the Existing Mexicana Credit Agreement shall have been amended and restated.
3J Equity Investment. With respect to the initial Closing Day, such Purchaser shall have received evidence that Sponsor has made a cash equity investment in the Company in the minimum amount of $300,000,000 pursuant to the Stock Purchase Documentation .
3K Stock Purchase Documentation. With respect to the initial Closing Day, such Purchaser shall have received true and correct copies of the Stock Purchase Documentation, certified by a Responsible Officer of the Company.
3L Prepayment of IDRB Facilities. With respect to the initial Closing Day, such Purchaser shall have received evidence that notice of prepayment of the Maturing IDRB Facilities in the form required under the applicable bond documents has been sent to the appropriate Persons.
3M Prepayment of Senior Notes (2005). Evidence that Senior Notes (2005) have been paid and discharged or shall be paid and discharged in full on the initial Closing Day with proceeds of the Transaction and/or proceeds of the issuance of the Notes on the initial Closing Day.
3N Closing Day Certificate. With respect to the initial Closing Day, such Purchaser shall have received a duly completed closing date certificate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Company most recently ended prior to such Closing Day, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company, which closing date certificate shall show (a) a Leverage Ratio less than or equal to such ratio as would be permitted by paragraph 6A(1) on such Closing Day, (b) Consolidated EBITDAE of at least $118,000,000 for the trailing twelve (12) month period ended June 30, 2010, with such pro forma adjustments as are reasonably acceptable to such Purchaser, and (c) funded Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries of not more than $400,000,000 (excluding outstanding letters of credit), which certificate shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Purchaser.
3O IDRB Amendment . With respect to the initial Closing Day, such Purchaser shall have received evidence that the IDRB Facilities and the New Miami, Ohio Mortgage Loan have been amended in a manner satisfactory to such Purchaser.
3P Fees and Expenses. Without limiting the provisions of paragraph 11B hereof, the Company shall have paid the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any special counsel to the Purchasers in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
3Q Private Placement Number. A Private Placement Number shall have been provided by the Company to the Purchasers from Standard & Poors CUSIP Service Bureau with respect to the Notes to be purchased by the Purchasers on such Closing Day.
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3R. Proceedings . All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all documents incident thereto shall be satisfactory in substance and form to such Purchaser, and such Purchaser shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as it may reasonably request.
4. PREPAYMENTS. The Shelf Notes shall be subject to prepayment only with respect to the required prepayments specified in paragraphs 4A and 4E, the optional prepayments permitted by paragraph 4B, and upon acceleration pursuant to paragraph 7A.
4A(1). Required Prepayments of Shelf Notes. Each Series of Shelf Notes shall be subject to required prepayments, if any, set forth in the Notes of such Series.
4A(2). Required Prepayment Pursuant to Intercreditor Agreement. If any amounts are to be applied to the principal of the Notes on any date pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, such principal amount of the Notes, together with interest thereon to such date and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note, shall be due and payable on such date. Any partial prepayment of the Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4A(2) shall be applied in satisfaction of the required payments of principal thereof (including the required payment of principal due upon the maturity thereof) in the inverse order of their scheduled due dates.
4B Optional Prepayment With Yield-Maintenance Amount. The Notes of each Series shall be subject to prepayment, in whole at any time or from time to time in part (in integral multiples of $1,000,000), at the option of the Company, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid plus interest thereon to the prepayment date and the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each such Note. Any partial prepayment of a Series of Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4B shall be applied in satisfaction of required payments of principal thereof (including the required payment of principal due upon the maturity thereof) in inverse order of their scheduled due dates.
4C Notice of Optional Prepayment. The Company shall give the holder of each Note of a Series to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B irrevocable written notice of such prepayment not less than 10 Business Days prior to the prepayment date (which shall be a Business Day), specifying such prepayment date and the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such Series, and the Notes of such Series held by such holder, to be prepaid on such date, and stating that such prepayment is to be made pursuant to paragraph 4B. Notice of prepayment having been given as aforesaid, the principal amount of the Notes specified in such notice, together with interest thereon to the prepayment date and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect thereto, shall become due and payable on such prepayment date. The Company shall, on or before the day on which it gives written notice of any prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4B, give telephonic notice of the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid and the prepayment date to each Significant Holder which shall have designated a recipient of such notices in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto or the applicable Confirmation of Acceptance or by notice in writing to the Company.
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4D Application of Prepayments. In the case of each prepayment of less than the entire outstanding principal amount of all Notes of any Series pursuant to paragraphs 4A(1), 4A(2) or 4B, the principal amount so prepaid shall be allocated pro rata to all Notes of such Series at the time outstanding in proportion to the respective outstanding principal amounts thereof.
4E Offer to Prepay Notes from Certain Net Proceeds.
4E(1). Notice of Asset Sale Prepayment. Within five (5) Business Days of any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under paragraph 6H resulting in either (i) net cash proceeds greater than $5,000,000 or (ii) the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries receiving greater than $20,000,000 in aggregate in net cash proceeds from all such transactions, the Company shall make an offer to prepay Notes from such net proceeds pursuant to this paragraph 4F by giving written notice of such proposed asset sale to each holder of the Notes. Such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay the Notes as described in paragraph 4E(3) and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in paragraph 4E(6).
4E(2). Notice of Acceptance of Offer under paragraph 4E(1). If the Company shall at any time receive an acceptance to an offer to prepay Notes under paragraph 4E(1) from some, but not all, of the holders of the Notes, then the Company will, within two Business Days after the receipt of such acceptance, give written notice of such acceptance to each other holder of the Notes.
4E(3). Offer to Prepay Notes. The offer to prepay Notes contemplated by this paragraph 4E(3) with respect to any asset sale permitted under paragraph 6H shall be an offer to prepay, in accordance with and subject to this paragraph 4E, an amount of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by each holder (in this case only, holder in respect of any Note registered in the name of a nominee for a disclosed beneficial owner shall mean such beneficial owner) which is equal to the lesser of (i) product of (1) the amount of the aggregate net proceeds (as estimated in good faith by the Company) and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by such holder on the date of prepayment pursuant to this paragraph 4E and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness under the Notes, the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement on such date of prepayment and (ii) the outstanding principal amount of such Notes on such date of prepayment, on the proposed date for such prepayment specified in the notice given pursuant to paragraph 4E(3) with respect thereto, which date shall be ten (10) Business Days after the receipt by such holder of the Companys offer to prepay under paragraph 4E(1).
4E(4). Rejection; Acceptance. A holder of Notes may accept or reject the offer to prepay made pursuant to this paragraph 4E by causing a notice of such acceptance or rejection to be delivered to the Company prior to the date of prepayment. A failure by a holder of Notes to so respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this paragraph 4E within 10 Business Days after receipt of such offer shall be deemed to constitute a rejection of such offer by such holder. To the extent any holder of a Note rejects an offer
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to prepay Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4E with respect to any net proceeds from a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets, the Company shall not be required to re-offer to prepay the amount of such holders Notes offered to be prepaid as a result of such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition to the other holders of the Notes.
4E(5). Prepayment . Prepayment of the Notes to be prepaid pursuant to this paragraph 4E shall be at 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, together with interest on such Notes accrued to the date of prepayment. The prepayment shall be made on the prepayment date specified in paragraph 4E(3). Notwithstanding the foregoing and provided no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such offer of prepayment of net cash proceeds shall not be required to the extent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries reinvests the net cash proceeds of such asset sale in productive assets of a kind then used or usable in the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of such asset sale or enters into a binding commitment thereof within said one hundred eighty (180) day period and subsequently makes such reinvestment, each as evidenced in writing to the Required Holders, and the Company and its Subsidiaries do not use any of such net proceeds to prepay any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement. In the event the assets sold are subject to a Prior Security Interest in favor of the Collateral Agent, all such replacement assets also shall be subject to a Prior Security Interest in favor of the Collateral Agent.
4E(6). Officers Certificate . Each offer to prepay the Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4F shall be accompanied by a certificate, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Company and dated the date of such offer, specifying (i) the proposed prepayment date, (ii) that such offer is made pursuant to this paragraph 4E, (iii) a description of the transaction resulting in such offer and the amount of the net proceeds to resulting therefrom, (iv) the principal amount of each Note offered to be prepaid showing the calculation thereof in reasonable detail, (v) the interest that would be due on each Note offered to be prepaid, accrued to the prepayment date, and (vi) that the conditions of this paragraph 4E have been fulfilled.
4F. Offer to Prepay Notes from Insurance or Condemnation Net Proceeds.
4F(1). Notice of Receipt of Insurance or Condemnation Proceeds. In the event that the Company, any Subsidiary or the Collateral Agent shall receive any insurance proceeds with respect to assets of any the Company or its Subsidiaries or condemnation proceeds with respect to assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries taken as a result of an Official Bodys exercise of or threat to exercise the power of eminent domain, condemnation of similar power, when such insurance or condemnation proceeds are greater than $5,000,000, then, within five (5) Business Days after the receipt of such proceeds, the Company shall make an offer to prepay Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4F by giving written notice of such proposed prepayment to each holder of the Notes. Such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay the Notes as described in paragraph 4F(3) and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in paragraph 4F(6).
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4F(2). Notice of Acceptance of Offer under paragraph 4F(1). If the Company shall at any time receive an acceptance to an offer to prepay Notes under paragraph 4F(1) from some, but not all, of the holders of the Notes, then the Company will, within two Business Days after the receipt of such acceptance, give written notice of such acceptance to each other holder of the Notes.
4F(3). Offer to Prepay Notes. The offer to prepay Notes contemplated by this paragraph 4F(3) with respect to any insurance or condemnation proceeds shall be an offer to prepay, in accordance with and subject to this paragraph 4F, an amount of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by each holder (in this case only, holder in respect of any Note registered in the name of a nominee for a disclosed beneficial owner shall mean such beneficial owner) which is equal to the lesser of (i) product of (1) such insurance or condemnation proceeds and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by such holder on the date of prepayment pursuant to this paragraph 4F and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness under the Notes, the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement on such date of prepayment and (ii) the outstanding principal amount of such Notes on such date of prepayment, on the proposed date for such prepayment specified in the notice given pursuant to paragraph 4F(3) with respect thereto, which date shall be ten (10) Business Days after the receipt by such holder of the Companys offer to prepay under paragraph 4F(1).
4F(4). Rejection; Acceptance. A holder of Notes may accept or reject the offer to prepay made pursuant to this paragraph 4F by causing a notice of such acceptance or rejection to be delivered to the Company prior to the date of prepayment. A failure by a holder of Notes to so respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this paragraph 4F within 10 Business Days after receipt of such offer shall be deemed to constitute a rejection of such offer by such holder. To the extent any holder of a Note rejects an offer to prepay Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4F with respect to any proceeds from a insurance or condemnation proceeds, the Company shall not be required to re-offer to prepay the amount of such holders Notes offered to be prepaid as a result of receipt of such insurance or condemnation proceeds to the other holders of the Notes.
4F(5). Prepayment. Prepayment of the Notes to be prepaid pursuant to this paragraph 4F shall be at 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, together with interest on such Notes accrued to the date of prepayment. The prepayment shall be made on the prepayment date specified in paragraph 4F(3). Notwithstanding the foregoing and provided no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such offer of prepayment of insurance or condemnation proceeds shall not be required to the extent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries reinvests such proceeds in productive assets of a kind then used or usable in the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of receipt thereof and subsequently makes such reinvestment, each as evidenced in writing to the Required Holders, and the Company and its Subsidiaries do not use any of such proceeds to prepay any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement.
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4F(6). Officers Certificate . Each offer to prepay the Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4F shall be accompanied by a certificate, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Company and dated the date of such offer, specifying (i) the proposed prepayment date, (ii) that such offer is made pursuant to this paragraph 4F, (iii) a description of the damage to assets or Official Bodys exercise of or threat to exercise the power of eminent domain, condemnation of similar power giving rise to such offer and the amount of the net proceeds to be applied to the prepayment of Indebtedness (iv) the principal amount of each Note offered to be prepaid showing the calculation thereof in reasonable detail, (v) the interest that would be due on each Note offered to be prepaid, accrued to the prepayment date, and (vi) that the conditions of this paragraph 4F have been fulfilled.
4G. Offer to Prepay Notes from Equity Issuance or Certain Indebtedness Proceeds.
4G(1). Notice of Equity Issuance. Within five (5) Business Days of the issuance by a Transaction Party of (A) any equity security for cash proceeds, (excluding any cash proceeds received with respect to (i) any capital contribution to the Company or its Subsidiaries by the Company or its Subsidiaries or by the Sponsor or any owner of equity securities in Company or its Subsidiaries on the initial Closing Day (after giving effect to the Transaction), or (ii) any issuance or sale of any equity security (a) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, (b) constituting directors qualifying shares, (c) to management or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries under any employee stock option, stock purchase plan, employee benefit plan or other similar arrangements in existence from time to time, (d) to the Sponsor with respect to the Transaction or (e) as consideration for or to finance a Permitted Acquisition), or (B) the incurrence of any Indebtedness permitted by paragraph 6B(xv), the Company shall make an offer to prepay Notes from 50% of the net cash proceeds of any equity issuance or capital contribution or 100% of the net proceeds of such Indebtedness pursuant to this paragraph 4G by giving written notice of such proposed prepayment to each holder of the Notes. Such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay the Notes as described in paragraph 4G(3) and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in paragraph 4G(6).
4G(2). Notice of Acceptance of Offer under paragraph 4G(1). If the Company shall at any time receive an acceptance to an offer to prepay Notes under paragraph 4G(1) from some, but not all, of the holders of the Notes, then the Company will, within two Business Days after the receipt of such acceptance, give written notice of such acceptance to each other holder of the Notes.
4G(3). Offer to Prepay Notes. The offer to prepay Notes contemplated by this paragraph 4G(3) with respect to any equity issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to paragraph 6B(xv) shall be an offer to prepay, in accordance with and subject to this paragraph 4G, an amount of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by each holder (in this case only, holder in respect of any Note registered in the name of a nominee for a disclosed beneficial owner shall mean such beneficial owner) which is equal to the lesser of (i) product of (1) the amount such net proceeds specified in paragraph 4G(1) and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by such holder on the date of prepayment pursuant to
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this paragraph 4G and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness under the Notes, the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement on such date of prepayment and (ii) the outstanding principal amount of such Notes on such date of prepayment, on the proposed date for such prepayment specified in the notice given pursuant to paragraph 4G(3) with respect thereto, which date shall be ten (10) Business Days after the receipt by such holder of the Companys offer to prepay under paragraph 4G(1).
4G(4). Rejection; Acceptance. A holder of Notes may accept or reject the offer to prepay made pursuant to this paragraph 4G by causing a notice of such acceptance or rejection to be delivered to the Company prior to the date of prepayment. A failure by a holder of Notes to so respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this paragraph 4G within 10 Business Days after receipt of such offer shall be deemed to constitute a rejection of such offer by such holder. To the extent any holder of a Note rejects an offer to prepay Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4G with respect to any net proceeds from the issuance of equity securities by a Transaction Party or the incurrence of certain Indebtedness permitted by paragraph 6B(xv) hereof, the Company shall not be required to re-offer to prepay the amount of such holders Notes offered to be prepaid as a result of receipt of such equity issuance or Indebtedness proceeds to the other holders of the Notes.
4G(5). Prepayment. Prepayment of the Notes to be prepaid pursuant to this paragraph 4G shall be at 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, together with interest on such Notes accrued to the date of prepayment. The prepayment shall be made on the prepayment date specified in paragraph 4G(3).
4G(6). Officers Certificate. Each offer to prepay the Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4G shall be accompanied by a certificate, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Company and dated the date of such offer, specifying (i) the proposed prepayment date, (ii) that such offer is made pursuant to this paragraph 4G, (iii) a description of the transaction giving rise to such offer and the amount of the net from the transaction (iv) the principal amount of each Note offered to be prepaid showing the calculation thereof in reasonable detail, (v) the interest that would be due on each Note offered to be prepaid, accrued to the prepayment date, and (vi) that the conditions of this paragraph 4G have been fulfilled.
4I. No Acquisition of Notes. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to, prepay or otherwise retire in whole or in part prior to their stated final maturity (other than by prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4A or 4B, upon acceptance of an offer to prepay pursuant to paragraph 4E, 4F or 4G or upon acceleration of such final maturity pursuant to paragraph 7A), or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, Notes of any Series held by any holder unless the Company or such Subsidiary or Affiliate shall have offered to prepay or otherwise retire or purchase or otherwise acquire, as the case may be, the same proportion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes of such Series held by each other holder of Notes of such Series at the time outstanding upon the same terms and conditions. Any Notes so prepaid or otherwise retired or purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose under this
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Agreement. The Company will promptly cancel all such Series of Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment, prepayment or purchase of Notes of such Series pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no such Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes of such Series.
5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. During the Issuance Period and so long thereafter as any Note is outstanding and unpaid, the Company covenants as follows (and, for the purposes of paragraph 5A, ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. shall be deemed a Subsidiary if and while it is permitted under generally accepted accounting principles to be Consolidated with the Company):
5A. Financial Statements. The Company covenants that it will deliver to each Significant Holder in duplicate:
(i) as soon as practicable and in any event within 45 days after the end of each quarterly period (other than the last quarterly period) in each fiscal year, consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such quarterly period, and a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarterly period, setting forth in each case in comparative form figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to quarterly financial statements and certified by an authorized financial officer of the Company as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments;
(ii) as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, consolidated statements of income and cash flows and a consolidated statement of stockholders equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year, and a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form corresponding consolidated figures from the preceding annual audit, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, as to the consolidated statements, accompanied by an unqualified opinion thereon of Deloitte & Touche or such other independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Company and acceptable to the Required Holder(s), which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the results of their operations and cash flows and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in such circumstances, and shall be without limitation as to the scope of the audit, and, as to the consolidating statements, certified by an authorized financial officer of the Company;
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(iii) promptly upon transmission thereof, copies of all such financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as it shall send to its public stockholders and copies of all registration statements (without exhibits) and all reports which it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission);
(iv) promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each management letter or other report submitted to the Company or any Subsidiary by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(v) promptly upon a Responsible Officer of the Company becoming aware thereof, written notice if: (a) any obligation (other than an obligation under this Agreement) of the Company or any Subsidiary for Indebtedness is declared or shall become due and payable prior to its stated maturity, or called and not paid when due, or (b) the holder of any note (other than the Notes), or other evidence of indebtedness, certificate or security evidencing any such obligation, or any obligee with respect to any other debt of the Company or any Subsidiary, declares such obligation due and payable prior to its stated maturity;
(vi) promptly upon a Responsible Officer of the Company becoming aware thereof, written notice of: (a) any citation, summons, subpoena, order to show cause or other order naming the Company or any Subsidiary a party to any proceeding before any governmental body which may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, including with such notice a copy of such citation, summons, subpoena, order to show cause or other order, (b) any lapse or other termination of any license, permit, franchise or other authorization issued to the Company or any Subsidiary by any governmental body, which lapse or termination may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (c) any refusal by any governmental body to renew or extend any such license, permit, franchise or other authorization which refusal may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (d) any dispute between the Company or any Subsidiary and any governmental body or Person which may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(vii) promptly upon a Responsible Officer of the Company becoming aware thereof, written notice in the event that (a) the Company or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payments when due and payable under any Plan, or (b) the Company or any Subsidiary shall receive notice from the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor that the Company or such Subsidiary shall have failed to meet the minimum funding requirements of any Plan, including therewith a copy of such notice, or (c) the Company or any Subsidiary or any member of the controlled group has given or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any reportable event (as defined in section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event;
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(viii) by April 15th of each year, a projected balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement for each quarter of the fiscal year beginning April 1 st of such year.
(ix) within 270 days after the close of each fiscal year, a statement of the unfunded liabilities of each Plan, if any Plan is in existence, certified as correct by an actuary enrolled under ERISA;
(x) promptly, and in any event within 10 days after a Responsible Officer of the Company becomes aware of, any Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan, a statement, signed by the Senior Vice President-Finance or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, describing said Reportable Event and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto;
(xi) promptly, and in any event within 10 days after a Responsible Officer of the Company becomes aware of the Companys receipt thereof, a copy of (i) any notice or claim to the effect that the Company or any Subsidiary is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, and (ii) any notice alleging any violation of any federal, state or local environmental, health or safety law or regulation by the Company or any Subsidiary;
(xii) promptly upon their becoming available, one copy of each financial statement, report, circular, notice or proxy statement or similar document sent by the Company or any Subsidiary to its principal lending banks as a whole (excluding information sent to such banks in the ordinary course of administration of a bank facility, such as information relating to pricing and borrowing availability); and
(v) Simultaneously with the transmission thereof, copies of all notices, reports, financial statements or other communications given to the Bank Agent or the Banks under the Credit Agreement, excluding routine borrowing requests; and
(xiii) with reasonable promptness, such other information and data with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as such Significant Holder may reasonably request.
Together with each delivery of financial statements required by clauses (i) and (ii) above, the Company will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officers Certificate demonstrating (with computations in reasonable detail) compliance by the Company and its Subsidiaries with the provisions of paragraphs 6A(1), 6A(2), 6B, 6C, 6E, 6F, 6H and 6P and stating that there exists no Event of Default or Default, or, if any Event of Default or Default exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also covenants that immediately after any Responsible Officer obtains knowledge of an Event of Default or Default, it will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officers Certificate specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
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5B Information Required by Rule 144A. Upon the request of any holder of a Note, provide such holder of a Note, and any qualified institutional buyer designated by such holder of a Note, such financial and other information as such holder of a Note may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to permit compliance with the information requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with the resale of Notes. For the purpose of this paragraph 5B, the term qualified institutional buyer shall have the meaning specified in Rule 144A.
5C Inspection of Property. The Company covenants that it will permit any Person designated by any Significant Holder in writing, at such Significant Holders expense if no Default or Event of Default exists and at the Companys expense if a Default or an Event of Default exists, to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to examine the corporate books and financial records of the Company and its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of any of such corporations with the principal officers of the Company and its independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries with any such Person), provided, the Company shall have been given an opportunity to have a Responsible Officer of the Company to be present for such discussions, all at such reasonable times and as often as such Significant Holder may reasonably request.
5D Covenant to Secure Notes Equally. The Company covenants that, if it or any Subsidiary shall create or assume any Lien upon any of its property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Liens permitted by the provisions of paragraph 6C (unless prior written consent to the creation or assumption thereof shall have been obtained pursuant to paragraph 11C), it will make or cause to be made effective provision whereby the Notes will be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with any and all other Indebtedness thereby secured so long as any such other Indebtedness shall be so secured; provided that the creation and maintenance of such equal and ratable Lien shall not in any way limit or modify the right of the holders of the Notes to enforce the provisions of paragraph 6C.
5E Compliance with Law. The Company covenants that it will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including, without limitation, environmental laws, and will obtain and maintain in full force and effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises, operating rights and other authorizations from federal, state, foreign, regional, municipal and other local regulatory bodies or administrative agencies or governmental bodies having jurisdiction over the Company and its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties necessary to the ownership, operation or maintenance of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in full force and effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises, operating rights and other authorizations could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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5F Maintenance of Insurance. The Company covenants that it will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms and in such amounts as is customary in the case of entities of established reputations engaged in the same or similar and similarly situated business. The Collateral Agent shall be named as loss payee on all property insurance policies, and the Collateral Agent and all holders of Notes shall be named as additional insureds on all liability insurance policies, obtained or maintained by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Each policy of insurance or endorsement shall contain a clause requiring the insurer to give not less than 10 days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent and the holders of the Notes in the event of cancellation of the policy for any reason whatsoever and a clause specifying that the interests of the Collateral Agent and the holders of the Notes shall not be impaired or invalidated by any act or neglect the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. If the Company fails to provide and pay for such insurance, the Collateral Agent or any holder of any Notes may, at its option, but shall not be required to, procure the same and charge the Company therefor.
5G Maintenance of Properties. The Company covenants that it will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals and replacements thereto, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this paragraph 5G shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and such discontinuance could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5H Payment of Taxes. The Company covenants that it will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, file all income tax or similar tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies payable by any of them, and to pay and discharge all amounts payable for work, labor and materials, in each case to the extent such taxes, assessments, charges, levies and amounts payable have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or amount payable if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is being actively contested by the Company or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the Company or such Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles on the books of the Company or such Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies and amounts payable in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5I Corporate Existence. The Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence. Subject to paragraph 6D, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, existence of each of its Subsidiaries (unless merged into the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary), unless the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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5J Lines of Business. The Company covenants that it will not, and it will not permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, engage in any business if, as a result thereof, the general nature of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, would be substantially changed from the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as conducted as of the date of this Agreement.
5K Subsequent Guarantors. If any Person that is not then party to the Guaranty Agreement at any time becomes a co-borrower or co-obligor with the Company under, or is obligated under a Guarantee with respect to, any Indebtedness of the Company under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any other Material Indebtedness Agreement, then the Company shall cause such Person at such time to execute and deliver to Prudential and the holders of the Notes a joinder to the Guaranty Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A to the Guaranty Agreement, accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such Person certifying such Persons charter and by-laws (or comparable governing documents), resolutions of the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of such Person authorizing the execution and delivery of such joinder to the Guaranty Agreement and incumbency and specimen signatures of the officers of such Person executing such documents and such instruments and documents as Prudential or the Required Holder(s) shall request in connection therewith and an opinion of counsel in form and substance acceptable to Prudential and the Required Holder(s) as to the enforceability of the Guaranty Agreement against such Person.
5L Deliveries; Further Assurances. Subject to any applicable terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Company covenants to, and to cause each Subsidiary to, at its sole expense, promptly execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the holders of the Notes or the Collateral Agent, in due form for filing or recording (the Company hereby agrees to pay the cost of filing or recording the same (including without limitation any and all filing fees and recording taxes)) in all public offices necessary or deemed necessary by the Required Holder(s) or the Collateral Agent, such collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, warehouse receipts, bailee letters, consents, waivers, financing statements and other instruments and documents, and do such other acts and things, including, without limitation, all acts and things as the Required Holder(s) or the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request, to establish and maintain to the satisfaction of the Required Holder(s) and the Collateral Agent a valid and perfected first priority security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent in all of the present and/or future Collateral free of all other Liens whatsoever (subject only to the Liens permitted by paragraph 6C), and to deliver to the Collateral Agent or the holders of the Notes such certificates, documents, instruments and opinions in connection therewith as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent or the Required Holder(s), each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Holder(s).
5M Required Interest Rate Hedge. Within ninety (90) days after the date hereof, the Company shall have entered into an Interest Rate Hedge with a financial institution reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Notes for a period of at least three (3) years in an amount which, together with the Notes, is equal to at least 50.0% of the total funded
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Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such date, and (iii) with such other terms and conditions as shall be reasonably acceptable to the holders of the Notes (the Required Interest Rate Hedge ). Documentation for the Required Interest Rate Hedge shall be in a standard International Swap Dealer Association Agreement, shall provide for the method of calculating the reimbursable amount of the providers credit exposure in a reasonable and customary manner, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the holders of the Notes with respect to intercreditor issues and shall not require that any collateral be provided as security for such agreement, unless the Required Interest Rate Hedge is a Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge, in which case it shall be secured by the Collateral.
5N Maturing IDRB Facilities. Within sixty (60) days after the date of this Agreement, subject to the Required Holders written agreement to extend such time period upon request by the Company, the Company shall have paid and discharged in full the Maturing IDRB Facilities and caused all Liens securing the same to be released of record; provided, however, that Required Holders may in their sole discretion grant a thirty (30) day extension if the Company is unable to discharge the Maturing IDRB Facilities and cause all Liens securing the same to be released within such sixty (60) day period notwithstanding its reasonably diligent efforts to do so.
5O Excess Leverage Fee. If the Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter prior to December 31, 2012 is greater than 3.00 to 1.00, then, in addition to accruing interest on the Notes, the Company agrees to pay each holder of a Note a fee (the Excess Leverage Fee ) on the daily average outstanding principal amount of such Note during such fiscal quarter at a rate per annum of 2.00%. The Excess Leverage Fee with respect to each Note for any fiscal quarter shall be calculated on a rate per annum on the same basis as interest on such Note is calculated and shall be paid in arrears on the 45th day after the end of such fiscal quarter. The payment of any Excess Leverage Fee shall not constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default. If for any reason the Company fails to deliver the financial statements required by paragraph 5A hereof for a fiscal quarter by the date the Excess Leverage Fee, if any, would be payable for such fiscal quarter, the an Excess Leverage Fee shall be payable for such fiscal quarter.
5P Lien Waiver Agreements. Except for the location of Collateral located in Winchester, Kentucky, within sixty (60) days after the date of this Agreement, the Transaction Parties shall have expended commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an executed landlords waiver or other lien waiver agreement from the lessor, warehouse operator, processor or other applicable Person for Collateral locations not owned by a Transaction Party at which the fair market value of the Collateral at such location exceeds $500,000, such waivers to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders.
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6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. During the Issuance Period and so long thereafter as any Note or other amount due hereunder is outstanding and unpaid, the Company covenants as follows:
6A Financial Covenants.
6A(1). Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Company covenants that it will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended, to be less than the following amounts for the following periods:
Period |
Minimum Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio |
|
9/30/10 to 3/31/11 |
1.15 to 1.00 | |
6/30/11 to 9/30/11 |
1.20 to 1.00 | |
12/31/11 and thereafter |
1.25 to 1.00 |
6A(2). Maximum Leverage Ratio . The Company covenants that it will not at any time permit the Leverage Ratio to exceed the ratio set forth below for the periods specified below:
Period |
Maximum Leverage Ratio | |
9/30/10 to 3/31/11 |
4.25 to 1.00 | |
6/30/11 |
4.00 to 1.00 | |
9/30/11 |
3.75 to 1.00 | |
12/31/11 through 6/30/12 |
3.50 to 1.00 | |
9/30/12 |
3.25 to 1.00 | |
12/31/12 and thereafter |
3.00 to 1.00 |
6B Borrowing . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any liability for Indebtedness, except:
(i) | Indebtedness under this Agreement or any Note; |
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(ii) | Existing Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 6B, including extensions, renewals or Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided there is no increase in the amount thereof or other significant change in the terms thereof unless otherwise specified on Schedule 6B; |
(iii) | Indebtedness of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries with respect to Purchase Money Security Interests and capitalized leases as and to the extent permitted under clause (viii) or clause (xx) of the definition of Permitted Lien with respect to the aggregate amount of unpaid principal loans and deferred payments (including, without limitation, imputed principal under capitalized leases); |
(iv) | (a) The Required Interest Rate Hedge that is in place within ninety (90) days after the date of this Agreement as provided for in paragraph 5M, (b) any other Interest Rate Hedge approved by the Required Holders; or (c) any other Indebtedness under any Other Lender Provided Financial Services Product or under any currency swap or hedging arrangement or commodity hedging arrangement approved in writing by the Required Holders; provided, however, the Intercreditor Agreement shall be in full force and effect with respect thereto; |
(v) | Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the Mexican Credit Agreement in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $427,000,000: |
(vi) | Indebtedness of a Transaction Party to another Transaction Party which is subordinated pursuant to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement; and Indebtedness of a Transaction Party owing to a Subsidiary which is not a Transaction Party and which is subordinated on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders; |
(vii) | Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries or Non-Material Subsidiaries owing to Transaction Parties to the extent permitted under paragraph 6E (vi) and (vii) and Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries or Non-Material Subsidiaries owing to other Foreign Subsidiaries or Non-Material Subsidiaries; |
(viii) | Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries owing to third-party lenders in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000, including any secured debt permitted under clause (xii) of the definition of Permitted Liens; |
(ix) | Indebtedness secured by a Lien on real property, improvements to real property and fixtures permitted under clause (xix) of the definition of Permitted Liens; |
(x) | Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted under clause (xx) of the definition of Permitted Liens with respect to Permitted Acquisitions; |
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(xi) | Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the payment of the Notes on terms and conditions acceptable to Required Holders; |
(xii) | Guaranties permitted under paragraph 6D; |
(xiii) | Indebtedness for employer contributions to the ESOP not in excess of limitations set forth in Section 404 of the Code; |
(xiv) | Indebtedness arising under the Companys stock repurchase liability under the ESOP; |
(xv) | unsecured Indebtedness that (A) matures after, and does not require any scheduled amortization or other scheduled amortizations or other scheduled payments of principal prior to the latest maturity date of any outstanding Notes (it being understood that such Indebtedness may have mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption provisions satisfying the requirement of clause (B) hereof), and (B) has terms and conditions (other than interest rate, redemption premiums and subordination terms), taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable to the Company than the terms and conditions customary at the time for high-yield debt securities issued in a public offering (or if applicable, high-yield subordinated debt securities so issued); provided, however, that both immediately prior and after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, (x) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom and (y) the Company shall be in compliance with the covenants set forth in paragraph 6A(1) and paragraph 6A(2); and provided further that the Company shall make an offer to prepay the Notes from the proceeds of such unsecured Indebtedness in accordance with paragraph 4G above; and |
(xvi) | other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to the difference between (A) $25,000,000 and (B) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Shelf Notes issued after the initial Closing Day. |
6C Liens; Lien Covenants . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, or agree or become liable to do so, except Permitted Liens.
6D Guaranties . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, at any time, directly or indirectly, become or be liable in respect of any Guaranty, or assume, guarantee, become surety for, endorse or otherwise agree, become or remain directly or contingently liable upon or with respect to any obligation or liability of any other Person, except for:
(i) | Guaranties of Indebtedness or any other obligations or liabilities of the Transaction Parties or their Subsidiaries permitted hereunder; |
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(ii) | Guaranties executed in connection with the Mexicana Credit Facility; |
(iii) | Guaranties by Subsidiaries that are not Transaction Parties of the Indebtedness of other Subsidiaries; and |
(iv) | Guaranties by any Transaction Party of Indebtedness owing by any Joint Venture of any Transaction Party in an amount not to exceed, when taken together with any investment permitted pursuant to paragraph 6E(viii), $5,000,000 in any fiscal year; and |
(v) | the Guaranties specified on Schedule 6D. |
6E. Loans and Investments . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, at any time make or suffer to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or purchase, acquire or own any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest (whether general or limited) or limited liability company interest in, or any other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person, or agree, become or remain liable to do any of the foregoing, except:
(i) | Trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business; |
(ii) | Advances to employees to meet expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business; |
(iii) | Permitted Investments; |
(iv) | Existing loans and advances to, and such investments and interests in, (a) Persons (including Joint Ventures) other than Transaction Parties and their Subsidiaries as set forth on Schedule 6E, and (b) Subsidiaries which are not Transaction Parties as set forth on Schedule 6E; |
(v) | Additional loans and advances to, such investments and interests in, and capital contributions to, other Transaction Parties; |
(vi) | Additional loans and advances to, and such investments and interests in, and capital contribution to, Foreign Subsidiaries not to exceed $3,000,000 in any fiscal year; |
(vii) | Restricted Investments in Non-Material Subsidiaries not exceeding $3,000,000 in any fiscal year; |
(viii) | Loans and advances to, and such investments and interests in, and capital contribution to, Joint Ventures not to exceed, when taken together with any guaranties of Indebtedness owing by any Joint Ventures permitted pursuant to paragraph 6D, $5,000,000 in any fiscal year; |
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(ix) | Transfer of certain assets to Foreign Subsidiaries permitted by paragraph 6H(ix) in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate; |
(x) | Investments in the Required Interest Rate Hedge and any other interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor or other interest rate management instrument permitted under paragraph 6B(iv); |
(xi) | Investments acquired by a Transaction Party: (A) in exchange for any other investment held by such Transaction Party in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other investment, or (B) as a result of a foreclosure by such Transaction Party with respect to any secured investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured investment in default; |
(xii) | advances to a Foreign Subsidiary consisting of raw materials purchased for consumption or processing in the ordinary course of business and otherwise permitted by paragraph 6I; and |
(xiii) | Permitted Acquisitions, and loans and advances to, and investments and interest in, third Persons by any Person which are outstanding at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or any other Transaction Party as a result of a Permitted Acquisition, but not any increase in the amount thereof. |
For purposes of calculating the amount of the investments or interests in Persons described in clauses (vi), (vii) and (viii) of this paragraph 6E in any fiscal year, the amount of the investments made during such fiscal year such shall be reduced to reflect the amount of the Capital Distributions received from such Persons during such fiscal year.
6F . Dividends and Related Distributions . The Company covenants that it will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make or pay, or agree to become or remain liable to make or pay, any dividend or other distribution of any nature (whether in cash, property, securities or otherwise) on account of or in respect of its shares of capital stock, partnership interests or limited liability company interests on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement or acquisition of its shares of capital stock (or warrants, options or rights therefor), partnership interests or limited liability company interests, except as follows:
(i) | any Transaction Party may make a Capital Distribution to another Transaction Party; |
(ii) | any Foreign Subsidiary or Non-Material Subsidiary may make a Capital Distribution at any time to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(iii) | the Company may make Capital Distributions so long as prior to and after giving effect to such Capital Distribution: (x) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) the Transaction Parties are in pro forma compliance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio set forth in paragraph 6A(1); and |
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(iv) | as long as no Event of Default exists, the Company may make Capital Distributions to repurchase stock as required by the ESOP; provided, however, that (i) if an Event of Default exists, the Company may make Capital Distributions to the extent necessary in order to satisfy its payment requirements under Code Section 409(h)(5) and (6) with respect to put options (within the meaning of Section 409(h) of the Code) exercised by ESOP participants and their beneficiaries and (ii) any such Capital Distributions shall be made in cash only to the extent necessary to comply with said provisions of the Code. |
6G. Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any other Person, except:
(i) | any Transaction Party other than the Company may consolidate or merge into another Transaction Party which is wholly-owned by one or more of the other Transaction Parties; |
(ii) | any Subsidiary of a Transaction Party may be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, assets or property may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to a Transaction Party which is a wholly-owned by one or more of the other Transaction Parties; |
(iii) | any Subsidiary of a Transaction Party may merge into its parent upon 10 Business Days notice to the holders of the Notes; |
(iv) | any Subsidiary that is not a Transaction Party may merge into any other Subsidiary that is not a Transaction Party which is wholly-owned by one or more of the other Transaction Parties; |
(v) | any Transaction Party may acquire, whether by merger or by purchase, lease or otherwise, (a) of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the equity interests of another Person or (b) all or substantially all of the assets of another Person or of a business or division of another Person (each, a Permitted Acquisition ), provided that each of the following requirements is met: |
(1) | if such Transaction Party is acquiring the equity interests in such Person and such Person shall constitute a Domestic Subsidiary which is not a Non-Material Subsidiary after the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition, such Person shall execute a Guaranty Agreement or a joinder to the Guaranty Agreement on or before the date of such Permitted Acquisition; |
(2) |
the Transaction Parties or such Person, if such Person shall constitute a Domestic Subsidiary which is not a Non-Material Subsidiary upon the consummation of the |
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Permitted Acquisition, as applicable, shall grant Liens in the assets of or acquired from such Person and otherwise comply with paragraph 5L on or before the date of such Permitted Acquisition; |
(3) | the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person shall have approved such Permitted Acquisition and, if the Transaction Parties shall use any portion of the Notes to fund such Permitted Acquisition, the Transaction Parties also shall have delivered to the holders of the Notes written evidence of the approval of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of such Person for such Permitted Acquisition; |
(4) | the business or assets acquired, or the business conducted by the Person whose ownership interests are being acquired, as applicable, shall be reasonably related to as one or more line or lines of business conducted by the Transaction Parties and shall comply with paragraph 6K; |
(5) | no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition; |
(6) | the Transaction Party acquiring the Person or business subject to the Permitted Acquisition shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent a Collateral Assignment of Contract Rights with respect to the acquisition agreement pursuant to which such Transaction Party acquires such Person or business; |
(7) | the Company shall demonstrate that it shall be in compliance with the covenants contained in paragraphs 6A(1) and 6A(2) hereof after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (including in such computation Indebtedness or other liabilities assumed or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and income earned or expenses incurred by the Person, business or assets to be acquired prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition), |
(8) | the aggregate consideration for all Permitted Acquisitions shall not exceed (a) $25,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Company, or (b) $75,000,000 in the aggregate; and |
(9) | the Transaction Parties shall deliver to the holders of the Notes (a) at least ten (10) days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Required Holders, in their sole discretion) before such Permitted Acquisition, all financial statements received respect to the Persons or assets proposed to be acquired, (b) at least ten (10) days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Required Holders, in their sole discretion) before such Permitted Acquisition, drafts of any agreements proposed to be entered into by such Transaction Parties in connection with such Permitted Acquisition, and (c) on or prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition, execution copies of such agreements entered into by such Transaction Parties in connection with such Permitted Acquisition, and shall deliver to the holders of the Notes such other information about such Person or its assets as any Transaction Party may reasonably require. |
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6H. Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, convey, assign, lease, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties or assets, tangible or intangible (including sale, assignment, discount or other disposition of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or general intangibles with or without recourse or of capital stock, shares of beneficial interest, partnership interests or limited liability company interests of a Subsidiary of such Transaction Party), except:
(i) | transactions involving the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business; |
(ii) | any disposal of damaged, obsolete, worn out or surplus assets or any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are no longer necessary or required in the conduct of such Transaction Partys or such Subsidiarys business; |
(iii) | any sale, transfer or lease of assets by any Transaction Party or any Subsidiary of any Transaction Party to another Transaction Party; |
(iv) | any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are replaced by substitute assets acquired or leased within the parameters of paragraph 6P; provided such substitute assets are subject to the Collateral Agents Prior Security Interest; |
(v) | if any disposition of real property to a governmental authority results in net cash proceeds after payment of related expenses the Company shall have made an offer to prepay Notes in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4G above; |
(vi) | the abandonment, cancellation or other disposition of intellectual property that is not material or is no longer used or useful in any material respect in the operation of the Company and the Transaction Parties; |
(vii) | the sale or discount, in each case without recourse and in the ordinary course of business, of overdue accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof consistent with customary industry practice (and not as part of any bulk sale or financing of receivables); |
(viii) | any sale or transfer of equity interests in a Foreign Subsidiary which are not subject to the Pledge Agreement to another Foreign Subsidiary; |
(ix) | subject to paragraph 6E(ix), any sale, transfer or other disposition of equipment to a Foreign Subsidiary which equipment is not being used or necessary in the operations of the Transaction Parties in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Company; or |
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(x) | any sale, transfer or lease of assets, other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above so long as (a) the Company has made an offer to prepay the Notes from the net cash proceeds (as reasonably estimated by the Company) thereof in accordance with paragraph 4F above, (b) the aggregate book value of such assets sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of in any fiscal year (other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above) does not exceed 10% of the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (c) the aggregate book value of all such assets sold, leased, transferred or disposed of after the date of this Agreement (other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above) does not exceed 30% of the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the end of such preceding fiscal year. |
6I Affiliate Transactions. The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into or carry out any transaction with any Affiliate of any Transaction Party (including purchasing property or services from or selling property or services to any Affiliate of any Transaction Party or other Person) unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, is entered into in the ordinary course of business upon fair and reasonable arms-length terms and conditions and is in accordance with all applicable Law.
6J Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint Ventures. The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, own or create directly or indirectly any Subsidiaries other than (i) any Domestic Subsidiary which has joined the Guaranty Agreement; (ii) any Non-Material Subsidiary, (iii) any Foreign Subsidiary existing as of the date of this Agreement and any Foreign Subsidiary created or acquired after the date of this Agreement as permitted under paragraph 6E, (iv) any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary formed after the date of this Agreement which joins the Guaranty Agreement as a Guarantor by delivering to the Required Holders (a) a Guaranty Agreement or joinder to the Guaranty Agreement and (b) documents necessary to grant and perfect Prior Security Interests to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Notes in the equity interests of (or, as to CFCs, 65% of the equity interest of), and Collateral held by, such Subsidiary excluding the equity interests held in any Foreign Holding Company, provided that recourse under the Guaranty Agreement of any Foreign Holding Company shall be limited to the Collateral pledged to secure such Guaranty Agreement. Except for the existing Joint Ventures disclosed on Schedule 6K, each of the Transaction Parties shall not become or agree to become a party to a Joint Venture and shall not permit any Subsidiary to become a party to a Joint Venture unless the investment in such Joint Venture is permitted under Paragraph 6E(viii).
6K Continuation or Change in Business. The Company covenants that it will not permit any Subsidiary to engage in any business other than the manufacture, sale and distribution of corrugated polyethylene, polypropylene and concrete pipe, storm and septic chambers, drainage structures and other related water drainage and water filtration products, substantially as conducted and operated by such Transaction Party or Subsidiary during the present fiscal year, and businesses which are related, supplemental or complementary thereto. Each Foreign Holding Company shall not engage in any business or operations or acquire any assets or incur
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any liabilities other than: (i) holding the ownership interests of one or more CFCs, and (ii) such other activities as are required or prudent in connection with the maintenance of good standing and administration of such Transaction Party.
6L Fiscal Period. The Company covenants that it will not change its fiscal year from the twelve-month period beginning April 1st and ending March 31st.
6M Issuance of Stock. The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue any additional shares of its capital stock or any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof to the extent that the such issued shares, options, warrants and other rights are required to be Collateral, unless such shares, options, warrants and other rights are pledged to the Collateral Agent; provided however, the foregoing restriction shall not apply to the issuance of additional shares of capital stock of the Company, or options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof, so long as such issuance does not result in a Change of Control.
6N Changes in Organizational Documents. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, amend in any respect its certificate of incorporation (including any provisions or resolutions relating to capital stock), by-laws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents without providing at least ten (10) calendar days prior written notice to Prudential and the holders of the Notes then outstanding and, in the event such change would be reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the holders of the Notes, without obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Holders; provided, however, the Company may adopt the Amended By-Laws as of the initial Closing Day.
6O Real Property . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, grant any Liens on any fee or leasehold interest in real property owned or held by such Transaction Party or Subsidiary to any other Person other than Permitted Liens.
6P Capital Expenditures and Leases. The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any payments exceeding $45,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year on account of the purchase or lease of any assets which if purchased would constitute fixed assets or which if leased would constitute a capitalized lease.
6R Terrorism Sanctions Regulations. The Company covenants that it will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to (i) become a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) engage in any dealings or transactions with any such Person.
6S Most Favored Lender. The Company covenants that if, on any date, it or any Subsidiary enters into, assumes or otherwise becomes bound or obligated under any Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement that contains, or amends any Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement to contain, one or more Additional Covenants or Additional Defaults, then on such date the terms of this Agreement shall, without any further action on the part of the Company or any of the holders of the Notes, be deemed to be amended automatically to include each Additional Covenant and
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each Additional Default contained in such agreement, and the Company shall provide prompt written notice thereof to Prudential and the holders of the Notes of such event. The Company further covenants, upon the written request of the Required Holders, to promptly execute and deliver at its expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the holders of the Notes) an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holder(s) evidencing the amendment of this Agreement to include such Additional Covenants and Additional Defaults, provided that the execution and delivery of such amendment shall not be a precondition to the effectiveness of such amendment as provided for in this paragraph 6S, but shall merely be for the convenience of the parties hereto; provided that, upon the subsequent elimination of such Additional Covenant or Additional Default and the Company providing notice thereof to Prudential and each holder of a Note, the same shall be deemed eliminated hereunder if (i) no Default or Event of Default then exists, (ii) such elimination of such Additional Covenant or Additional Default shall not make this Agreement any less restrictive with respect to the Company and the Guarantors than as in effect on the date of this Agreement, as amended by any other amendments hereto, other than as a result of such Additional Covenant or Additional Default and (iii) if any fee or other compensation is paid to any person in respect of such elimination of such Additional Covenant or Additional Default, the Company shall pay each holder of a Note such fee or compensation on a ratable basis relative to the then outstanding aggregate principal amounts of the Notes. The Company further covenants to promptly execute and deliver at its expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the holders of the Notes) an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holder(s) evidencing (x) the amendment of this Agreement to include such Additional Covenants and Additional Defaults or (y) the elimination of such Additional Covenants and Additional Defaults, as applicable, provided that the execution and delivery of such amendment shall not be a precondition to the effectiveness of such amendment as provided for in this paragraph 6S, but shall merely be for the convenience of the parties hereto.
6T. Certain Subordination Agreements. The Company covenants that it will not , and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur any Indebtedness that has the benefit of any subordination or standstill provisions relative to the Put Right unless the holders of the Notes have received an agreement providing the holders of the Notes with the benefit of the same subordination and/or standstill provisions.
7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
7A. Acceleration. If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or otherwise):
(i) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal of, or Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, any Note when the same shall become due, either by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided; or
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(ii) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest or any Excess Leverage Fee with respect thereto on any Note for more than 3 Business Days after the date due; or
(iii) the Company or any Subsidiary defaults (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) in any payment of principal of or interest on any other obligation for money borrowed (or any Capitalized Lease Obligation, any obligation under a conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any obligation issued or assumed as full or partial payment for property whether or not secured by a purchase money mortgage or any obligation under notes payable or drafts accepted representing extensions of credit) beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or the Company or any Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other agreement, term or condition contained in any agreement under which any such obligation is created (or if any other event thereunder or under any such agreement shall occur and be continuing) and the effect of such failure or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such obligation (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such obligation to become due (or to be repurchased by the Company or any Subsidiary) prior to any stated maturity, provided that the aggregate amount of all obligations as to which such a payment default shall occur and be continuing or such a failure or other event causing or permitting acceleration (or resale to the Company or any Subsidiary) shall occur and be continuing exceeds $10,000,000; or
(iv) any representation or warranty made by the Company or any Guarantor herein or in any other Transaction Document or by the Company or any Guarantor or any of their respective officers in any writing furnished in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document shall be false or misleading in any material respect on the date as of which made; or
(v) the Company fails to perform or observe any agreement contained in paragraph 4E, 4F, 4G, 5C, or 6; or
(vi) the Company or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any other agreement, term or condition contained herein or in any other Transaction Document and such failure shall not be remedied within 30 days after the earlier of (a) the date any Responsible Officer or any officer of such Guarantor obtains actual knowledge thereof or (b) the date notice of such failure is given to the Company or such Guarantor by any holder of any Note; or
(vii) the Company or any Subsidiary makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or is generally not paying its debts as such debts become due; or
(viii) any decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary is entered under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law, whether now or hereafter in effect (herein called the Bankruptcy Law ), of any jurisdiction; or
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(ix) the Company or any Subsidiary petitions or applies to any tribunal for, or consents to, the appointment of, or taking possession by, a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or commences a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any proceedings (other than proceedings for the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a Subsidiary) relating to the Company or any Subsidiary under the Bankruptcy Law of any other jurisdiction; or
(x) any such petition or application described in clause (ix) of this paragraph 7A is filed, or any such case or proceedings described in clause (ix) of this paragraph 7A are commenced, against the Company or any Subsidiary and the Company or such Subsidiary by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein, or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or
(xi) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company decreeing the dissolution of the Company and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 30 days: or
(xii) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company or any Subsidiary decreeing a split-up of the Company or such Subsidiary which requires the divestiture of assets representing a substantial part, or the divestiture of the stock of a Subsidiary whose assets represent a substantial part, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) or which requires the divestiture of assets, or stock of a Subsidiary, which shall have contributed a substantial part of the consolidated net income of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) for any of the three fiscal years then most recently ended, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 45 days; or
(xiii) one or more final judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000 (to the extent not adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and unaffiliated insurance company has acknowledged coverage) is rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary and either (a) enforcement proceedings have been commenced by any creditor upon any such judgment or (b) within 45 days after entry thereof, any such judgment is not discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or within 45 days after the expiration of any such stay, such judgment is not discharged; or
(xiv) (X)(a) any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standards of ERISA or the Code for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standards or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under section 412 of the Code, (b) a notice of intent to terminate any Plan shall have been or is reasonably expected to be filed with the PBGC or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings under ERISA section 4042 to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or the PBGC shall have
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notified the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that a Plan may become a subject of such proceedings, (c) the aggregate amount of unfunded benefit liabilities (within the meaning of section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA) under all Plans, determined in accordance with Title IV of ERISA shall exceed $5,000,000, (d) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall have incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, (e) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate withdraws from any Multiemployer Plan resulting in the incurrence by such withdrawing employer of a withdrawal liability or (f) the Company or any Subsidiary establishes or amends any employee welfare benefit plan that provides post-employment welfare benefits in a manner that would increase the liability of the Company or any Subsidiary thereunder and (Y) any such event or events described in clauses (a) through (f) above, either individually or together with any other such event or events, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(xv) any Guaranty Agreement, joinder thereto or any Collateral Document shall cease to be in full force and effect, or the Company or any Guarantor shall contest or deny the validity or enforceability of, or deny that it has any liability or obligations under, any Guaranty Agreement joinder thereto or any Collateral Document, or the Collateral Agent does not have or ceases to have a valid first priority perfected security interest (subject only to Permitted Liens) in any Collateral for the benefit of the holders of the Notes;
(xvi) a Liquidity Event, as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement, shall have occurred and not been waived by the parties to the Intercreditor Agreement;
(xvii) a Change of Control shall have occurred; or
(xviii) the Put Right is exercised with respect to any securities and the payment by the Company of all or any portion of the purchase price of such securities as a result of such exercise is not permitted under the provisions of paragraph 6F hereof;
then (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph 7A, any holder of any Note (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) may at its option, by notice in writing to the Company, declare all of the Notes held by such holder to be, and all of the Notes held by such holder shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable at par together with interest accrued thereon, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company, (B) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (viii), (ix) or (x) of this paragraph 7A with respect to the Company, all of the Notes at the time outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable together with interest accrued thereon and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company, and the Facility shall automatically terminate, and (c) if such event is not an Event of Default specified in clause (viii), (ix) or (x) of this paragraph 7A with respect to the Company, the Required Holder(s) may at its or their option, by notice in writing to the Company, declare all of the Notes to be, and all of the Notes shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable together with interest accrued thereon
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and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company, and Prudential may at its option, by notice in writing to the Company, terminate the Facility. The Company acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and without the occurrence of an Event of Default and that the provision for payment of Yield-Maintenance Amount by the Company in the event the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.
7B Rescission of Acceleration. At any time after any or all of the Notes shall have been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, the Required Holder(s) may, by notice in writing to the Company, rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (i) the Company shall have paid all overdue interest on the Notes, the principal of and Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, payable with respect to any Notes which have become due otherwise than by reason of such declaration, and interest on such overdue interest and overdue principal and Yield-Maintenance Amount at the Default Rate, (ii) the Company shall not have paid any amounts which have become due solely by reason of such declaration, (iii) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts which have become due solely by reason of such declaration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to paragraph 11C, and (iv) no judgment or decree shall have been entered for the payment of any amounts due pursuant to the Notes of such Series or this Agreement. No such rescission or annulment shall extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right arising therefrom.
7C Notice of Acceleration or Rescission. Whenever any Note shall be declared immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A or any such declaration shall be rescinded and annulled pursuant to paragraph 7B, the Company shall forthwith give written notice thereof to the holder of each Note of each Series at the time outstanding.
7D Other Remedies. Subject to any applicable terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, if any Event of Default or Default shall occur and be continuing, the holder of any Note may proceed to protect and enforce its rights under this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and such Note by exercising such remedies as are available to such holder in respect thereof under applicable law, either by suit in equity or by action at law, or both, whether for specific performance of any covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or any Transaction Document. No remedy conferred in this Agreement upon the holder of any Note is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy conferred herein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise.
8. REPRESENTATIONS, COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents, covenants and warrants as follows:
8A(1). Organization; Subsidiary Preferred Equity. The Company is a corporation duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and each
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Subsidiary is duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly qualified or been duly licensed, and are authorized to do business and are in good standing, in each jurisdiction in which the ownership of their respective properties or the nature of their respective businesses makes such qualification or licensing necessary and in which the failure to be so qualified or licensed could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 8A(1) hereto sets forth, as of the date hereof, a correct list of each Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of incorporation and its ownership and whether or not, as of the date of this Agreement, such Subsidiary is a borrower or co-obligor with the Company under, or is obligated under any Guaranty with respect to, any Indebtedness of the Company under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any other Material Indebtedness Agreement. No Subsidiary has any outstanding shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interests which has priority over any other class of capital stock or other equity interests of such Subsidiary as to dividends or distributions or in liquidation except as may be owned beneficially and of record by the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary. No Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to, any legal, regulatory, contractual or other restriction (other than this Agreement and customary limitations imposed by corporate or limited liability company law or similar statutes) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make other distributions of profits to the Company or any of its other Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of such Subsidiary.
8A(2). Power and Authority. The Company and each Subsidiary has all requisite corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, power to own or hold under lease and operate their respective properties which it purports to own or hold under lease and to conduct its business as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted. The Company has all requisite corporate power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Notes has been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action, and this Agreement and the Notes have been duly executed and delivered by authorized officers of the Company and are valid obligations of the Company, legally binding upon and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
8A(3). Execution and Delivery of Transaction Documents. The Company and each Subsidiary has all requisite corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents has been duly authorized by all requisite corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, action, and this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by authorized officers of the Company and each Subsidiary which is a party thereto and are valid obligations of the Company and each such Subsidiary, legally binding upon and enforceable against the Company and each such Subsidiary in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
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8B Financial Statements. The Company has furnished each Purchaser of any Note with the following financial statements, identified by a principal financial officer of the Company: (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the last day of the fiscal year in each of the three fiscal years of the Company most recently completed prior to the date as of which this representation is made or repeated to such Purchaser (other than fiscal years completed within 90 days prior to such date for which audited financial statements have not been released) and consolidated statements of income and cash flows and a consolidated statement of shareholders equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries for each such year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP (or such other nationally recognized accounting firm as may be reasonably acceptable to such Purchaser) and (ii) consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of the quarterly period (if any) most recently completed prior to such date and after the end of such fiscal year (other than quarterly periods completed within 45 days prior to such date for which financial statements have not been released) and the comparable quarterly period in the preceding fiscal year and consolidated statements of income and cash flows and a consolidated statement of shareholders equity for the periods from the beginning of the fiscal years in which such quarterly periods are included to the end of such quarterly periods, prepared by the Company. Such financial statements (including any related schedules and/or notes) are true and correct in all material respects (subject, as to interim statements, to changes resulting from audits and year-end adjustments), have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently followed throughout the periods involved and show all liabilities, direct and contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries required to be shown in accordance with such principles. The balance sheets fairly present the condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof, and the statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows fairly present the results of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their cash flows for the periods indicated. As of the time of the execution of this Agreement by Prudential, there has been no change in the business, property, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since the end of the most recent fiscal year for which such audited financial statements had been furnished to Prudential which would result in a Material Adverse Effect. In the case of the issuance of a Series of Shelf Notes, as of the time Prudential provided the interest rate quote to the Company pursuant to paragraph 2A(4) with respect to such Series of Shelf Notes, there shall have been no change in the business, property, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since the end of the most recent fiscal year for which audited financial statements described in clause (i) of this paragraph 8B shall then have been provided to Prudential prior to the time Prudential provided the interest rate quote to the Company pursuant to paragraph 2A(4) with respect to such Series of Shelf Notes which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
8C Actions Pending. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any properties or rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, by or before any court, arbitrator or administrative or governmental body which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Effect.
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8D Outstanding Indebtedness. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding any Indebtedness except as permitted by paragraph 6B. There exists no default, where such default would constitute an Event of Default pursuant paragraph 7A(iii) hereof, under the provisions of any instrument evidencing such Indebtedness or of any agreement relating thereto.
8E Title to Properties. The Company has and each of its Subsidiaries has good and indefeasible title to its respective material real properties (other than properties which it leases) and good title to all of its material other respective properties and assets, including the properties and assets reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in paragraph 8B (other than properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business), subject to no Lien of any kind except Permitted Liens. All leases necessary in any material respect for the conduct of the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect.
8F Taxes. The Company has, and each of its Subsidiaries has, filed all material federal, state and other income tax returns which, to the knowledge of the officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, are required to be filed, and each has paid all taxes as shown on such returns and on all assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes have become due, except such taxes as are being actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
8G Conflicting Agreements and Other Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any contract or agreement or subject to any charter, by-law, limited liability company operating agreement, partnership agreement or other corporate, limited liability company or partnership restriction which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Subject to the satisfaction of the condition set forth in paragraph 3F, neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Documents, nor the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes, nor the performance of the terms and provisions hereof and of the Notes or any other Transaction Document will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien other than Liens created pursuant to the Collateral Documents) upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, the charter, by-laws, limited liability company operating agreement or partnership agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any award of any arbitrator or any agreement (including any agreement with stockholders, members or partners), instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary, any agreement relating thereto or any other contract or agreement (including its charter, by-laws, limited liability company operating agreement or partnership agreement) which limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes restrictions on the incurring of, Indebtedness of the Company of the type to be evidenced by the Notes or the delivery of the Guaranty Agreement by any Guarantor except as set forth in the agreements listed in Schedule 8G attached hereto (as such Schedule 8G may have been modified from time to time by written supplements thereto delivered by the Company and accepted in writing by Prudential).
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8H Offering of Notes. Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly, offered the Notes, or any Guaranty Agreement or any similar security of the Company or any Guarantor for sale to, or solicited any offers to buy the Notes, any Guaranty Agreement or any similar security of the Company or any Guarantor from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect thereto with, any Person other than Institutional Investors, and neither the Company or any Guarantor nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action which would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes the Guaranty Agreements to the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the provisions of any securities or Blue Sky law of any applicable jurisdiction.
8I Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of any Series of Shelf Notes will be used as specified in the Request for Purchase with respect to such Series. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary owns or has any present intention of acquiring any margin stock as defined in Regulation U (12 CFR Part 221) of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (herein called margin stock). None of the proceeds of the sale of any Notes will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for the purpose of maintaining, reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any stock that is then a margin stock or for any other purpose which might constitute the sale or purchase of any Notes a purpose credit within the meaning of such Regulation U. The Company is not engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause this Agreement or any Note to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect now or as the same may hereafter be in effect.
8J ERISA. No accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan). No liability to the PBGC has been or is expected by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) by the Company, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate which is or could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or presently expects to incur any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Multiemployer Plan which is or could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the issuance and sale of the Notes will be exempt from or will not involve any transaction which is subject to the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA and will not involve any transaction in connection with which a penalty could be imposed under section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975 of the Code. The representation by the Company in the next preceding sentence is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of each Purchasers representation in paragraph 9B.
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8K Governmental Consent. Neither the nature of the Company or of any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective businesses or properties, nor any relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any circumstance in connection with the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes or the execution and delivery of the other Transaction Documents is such as to require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice to or filing with any court or administrative or governmental body (other than routine filings after the Closing Day for any Notes with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or state Blue Sky authorities) and other than the filings and recordings necessary to perfect the Liens in the Collateral intended to be created by the Collateral Documents described in Schedule 8K hereto in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes or fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or the other Transaction Documents or of the Notes.
8L Compliance with Environmental and Other Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries and all of their respective properties and facilities have complied at all times and in all respects with all federal, state, local, foreign and regional statutes, laws, ordinances and judicial or administrative orders, judgments, rulings and regulations, including, without limitation, those relating to protection of the environment, except, in any such case, where failure to comply, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
8M Regulatory Status. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is (i) an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or an investment adviser within the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) a holding company or a subsidiary company or an affiliate of a holding company or of a subsidiary company of a holding company, within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, or (iii) a public utility within the meaning of the Federal Power Act, as amended.
8N Permits and Other Operating Rights. The Company and each Subsidiary has all such valid and sufficient certificates of convenience and necessity, franchises, licenses, permits, operating rights and other authorizations from federal, state, foreign, regional, municipal and other local regulatory bodies or administrative agencies or other governmental bodies having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or any of its properties, as are necessary for the ownership, operation and maintenance of its businesses and properties, as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted while the Notes are outstanding, subject to exceptions and deficiencies which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and such certificates of convenience and necessity, franchises, licenses, permits, operating rights and other authorizations from federal, state, foreign, regional, municipal and other local regulatory bodies or administrative agencies or other governmental bodies having jurisdiction over the Company, any Subsidiary or any of its properties are free from restrictions or conditions which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any thereof in any material respect.
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8O Rule 144A. The Notes are not of the same class as securities of the Company, if any, listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated inter-dealer quotation system.
8P Absence of Financing Statements, etc. Except with respect to the Permitted Liens, there is no financing statement, security agreement, chattel mortgage, real estate mortgage or other document filed or recorded with any filing records, registry or other public office, that purports to cover, affect or give notice of any present or possible future Lien on, or security interest in, any assets or property of the Company or any Subsidiary or any rights relating thereto.
8Q Establishment of Security Interest. Schedule 8Q hereto sets forth as of the date of closing a complete and accurate list of (i) the name, jurisdiction of organization and organizational identification number of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, (ii) if the Company or any Subsidiary is not a registered organization (as defined in the UCC) organized under that law of a State (as defined in the UCC), the location of its place of business (if it has only one place of business) or its chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business), (iii) all real property owned or leased by the Company or any Guarantor, and (iv) all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, services names or copyrights owned or licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, all filings, assignments, pledges and deposits of documents or instruments have been made, and all other actions have been taken, that are necessary or advisable under applicable law and are required to be made or taken on or prior to the date of closing under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to create and perfect a security interest in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Notes, the Companys obligations under the Credit Agreement and each Guarantors obligations under its Guaranty Agreement, subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted under paragraph 6C. The Collateral and the Collateral Agents rights with respect to the Collateral are not subject to any setoff, claims, withholdings or other defenses (except any such setoff, claim or defense which could not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the rights of the Collateral Agent with respect to the Collateral). The Company or a Subsidiary is the owner of the Collateral described in the Collateral Documents free from any Lien, security interest, encumbrance and any other claim or demand, except for Liens permitted under paragraph 6C.
8R Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc.
(i) Neither the sale of any Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or 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.
(ii) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) engages in any dealings or transactions with any such Person. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA Patriot Act.
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(iii) No part of the proceeds from the sale of any Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Company.
8S Disclosure. Neither this Agreement, any other Transaction Document nor any other document, certificate or statement furnished to Prudential or any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor in connection herewith when taken as a whole contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. There is no fact or facts peculiar to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which are known to the Responsible Officers of the Company which now or in the future may (so far as the Company can now reasonably foresee), individually or in the aggregate, can reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and which has not been set forth in this Agreement or in the other documents, certificates and statements furnished to Prudential and each Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company prior to the date hereof in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Any financial projections delivered to Prudential or any Purchaser on or prior to the date this representation is made or repeated are reasonable in the good faith judgment of the Company based on the assumptions stated therein and the best information available to the Responsible Officers of the Company.
8T Hostile Tender Offers. None of the proceeds of the sale of any Notes will be used to finance a Hostile Tender Offer.
9. REPRESENTATIONS OF EACH PURCHASER. Each Purchaser represents as follows:
9A Nature of Purchase. Such Purchaser is not acquiring the Notes purchased by it hereunder with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, provided that the disposition of such Purchasers property shall at all times be and remain within its control. Such Purchaser has had access to such financial and other information regarding the Company and such information regarding the Notes, and has had the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers with respect to such information, to the extent that the Purchaser has deemed necessary in connection with its purchase of the Notes, but the foregoing does not limit in any manner the right to rely upon the representations of the Company set forth herein. Such Purchaser understands that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any securities laws of any states and that the Notes may be resold only in accordance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
9B Source of Funds. At least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a Source ) to be used by such Purchaser to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser hereunder:
(i) the Source is an insurance company general account (as that term is defined in the United States Department of Labors Prohibited Transaction Exemption
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( PTE ) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the NAIC Annual Statement )) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchasers state of domicile; or
(ii) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchasers fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or
(iii) the Source is either (a) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1, or (b) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE 91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (iii), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or
(iv) the Source constitutes assets of an investment fund (within the meaning of Part V of PTE 84-14 (the QPAM Exemption )) managed by a qualified professional asset manager or QPAM (within the meaning of Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plans assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(c) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of control in Section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (a) the identity of such QPAM and (b) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (iv); or
(v) the Source constitutes assets of a plan(s) (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the INHAM Exemption )) managed by an in-house asset manager or INHAM (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of control in Section IV(h) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company
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and (a) the identity of such INHAM and (b) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (v); or
(vi) the Source is a governmental plan; or
(vii) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (vii); or
(viii) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.
As used in this paragraph 9B, the terms employee benefit plan , governmental plan , and separate account shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.
10. DEFINITIONS; ACCOUNTING MATTERS. For the purpose of this Agreement, the terms defined in paragraphs 10A and 10B (or within the text of any other paragraph) shall have the respective meanings specified therein and all accounting matters shall be subject to determination as provided in paragraph 10C.
10A. Yield-Maintenance Terms.
Called Principal shall mean, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4A(1), 4A(2), 4B or paragraph 4E or is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires.
Discounted Value shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (as converted to reflect the periodic basis on which interest on such Note is payable, if interest is payable other than on a semi-annual basis) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.
Reinvestment Yield shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, 0.50% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City local time) on the Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal for the most recent actively traded on the run U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date on the display designated as Page PX1 on Bloomberg Financial Markets (or such other display as may replace Page PX1 on Bloomberg Financial Markets or, if Bloomberg Financial Markets shall cease to report such yields or shall cease to be Prudential Capital Groups customary source of information for calculating yield-maintenance amounts on privately placed notes, then such source as is then Prudential Capital Groups customary source of such information), or (ii) if such yields shall not be reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time shall not be ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant
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Maturity Series yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields shall have been so reported as of the Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or any comparable successor publication) for U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. In the case of each determination under clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence, such implied yield shall be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the applicable U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than such Remaining Average Life and (2) the applicable U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to that number of decimal places as appears in the coupon of the applicable Note.
Remaining Average Life shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment of such Called Principal (but not of interest thereon) by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) which will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.
Remaining Scheduled Payments shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon (and, if on any Settlement Date prior to December 31, 2012 any Excess Leverage Fee would be due with respect to the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior thereto, Excess Leverage Fees, assuming the Excess Leverage Fee would be due for each fiscal quarter thereafter prior to December 31, 2012) that would be due on or after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date.
Settlement Date shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B or paragraph 4E or is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires.
Yield-Maintenance Amount shall mean, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Called Principal of such Note over the sum of (i) such Called Principal plus (ii) interest accrued thereon as of (including interest due on) the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal. The Yield-Maintenance Amount shall in no event be less than zero.
10B. Other Terms.
Acceptance shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(5) hereof.
Acceptance Day shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(5) hereof.
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Acceptance Window shall mean, with respect to any interest rate quotes provided by Prudential pursuant to paragraph 2A(4), the time period designated by Prudential as the time period during which the Company may elect to accept such interest rate quotes. If no such time period is designated by Prudential with respect to any such interest rate quotes, then the Acceptance Window for such interest rate quotes will be 2 minutes after the time Prudential shall have provided such interest rate quotes to the Company.
Accepted Note shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(5) hereof.
Additional Covenant shall mean any affirmative or negative covenant or similar restriction applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary (regardless of whether such provision is labeled or otherwise characterized as a covenant) the subject matter of which either (i) is similar to that of any covenant in paragraph 5 or 6 of this Agreement, or related definitions in paragraph 10 of this Agreement, but contains one or more percentages, amounts or formulas that is more restrictive than those set forth herein or more beneficial to the holders of any Indebtedness under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement (and such covenant or similar restriction shall be deemed an Additional Covenant only to the extent that it is more restrictive or more beneficial) or (ii) is different from the subject matter of any covenants in paragraph 5 or 6 of this Agreement, or related definitions in paragraph 10 of this Agreement.
Additional Default shall mean any provision contained in the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement which permits the holder or holders of the Indebtedness under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement to accelerate (with the passage of time or giving of notice or both) the maturity thereof or otherwise requires the Company or any Subsidiary to purchase any such Indebtedness under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement prior to the stated maturity thereof and which either (i) is similar to any Default or Event of Default contained in paragraph 7 of this Agreement or related definitions in paragraph 10 of this Agreement, but contains one or more percentages, amounts or formulas that is more restrictive or has a shorter grace period than those set forth herein or is more beneficial to the holders of any Indebtedness under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement (and such provision shall be deemed an Additional Default only to the extent that it is more restrictive, has a shorter grace period or is more beneficial) or (ii) is different from the subject matter of any Default or Event of Default contained in paragraph 7 of this Agreement, or related definitions in paragraph 10 of this Agreement.
Affiliate shall mean (i) with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such first Person, except a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be an Affiliate of the Company, and (ii) with respect to Prudential, shall include any managed account, investment fund or other vehicle from which Prudential Financial, Inc. or any Affiliate of Prudential Financial, Inc. then acts as investment advisor or portfolio manager. A Person shall be deemed to control a corporation or other entity if such Person owns 10% or more of any class of voting securities of such corporation or other entity if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation or other entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
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Amended By-Laws shall mean the Amended and Restated By-Laws of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., to be dated as of the initial Closing Day, a copy of which has been provided to Prudential.
Anti-Terrorism Order means Executive Order No. 13,224 of September 24, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism, 66 U.S. Fed. Reg. 49, 079 (2001), as amended.
Authorized Officer shall mean (i) in the case of the Company, its chief executive officer, its chief financial officer, any vice president of the Company designated as an Authorized Officer of the Company in the Information Schedule attached hereto or any vice president of the Company designated as an Authorized Officer of the Company for the purpose of this Agreement in an Officers Certificate executed by the Companys chief executive officer or chief financial officer and delivered to Prudential, and (ii) in the case of Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate, any Person designated as an Authorized Officer of Prudential and Prudential Affiliates in the Information Schedule or any Person designated as its Authorized Officer for the purpose of this Agreement in a certificate executed by one of Prudentials Authorized Officers or a lawyer in Prudentials law department. Any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of the Company by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of the Company and whom Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of the Company at the time of such action shall be binding on the Company even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of the Company, and any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of Prudential or such Prudential Affiliate and whom the Company in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential or such Prudential Affiliate at the time of such action shall be binding on Prudential or such Prudential Affiliate even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential or such Prudential Affiliate.
Available Facility Amount shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(1) hereof.
Bank Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association as agent for the Banks under the Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in that capacity.
Banks shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and the lenders from time to time party to the Credit Agreement, and their respective successors and assigns.
Bankruptcy Law shall have the meaning given in clause (viii) of paragraph 7A hereof.
Business Day shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed and (iii) for purposes of paragraph 2A(3) hereof only, a day on which Prudential is not open for business.
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Cancellation Date shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(iv) hereof.
Cancellation Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(iv) hereof.
Capital Distribution shall mean a payment made, liability incurred or other consideration given for the purchase, acquisition, redemption or retirement of any capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any Subsidiary or as a dividend, return of capital or other distribution (other than any stock dividend, stock split or other equity distribution payable only in capital stock or other equity of the Company or such Subsidiary) in respect of the Companys or any Subsidiarys capital stock or other equity interest.
Capital Expenditures shall mean the amount of capital expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries as determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
Capitalized Lease shall mean any lease the obligations of the lessee under which constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations.
Capitalized Lease Obligation shall mean any rental obligation which, under generally accepted accounting principles, would be required to be capitalized on the books of the Company or any Subsidiary, taken at the amount thereof accounted for as indebtedness (net of interest expense) in accordance with such principles.
Cash Equivalents shall mean, at any time, any of the following investments which are not subject to a Lien in favor of any Person other than the Collateral Agent: (i) Indebtedness with a maturity of one year or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof), (ii) certificates of deposit or acceptances with a maturity of one year or less of any financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000, (iii) commercial paper with a maturity of 270 days or less issued by a corporation (except an Affiliate of the Company) organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poors or at least P-1 by Moodys Investors Services, Inc., (iv) repurchase agreements with institutions described in clause (ii) with respect to investments described in clause (i), (v) money market mutual funds or cash management trusts rated in the highest rating by Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Services, Inc. (and not rated other than in the highest rating by Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Services, Inc.) or investing solely in investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above and (vi) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, Permitted Investments made locally of a type comparable to those described in clause (i) through (v) of this definition.
CFC shall mean a Controlled Foreign Corporation as such term is defined in Section 957 of the Code.
Change of Control shall mean (i) Management, the ESOP, the Related Investor and their Permitted Transferees shall cease to have beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the Voting Stock of the Company (on a present, non-fully diluted basis and as adjusted for any
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stock splits, dividends or similar events), or (ii) within a period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Company on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board; provided that, (a) for purposes of subsection (i) above, a member of Management shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company as long as such member or Management or his/her Permitted Transferee has beneficial ownership of such Voting Stock of the Company, and (b) the determination under subsection (ii) above shall only be made for periods that follow the restructuring of the board of directors that shall occur within thirty (30) days following the execution of this Agreement pursuant to which two (2) recently serving directors will have resigned their positions, the board of directors will be increased to ten (10) members, and at least three (3) directors nominated by the Sponsor will be elected to the board of directors.
Closing Day shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the Business Day specified for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note in the Confirmation of Acceptance for such Accepted Note, provided that (i) if the Company and the Purchaser which is obligated to purchase such Accepted Note agree on an earlier Business Day for such closing, the Closing Day for such Accepted Note shall be such earlier Business Day, and (ii) if the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is rescheduled pursuant to paragraph 2A(7), the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, for all purposes of this Agreement except references to original Closing Day in paragraph 2A(8)(iii), shall mean the Rescheduled Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Collateral shall mean the collateral in which a Lien is granted to the Collateral Agent under any of the (i) Security Agreement (ii) Pledge Agreement, (iii) Patent, Trademark and Copyright Security Agreement, or (iv) any Collateral Assignment of Contract Rights, which shall in any event not include: (x) any assets owned by a Foreign Subsidiary, (y) any right title and interest of any Transaction Parties or Subsidiaries of the Transaction Parties in any fee or leasehold interest in real property, and (z) any right, title and interest of the Transaction Parties in, to and under the Fleet Leases and the equipment leased thereunder.
Collateral Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent under the Intercreditor Agreement, and its successor and assigns in that capacity.
Collateral Assignment of Contract Rights shall mean any Collateral Assignment of Contract Rights, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the holders of the Notes, executed and delivered in connection with a Permitted Acquisition.
Collateral Documents shall mean the Security Agreements, the Pledge Agreements, the Patent, Trademark and Copyright Security Agreement, any Collateral Assignment of Contract Rights and any other agreement, document or instrument in effect on the date of closing or executed by the Company or any Subsidiary after the date of closing under which the Company or such Subsidiary has granted a lien upon or security interest in any property or assets to the Collateral Agent to secure all or any part of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement or the Notes or of any Guarantor under any Guaranty
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Agreement, and all financing statements, certificates, documents and instruments relating thereto or executed or provided in connection therewith, each as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Credit Agreement shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Company and the Banks, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Confirmation of Acceptance shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(5).
Confirmation of Guaranty shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(ii).
Consolidated EBITDAE for any period of determination shall mean, without duplication, (i) net income, plus, to the extent reducing net income, the sum, of amounts for (a) consolidated interest expense, (b) charges for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, (c) total depreciation expense, (d) total amortization expense, (e) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,100,000, (f) other non-cash charges reducing net income for such period, (g) ESOP Compensation, and (h) non-cash compensation related to stock options and restricted stock, minus (ii) non-cash gains increasing net income, in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP . For purposes of determining Consolidated EBITDAE as calculated at the fiscal quarters ending September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010, there also shall be added an amount equal to $25,000,000 representing the income resulting from the acquisition by ADS Ventures, Inc. of 50% of the ownership interests of StormTech LLC on March 1, 2010 which was not previously owned by ADS Ventures, Inc.
For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAE (a) with respect to a business acquired by the Transaction Parties or Subsidiaries thereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 or Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as interpreted by the staff of the SEC), using historical numbers of any business so acquired, in accordance with GAAP as if the Permitted Acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period, and (b) with respect to a business or assets liquidated, sold or disposed of by the Transaction Parties or Subsidiaries pursuant to paragraph 6H, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on the basis stated above), using historical numbers of any business or assets so liquidated, sold or disposed of, in accordance with GAAP as if such liquidation, sale or disposition had been consummated at the beginning of such period.
Default shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, whether or not any requirement for such event to become an Event of Default has been satisfied.
Default Rate shall mean, with respect to any Note, a rate per annum from time to time equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, and (ii) the greater of (a) 2.00% per annum above the rate of interest stated in such Note, or (b) 2.00% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, from time to time in New York City as its Prime Rate.
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Delayed Delivery Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(iii) hereof.
Domestic Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized or formed under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
ERISA Affiliate shall mean any corporation which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations as the Company within the meaning of section 414(b) of the Code, or any trade or business which is under common control with the Company within the meaning of section 414(c) of the Code.
ESOP shall mean the Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
ESOP Compensation shall mean the non-cash charge portion of the ESOP compensation expense reflected in Companys financial statements.
Event of Default shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Excess Leverage Ratio shall have the meaning given in paragraph 5O hereof.
Existing Agreement shall have the meaning given in the Introduction.
Existing Credit Agreement shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 28, 2009 by and among the Company, the Banks (as defined therein), National City Bank, as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Sole Book Runner, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Fifth Third Bank and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, as Co-Documentation Agents.
Existing Mexicana Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 28 2009, by and among ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, the various financial institutions party thereto, and National City Bank, as agent.
Facility shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(1) hereof.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall mean for any period of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDAE for such period of determination, minus the amount of Capital Expenditures paid during such period of determination, minus cash income taxes paid during such period of determination, to (b) Fixed Charges for such period of determination. Any Make-Whole Amount paid in connection with the prepayment of certain of the Senior Notes
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(2005) on the initial Closing Day shall be excluded from the numerator and denominator of the foregoing ratio, it being agreed that any Make-Whole Amount paid after the initial Closing Day and any make-whole payment or yield maintenance payment required in connection with the prepayment of the Notes or any other Indebtedness after the initial Closing Day shall be included in the denominator of the foregoing ratio as a component of cash interest expense.
Fixed Charges shall mean for any period of determination the sum of (i) cash interest expense, plus (ii) scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness, plus (iii) Capital Distributions, other than (x) Capital Distributions pursuant to the ESOP in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 in cash disbursements during any fiscal year of the Company (it being understood that, to the extent such cash disbursements exceed $10,000,000 during a fiscal year, such excess shall not be excluded from the calculation of Fixed Charges), (y) Capital Distributions in cash disbursements during any fiscal year paid in connection with the repurchase of stock options or restricted stock held by existing or former employees and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent such payment is reflected as an expense in Companys financial statements, and (z) Capital Distributions in an amount not greater than $85,000,000 made within 30 days after the date of this Agreement for the purchase of equity interests described in item (iv) of the definition of Transaction, in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
Fleet Leases shall mean each of the equipment leases entered into by Transaction Parties in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices with respect to leased trucks, trailers, cars, forklifts, and other rolling stock to the extent that such leases are operating leases and not capital leases.
Foreign Holding Company shall mean any Guarantor which has as its principal purpose the holding of ownership interest in one or more CFCs and has no other material assets or operations, and shall include, as of the initial Closing Day, ADS Worldwide, Inc. and ADS International, Inc.
Foreign Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
Guarantor shall mean each Person which may from time to time execute a Guaranty Agreement.
Guaranty of a Person shall mean any agreement by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes liable upon, the obligation of any other Person, or agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any other Person or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against loss, including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating agreement or take-or-pay contract.
Guaranty Agreement and Guaranty Agreements shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A (ii) hereof.
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Hedge Treasury Note(s) shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the United States Treasury Note or Notes whose duration (as determined by Prudential) most closely matches the duration of such Accepted Note.
Hostile Tender Offer shall mean, with respect to the use of proceeds of any Note, any offer to purchase, or any purchase of, shares of capital stock of any corporation or equity interests in any other entity, or securities convertible into or representing the beneficial ownership of, or rights to acquire, any such shares or equity interests, if such shares, equity interests, securities or rights are of a class which is publicly traded on any securities exchange or in any over-the-counter market, other than purchases of such shares, equity interests, securities or rights representing less than 5% of the equity interests or beneficial ownership of such corporation or other entity for portfolio investment purposes, and such offer or purchase has not been duly approved by the board of directors of such corporation or the equivalent governing body of such other entity prior to the date on which the Company makes the Request for Purchase of such Note.
IDRB Facilities shall mean (i) the $7,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount Variable Rate Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2002 (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Project) of the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority having an outstanding principal balance on the date of this Agreement in the amount of $2,710,000, and (ii) the $9,000,000 Variable Rate Demand Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Project), Series 2007, of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, having an outstanding principal balance on the date of this Agreement in the amount of $6,915,000.
including shall mean, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, including without limitation, whether or not so stated.
Indebtedness shall mean, as to any Person at any time, without duplication, any and all indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or joint or several) of such Person for or in respect of: (i) borrowed money, (ii) amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any note purchase or acceptance credit facility, (iii) reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under any letter of credit agreement, (iv) obligations under any currency swap agreement, interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate management device, (v) any other transaction (including forward sale or purchase agreements, capitalized leases and conditional sales agreements) having the commercial effect of a borrowing of money entered into by such Person to finance its operations or capital requirements (but not including, for purposes of this definition, trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not represented by a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness, nor any obligations or liabilities relating to Fleet Leases), or (vi) any Guaranty of Indebtedness for borrowed money.
Initial Purchasers shall have the meaning given in the address block of this Agreement.
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Institutional Investor shall mean any insurance company, commercial, investment or merchant bank, finance company, mutual fund, registered money or asset manager, savings and loan association, credit union, registered investment advisor, pension fund, investment company, licensed broker or dealer, qualified institutional buyer (as such term is defined under Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act) or accredited investor (as such term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act).
Intercreditor Agreement shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(ii) hereof.
Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an interest rate exchange, collar, cap, swap, adjustable strike cap, adjustable strike corridor or similar agreements entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to provide protection to, or minimize the impact upon, the Company, any Guarantor and/or their Subsidiaries of increasing floating rates of interest applicable to Indebtedness.
Issuance Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(ii) hereof.
Issuance Period shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(2) hereof.
Joint Venture shall mean a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement whether in corporate, partnership or other entity; provided that in no event shall any corporate Subsidiary of any Person be considered to be a Joint Venture to which such Person is a party other than ADS Mexican S.A. de C.V. and ADS Corporativo S.A. de C.V.
Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an Interest Rate Hedge which is provided to the Transaction Parties by any Bank or its Affiliate so long as such Interest Rate Hedge is subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement
Leverage Ratio shall mean ratio of consolidated total Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries to Consolidated EBITDAE, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given, including any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of, security and any filed financing statement or other notice of any of the foregoing (whether or not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at the time of the filing).
Management shall mean the current officers and directors of the Company (other than directors which are nominated by the Sponsor) that are serving as of September 24, 2010.
Material Adverse Effect shall mean a (i) material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, operations, or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) material impairment of the Companys or any Guarantors ability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction
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Document or (iii) material impairment of the validity or enforceability of the rights of, or the benefits available to, the holders of any of the Notes under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Document.
Material Indebtedness shall mean any Indebtedness with any outstanding principal amount of greater than $25,000,000.
Material Indebtedness Agreement shall mean any agreement providing for the issuance of any Material Indebtedness, under which any Material Indebtedness is outstanding or evidencing or otherwise relating to any Material Indebtedness, or providing for a commitment to lend to the Company or any Subsidiary amounts greater than $25,000,000 in the aggregate.
Maturing IDRB Facilities shall mean (i) the $6,500,000 Variable Rate Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, Series 1999 (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Project) of the Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida having an outstanding principal balance on the Closing Date in the amount of $690,000, and (ii) the $4,800,000 Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Project), Series 1996, of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, having an outstanding principal balance on the date of this Agreement in the amount of $100,000.
Mexicana Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, the various financial institutions party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, as agent.
Multiemployer Plan shall mean any Plan which is a multiemployer plan (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
New Miami, Ohio Mortgage Loan shall mean the $2,000,000 original principal amount term loan made by National City Bank (PNC being its successor in interest by merger in such capacity) secured by a mortgage on certain property of the Company located in Butler County, Ohio and having an outstanding principal balance on the date of this Agreement in the amount of $1,211,111.
Non-Material Subsidiaries shall mean the Subsidiaries of the Company listed on Schedule 8A(1) hereto and identified as Non-Material Subsidiaries, none of which will be required to join the Guaranty Agreement as a Guarantor; provided however, one or more of such Non-Material Subsidiaries shall be required to join the Guaranty Agreement as Guarantors to the extent that after the date hereof: (i) the assets of any such Non-Material Subsidiary would otherwise be more than 5% of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries, (ii) the combined assets of the Non-Material Subsidiaries would otherwise exceed 10% of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries or (iii) such Non-Material Subsidiary is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to paragraph 5K.
Notes shall have the meaning given in paragraph 1 hereof.
Officers Certificate shall mean a certificate signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer of the Company.
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Official Body 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).
Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product shall mean agreements or other arrangements under which any of the Banks or Affiliate of the Banks provide any of the following products or services to any of the Transaction Parties or their Subsidiaries: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions, (f) cash management, including overdrafts, controlled disbursement, accounts or services, or (g) foreign currency exchange transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions, and (h) commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts and any other similar transactions.
Patent, Trademark and Copyright Security Agreement shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(vi) hereof.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor or replacement entity thereto under ERISA.
Permitted Acquisition shall have the meaning assigned to that term in paragraph 6G.
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America maturing in twelve (12) months or less from the date of acquisition;
(ii) commercial paper maturing in 180 days or less rated not lower than A-1, by Standard & Poors or P-1 by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. on the date of acquisition;
(iii) demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit maturing within one year in commercial banks whose obligations are rated A-1, A or the equivalent or better by Standard & Poors on the date of acquisition;
(iv) money market or mutual funds whose investments are limited to those types of investments described in clauses (i)-(iii) above; and
(v) Cash Equivalents.
Permitted Liens shall mean:
(i) Liens for taxes, assessments, customs duties, or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable;
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(ii) Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of workmens compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with workmens compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs;
(iii) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable and Liens of landlords securing obligations to pay lease payments that are not yet due and payable or in default;
(iv) Good-faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in excess of the aggregate amount due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or surety, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the ordinary course of business;
(v) Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements or other restrictions on the use of real property, none of which materially impairs the use of such property or the value thereof, and none of which is violated in any material respect by existing or proposed structures or land use;
(vi) Security interests and other Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent securing the Senior Secured Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents;
(vii) Any Lien existing on the date of this Agreement and described on Schedule 6C, and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that the principal amount secured thereby is not hereafter increased, and no additional assets become subject to such Lien;
(viii) Purchase Money Security Interests (including security interests in connection with capitalized leases); provided that the aggregate amount of loans and deferred payments secured by such Purchase Money Security Interests shall not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding (excluding for the purpose of this computation any loans or deferred payments secured by Liens described on Schedule 6C);
(ix) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease and covering only the assets so leased and any interest of non-exclusive licensors under license agreements in the ordinary course of business;
(x) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(xi) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases of personal property, consignments that are not Purchase Money Security Interests and similar arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
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(xii) non-exclusive outbound licenses of patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any respect with the ordinary conduct of or materially detracting from the value of the business of the Company or such Subsidiary;
(xiii) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory, contractual or common law provision relating to rights of set-off or similar rights relating to the establishment of depository relations in the ordinary course of business with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness;
(xiv) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;
(xv) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods arising under Article 2 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code in the ordinary course of business securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances and letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods, in any case covering only goods actually sold;
(xvi) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of premiums with respect thereto to the extent permitted hereunder;
(xvii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by any Transaction Party as the seller of such goods, and Liens incurred on specific items of inventory identified to any contract with the government of the United States in respect of progress payments received by any Transaction Party, in each case as made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of such Transaction Party;
(xviii) Liens on assets of Foreign Subsidiaries of any Transaction Party securing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(xix) Liens on real property, improvements to real property and fixtures of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries to secure Indebtedness of the Company or its Domestic Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(xx) Liens not to exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding on fixed assets acquired or property of a Subsidiary of the Company acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, excluding a Purchase Money Security Interest which secures a payment obligation to the seller of such assets or Subsidiary; provided however (A) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Persons becoming a Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, (B) such Lien shall not attach or apply to any other property or assets of the Company or such Subsidiary, and (C) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(xxi) Liens, other than Liens on the Collateral, not exceeding $2,000,000 at any time outstanding; and
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(xxii) The following, (A) if the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted so long as levy and execution thereon have been stayed and continue to be stayed or (B) if a final judgment is entered and such judgment is discharged within thirty (30) days of entry, and in either case they do not affect the Collateral in a material or adverse manner or, in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of any Transaction Party to perform its obligations hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents:
(1) Claims or Liens for taxes, assessments or charges due and payable and subject to interest or penalty; provided that the applicable Transaction Party maintains such reserves or other appropriate provisions as shall be required by GAAP and pays all such taxes, assessments or charges forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any such Lien;
(2) Claims, Liens or encumbrances upon, and defects of title to, real or personal property other than the Collateral, including any attachment of personal or real property or other legal process prior to adjudication of a dispute on the merits;
(3) Claims or Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other statutory nonconsensual Liens; or
(4) Liens resulting from final judgments or orders described in paragraph 7A(xiii).
Permitted Refinancing means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided, that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder; (b) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended (except by virtue of amortization of or prepayment of Indebtedness prior to such date of determination); (c) at the time thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the holders of the Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; (e) the original obligors in respect of such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended remain the only obligors thereon; and (f) the terms and conditions of any such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the holders of the Notes than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended.
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Permitted Transferee shall mean, with respect to the holder of beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company, any person that is (i) a spouse or surviving spouse, descendant or sibling of such holder, any spouse or surviving spouse or descendant of any of these persons, any religious, charitable or educational organization, any trust of which any such holder, or any of these other persons or entities, or any combination thereof, are primary beneficiaries (such holder, any such other person or entity, and each settlor of any such trust, each a Permitted Beneficiary ), (ii) any Permitted Beneficiary of such holder that is a trust (determined, for this purpose, as if any settlor of the trust was the holder of such voting capital stock as of the date of this Agreement), (iii) the estate of any such holder who is an individual, (iv) any Permitted Beneficiary of any such holder as a beneficiary of such holders estate or trust, including without limitation pursuant to applicable will, trust or contract provision or applicable law, (v) in the case of a holder that is a trust, any current or former employee of the Company as a beneficiary of the trust, (vi) in the case of a holder that is a partnership, limited liability company or other entity, any one or more partners, members or other owners of such entity as of the date of this Agreement or to any Permitted Beneficiary of any such partner, member or other owner, or (vii) in the case of the ESOP, any person that receives distribution of shares of Voting Stock from the ESOP as a result of the termination of the ESOP or the retirement of such person.
Person shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, a limited liability company, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.
Plan shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in section 3 of ERISA) which is or has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or have been made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.
Pledge Agreement and Pledge Agreements shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(v) hereof.
Primary Working Capital Facility shall mean the Existing Credit Agreement or any credit facility pursuant to which any Primary Working Capital Facility is extended, refinanced or replaced.
Prior Security Interest shall mean a valid and enforceable perfected first-priority security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code in the Collateral which is subject only to Liens of the type described in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), (vii), (viii), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv), (xvii), (xx) and (xxii)(1) and (3) of the definition of Permitted Liens.
Property shall mean all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property.
Prudential shall have the meaning given in the address block of this Agreement.
Prudential Affiliate shall mean any Affiliate of Prudential.
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Purchase Money Security Interest shall mean Liens (including security interests in connection with capitalized leases) upon tangible personal property securing loans to any Transaction Party or Subsidiary of a Transaction Party or deferred payments by such Transaction Party or Subsidiary for the purchase of such tangible personal property.
Purchasers shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Notes, the Prudential Affiliate(s) which are purchasing such Accepted Notes.
Put Right shall mean any right of the holders of the securities issued under the Stock Purchase Documentation to require the Company to purchase such securities.
Related Investor shall mean the University of Notre Dame.
Reportable Event shall mean a reportable event as defined in section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC by regulation waived the requirement of section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and of section 302 of ERISA shall be a reportable event regardless of the issuance of any such waivers in accordance with section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Request for Purchase shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(3) hereof.
Required Holder(s) shall mean the holder or holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes or, if the term is expressly used with respect to a Series of Notes, of such Series of Notes from time to time outstanding.
Required Interest Rate Hedge shall have the meaning assigned to that term in paragraph 5M.
Rescheduled Closing Day shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(7) hereof.
Restricted Investments shall mean all of the following with respect to any of the Non-Material Subsidiaries: (i) investments or contributions by any of the Transaction Parties directly or indirectly in or to the capital of or other payments to or for the benefit of such Non-Material Subsidiary, (ii) loans by any of the Transaction Parties directly or indirectly to such Non-Material Subsidiary, (iii) guaranties by any of the Transaction Parties directly or indirectly of the obligations of such Non-Material Subsidiary, or (iv) other obligations, contingent or otherwise, of any of the Transaction Parties to or for the benefit of such Non-Material Subsidiary.
Responsible Officer shall mean the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company or any other officer of the Company involved principally in its financial administration or its controllership function.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Security Agreement shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(iv) hereof.
Senior Notes (2005) shall mean the Senior Notes issued pursuant to the 2005 Note Agreement.
Series shall have the meaning given in paragraph 1 hereof.
Shelf Notes shall have the meaning given in paragraph 1 hereof.
Significant Holder shall mean (i) Prudential, (ii) each Purchaser, so long as such Purchaser or any of its Affiliates shall hold (or be obligated under this Agreement to purchase) any Note, or (iii) any other Person which, together with its Affiliates, is the holder of at least 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any Series from time to time outstanding.
Sponsor shall mean American Securities LLC or any of its Affiliates (but excluding any operating portfolio companies of the foregoing).
Stock shall mean any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
Stock Purchase Documentation means all agreements entered into with respect to the Stock Purchase Agreement, including that certain Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2010, by and among the Company and those Persons set forth on Schedule I thereto, amending and restating the Stockholders Agreement entered into as of June 29, 1988, as the same has been amended from time to time.
Structuring Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(i) hereof.
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any Person, at the time of determination, any corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity: (i) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies thereof is at such time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries or (ii) which is at such time controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries; provided that in determining the percentage of ownership interest of any Person, no ownership interest in the nature of a qualifying share of any such corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity shall be deemed outstanding; provided further, so long as no Transaction Party owns more than 50.0% of the total voting power of ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V. or ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V., respectively, each such entity shall not constitute a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement.
Transaction shall mean the recapitalization transaction pursuant to which (i) existing Indebtedness is being refinanced, (ii) Sponsor is contributing cash equity in the
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minimum amount of $300,000,000, (iii) the facilities evidenced by the Credit Agreement, the Mexicana Credit Agreement and this Agreement are being made available to Company and (iv) equity interests in the Company are being repurchased from affiliates of the Berkshire Group, the ESOP, management and other shareholders
Transaction Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, each Collateral Document, each Guaranty Agreement, each Confirmation of Guaranty and the other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments now or hereafter executed or delivered by the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate in connection with this Agreement.
Transaction Party shall mean the Company or any Guarantor.
Transferee shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of all or any part of any Note purchased by any Purchaser under this Agreement.
2005 Note Agreement shall mean the Note Agreement dated as of June 27, 2005 among the Company and the parties thereto as Purchasers, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated June 28, 2008.
USA Patriot Act shall mean United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
Voting Stock shall mean, with respect to any corporation, any shares of stock of such corporation whose holders are entitled under ordinary circumstances to vote for the election of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) 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 thereof, 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 (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary of the Company all of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of every class of which is owned by the Company or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company, and which has outstanding no options, warrants, rights or other securities entitling the holder thereof (other than the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) to acquire shares of capital stock or other equity interests of such Subsidiary.
10C. Accounting and Legal Principles, Terms and Determinations. All references in this Agreement to generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP shall be deemed to refer to generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States at the time of
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application thereof. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all unaudited consolidated financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of paragraph 5A or, if no such statements have been so delivered, the most recent audited financial statements referred to in clause (i) of paragraph 8B. In the event of any change after the date hereof in GAAP, and if such change would affect the computation of any of the financial covenants set forth in paragraph 6A or would affect the Company or its Subsidiaries compliance with the negative covenant set forth in paragraph 6C (including, without limitation, the accounting treatment of the Fleet Leases pursuant to GAAP as in effect on the date hereof), then the parties hereto agree to endeavor, in good faith, to agree upon an amendment to this Agreement that would adjust such financial covenants or other negative covenant in a manner that would preserve the original intent thereof, but would allow compliance therewith to be determined in accordance with the Companys financial statements at that time, provided that, until so amended such financial covenants shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein Any reference herein to any specific citation, section or form of law, statute, rule or regulation shall refer to such new, replacement or analogous citation, section or form should such citation, section or form be modified, amended or replaced. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement providing for any amount to be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, for all purposes of this Agreement the outstanding principal amount of any Indebtedness shall be equal to the actual outstanding principal amount thereof irrespective of the amount that might otherwise be accounted for under generally accepted accounting principles as the amount of the liability of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect thereto, and any determination of the net income (or net loss), equity or assets of the Company shall not take into account any effect of marking any such outstanding Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary to market value.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
11A. Note Payments. The Company agrees that, so long as any Purchaser shall hold any Note, it will make payments of principal of, interest on, and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, such Note, which comply with the terms of this Agreement, by wire transfer of immediately available funds for credit (not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date due) to (i) such Purchasers account or accounts specified in the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to such Note in the case of any Shelf Note or (ii) such other account or accounts in the United States as such Purchaser may from time to time designate in writing, notwithstanding any contrary provision herein or in any Note with respect to the place of payment. Each Purchaser agrees that, before disposing of any Note, such Purchaser will make a notation thereon (or on a schedule attached thereto) of all principal payments previously made thereon and of the date to which interest thereon has been paid. The Company agrees to afford the benefits of this paragraph 11A to any Transferee which shall have made the same agreement as each Purchaser has made in this paragraph 11A. No holder shall be required to present or surrender any Note or make any notation thereon, except that upon the written request of the Company made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after the payment or prepayment in full of any Note, the applicable holder shall surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after such request, to the Company at its principal office.
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11B. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, the Company shall pay, and save Prudential, each Purchaser and any Transferee harmless against liability for the payment of, all out-of-pocket expenses arising in connection with such transactions, including:
(i) (a) all stamp and documentary taxes and similar charges, (b) costs of obtaining a private placement number from Standard and Poors Ratings Group for the Notes and (c) fees and expenses of brokers, agents, dealers, investment banks or other intermediaries or placement agents, in each case as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or the issuance of the Notes;
(ii) document production and duplication charges and the fees and expenses of any special counsel engaged by such Purchaser or such Transferee in connection with (a) this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (b) any subsequent proposed waiver, amendment or modification of, or proposed consent under, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, whether or not such proposed waiver, amendment, modification or consent shall be effected or granted;
(iii) the costs and expenses, including attorneys and financial advisory fees, incurred by such Purchaser or such Transferee in enforcing (or determining whether or how to enforce or cause the Collateral Agent to enforce) any rights under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Document (including, without limitation, to protect, collect, lease, sell, take possession of, release or liquidate any of the Collateral) or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or by reason of your or such Transferees having acquired any Note, including without limitation costs and expenses incurred in any workout, restructuring or renegotiation proceeding or bankruptcy case;
(iv) all costs and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys fees, preparing, recording and filing all financing statements, instruments and other documents to create, perfect and fully preserve and protect the Liens granted in the Collateral Documents and the rights of the holders of the Notes or of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Notes; and
(v) any judgment, liability, claim, order, decree, cost, fee, expense, action or obligation resulting from the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the use of the proceeds of the Notes by the Company.
The Company also will promptly pay or reimburse each Purchaser or holder of a Note (upon demand, in accordance with each such Purchasers or holders written instruction) for all fees and costs paid or payable by such Purchaser or holder to the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in connection with the initial filing of this
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Agreement and all related documents and financial information, and all subsequent annual and interim filings of documents and financial information related to this Agreement, with such Securities Valuation Office or any successor organization acceding to the authority thereof.
The obligations of the Company under this paragraph 11B shall survive the transfer of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein by any Purchaser or Transferee and the payment of any Note.
11C. Consent to Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, if the Company shall obtain the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Holder(s) except that, (i) with the written consent of the holders of all Notes of a particular Series, and, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, of the holders of all Notes of all Series at the time outstanding (and not without such written consents), the Notes of such Series may be amended or the provisions thereof waived to change the maturity thereof, to change or affect the principal thereof, or to change or affect the rate, method of computation or time of payment of interest on or any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to the Notes of such Series, in each case in any manner detrimental to, or disproportionate with respect to, any holder of a Note, (ii) without the written consent of the holder or holders of all Notes at the time outstanding, no amendment to or waiver of the provisions of this Agreement shall change or affect the provisions of paragraph 7A or this paragraph 11C insofar as such provisions relate to proportions of the principal amount of the Notes of any Series, or the rights of any individual holder of Notes, required with respect to any declaration of Notes to be due and payable or with respect to any consent, amendment, waiver or declaration, (iii) with the written consent of Prudential (and not without the written consent of Prudential) the provisions of paragraph 2A may be amended or waived (except insofar as any such amendment or waiver would affect any rights or obligations with respect to the purchase and sale of Notes which shall have become Accepted Notes prior to such amendment or waiver), and (iv) with the written consent of all of the Purchasers which shall have become obligated to purchase Accepted Notes of any Series (and not without the written consent of all such Purchasers), any of the provisions of paragraphs 2A and 3 may be amended or waived insofar as such amendment or waiver would affect only rights or obligations with respect to the purchase and sale of the Accepted Notes of such Series or the terms and provisions of such Accepted Notes. Each holder of any Note at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any consent authorized by this paragraph 11C, whether or not such Note shall have been marked to indicate such consent, but any Notes issued thereafter may bear a notation referring to any such consent. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of any Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no negotiations or discussions in which Prudential or any holder of any Note may engage regarding any possible amendments, consents or waivers with respect to this Agreement or the Notes shall constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, any term of this Agreement or any Note or any rights of Prudential or any such holder under this Agreement or the Notes. As used herein and in the Notes, the term this Agreement and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.
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11D. Form, Registration, Transfer and Exchange of Notes; Lost Notes. The Notes are issuable as registered notes without coupons in denominations of at least $100,000, except as may be necessary to (i) reflect any principal amount not evenly divisible by $100,000 or (ii) enable the registration of transfer by a holder of its entire holding of Notes; provided, however, that no such minimum denomination shall apply to Notes issued upon transfer by any holder of the Notes to Prudential or Prudential Affiliates or to any other entity or group of Affiliates with respect to which the Notes so issued or transferred shall be managed by a single entity. The Company shall keep at its principal office a register in which the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the principal office of the Company, the Company shall, at its expense, execute and deliver one or more new Notes of like tenor and of a like aggregate principal amount, registered in the name of such transferee or transferees. At the option of the holder of any Note, such Note may be exchanged for other Notes of like tenor and of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Note to be exchanged at the principal office of the Company. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall, at its expense, execute and deliver the Notes which the holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Every Note surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the holder of such Note or such holders attorney duly authorized in writing. Any Note or Notes issued in exchange for any Note or upon transfer thereof shall carry the rights to unpaid interest and interest to accrue which were carried by the Note so exchanged or transferred, so that neither gain nor loss of interest shall result from any such transfer or exchange. Upon receipt of written notice from the holder of any Note of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of such Note and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of such holders unsecured indemnity agreement, or in the case of any such mutilation upon surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Company will make and deliver a new Note, of like tenor, in lieu of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note.
11G Persons Deemed Owners; Participations. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the owner and holder of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, interest on and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note shall be overdue, and the Company shall not be affected by notice to the contrary. Subject to the preceding sentence, the holder of any Note may from time to time grant participations in all or any part of such Note to any Person on such terms and conditions as may be determined by such holder in its sole and absolute discretion.
11H Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement. All representations and warranties contained herein or in any other Transaction Document or made in writing by or on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents and the Notes, the transfer by any Purchaser of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any Transferee, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of any Purchaser or any Transferee. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between the Purchasers and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter.
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11I Successors and Assigns. All covenants and other agreements in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto (including, without limitation, any Transferee) whether so expressed or not.
11J Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is prohibited by any one of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or otherwise be in compliance within the limitations of, another covenant shall not (i) avoid the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default if such action is taken or such condition exists or (ii) in any way prejudice an attempt by the holder of any Note to prohibit through equitable action or otherwise the taking of any action by the Company or any Subsidiary which would result in a Default or Event of Default.
11K Notices. All written communications provided for hereunder (other than communications provided for under paragraph 2) shall be sent by first class mail or nationwide overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) and (i) if to Prudential or any Purchaser, addressed to Prudential or such Purchaser at the address specified for such communications in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto (in the case of Prudential) or the Purchaser Schedule attached to the applicable Confirmation of Acceptance (in the case of any Purchaser of Shelf Notes) or at such other address as Prudential or such Purchaser shall have specified to the Company in writing, (ii) if to any other holder of any Note, addressed to such other holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing or, if any such holder shall not have so specified an address to the Company, then addressed to such holder in care of the last holder of such Note which shall have so specified an address to the Company and (iii) if to the Company, addressed to it at 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026-2438, Attention: Mark B. Sturgeon or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing, provided, however, that any such communication to the Company may also, at the option of the Person sending such communication, be delivered by any other means either to the Company at its address specified above or to any Authorized Officer of the Company. Any communication pursuant to paragraph 2 shall be made by the method specified for such communication in paragraph 2, and shall be effective to create any rights or obligations under this Agreement only if, in the case of a telephone communication, an Authorized Officer of the party conveying the information and of the party receiving the information are parties to the telephone call, and in the case of a facsimile transmission communication, the communication is signed by an Authorized Officer of the party conveying the information, addressed to the attention of an Authorized Officer of the party receiving the information, and in fact received at the facsimile terminal the number of which is listed for the party receiving the communication in the Information Schedule or at such other facsimile terminal as the party receiving the information shall have specified in writing to the party sending such information.
11L Payments Due on Non-Business Days. Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, any payment of principal of, interest on, or Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.
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11M Satisfaction Requirement. If any agreement, certificate or other writing, or any action taken or to be taken, is by the terms of this Agreement required to be satisfactory to any Purchaser, to any holder of Notes or to the Required Holder(s), the determination of such satisfaction shall be made by such Purchaser, such holder or the Required Holder(s), as the case may be, in the sole and exclusive judgment (exercised in good faith) of the Person or Persons making such determination.
11N GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
11O SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS, UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. THE COMPANY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 11I OR TO CT CORPORATION SYSTEM AT 208 SOUTH LASALLE STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON RECEIPT. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION BY SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY HOLDER OF A NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST THE COMPANY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT THE NOTES OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS BROUGHT IN ANY OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR
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PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COMPANY HAS OR MAY HEREAFTER ACQUIRE IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OF NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION, EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY), THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT THE NOTES OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS. THE COMPANY, PRUDENTIAL AND EACH PURCHASER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES, OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.
11P 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.
11Q Descriptive Headings; Advice of Counsel; Interpretation; Time of the Essence. The descriptive headings of the several paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. Each party to this Agreement represents to the other parties to this Agreement that such party has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents, that such party has discussed this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents with its counsel and that any and all issues with respect to this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents have been resolved as set forth herein and therein. No provision of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Transaction Documents shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have structured, drafted or dictated such provision. Time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents.
11R Counterparts; Facsimile or Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (or counterpart signature pages), each of which counterparts shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
11S Severalty of Obligations. The sales of Notes to the Purchasers are to be several sales, and the obligations of Prudential and the Purchasers under this Agreement are several obligations. No failure by Prudential or any Purchaser to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall relieve any other Purchaser or the Company of any of its obligations hereunder, and neither Prudential nor any Purchaser shall be responsible for the obligations of, or any action taken or omitted by, any other such Person hereunder.
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11T Independent Investigation. Each Purchaser represents to and agrees with each other Purchaser that it has made its own independent investigation of the condition (financial and otherwise), prospects and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with its purchase of the Notes hereunder and has made and shall continue to make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Company. No holder of Notes shall have any duties or responsibility to any other holder of Notes, either initially or on a continuing basis, to make any such investigation or appraisal or to provide any credit or other information with respect thereto. No holder of Notes is acting as agent or in any other fiduciary capacity on behalf of any other holder of Notes.
11U Directly or Indirectly. Where any provision in this Agreement refers to actions to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether the action in question is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.
11V Transaction References. The Company agrees that Prudential and Prudential Capital Group may (a) refer to its role in establishing the Facility, as well as the identity of the Company and the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and the date on which the Facility was established, on its internet site or in marketing materials, press releases, published tombstone announcements or any other print or electronic medium and (b) display the Companys corporate logo in conjunction with any such reference.
11W Confidential Information. For the purposes of this paragraph 11W, Confidential Information means information delivered to any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by such Purchaser as being confidential information of the Company or such Subsidiary, provided that such term does not include information that (i) was publicly known or otherwise known to such Purchaser prior to the time of such disclosure, (ii) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by such Purchaser or any person acting on such Purchasers behalf, (iii) otherwise becomes known to such Purchaser other than through disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary or (iv) constitutes financial statements delivered to such Purchaser under paragraph 5A that are otherwise publicly available. Each Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by such Purchaser in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Purchaser, provided that such Purchaser may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (a) its directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and affiliates (to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of the investment represented by its Notes), (b) its financial advisors and other professional advisors who agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this paragraph 11W, (c) any other holder of any Note, (d) any institutional investor to which it sells or offers to sell such Note or any part thereof or any participation therein (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this paragraph 11W), (e) any Person from which it offers to purchase any security of the Company (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this paragraph 11W), (f) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Purchaser, (g) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or its Securities Valuation
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Office or, in each case, any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about such Purchasers investment portfolio, or (h) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (I) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Purchaser, (II) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (III) in connection with any litigation to which such Purchaser is a party or (IV) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent such Purchaser may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under such Purchasers Notes and this Agreement. Each holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this paragraph 11W as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this paragraph 11W.
11X. Binding Agreement. When this Agreement is executed and delivered by the Company and Prudential, it shall become a binding agreement between the Company, on one hand, and Prudential, on the other hand. This Agreement shall also inure to the benefit of each Purchaser which shall have executed and delivered a Confirmation of Acceptance and each such Purchaser shall be bound by this Agreement to the extent provided in such Confirmation of Acceptance.
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Very truly yours, | ||||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Joseph A. Chlapaty |
|||
Name: | Joseph A. Chlapaty | |||
Title: | Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted as of the date first above written. | ||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Joshua Shipley |
|
Vice President |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
PURCHASER SCHEDULE
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
(1) | All payments to Prudential shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds for credit to: |
JPMorgan Chase Bank
New York, New York
ABA No.: 021-000-021
Account No.: 304232491
Account Name: PIM Inc. PCG
(2) | Address for all notices relating to payments: |
Prudential Investment Management, Inc.
c/o The Prudential Insurance Company of America
Investment Operations Group
Gateway Center Two, 10th Floor
100 Mulberry Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077
Attention: Manager
(3) | Address for all other communications and notices: |
Prudential Investment Management, Inc.
c/o Prudential Capital Group
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: Managing Director
(4) | Recipient of telephonic prepayment notices: |
Manager, Trade Management Group
Telephone: (973) 367-3141
Facsimile: (800) 224-2278
(5) | Tax Identification No.: 22-2540245 |
1
INFORMATION SCHEDULE
Authorized Officers for Prudential and Prudential Affiliates
P. Scott von Fischer | Marie L. Fioramonti | |
Managing Director | Managing Director | |
Prudential Capital Group | Prudential Capital Group | |
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600 | Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600 | |
Chicago, Illinois 60601 | Chicago, Illinois 60601 | |
Telephone: (312) 540-4225 | Telephone: (312) 540-4233 | |
Facsimile: (312) 540-4222 | Facsimile: (312) 540-4222 | |
Paul G. Price | William S. Engelking | |
Managing Director | Senior Vice President | |
Central Credit | Prudential Capital Group | |
Prudential Capital Group | Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600 | |
Four Gateway Center | Chicago, Illinois 60601 | |
100 Mulberry Street | ||
Newark, New Jersey 07102 | Telephone: (312) 540-4214 | |
Facsimile: (312) 540-4222 | ||
Telephone: (973) 802-9819 | ||
Facsimile: (973) 802-2333 | ||
Julia D. Buthman | G. Anthony Coletta | |
Senior Vice President | Vice President | |
Prudential Capital Group | Prudential Capital Group | |
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600 | Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600 | |
Chicago, Illinois 60601 | Chicago, Illinois 60601 | |
Telephone: (312) 540-4237 | Telephone: (312) 540-4226 | |
Facsimile: (312) 540-4222 | Facsimile: (312) 540-4222 | |
Tan Vu | James J. McCrane | |
Senior Vice President | Vice President | |
Prudential Capital Group | Prudential Capital Group | |
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600 | 4 Gateway Center | |
Chicago, Illinois 60601 | Newark, New Jersey 07102-4062 | |
Telephone: (312) 540-5437 | Telephone: (973) 802-4222 | |
Facsimile: (312) 540-4222 | Facsimile: (973) 624-6432 |
1
Charles J. Senner | Dianna D. Carr | |
Director | Vice President | |
Prudential Capital Group | Prudential Capital Group | |
4 Gateway Center | Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600 | |
Newark, New Jersey 07102-4062 | Chicago, Illinois 60601 | |
Telephone: (973) 802-6660 | Telephone: (312) 540-4224 | |
Facsimile: (973) 624-6432 | Facsimile: (312) 540-4222 | |
David S. Quackenbush | ||
Vice President | ||
Prudential Capital Group | ||
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 5600 | ||
Chicago, Illinois 60601 | ||
Telephone: (312/540-4222 | ||
Facsimile: (312) 540-4245 |
Authorized Officers for the Company
Joseph A. Chlapaty
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Boulevard
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
Telephone: | (614) 658-0050 | |
Facsimile: | (614) 658-0052 |
Mark B. Sturgeon
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Boulevard
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
Telephone: | (614) 658-0050 | |
Facsimile: | (614) 658-0052 |
2
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF SHELF NOTE]
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
% SENIOR SERIES SECURED NOTE DUE
No.
ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:
INTEREST RATE:
INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
FINAL MATURITY DATE:
PRINCIPAL PREPAYMENT DATES AND AMOUNTS:
PPN
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the Company), hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of DOLLARS [on the Final Maturity Date specified above] [, payable on the Principal Prepayment Dates and in the amounts specified above, and on the Final Maturity Date specified above in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the principal hereof,] with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year30-day month) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof at the Interest Rate per annum specified above (or, during any period when an Event of Default shall be in existence, at the election of the Required Holder(s) of this Series of Notes at the Default Rate (as defined below)), from the date hereof, payable on each Interest Payment Date specified above and on the Final Maturity Date specified above, commencing with the Interest Payment Date next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of Yield-Maintenance Amount and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any overdue payment of interest, payable on each Interest Payment Date as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the Default Rate. The Default Rate shall mean a rate per annum from time to time equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, and (ii) the greater of (a) 2.00% over the Interest Rate specified above or (b) 2.00% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, from time to time in New York City as its Prime Rate.
Payments of principal of, interest on and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to this Note are to be made at the main office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, in New York City or at such other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing, in lawful money of the United States of America.
This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the Notes) issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010 (herein
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called the Agreement), between the Company, on the one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes party thereto, on the other hand, and is entitled to the benefits thereof.
This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holders attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
[ The Company agrees to make required prepayments of principal on the dates and in the amounts specified above or in the Agreement. ] [ This Note is [ also ] subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, on the terms specified in the Agreement. ]
The Company and any and all endorsers, guarantors and sureties severally waive grace, demand, presentment for payment, notice of dishonor or default, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration (except to the extent required in the Agreement), protest and diligence in collecting in connection with this Note, whether now or hereafter required by applicable law.
In case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.
Capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings as defined in the Agreement.
THIS NOTE IS INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF SUCH STATE (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS NOTE TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
[ ] | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Title: |
A-2
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF DISBURSEMENT DIRECTION LETTER]
[On Company Letterhead - place on one page]
[Date]
[Names and Addresses of
Initial Purchasers]
Re: | % Senior Series Secured Notes due, (the Notes) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement (the Note Agreement), dated September 24, 2010, between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), Prudential Investment Management, Inc., and you. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement.
You are hereby irrevocably authorized and directed to disburse the $ purchase price of the Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to [bank name and address], ABA # , for credit to the account of , account no. .
Disbursement when so made shall constitute payment in full of the purchase price of the Notes and shall be without liability of any kind whatsoever to you.
Very truly yours, | ||||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||||
By: | ||||
Title: |
EXHIBIT C
[FORM OF REQUEST FOR PURCHASE]
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS,
INC. REQUEST FOR PURCHASE
Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of September 24, 2010, between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (the Company), on the one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (Prudential) and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes party thereto, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Agreement.
Pursuant to Paragraph 2A(3) of the Agreement, the Company hereby makes the following Request for Purchase:
1. | Aggregate principal amount of the Notes covered hereby (the Notes) $ 1 |
2. | Individual specifications of the Notes: |
Principal Amount |
Final
Maturity Date |
Principal
Prepayment Dates and Amounts |
Interest
Payment Period 2 |
|||
3. | Use of proceeds of the Notes: |
4. | Proposed day for the closing of the purchase and sale of the Notes: |
5. | The purchase price of the Notes is to be transferred to: |
Name, Address and ABA Routing Number of Bank |
Number of Account |
|
6. | The Company certifies (a) that the representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 of the Agreement are true on and as of the date of this Request for Purchase, and (b) that there exists on the date of this Request for Purchase no Event of Default or Default. |
1 | Minimum principal amount of $10,000,000 |
2 | Specify quarterly or semiannually in arrears |
7. | The Issuance Fee to be paid pursuant to the Agreement will be paid by the Company on the closing date. |
Dated:
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Authorized Officer |
EXHIBIT D
[FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE]
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE
Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of September 24, 2010 between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (the Company), on the one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (Prudential) and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes party thereto, on the other hand. All terms used herein that are defined in the Agreement have the respective meanings specified in the Agreement.
Prudential or the Prudential Affiliate which is named below as a Purchaser of Notes hereby confirms the representations as to such Notes set forth in paragraph 9 of the Agreement, and agrees to be bound by the provisions of paragraphs 2A(5) and 2A(7) of the Agreement relating to the purchase and sale of such Notes and by the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph 11A of the Agreement.
Pursuant to paragraph 2A(5) of the Agreement, an Acceptance with respect to the following Accepted Notes is hereby confirmed:
I. | Accepted Notes: Aggregate principal amount $ |
II. | Closing Day: |
III. | Issuance Fee: |
Dated:
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Title: | ||
[PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE] | ||
By: | ||
Vice President |
EXHIBIT E-1
[FORM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT]
GUARANTY AGREEMENT
This GUARANTY AGREEMENT (the Guaranty ), dated as of September 24, 2010, is made by the guarantors named in the Guarantor Schedule attached hereto and each guarantor that may become a party to this Guaranty by executing a joinder hereto (herein referred to, individually, as a Guarantor and, collectively, as Guarantors ), in favor of Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and the holders of the Notes (as defined below) from time to time (the Holders ).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Company ), has entered into that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, between the Company, on the one hand, and Prudential and each Prudential Affiliate which from time to time becomes party thereto, on the other hand (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Note Agreement ), pursuant to which the Company may issue senior promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of up to $100,000,000, from time to time (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Shelf Note or, Notes );
WHEREAS, the Company, pursuant to the Note Agreement, will issue its 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018 in the aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 (the Series A Notes ) to certain Prudential Affiliates (the Series A Purchasers ) as one series of Notes;
WHEREAS, each Guarantor is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Guarantors will derive substantial value and benefit from the issuance of the Notes pursuant to the Note Agreement; and
WHEREAS, as a condition to the obligation of the Series A Purchasers to purchase the Series A Notes or any other Prudential Affiliate to purchase any additional Shelf Notes under the Note Agreement, each Purchaser and Prudential has required that the Guarantors execute and deliver this Guaranty for the benefit of Prudential and the Holders.
NOW THEREFORE, for value received, to satisfy one of the conditions precedent to issuance of the Shelf Notes and to induce any Prudential Affiliate to purchase any Shelf Notes under the Note Agreement, for the reasons set forth above and set forth in the Note Agreement, for and in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, each Guarantor, intending to be legally bound, does hereby covenant and agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS; RECITALS. Capitalized terms that are used in this Guaranty and not defined in this Guaranty shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Note Agreement. The recitals in this Guaranty are incorporated into this Guaranty.
E-1-1
2. THE GUARANTY.
2A. Guaranty of Payment of Obligations. Each Guarantor, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the full and prompt payment in United States currency when due (whether at maturity, a stated prepayment date or earlier by reason of acceleration or otherwise) and at all times thereafter, of all of the indebtedness, obligations and liabilities existing on the date hereof or arising from time to time hereafter, whether direct or indirect, joint or several, actual, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, of the Company to Prudential or any Holder under or in respect of the Note Agreement, the Notes, the other Transaction Documents or any other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments now or hereafter executed or delivered by the Company, such Guarantor or any other Guarantor in connection with the Note Agreement, including, without limitation, the principal of and interest (including, without limitation, interest accruing before, during or after any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, liquidation or dissolution proceeding, and, if interest ceases to accrue by operation of law by reason of any such proceeding, interest which otherwise would have accrued in the absence of such proceeding, whether or not allowed as a claim in such proceeding) on the Notes and any Yield-Maintenance Amount with respect to any of the Notes (collectively, the Guarantied Obligations ). This is a continuing guaranty of payment and performance and not of collection. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the aggregate amount of any Guarantors liability under this Guaranty shall not exceed the maximum amount that such Guarantor can guaranty without violating, or causing this Guaranty or such Guarantors obligations under this Guaranty to be void, voidable or otherwise unenforceable under, any fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer law, including Section 548(a)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code and (ii) recourse under this Guaranty provided for herein by ADS Worldwide, Inc. and ADS International, Inc. (each a Foreign Holding Company), or by any other Foreign Holding Company which becomes a Guarantor hereunder, shall be limited to the Collateral pledged to the Collateral Agent by such Foreign Holding Company under the Pledge Agreement. Each Guarantor hereby agrees to pay and indemnify and save each Holder harmless from and against any damage, loss, cost or expense (including attorneys fees and expenses) which such Holder may incur or be subject to as a consequence of endeavoring to enforce this Guaranty or to collect all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations from, or in pursuing any action against, the Company or any other Guarantor or enforcing any rights of any Holder in any security for Guarantied Obligations or the liabilities of any Guarantor hereunder, and any taxes, fees or penalties which may be paid or payable in connection therewith. Notwithstanding any provision of this Guaranty, all covenants, obligations, waivers, and agreements of the Guarantors under this Guaranty shall be joint and several.
E-1-2
Upon an Event of Default, Prudential or any Holder may, at its sole election and without notice, proceed directly and at once against any Guarantor to seek and enforce performance of, and to collect and recover, the Guarantied Obligations, or any portion thereof, without first proceeding against the Company or any other Person or the Collateral any other security for the Guarantied Obligations or for the liability of any such other Person or the Guarantors hereunder. Prudential and each Holder shall have the exclusive right to determine the application of payments and credits, if any, from any Guarantor, the Company or from any other Person on account of the Guarantied Obligations or otherwise. Subject to Section 2E of this Guaranty, this Guaranty and all covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained herein shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such a time as all of the Guarantied Obligations shall be paid in full in cash and no Holder shall have any commitment under the Note Agreement.
2B. Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be continuing, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of (i) the invalidity or unenforceability of the Note Agreement, the Notes, the other Transaction Documents or any other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments now or hereafter executed or delivered by the Company, any other Guarantor or any other Person in connection with the Note Agreement or any other Transaction Document or any provision thereof; (ii) the absence of any attempt by Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent to collect the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof from the Company, any other Guarantor or any other Person or other action to enforce the same; (iii) any action taken by Prudential or any Holder whether or not authorized by this Guaranty; (iv) any failure by Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent to acquire, perfect or maintain any security interest or lien in, or take any steps to preserve its rights to, any security for the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof or for the liability of such Guarantor hereunder or the liability of the Company, any other Guarantor or any other Person or any or all of the Guarantied Obligations; (v) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense (other than a defense of payment, unless the payment on which such defense is based was or is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, otherwise avoided and/or required to be repaid to the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, or the estate of any such party, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, in which case there shall be no defense of payment with respect to such payment) of the Company or any other Person liable on the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof; (vi) Prudentials, any Holders or the Collateral Agents election, in any proceeding instituted under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. §101 et seq.) (the Bankruptcy Code ), of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; (vii) any borrowing or grant of a security interest to Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent by the Company as debtor-in-possession, or extension of credit, under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code; (viii) the disallowance or avoidance of all or any portion of Prudentials or any Holders claim(s) for repayment of the Guarantied Obligations under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar state law or the avoidance, invalidity or unenforceability of any Lien securing the Guarantied Obligations or the liability of any Guarantor hereunder or under any of the other Transaction Documents or of the Company or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations; (ix) any amendment to, waiver or modification of, or consent, extension, indulgence or other action or inaction under or in respect of the Note Agreement, the Notes, the other Transaction Documents or any other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments now or hereafter executed or delivered by
E-1-3
the Company or any Guarantor or any other guarantor in connection with the Note Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of Notes from time to time under the Note Agreement and any increase in the interest rate on the Notes); (x) any change in any provision of any applicable law or regulation; (xi) any order, judgment, writ, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority, domestic or foreign, binding on or affecting any Guarantor, the Company or any other guarantor or any of their assets; (xii) the articles of incorporation or articles of organization (as the case may be), or the by-laws or limited liability company agreement (as the case may be) of any Guarantor or the Company or any other guarantor; (xiii) any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract, or other agreement (including without limitation any agreement with stockholders), instrument or undertaking to which any Guarantor or the Company is a party or which purports to be binding on or affect any such Person or any of its assets; (xiv) any bankruptcy, insolvency, readjustment, composition, liquidation or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any portion of any Guarantied Obligations or any such Persons property and any failure by Prudential or any Holder to file or enforce a claim against the Company, any Guarantor or any such other Person in any such proceeding; (xv) any failure on the part of the Company for any reason to comply with or perform any of the terms of any other agreement with any Guarantor; or (xvi) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.
2C. Obligations Unimpaired. Prudential, each Holder and the Collateral Agent is authorized, without demand or notice, which demand and notice are hereby waived, and without discharging or otherwise affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder (which shall remain absolute and unconditional notwithstanding any such action or omission to act), from time to time to (i) renew, extend, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or other terms relating to, the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof, or otherwise modify, amend or change the terms of the Note Agreement, the Notes, any other Transaction Documents or any other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments now or hereafter executed or delivered by the Company, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any of the Guarantied Obligations in connection with the Note Agreement; (ii) accept partial payments on the Guarantied Obligations; (iii) take and hold security for the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof or any other liabilities of the Company, the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty and the obligations under any other guaranties and sureties of all or any of the Guarantied Obligations, and exchange, enforce, waive, release, sell, transfer, assign, abandon, fail to perfect, subordinate or otherwise deal with any such security (including, without limitation, the collateral); (iv) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as Prudential or any Holder may determine in its sole discretion; (v) settle, release, compromise, collect or otherwise liquidate the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof and any security therefor or guaranty thereof in any manner; (vi) extend additional loans, credit and financial accommodations to the Company and otherwise create additional Guarantied Obligations, including, without limitation, by the purchase of Notes from time to time under the Note Agreement; (vii) waive strict compliance with the terms of the Note Agreement, the Notes, any other Transaction Document or any other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments now or hereafter executed or delivered by the Company, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any of the Guarantied Obligations in connection with the Note Agreement and otherwise forbear from asserting Prudentials, any Holders or the Collateral Agents rights and remedies thereunder; (viii) take and hold additional guaranties or sureties and enforce or forbear from
E-1-4
enforcing any guaranty or surety of any other guarantor or surety of the Guarantied Obligations, any portion thereof or release or otherwise take any action (or omit to take any action) with respect to any such guarantor or surety; (ix) assign this Guaranty in part or in whole in connection with any assignment of the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof; (x) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company or any Guarantor; and (xi) apply any sums, by whomsoever paid or however realized, to the payment of the Guarantied Obligations as Prudential or any Holder in its sole discretion may determine.
2D. Waivers of Guarantors. Each Guarantor waives for the benefit of Prudential and the Holders:
(i) any right to require Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent, as a condition of payment or performance by such Guarantor or otherwise to (a) proceed against the Company, any other Guarantor, any other guarantor of the Guarantied Obligations or any other Person, (b) proceed against or exhaust any security given to or held by Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent in connection with the Guarantied Obligations or any other guaranty, or (c) pursue any other remedy available to Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent whatsoever;
(ii) any defense arising by reason of (a) the incapacity, lack of authority or any disability or other defense of the Company, including, without limitation, any defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the unenforceability of the Guarantied Obligations or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, (b) the cessation of the liability of the Company from any cause other than indefeasible payment in full of the Guarantied Obligations in cash or (c) any act or omission of Prudential, any Holder, the Collateral Agent or any other Person which directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise, results in or aids the discharge or release of the Company or any security given to or held by Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent in connection with the Guarantied Obligations or any other guaranty;
(iii) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal;
(iv) any defense based upon Prudentials, any Holders or the Collateral Agents errors or omissions in the administration of the Guarantied Obligations;
(v) (a) any principles or provisions of law, statutory or otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with the terms of this Guaranty and any legal or equitable discharge of such Guarantors obligations hereunder, (b) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting the Guarantied Obligations or such Guarantors liability hereunder or the enforcement hereof, (c) any rights to set-offs, recoupments and counterclaims, and (d) promptness, diligence and any requirement that Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent protect, maintain, secure, perfect or insure any Lien or any property subject thereto;
(vi) notices (a) of nonperformance or dishonor, (b) of acceptance of this Guaranty by Prudential, any Holder, such Guarantor or any other Guarantor, (c) of default in respect of the Guarantied Obligations or any other guaranty, (d) of the existence, creation or incurrence of new or additional indebtedness, arising either from additional loans extended to the
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Company or otherwise, including without limitation, as a result of the issuance of any Notes, (e) that the principal amount, or any portion thereof, and/or any interest or Yield-Maintenance Amount on any document or instrument evidencing all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations is due, (f) of any and all proceedings to collect from the Company, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations, or from anyone else, (g) of exchange, sale, surrender or other handling of any security or collateral given to Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent to secure payment of the Guarantied Obligations or any guaranty therefor, (h) of renewal, extension or modification of any of the Guarantied Obligations, (i) of assignment, sale or other transfer of any Note to a Transferee, or (j) of any of the matters referred to in paragraph 2B and any right to consent to any thereof;
(vii) presentment, demand for payment or performance and protest and notice of protest with respect to the Guarantied Obligations or any guaranty with respect thereto; and
(viii) any defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by law which limit the liability of or exonerate guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict with the terms of this Guaranty.
Each Guarantor agrees that neither Prudential, any Holder nor the Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to marshall any assets in favor of such Guarantor or against or in payment of any or all of the Guarantied Obligations.
No Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have acquired by way of subrogation under this Guaranty, by any payment made hereunder or otherwise, or accept any payment on account of such subrogation rights, or any rights of exoneration, reimbursement or indemnity or contribution or any rights or recourse to any security for the Guarantied Obligations or this Guaranty unless at the time of such Guarantors exercise of any such right there shall have been performed and indefeasibly paid in full in cash all of the Guarantied Obligations.
2E. Revival. Each Guarantor agrees that, if any payment made by the Company or any other Person is applied to the Guarantied Obligations and is at any time annulled, set aside, rescinded, invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential or otherwise required to be refunded or repaid, or the proceeds of the Collateral or any other security are required to be returned by Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent to the Company, its estate, trustee, receiver or any other Person, including, without limitation, such Guarantor, under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, such Guarantors liability hereunder (and any lien, security interest or other collateral securing such liability) shall be and remain in full force and effect, as fully as if such payment had never been made, or, if prior thereto this Guaranty shall have been canceled or surrendered (and if any lien, security interest or other collateral securing such Guarantors liability hereunder shall have been released or terminated by virtue of such cancellation or surrender), this Guaranty (and such lien, security interest or other collateral) shall be reinstated and returned in full force and effect, and such prior cancellation or surrender shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of such Guarantor in respect of the amount of such payment (or any lien, security interest or other collateral securing such obligation). The provisions of this paragraph 2E shall survive termination of the covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained in this Guaranty.
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2F Obligation to Keep Informed. Each Guarantor shall be responsible for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of the Company and any other Persons primarily or secondarily liable on the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guarantied Obligations or any portion thereof, and each Guarantor agrees that neither Prudential nor any Holder shall have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to Prudential or such Holder regarding such condition or any such circumstance. If Prudential or any Holder, in its discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to any Guarantor, neither Prudential nor such Holder shall be under any obligation (i) to undertake any investigation, whether or not a part of its regular business routine, (ii) to disclose any information which Prudential or such Holder wishes to maintain confidential, or (iii) to make any other or future disclosures of such information or any other information to any Guarantor.
2G Bankruptcy. If any Event of Default specified in clauses (vii), (viii) (ix), (x) or (xi) of paragraph 7A of the Note Agreement shall occur and be continuing, then each Guarantor agrees to immediately pay to the Holders the full outstanding amount of the Guarantied Obligations without notice.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
Each Guarantor represents, covenants and warrants as follows:
3A Organization. Such Guarantor is a company duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of its state of organization and is qualified to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where the ownership of its property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to be so qualified could be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
3B Power and Authority. Such Guarantor and each Subsidiary of such Guarantor has all requisite power to conduct its business as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted. Such Guarantor has all requisite power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Guaranty. The execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty have been duly authorized by all requisite action and this Guaranty has been duly executed and delivered by authorized officers of such Guarantor and are valid obligations of such Guarantor, legally binding upon and enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
3C Conflicting Agreements and Other Matters. The execution and delivery of this Guaranty, the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes, and the performance of the terms and provisions hereof will not conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien, other than Liens created pursuant to the Collateral Documents, upon any of the properties or assets of such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, the certificate of incorporation or articles of organization (as the case may be), the by-laws or limited
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liability company agreement (as the case may be) of such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, any award of any arbitrator or any agreement (including any agreement with stockholders of such Guarantor or Persons with direct or indirect ownership interests in stockholders of such Guarantor), instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation to which such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries is subject. Neither such Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing any Indebtedness of such Guarantor or such Subsidiary, any agreement relating thereto or any other contract or agreement (including its charter) which limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes restrictions on the incurring of, obligations of such Guarantor of the type to be evidenced by this Guaranty except as set forth in the agreements listed in Schedule 8G attached to the Note Agreement (as such Schedule 8G may have been modified from time to time by written supplements thereto delivered by the Company and accepted in writing by Prudential).
3D ERISA. The execution and delivery of this Guaranty will be exempt from, or will not involve any transaction which is subject to, the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA and will not involve any transaction in connection with which a penalty could be imposed under section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975 of the Code.
3E Governmental Consent. Neither the nature of such Guarantor or of any Subsidiary of such Guarantor nor any of their respective businesses or properties, nor any relationship between such Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Guarantor and any other Person, nor any circumstance in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty, nor the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes is such as to require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice to or filing with any court or administrative or governmental body (including, without limitation, notifications required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, but excluding routine filings after the date of closing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or state Blue Sky authorities) other than filings and recordings necessary to perfect the Liens in the Collateral intended to be created by the Collateral Documents.
3F Regulatory Status. Neither such Guarantor nor any Subsidiary of such Guarantor is (i) an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) a holding company or a subsidiary company or an affiliate of a holding company or a subsidiary company of a holding company, within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, as amended, or (iii) a public utility within the meaning of the Federal Power Act, as amended.
3G Actions by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries. Each Guarantor covenants that it will not take any action that would directly or indirectly result in an Event of Default or Default.
4. MISCELLANEOUS.
4A. Successors, Assigns and Participants. This Guaranty shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Prudential
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and each Holder and their respective successors, transferees and assigns; all references herein to each Guarantor shall be deemed to include its successors and assigns, and all references herein to Prudential or any Holder shall be deemed to include their respective successors and assigns. This Guaranty shall be enforceable by Prudential and each Holder and any of Prudentials or such Holders successors, assigns and participants, and any such successors and assigns shall have the same rights and benefits with respect to each Guarantor under this Guaranty as Prudential or such Holder hereunder.
4B Consent to Amendments. This Guaranty may be amended, and each Guarantor may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, if such Guarantor shall obtain the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Holder(s) of the Notes, except that, without the written consent of all of the Holders, (i) no amendment to or waiver of the provisions of this Guaranty shall change or affect the provisions of this paragraph 4B insofar as such provisions relate to proportions of the principal amount of the Notes, or the rights of any individual Holder, required with respect to any consent, (ii) no Guarantor shall be released from this Guaranty, and (iii) no amendment, consent or waiver with respect to paragraph 2A or the definition of Guarantied Obligations (except to add additional obligations of the Company) shall be effective. Each Holder at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any consent authorized by this paragraph 4B, whether or not the Notes held by such Holder shall have been marked to indicate such consent, but any Notes issued thereafter may bear a notation referring to any such consent. No course of dealing between any Guarantor and Prudential, any Holder or the Collateral Agent nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of Prudential or any Holder. As used herein, the term this Guaranty and references thereto shall mean this Guaranty as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guaranty may be amended by the addition of additional Guarantors pursuant to a Guaranty Joinder in the form of Exhibit A hereto without any consent by any Guarantor, Prudential or any Holder.
4C Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement. All representations and warranties contained herein or made in writing by or on behalf of each Guarantor in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, the transfer by any Holder of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any Transferee, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of Prudential, any Holder or any Transferee. Subject to the two preceding sentences, this Guaranty embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.
4D Notices. All written communications provided for hereunder shall be sent by first class mail or telegraphic notice or nationwide overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) or by hand delivery or telecopy and addressed:
(i) | in the case of any Guarantor, to: |
c/o Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
Attention: Mark B. Sturgeon
4640 Trueman Boulevard,
Hilliard, Ohio 43026-2438
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(ii) in the case of Prudential or any Holder, to the address specified for notices to Prudential or such Holder under the Note Agreement;
or, in either case, at such other address as shall be designated by such Person in a written notice to the other parties hereto.
4E Descriptive Headings; Advice of Counsel; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of the several sections of this Guaranty are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Guaranty. Each Guarantor represents to Prudential and the Holders that such Guarantor has been represented by counsel in connection with this Guaranty, that such Guarantor has discussed this Guaranty with its counsel and that any and all issues with respect to this Guaranty have been resolved as set forth herein. No provision of this Guaranty shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of Prudential or any Holder by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of Prudential or such Holder having or being deemed to have structured, drafted or dictated such provision.
4F Satisfaction Requirement. If any agreement, certificate or other writing, or any action taken or to be taken, is by the terms of this Guaranty required to be satisfactory to Prudential, any Holder or the Required Holder(s) of the Notes, the determination of such satisfaction shall be made by Prudential, such Holder or such Required Holder(s), as the case may be, in the sole and exclusive judgment (exercised in good faith) of the Person or Persons making such determination.
4G Governing Law. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS GUARANTY TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
4H Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Guaranty to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Guaranty by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty.
4I Counsels Opinion. Each Guarantor authorizes the counsel referred to in paragraph 3C of the Note Agreement to deliver the opinion referred to in such paragraph.
4J SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN NEW
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YORK CITY, NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS GUARANTY, EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS, UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH GUARANTOR FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 4D(i), SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON RECEIPT. EACH GUARANTOR AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION BY SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF PRUDENTIAL OR ANY HOLDER TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTY BROUGHT IN ANY OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY GUARANTOR HAS OR MAY HEREAFTER ACQUIRE IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OF NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION, EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY, SUCH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS GUARANTY. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.
4K Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is prohibited by any one of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or otherwise be in compliance within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or such condition exists.
4L Severability. Any provision of this Guaranty 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.
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4M. Contribution with Respect to Guaranty Obligations. At all times when there is more than one Guarantor party hereto, each Guarantor party hereto agrees as follows:
(i) To the extent any Guarantor shall make a payment of all or any of the Guarantied Obligations (a Guarantor Payment ) that exceeds the amount that such Guarantor would otherwise have paid, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Guarantor, if each Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guarantied Obligations satisfied by all such Guarantor Payments in the same proportion that such Guarantors Allocable Amount (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of all Guarantors (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment), then, after the Guarantied Obligations shall be indefeasibly paid in full in cash and no Holder shall have any commitment under the Note Agreement, such Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from and be reimbursed by each other Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.
(ii) As of any date of determination, the Allocable Amount of any Guarantor shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim that could then be recovered from such Guarantor under this Section 4M without rendering such claim void, voidable or otherwise unenforceable under, any fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer law, including Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code.
(iii) This Section 4M is intended only to define the relative rights of Guarantors, and nothing in this Section 4M is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with this Guaranty.
(iv) The rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Guarantor to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.
(v) The rights of the indemnifying Guarantors against other Guarantors under this Section 4M shall be exercisable once the Guarantied Obligations shall be indefeasibly paid in full in cash and no Holder shall have any commitment under the Note Agreement.
[signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
[GUARANTORS] | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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GUARANTOR SCHEDULE
[GUARANTORS]
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EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT TO GUARANTY AGREEMENT]
JOINDER AGREEMENT NO. TO GUARANTY AGREEMENT
RE: ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
This Joinder Agreement is made as of , in favor of Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and the Holders (as such term is defined in the Guaranty, as hereinafter defined).
A. Reference is made to the Guaranty Agreement made as of September 24, 2010 (as such guarantee may be supplemented, amended, restated or consolidated from time to time, the Guaranty ) by certain Persons in favor of Prudential and the Holders, under which such Persons have guaranteed to Prudential and the Holders the due payment and performance by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. a Delaware corporation ( the Company ) of the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty).
B. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Joinder Agreement have the respective meanings given to such terms in the Guaranty, including the definitions of terms incorporated in the Guaranty by reference to other agreements.
C. Section 4B of the Guaranty provides that additional Persons may from time to time after the date of the Guaranty become Guarantors under the Guaranty by executing and delivering to Prudential and the Holders a supplemental agreement to the Guaranty in the form of this Joinder Agreement.
For valuable consideration, each of the undersigned (each a New Guarantor ) severally (and not jointly, or jointly and severally) agrees as follows:
1. Each of the New Guarantors has received a copy of, and has reviewed, the Guaranty and the Transaction Documents in existence on the date of this Joinder Agreement and is executing and delivering this Joinder Agreement to Prudential and the Holders pursuant to paragraph 4B of the Guaranty.
2. Effective from and after the date this Joinder Agreement is executed and delivered to Prudential and the Holders by any one of the New Guarantors (and irrespective of whether this Joinder Agreement has been executed and delivered by any other Person), such New Guarantor is, and shall be deemed for all purposes to be, a Guarantor under the Guaranty with the same force and effect, and subject to the same agreements, representations, guarantees, indemnities, liabilities and obligations, as if such New Guarantor was, effective as of the date of this Joinder Agreement, an original signatory to the Guaranty as a Guarantor. In furtherance of the foregoing, each of the New Guarantors jointly and severally guarantees to Prudential and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of the Guaranty the due and punctual payment and performance in full of each of the Guarantied Obligations as each such Guarantied Obligation becomes due from time to time (whether because of maturity, default, demand, acceleration or otherwise) and understands, agrees and confirms that Prudential and the Holders may enforce the
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Guaranty and this Joinder Agreement against such New Guarantor for the benefit of Prudential and the Holders up to the full amount of the Guarantied Obligations without proceeding against any other Guarantor, the Company, any other Person, or any collateral securing the Guarantied Obligations; provided, however, with respect to any Foreign Holding Company which is a Guarantor hereunder, recourse against any such Foreign Holding Company shall be limited to the Collateral pledged to the Collateral Agent by such Foreign Holding Company under the Pledge Agreement. The terms and provisions of the Guaranty are incorporated by reference in this Joinder Agreement.
3. Upon this Joinder Agreement bearing the signature of any Person claiming to have authority to bind any New Guarantor coming into the hands of Prudential or any Holder, and irrespective of whether this Joinder Agreement or the Guaranty has been executed by any other Person, this Joinder Agreement will be deemed to be finally and irrevocably executed and delivered by, and be effective and binding on, and enforceable against, such New Guarantor free from any promise or condition affecting or limiting the liabilities of such New Guarantor and such New Guarantor shall be, and shall be deemed for all purposes to be, a Guarantor under the Guaranty. No statement, representation, agreement or promise by any officer, employee or agent of Prudential or any Holder forms any part of this Joinder Agreement or the Guaranty or has induced the making of this Joinder Agreement or the Guaranty by any of the New Guarantors or in any way affects any of the obligations or liabilities of any of the New Guarantors in respect of the Guarantied Obligations.
4. This Joinder Agreement may be executed in counterparts. Each executed counterpart shall be deemed to be an original and all counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Joinder Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Joinder Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Joinder Agreement.
5. This Joinder Agreement is a contract made under, and will for all purposes be governed by and interpreted and enforced according to, the internal laws of the State of New York excluding any conflict of laws rule or principle which might refer these matters to the laws of another jurisdiction.
6. This Joinder Agreement and the Guaranty shall be binding upon each of the New Guarantors and the successors of each of the New Guarantors. None of the New Guarantors may assign any of its obligations or liabilities in respect of the Guarantied Obligations.
IN WITNESS OF WHICH this Joinder Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the New Guarantors as of the date indicated on the first page of this Joinder Agreement.
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[NEW GUARANTOR] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
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EXHIBIT E-2
[Form of Confirmation of Guaranty Agreement]
CONFIRMATION OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT
THIS CONFIRMATION OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this Confirmation ) is entered into on a joint and several basis by each of the undersigned (which parties are hereinafter referred to individually as a Guarantor and collectively as the Guarantors ) in favor of the holders of the Notes (as defined below) from time to time (the Holders ).
WHEREAS, each of the Guarantors is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (the Company );
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, between the Company, on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc., and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes a party thereto, on the other hand (the Note Agreement ), pursuant to which the Company may issue senior promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of up to $100,000,000, from time to time (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Shelf Note or, Notes );
WHEREAS, the Guarantors have guarantied the obligations of the Company under the Note Agreement and the Notes pursuant to that certain Guaranty Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, made by [certain of] the undersigned[, and joined by certain of the undersigned pursuant to that certain Joinder Agreement dated as of ], in favor of each holder (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Guaranty ). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given in the Guaranty;
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Request for Purchase dated as of and that certain Confirmation of Acceptance dated as of , the Company will issue and certain Prudential Affiliates (the Series Purchasers ) will purchase the Companys % Series Senior Notes Due (the Series Notes );
WHEREAS, each Guarantor will benefit from the proceeds of the issuance of the Series Notes; and
WHEREAS, the Holders have required as a condition to the effectiveness of the Series Purchasers obligation to purchase the Series Notes that each of the Guarantors execute and deliver this Confirmation and reaffirm that the Guaranty secures and guarantees the liabilities and obligations of the Company under the Series Notes.
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NOW, THEREFORE , in order to induce, and in consideration of, the purchase of the Series Notes by the Series Purchasers, each Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with, and represents and warrants to, each of the Series Purchasers and each Holder from time to time of the Notes as follows:
1. Confirmation. Each Guarantor, hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty, and confirms and agrees that each reference in the Guaranty to the Guaranteed Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty) is construed to hereafter include the Series Notes. Each Guarantor acknowledges that the Guaranty remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor hereby acknowledges and confirms that it intends that the Guaranty will continue to secure, to the fullest extent provided thereby, the payment and performance of all Guarantied Obligations, including, without limitation, the payment and performance of the Series Notes. Each Guarantor confirms and agrees that, with respect to the Guaranty, each and every covenant, condition, obligation, representation (except those representations which relate only to a specific date, which are confirmed as of such date only), warranty and provision set forth therein is, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects; provided, however, with respect to any Foreign Holding Company which is a Guarantor hereunder, recourse against any such Foreign Holding Company shall be limited to the Collateral pledged to the Collateral Agent by such Foreign Holding Company under the Pledge Agreement.
2. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and other agreements contained in this Confirmation by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent Holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.
3. No Waiver. The execution of this Confirmation shall not operate as a novation, waiver of any right, power or remedy of Prudential or any holder, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Note Purchase Agreement or any Note.
4. Governing Law. This Confirmation shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.
5. Severability. Any provision of this Confirmation that 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 (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
6. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Confirmation by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Confirmation.
7. Section Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience of reference only, and shall not affect in any way the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.
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8. Authorization. Each Guarantor is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Confirmation, and, is and will continue to be duly authorized to perform its obligations under the Guaranty.
9. No Defenses. Each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants that, as of the date hereof, (a) such Guarantor has no defenses, offsets or counterclaims of any kind or nature whatsoever against Prudential or any Holder with respect to the Guarantied Obligations, or any action previously taken or not taken by Prudential or any holder with respect thereto, and (b) that Prudential and each Holder has fully performed all obligations to such Guarantor which it may have had or has on and as of the date hereof.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Confirmation of Guaranty Agreement has been duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
[GUARANTORS] |
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EXHIBIT F
[FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANYS AND GUARANTORS COUNSEL]
Prudential Investment Management, Inc.
The Prudential Insurance Company of America
Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company
Pruco Life Insurance Company
c/o Prudential Capital Group
Two Prudential Plaza
Suite 5600
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Re: | Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., Prudential Investment Management, Inc. and each Prudential Affiliate that is or becomes a party thereto |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (ADS or Borrower), Hancor Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (HHC), Hancor International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Hancor International), ADS Ventures, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Ventures), ADS Structures, Inc. a Delaware corporation (Structures), ADS Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Worldwide), ADS International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (International), Spartan Concrete, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Spartan), StormTech LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (StormTech) and, together with ADS, HHC, Hancor International, Ventures, Structures, Worldwide, International and Spartan, the Delaware Transaction Parties and each individually, a Delaware Transaction Party), Hancor, Inc., an Ohio corporation (Hancor), Media Plus, Inc., an Ohio corporation (Media Plus) Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc., an Ohio corporation (ADS Ohio and, collectively with Hancor and Media Plus, the Ohio Transaction Parties and each an Ohio Transaction Party), PSA, Inc., a Maine corporation (PSA) and Sewer Tap, Inc., an Oregon corporation (Sewer Tap and, collectively with the Delaware Transaction Parties, the Ohio Transaction Parties and PSA, the Transaction Parties and each, individually, a Transaction Party) in connection with the Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, between the Borrower, on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes a party thereto (collectively, the Purchasers), on the other hand (the Note Agreement), pursuant to which the Borrower has issued to you today the . % Senior Secured Series Notes due of the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 (the Notes). All terms used herein
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that are defined in the Note Agreement have the respective meanings specified in the Note Agreement unless otherwise defined herein. This letter is being delivered to you at the request of the Borrower in satisfaction of the condition set forth in paragraph 3C of the Note Agreement.
The Transaction Parties other than the Borrower are each referred to herein as a Guarantor and collectively as the Guarantors. The Uniform Commercial Code, as amended and in effect in the State of Ohio on the date hereof, is referred to herein as the OH UCC. The Uniform Commercial Code, as amended and in effect in the State of Delaware on the date hereof, is referred to herein as the Del. UCC. The OH UCC and the Del. UCC are referred to herein, collectively, as the UCC. With your permission, all assumptions and statements of reliance herein have been made without any independent investigation or verification on our part except to the extent, if any, otherwise expressly stated, and we express no opinion with respect to the subject matter or accuracy of the assumptions or items upon which we have relied.
In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined such resolutions, shareholder or member actions, other documents, records, and matters of law as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of such opinions. We have examined, among other documents, the following:
1. an executed copy of the Note Agreement;
2. executed copies of Notes;
3. an executed copy of the Guaranty Agreement, dated as of September **, 2010 (the Guaranty Agreement), executed by each of the Guarantors in favor of the Purchasers;
4. an executed copy of the Security Agreement, dated as of September **, 2010 (the Security Agreement), executed by each of the Transaction Parties in favor of PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacities, the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent);
5. an executed copy of the Pledge Agreement, dated as of September **, 2010 (the Pledge Agreement), executed by each of the Transaction Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent;
6. an executed copy of the Patent, Trademark and Copyright Security Agreement, dated as of September **, 2010 (the IP Security Agreement), executed by each of the Transaction Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent;
7. an executed copy of the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, dated as of September **, 2010 (the Intercompany Subordination Agreement), executed by each of the Transaction Parties;
8. an executed copy of the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of September **, 2010 (the Intercreditor Agreement), executed by each of the Transaction Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Senior Noteholders (2010) (as such term is more particularly identified and described in the Intercreditor Agreement);
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9. the Officers Certificate of each Transaction Party delivered to us in connection with this opinion letter, in the form of each of which is attached hereto as Exhibits A-1 through A-14 (as to each such Transaction Party, the Officers Certificate);
10. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming ADS as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the ADS Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-1, which ADS Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (such office, the Delaware Filing Office);
11. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming HHC as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the HHC Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-2, which HHC Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Delaware Filing Office;
12. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming Hancor International as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the Hancor International Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-3, which Hancor International Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Delaware Filing Office;
13. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming Ventures as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the Ventures Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-4, which Ventures Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Delaware Filing Office;
14. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming Structures as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the Structures Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-5, which Structures Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Delaware Filing Office;
15. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming Worldwide as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the Worldwide Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-6, which Worldwide Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Delaware Filing Office;
16. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming International as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the International Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-7, which International Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Delaware Filing Office;
17. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming Spartan as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the Spartan Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-8, which Spartan Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Delaware Filing Office;
18. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming StormTech as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the StormTech Financing Statement; and together with the ADS Financing Statement, the HCC Financing Statement, the Hancor International Financing Statement, the Ventures Financing Statement, the Structures Financing Statement, the
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Worldwide Financing Statement, the International Financing Statement and the Spartan Financing Statement, the Delaware Financing Statements), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-9, which StormTech Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Delaware Filing Office;
19. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming Hancor as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the Hancor Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C-1, which Hancor Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio (such office, the Ohio Filing Office);
20. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming Media Plus as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the Media Plus Financing Statement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C-2, which Media Plus Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Ohio Filing Office;
21. an unfiled copy of a financing statement naming ADS Ohio as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party (the ADS Ohio Financing Statement; and collectively with the Hancor Financing Statement and the Media Plus Financing Statement, the Ohio Financing Statements), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C-3, which ADS Ohio Financing Statement we understand will be filed in the Ohio Filing Office;
22. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of ADS, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 27, 2010 (the ADS Organizational Document);
23. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of HHC, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010 (the HHC Organizational Document);
24. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of Hancor International, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010 (the Hancor International Organizational Document);
25. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of Ventures, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010 (the Ventures Organizational Document);
26. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of Structures, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010 (the Structures Organizational Document);
27. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of Worldwide, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010 (the Worldwide Organizational Document);
28. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of International, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010 (the International Organizational Document);
29. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of Spartan, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010 (the Spartan Organizational Document);
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30. a copy of the Certificate of Formation of StormTech, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010 (the StormTech Organizational Document; and together with the ADS Organizational Document, the HCC Organizational Document, the Hancor International Organizational Document, the Ventures Organizational Document, the Structures Organizational Document, the Worldwide Organizational Document, the International Organizational Document and the Spartan Organizational Document, the Delaware Organizational Documents);
31. a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of Hancor, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on August 27, 2010 (the Hancor Organizational Document);
32. a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of Media Plus, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on August 27, 2010 (the Media Plus Organizational Document);
33. a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of ADS Ohio, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on September 9, 2010 (the ADS Ohio Organizational Document; and collectively with the Hancor Organizational Document and the Media Plus Organizational Document, the Ohio Organizational Documents);
34. a copy of the Bylaws of ADS (the ADS Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of ADS as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
35. a copy of the Bylaws of HHC (the HHC Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of HHC as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
36. a copy of the Bylaws of Hancor International (the Hancor International Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of Hancor International as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
37. a copy of the Bylaws of Ventures (the Ventures Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of Ventures as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
38. a copy of the Bylaws of Structures (the Structures Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of Structures as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
39. a copy of the Bylaws of Worldwide (the Worldwide Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of Worldwide as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
40. a copy of the Bylaws of International (the International Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of International as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
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41. a copy of the Bylaws of Spartan (the Spartan Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of Spartan as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
42. a copy of the Limited Liability Company Agreement of StormTech (the StormTech Governing Document; and together with the ADS Governing Document, the HHC Governing Document, the Hancor International Governing Document, the Ventures Governing Document, the Structures Governing Document, the Worldwide Governing Document, the International Governing Document and the Spartan Governing Document, the Delaware Governing Documents), certified to us by the General Manager of StormTech as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
43. a copy of the Code of Regulations of Hancor (the Hancor Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of Hancor as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
44. a copy of the Code of Regulations of Media Plus (the Media Plus Governing Document), certified to us by the Secretary of Media Plus as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
45. a copy of the Code of Regulations of ADS Ohio (the ADS Ohio Governing Document; and collectively with the Hancor Governing Document and the Media Plus Governing Document, the Ohio Governing Documents), certified to us by the Secretary of ADS Ohio as being complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;
46. a copy of certificates of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated (i) August 27, 2010 with respect to the Borrower and (ii) August 26, 2010, with respect to each other Delaware Transaction Party, in each case as to the good standing of each Delaware Transaction Party in the State of Delaware as of such date (collectively, the Delaware Good Standing Certificates);
47. a copy of certificates of the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio, each dated August 27, 2010, as to the good standing of each Ohio Transaction Party in the State of Ohio as of such date (collectively, the Ohio Good Standing Certificates; and together with the Delaware Good Standing Certificates, the Good Standing Certificates).
The documents referred to in items (1) through (8) above, inclusive, are referred to herein collectively as the Documents, and the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the IP Security Agreement are referred to herein collectively the Security Documents. As used herein, security interest means security interest as defined in Section 1-201(37) of the OH UCC.
In all such examinations, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons executing documents, the genuineness of all signatures (other than those of the Transaction Parties), the authenticity of original and certified documents and the conformity to original or certified copies of all copies submitted to us as conformed or reproduction copies. As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, recitals, representations and warranties contained in the Documents and certificates
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and oral or written statements and other information of or from representatives of the Transaction Parties and others and assume compliance on the part of the Transaction Parties with their covenants and agreements contained therein.
In connection with the opinions expressed in paragraph (a) below, we have relied solely upon certificates of public officials as to the factual matters and legal conclusions set forth therein. With respect to the opinions expressed in clauses (i) and (iii) of paragraph (b) below, clause (ii) of paragraph (c) below and clause (ii)(A) of paragraph (d) below, our opinions are limited (x) to our actual knowledge, if any, of the specially regulated business activities and properties of the Transaction Parties based solely upon an Officers Certificate in respect of such matters and without any independent investigation or verification on our part and (y) to only those laws and regulations that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Documents.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
a. Each Ohio Transaction Party is a corporation existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio. Each Delaware Transaction Party is a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
b. Each Ohio Transaction Party and each Delaware Transaction Party has the corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority (i) to conduct its business substantially as described in the Officers Certificate of such Transaction Party, (ii) to enter into and to incur and perform its obligations under the Documents to which it is a party and (iii) to own and operate its assets and properties and conduct its business substantially as presently conducted, operated and owned.
c. The execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent, Purchasers or other parties, as applicable, by each of the Transaction Parties of the Documents, in each case to which it is a party, and the performance by each such Transaction Party of its obligations thereunder, and the granting by each such Transaction Party of the security interests provided for in the Security Documents, (i) have been authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action by such Transaction Party and (ii) do not require under present law, or present regulation of any governmental agency or authority of the State of Ohio the United States of America, as applicable (or, with respect to the Delaware Transaction Parties only, under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL) or the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware (the DLLCA)), any filing or registration by such Transaction Party with, or approval or consent to such Transaction Party of, any governmental agency or authority of the State of Ohio or the United States of America (or, with respect to the Delaware Transaction Parties only, as specifically required by the DGCL or DLLCA, as applicable) that has not been made or obtained except (x) those required in the ordinary course of business in connection with the conduct by such Transaction Party of its business, (y) those required to perfect security interests, if any, granted by such Transaction Party thereunder, or (z) those required pursuant to securities and other laws that may be applicable to the disposition of any collateral subject thereto.
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d. The execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent, the Purchasers or any other party, as applicable, by each of the Delaware Transaction Parties and Ohio Transaction Parties of the Documents, in each case to which it is a party, and the performance by each such Transaction Party of its obligations thereunder, and the granting by each such Transaction Party of the security interests provided for in the Security Documents, (i) (A) in the case of any Delaware Transaction Party, do not contravene any provision of any Delaware Organizational Document or Delaware Governing Document of such Delaware Transaction Party and (B) in the case of any Ohio Transaction Party, do not contravene any provision of any Ohio Organizational Document or Ohio Governing Document of such Ohio Transaction Party, (ii) do not violate (A) any present law, or present regulation of any governmental agency or authority, of the State of Ohio, the DGCL or DLLCA, as applicable (with regard to the Delaware Transaction Parties or their property only) or the United States of America, applicable to such Transaction Party or its property, or (B) any agreement binding upon such Transaction Party or its property that is listed on Annex I to the Officers Certificate or any court decree or order binding upon such Transaction Party or its property that is listed on Annex II to the Officers Certificate (this opinion being limited in that we express no opinion with respect to any violation not readily ascertainable from the face of any such agreement, decree or order, or arising under or based upon any cross default provision insofar as it relates to a default under an agreement not so identified to us, or arising under or based upon any covenant of a financial or numerical nature or requiring computation) and (iii) will not result in or require the creation or imposition of any security interest or lien upon any of its properties pursuant to the provisions of any agreement binding upon such Transaction Party or its properties that is listed on Annex I to the Officers Certificate other than any security interests or liens created by the Documents and any other security interests or liens in favor of the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties (as defined in the Security Agreement) arising under any of the Documents or applicable law.
e. Each Document to which each Transaction Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Transaction Party.
f. Each Document constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each Transaction Party signatory thereto enforceable against such Transaction Party in accordance with its terms.
g. It is not necessary in connection with the offering, issuance, sale and delivery of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers under the circumstances contemplated by the Note Agreement to register the Notes under the Securities Act or to qualify an indenture in respect of the Notes under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, but no opinion is being rendered as to when or under what circumstances any Notes initially sold to the Initial Purchasers may be reoffered or resold.
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h. The extension, arranging and obtaining of the credit represented by the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as provided in the Note Agreement will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Margin Regulations).
i. No Transaction Party is required to register as an investment company (under, and as defined in, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act)) and is not is a company controlled by a company required to register as such under the 1940 Act.
j. The Security Agreement creates in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for the Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement), a security interest in the right, title and interest of each Transaction Party thereto in the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) to which Article 9 of the OH UCC is applicable (the Security Agreement Article 9 Collateral).
k. The Pledge Agreement creates in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for the Obligations, a security interest in the right, title and interest of each Transaction Party thereto in the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Pledge Agreement) to which Article 9 of the OH UCC is applicable (the Pledge Agreement Article 9 Collateral; and together with the Security Agreement Article 9 Collateral, the Article 9 Collateral).
l. Upon the effective filing of the Delaware Financing Statements with the Delaware Filing Office, the Collateral Agent will have, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected security interest against the Delaware Transaction Parties in that portion of each Delaware Transaction Partys Security Agreement Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing an initial financing statement with the Delaware Filing Office under the Delaware UCC (the Security Agreement Delaware Filing Collateral). We express no opinion as to the priority of any security interest of any person identified above in the Security Agreement Delaware Filing Collateral and we note, without expressing any opinion as to the issue, that the priority of a security interest in the Security Agreement Delaware Filing Collateral may be governed by laws other than the Del. UCC (including, without limitation, the laws of jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware) even if perfection of a security interest in the Security Agreement Delaware Filing Collateral is governed by the Del. UCC.
m. Upon the effective filing of the Ohio Financing Statements with the Ohio Filing Office, the Collateral Agent will have, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected security interest against the Ohio Transaction Parties in that portion of each Ohio Transaction Partys Security Agreement Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing an initial financing statement with the Ohio Filing Office under the OH UCC (the Security Agreement Ohio Filing Collateral). We express no opinion as to the priority of any security interest of any person identified above in the Security Agreement Ohio Filing Collateral and we note, without expressing any opinion as to the issue, that the priority of a security interest in the Security Agreement Ohio Filing Collateral may be governed by laws other than the OH UCC
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(including, without limitation, the laws of jurisdictions other than the State of Ohio) even if perfection of a security interest in the Security Agreement Ohio Filing Collateral is governed by the OH UCC.
n. The Pledge Agreement, together with physical delivery of the certificates representing the shares of stock of each of HHC, Ventures, Sewer Tap, Spartan, PSA, Structures, Hancor, Hancor Leasing Corp., an Ohio corporation, Media Plus, Hancor International, Hancor, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and ADS Ohio (collectively, the Pledged Entities) identified on Schedule A to the Pledge Agreement (the Pledged Equity Interests) to the Collateral Agent in the State of Ohio, accompanied by undated stock powers with respect to such Pledged Equity Interests duly indorsed in blank by an effective indorsement, creates in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for the Obligations, a perfected security interest under the OH UCC in the rights of ADS, HHC or Hancor, as the case may be, in the Pledged Equity Interests issued by each of the Pledged Entities, as the case may be, while such Pledged Equity Interests are located in the State of Ohio and in the possession of the Collateral Agent. Assuming that neither the Collateral Agent nor any Secured Parties has notice of any adverse claim to such Pledged Equity Interest and that the security interest of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties is perfected as described above, the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders will acquire its security interest in such Pledged Equity Interests free of any adverse claim.
o. Upon the effective filing of (i) each of, as the case may be, the Delaware Financing Statements or the Ohio Financing Statement against the Pledgors under the IP Security Agreement with, as the case may be, the Delaware Filing Office or the Ohio Filing Office and (ii) the IP Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the USPTO), the security interest created under the OH UCC by the IP Security Agreement in the Patents and the Trademarks (as defined in the IP Security Agreement) or applications therefor identified by a registration or application number in the IP Security Agreement and indicated therein to be, as applicable, issued by, registered with or pending before the USPTO (collectively, the Domestic Patents, Trademarks and Applications) shall constitute perfected security interests in, all right, title and interest of such Pledgors in their respective Domestic Patents, Trademarks and Applications in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties under and defined in the IP Security Agreement.
p. To Our Actual Knowledge there are no legal proceedings (i) pending before any court or arbitration tribunal or (ii) overtly threatened in writing, in each case, against any Transaction Party that seek to enjoin or otherwise interfere directly with the transactions contemplated by the Documents other than the legal proceedings, if any, disclosed in the Documents, including, without limitation, any schedules or exhibits thereto. For purposes of this paragraph, Actual Knowledge means, with respect to any person, the conscious awareness of facts by such person; Our Actual Knowledge means the Actual Knowledge of any lawyer included in the Covered Lawyer Group; and the Covered Lawyer Group means lawyers currently at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. who have been actively involved in negotiating the Documents (including the disclosure schedules attached thereto) and the transactions contemplated thereby or preparing this
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opinion letter and the certificates attached hereto. In making the foregoing statements, we have inquired as to the Actual Knowledge of the lawyers included in the Covered Lawyer Group with respect to the existence of the legal proceedings described above and we have relied on, and assumed the accuracy of, representations and warranties contained in the Documents and certificates and oral or written statements and other information of or from officers or other representatives of the Transaction Parties. We have not, however, made any review, search or investigation of any public or private records or files, including, without limitation, litigation dockets or other records or files of the Transaction Parties or of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and limitations:
A. Our opinions in paragraph (f) above are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, voidable preference, moratorium, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement or similar laws, and related regulations and judicial doctrines, from time to time in effect affecting creditors rights and remedies generally, (ii) general principles of equity (including, without limitation, standards of materiality, good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness, equitable defenses, the exercise of judicial discretion and limits on the availability of equitable remedies, including without limitation specific performance), whether such principles are considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, (iii) defenses arising from actions by a party seeking enforcement which may be unconscionable, inequitable or unreasonable or from the passage of time, and (iv) the qualification that certain provisions of the Security Documents may be unenforceable in whole or in part under the laws (including judicial decisions) of the State of New York, the State of Ohio or the United States of America, but the inclusion of such provisions does not make the remedies afforded by the Security Documents inadequate for the practical realization of the principal benefits provided by the Security Documents, in each case subject to the other qualifications contained in this letter.
B. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any provision in the Documents:
(i) providing that any person or entity may sell or otherwise dispose of, or purchase, any collateral subject thereto, or enforce any other right or remedy with respect to collateral subject thereto (including without limitation any self-help or taking-possession remedy), otherwise than in compliance with the OH UCC, the Del. UCC, and other applicable laws;
(ii) establishing standards for the performance of the obligations of good faith, diligence, reasonableness and care prescribed by the OH UCC or establishing standards measuring fulfillment of rights and duties other than as permitted by Section 9-603 of the OH UCC;
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(iii) relating to indemnification, contribution or exculpation in connection with violations of any securities laws or statutory duties or public policy, or in connection with willful, reckless or unlawful acts or gross negligence of the indemnified or exculpated party or the party receiving contribution;
(iv) providing that any person or entity may exercise set-off rights other than in accordance with and pursuant to applicable law;
(v) relating to choice of governing law in any Document;
(vi) waiving any rights to trial by jury;
(vii) waiving any rights to consequential damages;
(viii) purporting to confer, or constituting an agreement with respect to, subject matter jurisdiction of United States federal courts to adjudicate any matter;
(ix) purporting to create a trust or other fiduciary relationship;
(x) specifying that provisions thereof may be waived only in writing, to the extent that an oral agreement or an implied agreement by trade practice or course of conduct has been created that modifies any provision of such Documents;
(xi) giving any person or entity the power to accelerate obligations or to foreclose upon collateral without any notice to the obligor;
(xii) providing for the performance by any guarantor of any of the nonmonetary obligations of any person or entity not controlled by such guarantor;
(xiii) providing for restraints on alienation of property and purporting to render transfers of such property void and of no effect or prohibiting or restricting the assignment or transfer of property or rights to the extent that any such prohibition or restriction is ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the OH UCC or of the Del. UCC, as applicable;
(xiv) providing for the payment of attorneys fees; and
(xv) granting any party a power of attorney to act on behalf of the Transaction Parties.
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C. Our opinions as to enforceability are subject to the effect of generally applicable rules of law that:
(i) provide that forum selection clauses in contracts are not necessarily binding on the court(s) in the forum selected; and
(ii) may, where less than all of a contract may be unenforceable, limit the enforceability of the balance of the contract to circumstances in which the unenforceable portion is not an essential part of the agreed exchange, or that permit a court to reserve to itself a decision as to whether any provision of any agreement is severable.
D. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any purported waiver, release, variation, disclaimer, consent or other agreement to similar effect (all of the foregoing, collectively, a Waiver) by any Transaction Party under any of the Documents to the extent limited by the OH UCC, including Sections 1102(3), 9-602 or 9-624 thereof, or other provisions of applicable law (including judicial decisions), or to the extent that such a Waiver applies to a right, claim, duty or defense or a ground for, or a circumstance that would operate as, a discharge or release otherwise existing or occurring as a matter of law (including judicial decisions), except to the extent that such a Waiver is effective under and is not prohibited by or void or invalid under the OH UCC, including Sections 9602 or 9-624 thereof, or other provisions of applicable law (including judicial decisions).
E. Our opinions in paragraphs (j) through (n) are subject to the following assumptions, qualifications and limitations:
(i) Any security interest in the proceeds of collateral is subject in all respects to the limitations set forth in Section 9-315 of the OH UCC or the Del. UCC, as applicable.
(ii) We express no opinion as to the nature or extent of the rights, or the power to transfer rights, of any Transaction Party in, or title of any Transaction Party to, any collateral under any of the Documents, or property purporting to constitute such collateral, or the value, validity or effectiveness for any purpose of any such collateral or purported collateral, and we have assumed that each Transaction Party has sufficient rights in, or power to transfer rights in, all such collateral or purported collateral for the liens and security interests provided for under the Documents to attach. We have assumed the accuracy of the descriptions of the Domestic Patents, Trademarks and Applications and the Copyrights as set forth in the Schedule A to the IP Security Agreement.
(iii) We express no opinion as to the priority of any pledge, security interest, assignment for security, lien or other encumbrance, as the case may be, that may be created or purported to be created under the Documents. Other than as expressly noted in paragraphs (l) through (n) above, we express no opinion as to the perfection of, and other than as expressly noted in paragraphs (j) and (k) above, we express no opinion as
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to the creation, validity or enforceability of, any pledge, security interest, assignment for security, lien or other encumbrance, as the case may be, that may be created or purported to be created under the Documents. We express no opinion as to the creation, validity or enforceability of any pledge, security interest, assignment for security, lien or other encumbrance, as the case may be, that may be created or purported to be created under the Documents in any commercial tort claims.
(iv) In the case of property that becomes collateral under the Documents after the date hereof, Section 552 of the United States Bankruptcy Code limits the extent to which property acquired by a debtor after the commencement of a case under the United States Bankruptcy Code may be subject to a lien arising from a security agreement entered into by the debtor before the commencement of such case.
(v) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of the liens and security interests under the Documents in any item of collateral subject to any restriction on or prohibition against transfer contained in or otherwise applicable to such item of collateral or any contract, agreement, license, permit, security, instrument or document constituting, evidencing or relating to such item, except to the extent that any such restriction is rendered ineffective pursuant to any of Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 and 9-409 of the OH UCC.
(vi) We call to your attention that each of Article 9 of the OH UCC and Article 9 of the Del. UCC requires the filing of continuation statements within the period of six months prior to the expiration of five years from the date of original filing of financing statements under the OH UCC or the Del. UCC, as applicable, in order to maintain the effectiveness of such financing statements and that additional financing statements may be required to be filed to maintain the perfection of security interests if the debtor granting such security interests makes certain changes to its name, or changes its location (including through a change in its jurisdiction of organization) or the location of certain types of collateral, all as provided in the OH UCC or the Del. UCC, as applicable. We specifically disclaim any obligation to render further advice to you as to the need to file any such continuation statements or additional financing statements.
(vii) We call to your attention that an obligor (as defined in the OH UCC) other than a debtor may have rights under Part 6 of Article 9 of the OH UCC.
(viii) With respect to our opinions above as to the perfection of a security interest in the Article 9 Collateral through the filing of a financing statement, we express no opinion with respect to the perfection of any such security interest in any Article 9 Collateral constituting timber to be cut, as extracted collateral, cooperative interests, or property described in
F-14
Section 9-311(a) of the Ohio UCC or the Del. UCC (including, without limitation, property subject to a certificate-of-title statute), and we express no opinion with respect to the effectiveness of any financing statement filed or purported to be filed as a fixture filing.
(ix) We have assumed that each Transaction Party is organized solely under the laws of the state identified as such Transaction Partys jurisdiction of organization in such Transaction Partys applicable Organizational Document and Good Standing Certificate.
(x) We have assumed that the information pertaining to the Collateral Agent in the Ohio Financing Statements and the Delaware Financing Statements is correct in all respects.
F. To the extent it may be relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have assumed that the parties to the Documents (other than the Transaction Parties): (i) are validly existing and in good standing under their respective jurisdictions of organization, (ii) have the power to enter into and perform such agreements and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and (iii) do not require the consent or approval of any third party or governmental authority (which has not been obtained) to execute and deliver such Documents. We have further assumed that with respect to each party to the Documents (other than the Transaction Parties): (i) such Documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitute legal, valid and binding obligation of, such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with their respective terms and (ii) such execution, delivery and performance do not violate any material agreements of such party, any applicable laws or such partys constituent documents.
G. For purposes of the opinions set forth in paragraph (h) above, we have assumed that: (i) the representations of the Borrower in paragraph 8I of the Note Agreement are correct and (ii) neither the Initial Purchaser, any of the Purchasers nor any Transferee has relied or will rely upon any margin stock as collateral in purchasing the Notes pursuant to the Note Agreement.
H. The opinions expressed herein are limited to: (i) the federal laws of the United States of America, the laws of the State of New York and the laws of the State of Ohio and (ii) to the extent relevant to the opinions expressed in paragraphs (a) through (d) above, the DGCL or DLLCA, as applicable, in each case, as currently in effect. Our opinions in paragraph (j) and (k) above are limited to Article 9 of the OH UCC, our opinions in paragraph (n) above is limited to Articles 8 and 9 of the OH UCC, and our opinion in paragraph (l) above is limited to Article 9 of the Del. UCC. As such, the foregoing opinion paragraphs do not address: (i) laws of jurisdictions other than Ohio, Delaware and the United States of America, and laws of Ohio, Delaware and the United States of America except for Articles 8 and 9 of the OH UCC and Article 9 of the Del. UCC, (ii) collateral of a type not subject to Articles 8 or 9 of the UCC and (iii) the choice of law rules of the OH UCC or Del. UCC with respect to the laws of other jurisdictions that may govern perfection and priority of security interests granted in the Collateral.
F-15
I. For purposes of the opinions set forth in paragraph (g) above, we have assumed that the representations of each of you under paragraph 9A of the Note Purchase Agreement are correct. We also have assumed that each of you has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that you are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Notes, and that each of you is an accredited investor as such term is defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act. Finally, we have assumed that neither the Company nor any other entity or person has, in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes, engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 promulgated under the Securities Act.
J. Our opinions as to any matters governed by the Del. UCC are based solely upon our review of the Del. UCC as published in the compilation contained in the CCH Secured Transaction Guide dated as of [ , 20 ], without any review or consideration of any decisions or opinions of courts or other adjudicative bodies or governmental authorities of the State of Delaware, whether or not reported or summarized in the foregoing publication. Our opinions with respect to the DLLCA address only such laws as they are currently in effect and without any review or consideration of any decisions or opinions of courts or other adjudicative bodies or governmental authorities of the State of Delaware.
Our opinions are limited to those expressly set forth herein, and we express no opinions by implication.
We express no opinion as to the compliance or noncompliance, or the effect of the compliance or noncompliance, of each of the addressees or any other person or entity with any state or federal laws or regulations applicable by reason of their status as or affiliation with a federally insured depository institution, except as expressly set forth in paragraph (h) above.
The opinions expressed herein are solely for the benefit of the addressees hereof and of any other person or entity becoming a Purchaser under the Note Agreement or a transferee of a Note, in each case above, in connection with the transaction referred to herein and may not be relied on by such addressees or such other persons or entities for any other purpose or in any manner or for any purpose by any other person or entity.
The opinions expressed herein are valid as of the date hereof. We do not undertake to advise you or anyone else of any changes in the views expressed herein resulting from matters that hereafter might occur or be brought to our attention.
Respectfully submitted, |
SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P. |
F-16
SCHEDULE 6B
EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
Existing Funded Debt:
(i) | Indebtedness of the Company and/or any Subsidiary in connection with: |
a. | the indebtedness listed in the table below; |
b. | the Liens listed on Schedule 6C hereto; |
c. | the letters of credit listed below; |
Set forth below is a list of certain indebtedness of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, including the lender thereof, the Company facility to which it relates, as applicable, and, except as otherwise noted below, the outstanding balance as of September 23, 2010:
* | The Company is in the process of paying off these Industrial Development Revenue Bonds. The payoff date is October 15, 2010. |
** | Maximum Exposure: $5,000,000 plus 50% of interest and other charges. Guaranty by the Company of 50% of amounts outstanding under note(s) outstanding by indirect 50%-owned Joint Venture to Banco Itau. |
LETTERS OF CREDIT |
||||
Outstanding Balance as
of the Closing Day |
||||
Standby or Commercial LOCs |
||||
St. Paul Travelers Insurance Co. |
$ | 8,655,000 | ||
The Hartford Insurance Co. |
$ | 300,000 | ||
State Health Commissioner (VA) |
$ | 100,000 | ||
State Health Commissioner (SC) |
$ | 100,000 | ||
|
|
|||
Subtotal |
$ | 9,155,000 | ||
IDRBs |
||||
Mississippi Business Finance Corp.* |
$ | 100,000 | ||
Orange County Industrial Development Authority* |
$ | 690,000 | ||
Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority |
$ | 2,710,000 | ||
New Jersey Economic Development Authority |
$ | 6,915,000 | ||
|
|
|||
Subtotal |
$ | 10,415,000 |
* | The process to pay off the IDRBs in Jackson, Mississippi and Winter Garden, Florida has been initiated. Upon payoff of these IDRBs, the related letters of credit will be released/terminated. |
SCHEDULE 6C
PERMITTED LIENS
Reference is made to Schedule 6B for a list of the Companys facilities upon which mortgages exist.
Liens securing the obligations under each of the following:
| The IDRB Facilities and the Maturing IDRB Facilities |
| Promissory Note, dated as of February 29, 2008, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with respect to property related to the premises located at 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 |
| Commercial Term Note, dated as of August 17, 2004, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of PNC Bank, National Association (successor to National City Bank) with respect to property related to the premises located at 2650 Hamilton-Eaton Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011 |
| Promissory Note, dated as of July 17, 2003, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of United Financial Bancorp, Inc. (as assignee of General Electric Capital Business Asset Funding Corporation) with respect to property related to the premises located at 58 Wyoming Street, Ludlow, Massachusetts 01056 |
Liens set forth in each of the following:
| The ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. Participation Agreement, as amended from time to time |
| The ADS Latina, LLC Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended from time to time |
| The Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada Interestholders Agreement, as amended from time to time |
Set forth below is a list of all other liens, none of which secure Funded Debt, except as set forth below:
DEBTOR |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00073192577 01/23/2004 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | In lieu of financing statement from New York filed 05/31/2001 for One (1) 2000 Hyster H60XM Challenger | ||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00078476029 06/16/2004 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | One 2004 Case 588G R/T Forklift | ||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00079143934 07/08/2004 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | One Harlo Forklift |
DEBTOR |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00083806057 11/23/2004 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | One Case model forklift | ||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00122851545 01/14/2008 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | One Harlo Forklift and 2 Sellick Forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
1169749 4 3 12/13/2001 |
General Electric Capital Corporation | 560 Citation Aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
22002891 07/29/2002 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | Lease: Forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
22389041 09/17/2002 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | Lease: In lieu of filings from VA, OH, CA, MS, PA, GA, FL, NC, KY, MA, UT, IA, IL, MN, AZ, WA for Forklifts. | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
31824385 * 07/17/2003 |
General Electric Capital Business Asset Funding Corporation | Blanket lien over items located at 58 Wyoming Street, Ludlow, MA 01056 | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
40545881 02/26/2004 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | Lease: Lift trucks and forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
52432004 08/05/2005 |
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. | 1995 Cessna Citation Ultra Aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
63483765 10/09/2006 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Lease: One forklift | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
64187464 12/01/2006 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Lease: Lift trucks and forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
70789700 ** 02/27/2007 |
National City Bank | Blanket lien over assets located at Logan, New Jersey | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
70796804 02/27/2007 |
Comdoc Inc. | Ricoh equipment located at various locations: CA, IN, GA, TX, MN, OH, FL, MS, NC, NY PA |
3 | The Company no longer leases this aircraft. |
DEBTOR |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
71199156 03/30/2007 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Lease: Forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
71425312 04/14/2007 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Lease: Forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
74445465 11/19/2007 |
LaSalle National Leasing Corporation | One Cessna Citation Model Aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
80809341 03/06/2008 |
IBM Credit LLC | IBM Computers | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
81831955 05/29/2008 |
Comdoc, Inc. | Leased Collateral from Contract 24806420 | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
2009-4121445 12/23/09 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (lift truck) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
2010-0075642 01/08/10 |
ComDoc Leasing | Specific leased Xerox office equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
2010-2255481 06/29/10 |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Specific equipment (Cat walk-behind scrubber S/N 57077) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
2010-2255499 06/29/10 |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Specific equipment (Cat walk-behind scrubber S/N 56863) |
* | This lien secures Funded Debt and relates to the mortgage on the Ludlow, MA property described on Schedule 6B. |
** | This lien secures Funded Debt and relates to the mortgage on the Logan, NJ property described on Schedule 6B. |
SCHEDULE 6D
GUARANTIES
The guaranties set forth on Schedule 6B hereto (including, but not limited to, the references to Indebtedness of the Company and/or any Subsidiary, which specifically includes, without duplication, all guaranties and other like contingent obligations).
SCHEDULE 6E
EXISTING LOANS AND INVESTMENTS
| Investments in Joint Ventures set forth on Schedule 6J hereto . With respect to ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. and Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada, the amount of such investments as of August 31, 2010 are as follows: |
|
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. |
$ | 19,319,837 | |||
|
Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada |
$ | 13,418,495 |
| Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has loans outstanding to a current officer and to a former employee. The principal amount of such loans outstanding as of the Closing Date is less than $250,000 (collectively). |
SCHEDULE 6J
EXISTING JOINT VENTURES
Name |
Jurisdiction |
Organization |
Equity Owner |
Percentage Owned | ||||||
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. 4 |
Mexico | Corporation | ADS Worldwide, Inc. | 50 | % | |||||
Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. | 50 | % | ||||||||
ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. 5 |
Mexico | Corporation | ADS Worldwide, Inc. | 50 | % | |||||
Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. | 50 | % | ||||||||
Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada |
Chile | Socìedad de responsiblìdad limitada | Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada | 50 | % | |||||
Tigre Chile S.A. | 50 | % | ||||||||
Tubos y Plásticos Tigre-ADS de Chile Limitada |
Chile | Socìedad de responsiblìdad limitada | Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 99.99998 | % | |||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada | 0.00001 | % | ||||||||
Tigre Chile S.A. | 0.00001 | % | ||||||||
Tubos Tigre-ADS do Brasil Limitada |
Brazil |
Sociedad de responsabilidad limitada | Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 99.8 | % | |||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada | 0.1 | % | ||||||||
Tigre Chile S.A. | 0.1 | % | ||||||||
Tigre-ADS Colombia Limitada |
Colombia | Socìedad de responsiblìdad limitada | Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 98.04 | % | |||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada | 0.98 | % | ||||||||
Tigre Chile S.A. | 0.98 | % | ||||||||
Tigre-ADS Argentina S.R.L. |
Argentina | Socìedad de responsiblìdad limitada | Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 95 | % | |||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada | 2.5 | % | ||||||||
Tigre Chile S.A. | 2.5 | % |
4 | Permitted to be consolidated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but treated as a Joint Venture under this Agreement. |
5 | Permitted to be consolidated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but treated as a Joint Venture under this Agreement. |
SCHEDULE 8A(1)
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Subsidiaries
Name |
Percent Owned | Jurisdiction | Organization | |||||
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. * |
100 | % | Ohio | Corporation | ||||
ADS Worldwide, Inc. * |
100 | % | Delaware | Corporation | ||||
PSA, Inc. * |
100 | % | Maine | Corporation | ||||
ADS Structures, Inc. * |
100 | % | Delaware | Corporation | ||||
ADS Ventures, Inc. * |
100 | % | Delaware | Corporation | ||||
Hancor Holding Corporation * |
100 | % | Delaware | Corporation | ||||
Spartan Concrete, Inc. * |
100 | % | Delaware | Corporation | ||||
Sewer Tap, Inc. * |
100 | % | Oregon | Corporation |
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. Subsidiary
Name |
Percent Owned | Jurisdiction | Organization | |||||
Advanced Drainage Systems International, Inc. |
100 | % | Virgin Islands | Corporation |
ADS Worldwide, Inc. Subsidiaries
Name |
Percent Owned | Jurisdiction | Organization | |||||
ADS International, Inc. * |
100 | % | Delaware | Corporation | ||||
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. 6 |
50 | % | Mexico | Corporation | ||||
ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. 7 |
50 | % | Mexico | Corporation | ||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada |
100 | % 8 | Chile |
Socìedad de
responsiblìdad limitada |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems of Puerto Rico, Inc. |
100 | % | Puerto Rico | Corporation | ||||
ADS Latina, LLC |
50.5 | % 9 | Delaware |
Limited Liability
Company |
6 | Listed as a Subsidiary because it is permitted to be Consolidated under generally accepted accounting principles. |
7 | Listed as a Subsidiary because it is permitted to be Consolidated under generally accepted accounting principles. |
8 | Of 100%, 1% held indirectly through ADS International, Inc. |
9 | Owned by ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (99%) (which is a 50/50 joint venture) and ADS Worldwide, Inc. (1%). |
ADS Ventures, Inc. Subsidiary
Name |
Percent Owned | Jurisdiction | Organization | |||||
StormTech LLC * |
100 | % | Delaware |
Limited Liability
Company |
Hancor Holding Corporation Subsidiaries
Name |
Percent Owned | Jurisdiction | Organization | |||||
Hancor of Canada, Inc. |
100 | % | Ontario | Corporation | ||||
Hancor, Inc. * |
100 | % | Ohio | Corporation |
Hancor, Inc. Subsidiaries
Name |
Percent Owned | Jurisdiction | Organization | |||||
Hancor Leasing Corp. |
100 | % | Ohio | Corporation | ||||
Media Plus, Inc. * |
100 | % | Ohio | Corporation | ||||
Hancor International, Inc. * |
100 | % | Delaware | Corporation | ||||
Hancor, Inc. (NV) |
100 | % | Nevada | Corporation | ||||
Hancor S.A. de C.V. |
100 | % 10 | Mexico | Corporation |
* | Guarantors under the Credit Agreement. |
10 | Of 100%, 2% held indirectly through Hancor International, Inc. |
SCHEDULE 8G
AGREEMENTS RESTRICTING INDEBTEDNESS
1. | The Credit Agreement. |
2. | The Mexicana Credit Agreement. |
3. | Section 8.2 of the Companys By-laws, as amended. 11 |
4. | The ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. Participation Agreement, as amended from time to time. |
11 | The Companys By-laws will be amended and restated on or promptly after the Closing Day. |
SCHEDULE 8K
The UCC-1 Financing Statements to be filed with the secretaries of state of the following states in order to perfect the security interests created pursuant to the Collateral Documents:
1. Ohio
2. Delaware
3. Maine
4. Oregon
SCHEDULE 8Q
COLLATERAL
1. The Company and each Guarantors name, jurisdiction of organization and organizational identification number is as follows:
Each entitys state of organization is as follows:
Entity Name |
Jurisdiction of Organization |
Organizational Identification
Number |
||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware | 0648730 | ||
Hancor Holding Corporation |
Delaware | 2077993 | ||
Hancor, Inc. |
Ohio | 377794 | ||
Media Plus, Inc. |
Ohio | 693585 | ||
Hancor International, Inc. |
Delaware | 4050009 | ||
ADS Ventures, Inc. |
Delaware | 3661954 | ||
PSA, Inc. |
Maine | 19892508 D | ||
ADS Structures, Inc. |
Delaware | 3359868 | ||
ADS Worldwide, Inc. |
Delaware | 2980139 | ||
ADS International, Inc. |
Delaware | 2599057 | ||
Spartan Concrete, Inc. |
Delaware | 4795231 | ||
StormTech LLC |
Delaware | 3673164 | ||
Sewer Tap, Inc. |
Oregon | 413818-98 | ||
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. |
Ohio | 370806 |
2. The location of the Companys and each Guarantors place of business or its chief executive office is set forth below:
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
Hancor Holding Corporation | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
Hancor, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
Media Plus, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH |
Hancor International, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
ADS Ventures, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
PSA, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
ADS Structures, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
ADS International, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
Spartan Concrete, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
StormTech LLC | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
Wethersfield, CT | 20-30 Beaver Road, Suite 104, Wethersfield, CT 06109 | Hartford | CT | |||||
Sewer Tap, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH | ||||
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. | Hilliard, OH | 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026 | Franklin | OH |
3. The following are all the locations where the Company and each Guarantor owns or leases any real estate:
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Atlanta, GA (distribution yard) | 2755 Simpson Circle Atlanta, GA 30071 | Fulton County | GA |
Leased
The Estate of Robert C. Slack |
|||||
Benicia, CA (distribution yard) | 6190 Egret Court Benicia, CA 94510 | Solano County | CA |
Leased
Richard D. Spight trustee for Mary C. Spight Family Trust |
||||||
Birmingham, AL (distribution yard) | 3846 Park Lane S.E. Birmingham, AL 35022 | Jefferson County | AL |
Leased
Kenneth E. Ross |
||||||
Denver, CO (distribution yard) | 6800 Smith Road Denver, CO 80207 | Denver County | CO |
Leased
WWJD Investments, LLC |
||||||
Fontana, CA (distribution yard) | 14562 San Bernardino Avenue Fontana, CA 92335 | San Bernardino County | CA |
Leased
COFAB, LLC |
||||||
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (distribution yard) | 1664 SW 45 th Way Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33442 | Broward County | FL |
Leased
Mora Engineering Contractors, Inc. |
||||||
Houston, TX (distribution yard) | 5751 Shirley Lane Houston, TX 77032 | Harris County | TX |
Leased
Bill G. Cornelius |
||||||
Iowa City, IA (distribution yard) | 3348 Ireland Avenue S.W. Iowa City, IA 52340 | Johnson County | IA |
Leased
D&S Enterprises, AKA Don Goedken |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
Jacksonville, FL (distribution yard) | 987 Bunker Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32043 | Duval County | FL |
Leased
Clay County Port, Inc. d/b/a Reynolds Industrial Park |
||||||
Kansas City, MO (distribution yard) | 4000 N.E. 33 rd Terrace, Suite 2E Kansas City, MO 64117 | Clay County | MO |
Leased
Pursell Holdings, LLC |
||||||
Knoxville, TN (distribution yard) | 10752 Dutchtown Road Knoxville, TN 37923 | Knox County | TN |
Leased
Premiere Enterprise of Whiteville, LLC |
||||||
Las Vegas, NV (distribution yard) | 701 Eastgate Road Las Vegas, NV 89015 | Clark County | NV |
Leased
Hoolys Limited Partnership |
||||||
Little Rock, AR (distribution yard) | 6814 T P White Drive Little Rock, AR 72076 | Pulaski County | AR |
Leased
MidSouth Properties, LLC |
||||||
Milwaukee, WI (distribution yard) | 4285 N. 124 th Street Milwaukee, WI 53005 | Milwaukee County | WI |
Leased
Chris Ganos |
||||||
Nashville, TN (distribution yard) | 713 Lebanon Rd. Nashville, TN 37210 | Davidson County | TN |
Leased
Fesslers Park |
||||||
New Miami, OH (distribution yard) | 2650 Hamilton- Eaton Road New Miami, OH 45011 | Butler County | OH |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
New Richland, MN (distribution yard) | 214 Division Street East New Richland, MN 56072 | Waseca County | MN |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
Oklahoma City, OK (distribution yard) | 1418 E. Reno Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73117 | Oklahoma County | OK |
Leased
Standard Iron and Metal Company |
||||||
Raleigh, NC (distribution yard) | 316 Tyron Road Raleigh, NC 27603 | Wake County | NC |
Leased
Bannister Properties, LLC |
||||||
Springfield, MO (distribution yard) | 1131 West Kathryn Springfield, MO 65714 | Greene County | MO |
Leased
Keith and Carol Smith |
||||||
St. Louis, MO (distribution yard) | 820 Lone Star Drive St. Louis, MO 63366 | St. Louis County | MO |
Leased
Daniel W. Davis Revocable Trust |
||||||
Columbus, OH (trailer rebuild location) | 2399 Refugee Park Columbus, OH 43207 | Franklin County | OH |
Leased
Allied Site Development, Inc. |
||||||
Findlay, OH (trailer rebuild location) | 16489 State Route 12 Findlay, OH 45840 | Hancock County | OH |
Leased
Route 12 Properties, LLC |
||||||
London, OH (customer service office) | 288 East Lafayette Street London, OH 43140 | Madison County | OH |
Leased
Madison County Commissioners |
||||||
Franklin, TN (customer service office) | 144 Southeast Parkway Suite 220 Franklin, TN 37065 | Williamson County | TN |
Leased
Southeast Park Properties, LLC |
||||||
Vancouver, WA (customer service office) | 204 S.E. Stonemill Drive Suite 225 Vancouver, WA 98684 | Clark County | WA |
Leased
Stonemill Business Park, LLC |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
Findlay, OH (customer service office) |
401 Olive Street Findlay, OH 45840 | Hancock County | OH |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Phoenix, AZ (plant) |
525 N. 51 st Avenue Phoenix, AZ | Maricopa County | AZ |
Leased
Phoenix Van Buren Partners LLC |
||||||
Winchester, KY (plant) |
5555 Rockwell Road Winchester, KY | Clark County | KY |
Leased
Vojecaro Properties |
||||||
Bakersfield, CA (storage location) |
140 Vineland Rd. Bakersfield, CA | Kern County | CA |
Leased
Paul Andre & Kern River Partners LLC |
||||||
Eagle Grove, IA (storage location) |
100 N.E. 20 th Street Eagle Grove, IA | Wright County | IA |
Leased
Terrys Rentals |
||||||
Fontana, CA (Nyloplast production location) |
9564 Redwood Avenue Fontana, CA | San Bernardino County | CA |
Leased
COFAB, LLC |
||||||
London, OH (sales office) |
288 East Lafayette Street London, OH 43140 | Madison County | OH |
Leased
Madison County Commissioners |
||||||
Ludlow, MA (storage location) |
58 Wyoming Street Ludlow, MA | Hampden County | MA |
Leased
Michael Mackin |
||||||
Madera, CA (storage location) |
1025 Commerce Dr. Madera, CA | Madera County | CA |
Leased
Dennis Miller and James Page |
||||||
Madera, CA (storage location) |
1043 S. Granada Madera, CA 93637 | Madera County | CA |
Leased
Ultra Gro, LLC |
||||||
Monticello, IL (storage location) |
Lot 15 of Bear Park subdivision Monticello, IL | Piatt County | IL |
Leased
C.G. Getz Corp. |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
New Miami, OH (storage location) |
2650 Hamilton- Eaton Rd. New Miami, OH | Butler County | OH |
Leased
Grace Chapel of Praise |
||||||
Buford, GA (Nyloplast storage location) |
3130 Verona Avenue Buford, GA | Gwinnett and Hall Counties | GA |
Leased
LMSBUF, LLC |
||||||
Olympia, WA (storage location) |
6001 Belmore Street, Ste. 104 Olympia, WA | Thurston County | WA |
Leased
Triway Enterprises I Corp. |
||||||
Arecibo, PR (storage location) |
State Road #2 KM 67.8 Arecibo, PR 00613 | Arecibo Municipality | PR |
Leased
Puerto Rico Industrial Development |
||||||
Vancouver, WA (sales office) |
204 S.E. Stonemill Dr., Ste. 225 Vancouver, WA | Clark County | WA |
Leased
Ultra Grow |
||||||
Sebring, FL (plant) |
1 Ulmann Drive Sebring, FL | Highlands County | FL |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Mendota, IL (plant) |
1600 Industrial Drive Mendota, IL | LaSalle County | IL |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Bakersfield, CA (plant) |
140 Vineland Road Bakersfield, CA | Kern County | CA |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Buford, GA (plant) |
3130 Verona Avenue Buford, GA | Gwinnett County | GA |
Owned
ADS Structures, Inc. |
||||||
Buena Vista, VA (plant) |
510 Factory Street Buena Vista, VA | Buena Vista County | VA |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
Bessemer City, NC (plant) |
902 East Maine Avenue Bessemer City, NC | Gaston County | NC |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Ennis, TX (plant) |
210 Metro Park Blvd. Ennis, TX | Ennis County | TX |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Fairmont, MN (plant) |
1001 Timberlake Road Fairmont, MN | Martin County | MN |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Fontana, CA (plant) |
14562 San Bernardino Avenue Fontana, CA | San Bernardino County | CA |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Jackson, MS (plant) |
205 Apache Drive Jackson, MS | Hinds County | MS |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Calhoun, KY (plant) |
121 Buck Creek Church Road Calhoun, KY | McLean County | KY |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Bridgeport, NJ (plant) |
300 Progress Ct. Logan Township Bridgeport, NJ | Gloucester County | NJ |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
London, OH (plant) |
400 East High Street London, OH | Madison County | OH |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
Ludlow, MA (plant) |
58 Wyoming Street Ludlow, MA | Hampden County | MA |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Madera, CA (plant) |
1025 Commerce Drive Madera, CA | Madera County | CA |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
North Springfield, VT (plant) |
30 Precision Drive North Springfield, VT | Windsor County | VT |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Napoleon, OH (plant) |
1075 Independence Drive Napoleon, OH | Henry County | OH |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
New Miami, OH (plant) |
2650 Hamilton- Eaton Road New Miami, OH | Butler County | OH |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Owasso, MI (plant) |
770 South Chestnut Street Owasso, MI | Shiawassee County | MI |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Perry, GA (plant) |
1005 Valley Drive Perry, GA | Houston County | GA |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Arecibo, PR (plant) |
Santana Industrial Park Road 2 KM 67.8 Arecibo, PR | Arecibo, PR | PR |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems of Puerto Rico, Inc. |
||||||
Vicksburg, MS (plant) |
5695 Highway 61 South Vicksburg, MS | Warren County | MS |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
Yoakum, TX (plant) |
801 Hickory Street Yoakum, TX | DeWitt County | TX |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
New Richland, MN (plant) |
214 Division Street East New Richland, MN | Waseca County | MN |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Cordele, GA (plant) |
1013 West 11 th Avenue Cordele, GA | Crisp County | GA |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Brazil, IN (plant) |
2430 East Highway 40 Brazil, IN | Clay County | IN |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Eagle Grove, IA (plant) |
100 NE 20 th Street and 2541 Highway 17 Eagle Grove, IA | Wright County | IA |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Muncy, PA (plant) |
173 Industrial Parkway North Muncy, PA | Lycoming County | PA |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Oelwein, IA (plant) |
18575 60 th Street Oelwein, IA | Fayette County | IA |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Tumwater, WA (plant) |
6001 Belmore Street SW Tumwater, WA | Thurston County | WA | Owned | ||||||
North Salt Lake, UT (plant) |
240 North 400 West North Salt Lake, UT | Davis County | UT |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Washougal, WA (plant) |
627 South 37 th Street Washougal, WA | Clark County | WA |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
Waverly, NY (plant) |
1 William Donnelly Industrial Parkway Waverly, NY | Tioga County | NY |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Wooster, OH (plant) |
3110 West Old Lincoln Way Wooster, OH | Wayne County | OH |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Mebane, NC (plant) |
5816 Highway 70 East Mebane, NC | Orange County | NC |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Winter Garden, FL (plant) |
115 West Crown Point Road Winter Garden, FL | Orange County | FL |
Owned
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
||||||
Findlay, OH (plant) |
433 Olive Street Findlay, OH | Hancock County | OH |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Findlay, OH (plant) |
12370 County Road 172 Findlay, OH | Hancock County | OH |
Owned
Hancor, Inc. |
||||||
Hancor Holding Corporation | None | None | None | None | None | |||||
Hancor, Inc. | None | None | None | None | None | |||||
Media Plus, Inc. | None | None | None | None | None | |||||
Hancor International, Inc. | None | None | None | None | None | |||||
ADS Ventures, Inc. | None | None | None | None | None | |||||
PSA, Inc. | None | None | None | None | None | |||||
ADS Structures, Inc. |
Saginaw, TX (DrainTech molds) |
1001 Jarvis Road Saginaw, TX 76179 | Tarrant County | TX | DFW Alliance Corp. |
Entity |
Name of City or Location |
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
Record Owner of Real Estate |
|||||
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | None | None | None | None | None | |||||
ADS International, Inc. | None | None | None | None | None | |||||
Spartan Concrete, Inc. |
Winston-Salem, NC (plant) |
11875 North NC Hwy 150 Winston-Salem, NC | Forsythe County | NC |
Leased
Dorothy B. Sowers and George F. Sowers |
|||||
Pineville, NC (yard) |
940 Crafters Lane Pineville, NC | Mecklenburg County | NC |
Leased
Piedmont Concrete, LLC |
||||||
Charlotte, NC (plant) |
8916 South Boulevard Charlotte, NC | Mecklenburg County | NC |
Leased
Piedmont Concrete, LLC |
||||||
StormTech LLC |
Wethersfield, CT (storage location) |
20-30 Beaver Road, Ste. 104 Wethersfield, CT | Hartford County | CT |
Leased
Hollister & Moore |
|||||
Sewer Tap, Inc. | Forest Grove, OR | 3707 24 th Avenue Forest Grove, OR | Washington County | OR |
Leased
Barbara T. Kief Revocable Trust UTA |
|||||
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. | None | None | None | None | None |
4. The following is a list of trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, and patents which are owned or licensed by the Company or any Subsidiary:
Copyrights None.
Patents The attached Patent list is hereby incorporated by reference.
Trademarks and Service Marks The attached Trademark/Service Mark list is hereby incorporated by reference.
Trade Names and Service Names Except as set forth below, the Company and each Subsidiary uses no trade names, service names or fictitious names. Each such entitys true and full name is as follows:
Entity Name |
Other Name(s) |
|
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
ADS (Unregistered Trade Name) ADS, Inc. (Unregistered Trade Name) Century Plastics (Assumed Name) Century Plastics, Inc. (Assumed Name) |
|
Hancor Holding Corporation | None | |
Hancor, Inc. | Hancor of Michigan, Inc. (Former Legal Name of Entity Merged into Hancor, Inc. in 2006) | |
Media Plus, Inc. | None | |
Hancor International, Inc. | None | |
ADS Ventures, Inc. | None | |
PSA, Inc. | None | |
ADS Structures, Inc. | None | |
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | None | |
ADS International, Inc. | None | |
Spartan Concrete, Inc. |
Foltz Concrete Pipe Company (Assumed Name) Piedmont Concrete (Unregistered Trade Name) |
|
StormTech LLC | None | |
Sewer Tap, Inc. |
Inserta Fittings Co. (Assumed Business Name) Inserta Tee (Unregistered Trade Name) |
|
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. | None |
Exhibit 10.3A
December 12, 2011
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Re: | Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010 (the Note Agreement ), between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and each other Prudential Affiliate as therein defined which becomes bound by certain provisions thereof as therein provided, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement.
The Company has requested a certain amendment to the Note Agreement as set forth below and Prudential and the holders of the Notes executing this letter are willing to agree to such amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 . Amendment . From and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof) the definition of Leverage Ratio contained in paragraph 10B of the Note Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
Leverage Ratio shall mean ratio of consolidated total Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding any Indebtedness arising from reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under standby letters of credit in an aggregate amount not exceeding $10,000,000) to Consolidated EBITDAE, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended.
SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to Prudential and each holder of a Note that, (i) the execution and delivery of this letter has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor, this letter has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, and the Company and each Guarantor has obtained all authorizations, consents, and approval necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this letter and such authorizations, consents and approval are in full force and effect and (ii) after giving effect hereto (a) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8 of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date) and (b) no Event of Default or Default exists.
SECTION 3. Conditions Precedent . The amendment in Section 1 of this letter agreement shall become effective on the date (the Effective Date ) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
3.1. Documents . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received original counterparts of this letter executed by Prudential, the Required Holders, the Company and each Guarantor.
3.2. Credit Agreement/Mexicana Credit Agreement Amendments . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received an amendment to each of (i) the Credit Agreement and (ii) the Mexicana Credit Agreement, pursuant to which the definition of Leverage Ratio in each of such agreement is amended to be consistent with the definition of Leverage Ratio set forth in this letter agreement, in each case in form and substance acceptable to Prudential and the Required Holders.
3.3 Material Adverse Effect . Since March 31, 2011, no event causing a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Company or the Guarantors.
3.4. Fees of Special Counsel to Prudential . All reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to Prudential and the holders of the Notes to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Effective Date shall have been paid (which shall be paid directly to such counsel).
3.5. Representations . All statements set forth in Section 2 shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date, except to the extent that any such statement expressly relates to an earlier date (in which case such statement was true and correct on and as of such earlier date).
3.6. Secretarys Certificate . The Company and each Guarantor shall have delivered to Prudential and each holder of a Note, a certificate dated the Effective Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, on behalf of itself and the Guarantors, certifying as appropriate as to:
(i) that the Company and each Guarantor have approved the amendment contained in Section 1 and this letter by all necessary corporate, limited liability company and partnership action, as applicable;
(ii) the names of the officer or officers authorized to sign this letter and the true signatures of such officer or officers and specifying the officers permitted to act on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor for purposes of this letter and the true signatures of such officers, on which Prudential and each holder of a Note may conclusively rely; and
(iii) copies of the Companys and each Guarantors organizational documents, including, as applicable, its certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, and limited liability company agreement as in effect on the Effective Date, certified by the corporate secretary of other appropriate officer, or alternatively, a certification by such corporate secretary or other appropriate officer that such documents remain unchanged and in full force and effect since the time of the certification provided to the Prudential on September 24, 2010;
- 2 -
3.7. Proceedings . All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this letter shall be satisfactory to Prudential and each holder of a Note and its counsel, and Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.
SECTION 4. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Note Agreement . Upon the effectiveness of the amendments to the Note Agreement made in this letter, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in Section 1 hereof, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of a Note, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of the Note Agreement or Note at any time. Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that Prudential and any holder of a Note has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any amendments to the Note Agreement or any Note in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
SECTION 5. Expenses . The Company hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by Prudential or any holder of a Note, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by Prudential or such holder of a Note in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of Company under this Section 5 shall survive transfer by any holder of a Note of any Note and payment of any Note.
SECTION 6. Governing Law . THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 7. Reaffirmation . Each Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing amendment to the Note Agreement and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of their payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty Agreement after giving effect to such amendment. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing amendment, that the Guaranty Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Guaranty Agreement continues to guaranty the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement) arising under or in connection with the Note Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, as the same are amended by this letter agreement.
- 3 -
SECTION 8. Counterparts; Section Titles . This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
[signature page follows]
- 4 -
Very Truly Yours, | ||||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|||
Vice President | ||||
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA |
||||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|||
Vice President |
||||
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY |
||||
By: |
Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as investment manager |
|||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|||
Vice President |
||||
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | ||||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|||
Vice President |
Accepted and Agreed: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. |
||
ADS WORLDWIDE, INC. |
||
PSA, INC. |
||
ADS STRUCTURES, INC. |
||
ADS VENTURES, INC. |
||
ADS INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
||
HANCOR HOLDING CORPORATION |
||
HANCOR, INC. |
||
MEDIA PLUS, INC. |
||
HANCOR INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
||
SPARTAN CONCRETE, INC. |
||
SEWER TAP, INC. |
||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE OF OHIO, INC. |
||
By: |
/s/ Mark Sturgeon |
|
Name: |
Mark Sturgeon | |
Title: |
Secretary and Treasurer | |
STORMTECH LLC |
||
By: |
/s/ Ronald R. Vitarelli |
|
Name: |
Ronald R. Vitarelli | |
Title: |
General Manager |
Exhibit 10.3B
March 9, 2012
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Re: Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated December 12, 2011 (as so amended, the Note Agreement ), between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and each other Prudential Affiliate as therein defined which becomes bound by certain provisions thereof as therein provided, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement.
The Company has requested that Prudential and the holders of the Notes amend the Note Agreement to exclude the Corkery Acquisition (as defined below) and the Quality Culvert Acquisition (as defined below) from the limitations set forth in paragraph 6G(v) of the Note Agreement. The Company has also requested that Prudential and the holders of the Notes waive the Companys and the other Transaction Parties failure to comply with paragraph 6G(v)(9) of the Note Agreement in connection with the Corkery Acquisition, which, among other matters, requires delivery of acquisition documents on or before the closing date of a Permitted Acquisition.
Prudential and the holders of the Notes executing this letter agreement are willing to agree to such amendments and waiver in the form and on the terms and conditions set forth below. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 . Amendments . From and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof) the parties hereto agree that the Note Agreement is amended as follows:
1.1. Clause (8) of paragraph 6G(v) of the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(8) the aggregate consideration for all Permitted Acquisitions, excluding the aggregate consideration for the Corkery Acquisition and the Quality Culvert Acquisition, shall not exceed (a) $25,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Company, or (b) $75,000,000 in the aggregate;
1.2. Paragraph 10B is hereby amended by adding the following definitions in proper alphabetical sequence:
Corkery Acquisition shall mean the acquisition by Green Line Polymers, as assignee of the Company, of all or substantially all of the assets of Corkery Industries, Inc., an Iowa corporation, all as more fully set forth in the Corkery Acquisition Documents.
Corkery Acquisition Documents shall mean, collectively, the Corkery Purchase Agreement (and all exhibits and schedules thereto) and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed and/or delivered pursuant thereto.
Corkery Purchase Agreement shall mean that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2012, by and among Green Line Polymers, as assignee of the Company, as the buyer, Corkery Industries, Inc., an Iowa corporation, as the seller, and the Corkery Shareholders and other Parties (each as defined therein).
Green Line Polymers shall mean Green Line Polymers, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a Guarantor.
Quality Culvert Acquisition shall mean the acquisition by the Company of all or substantially all of the assets of the Plastic Pipe Business (as defined in the Quality Culvert Purchase Agreement) of the Quality Culvert Sellers, all as more fully set forth in the Quality Culvert Acquisition Documents.
Quality Culvert Acquisition Documents shall mean, collectively, the Quality Culvert Purchase Agreement (and all exhibits and schedules thereto) and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed and/or delivered pursuant thereto.
Quality Culvert Purchase Agreement shall mean that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2012, by and among the Company, as the buyer, the Quality Culvert Sellers, as the sellers, and the other Parties (as defined therein).
Quality Culvert Sellers shall mean, collectively, Quality Culvert, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, and County Pipe Corp., a Wisconsin corporation.
SECTION 2. Waiver . Prudential and the holders of the Notes hereby waive the Events of Default resulting from Companys and the other Transaction Parties failure to deliver the Corkery Acquisition Documents as required under paragraph 6G(v)(9) of the Note Agreement, as long as such Corkery Acquisition Documents are delivered by the Effective Date.
SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to Prudential and each holder of a Note that, (i) the execution and delivery of this letter agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor, this letter agreement has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, and the Company and each Guarantor has obtained all authorizations, consents, and approval necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement and such authorizations, consents and approval are in full force and effect, (ii) after giving effect hereto (a) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8
- 2 -
of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date), (b) no Event of Default or Default exists and (c) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has paid or agreed to pay, and the Company and its Subsidiaries will not pay or agree to pay, any other fees or other consideration to the Bank Agent or any Bank (other than the legal fees paid to counsel for the Banks and Bank Agent) for or with respect to the amendments or waivers to the Credit Agreement or the Mexicana Credit Agreement referred to in Section 4.2 below.
SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent . The amendment in Section 1 of this letter agreement and the waiver in Section 2 of this letter agreement shall become effective on the date (the Effective Date ) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
4.1. Documents . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received original counterparts of this letter executed by Prudential, the Required Holders, the Company and each Guarantor.
4.2. Credit Agreement Amendment and Credit Agreement and Mexicana Credit Agreement Waivers . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received (i) an amendment to the Credit Agreement pursuant to which the Corkery Acquisition and the Quality Culvert Acquisition are excluded from Section 8.2.6.5(viii) of the Credit Agreement to be consistent with the amendment to paragraph 6G(v)(8) of the Note Agreement as set forth in this letter agreement, and (ii) a waiver under each of the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement to be consistent with the waiver set forth in Section 2 of this letter agreement, in each case in form and substance acceptable to Prudential and the Required Holders.
4.3. Acquisition Documents . The Company and each Guarantor shall have delivered to Prudential and the holders of the Notes, correct and complete copies of all of the executed Corkery Acquisition Documents and the Quality Culvert Acquisition Documents and all of the documents related thereto as set forth in and required under paragraph 6G(v)(9) of the Note Agreement;
4.4. Material Adverse Effect . Since March 31, 2011, no event causing a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Company or the Guarantors.
4.5. Fees of Special Counsel to Prudential . All reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to Prudential and the holders of the Notes to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Effective Date shall have been paid (which shall be paid directly to such counsel).
4.6. Representations . All statements set forth in Section 3 shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date, except to the extent that any such statement expressly relates to an earlier date (in which case such statement was true and correct on and as of such earlier date).
4.7. Certificates. The Company and each Guarantor, by its execution and delivery of this letter agreement, shall have and be deemed to have certified to Prudential and the holders of the Notes that the certificates dated the December 12, 2011 and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, on behalf of itself and the Guarantors, remain true, correct and complete on and as of the Effective Date.
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4.8. Proceedings . All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this letter agreement shall be satisfactory to Prudential and each holder of a Note and its counsel, and Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.
SECTION 5. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Note Agreement . Upon the effectiveness of the amendment to the Note Agreement made in this letter agreement, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in Sections 1 and 2 hereof, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of a Note, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of the Note Agreement or Note at any time. Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that Prudential and any holder of a Note has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any amendments to the Note Agreement or any Note in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
SECTION 6. Expenses . The Company hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by Prudential or any holder of a Note, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by Prudential or such holder of a Note in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of Company under this Section 6 shall survive transfer by any holder of a Note of any Note and payment of any Note.
SECTION 7. Governing Law . THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 8. Reaffirmation . Each Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing amendment to the Note Agreement and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of their payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty Agreement after giving effect to such amendment. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing amendment, that the Guaranty Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Guaranty Agreement continues to guaranty the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement) arising under or in connection with the Note Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, as the same are amended by this letter agreement.
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SECTION 9. Counterparts; Section Titles . This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
[signature page follows]
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Very Truly Yours, | ||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY |
||
By: | Prudential Investment Management, Inc., | |
as investment manager | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President |
LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Accepted and Agreed: | ||
COMPANY: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
GUARANTORS: | ||
ADS WORLDWIDE, INC. | ||
PSA, INC. | ||
ADS STRUCTURES, INC. | ||
ADS VENTURES, INC. | ||
ADS INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
HANCOR HOLDING CORPORATION | ||
HANCOR, INC. | ||
MEDIA PLUS, INC. | ||
HANCOR INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
SPARTAN CONCRETE, INC. | ||
SEWER TAP, INC. | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE OF OHIO, INC. | ||
GREEN LINE POLYMERS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Ronald R. Vitarelli |
|
Name: | Ronald R. Vitarelli | |
Title: | General Manager |
LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3C
March 30, 2012
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Re: | Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated December 12, 2011 and Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 9, 2012 (as so amended, the Note Agreement ), between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and each other Prudential Affiliate as therein defined which becomes bound by certain provisions thereof as therein provided, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement.
The Company has requested that Prudential and the holders of the Notes further amend the Note Agreement in connection with the ADS Aircraft Lease (as defined below) and authorize the Collateral Agents Disclaimer of Security Interest (as defined below) related thereto.
Prudential and the holders of the Notes executing this letter agreement are willing to agree to such amendments and authorization in the form and on the terms and conditions set forth below. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 . Amendments . From and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof) the parties hereto agree that the Note Agreement is amended as follows:
1.1. Clause (vii) of the definition of Permitted Liens in paragraph 10B of the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(vii) Any Lien existing on the date of this Agreement or any date hereafter and described on Schedule 6C , and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that the principal amount secured thereby is not hereafter increased, and no additional assets become subject to such Lien;
1.2. Schedule 6C to the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as attached to this letter agreement as Schedule 6C .
SECTION 2. Consent . In connection with the consummation of the ADS Aircraft Lease, Prudential and the holders of the Notes hereby authorize and consent to the Collateral Agents execution and delivery of the Disclaimer of Security Interest in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1 (the Disclaimer of Security Interest ), to the Owner Trustee (as defined therein).
SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to Prudential and each holder of a Note that, (i) the execution and delivery of this letter agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor, this letter agreement has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, and the Company and each Guarantor has obtained all authorizations, consents, and approval necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement and such authorizations, consents and approval are in full force and effect, (ii) after giving effect hereto (a) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8 of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date), (b) no Event of Default or Default exists and (c) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has paid or agreed to pay, and the Company and its Subsidiaries will not pay or agree to pay, any other fees or other consideration to the Bank Agent or any Bank (other than the legal fees paid to counsel for the Banks and Bank Agent) for or with respect to the amendments or waivers to the Credit Agreement or the Mexicana Credit Agreement referred to in Section 4.2 below.
SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent . The amendment in Section 1 of this letter agreement and the waiver in Section 2 of this letter agreement shall become effective on the date (the Effective Date ) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
4.1. Documents . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received original counterparts of this letter executed by Prudential, the Required Holders, the Company and each Guarantor.
4.2. Credit Agreement Amendment and Credit Agreement and Mexicana Credit Agreement Waivers . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received an amendment to each of the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement pursuant to which (i) the Credit Agreement or the Mexicana Credit Agreement, as the case may be, is amended to be consistent with the amendments of the Note Agreement as set forth in this letter agreement, and (ii) the Banks and the Bank Agent authorize and consent to the Collateral Agents execution and delivery of the Disclaimer of Security Interest to the Owner Trustee, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Prudential and the Required Holders.
4.3. ADS Aircraft Lease . The Company and each Guarantor shall have delivered to the holders of the Notes true, correct and complete copies of the Aircraft Lease (S/N 560-6103), dated on or about the Effective Date, executed by the Company, as lessee thereunder, and Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Owner Trustee under Trust Agreement dated as of April 3, 2006, as lessor thereunder, (the ADS Aircraft Lease ), and all of the other agreements, documents and instruments in connection therewith, all of which in form and substance satisfactory to Prudential and the Required Holders.
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4.4. Material Adverse Effect . Since March 31, 2011, no event causing a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Company or the Guarantors.
4.5. Fees of Special Counsel to Prudential . All reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to Prudential and the holders of the Notes to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Effective Date shall have been paid (which shall be paid directly to such counsel).
4.6. Representations . All statements set forth in Section 3 shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date, except to the extent that any such statement expressly relates to an earlier date (in which case such statement was true and correct on and as of such earlier date).
4.7. Certificates. The Company and each Guarantor, by its execution and delivery of this letter agreement, shall have and be deemed to have certified to Prudential and the holders of the Notes that the certificates dated the December 12, 2011 and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, on behalf of itself and the Guarantors, remain true, correct and complete on and as of the Effective Date.
4.8. Proceedings . All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this letter agreement shall be satisfactory to Prudential and each holder of a Note and its counsel, and Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.
SECTION 5. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Note Agreement . Upon the effectiveness of the amendments to the Note Agreement made in this letter agreement, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in Section 1 hereof, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of a Note, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of the Note Agreement or Note at any time. Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that Prudential and any holder of a Note has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any amendments to the Note Agreement or any Note in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
SECTION 6. Expenses . The Company hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by Prudential or any holder of a Note, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by Prudential or such holder of a Note in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of Company under this Section 6 shall survive transfer by any holder of a Note of any Note and payment of any Note.
- 3 -
SECTION 7. Governing Law . THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 8. Reaffirmation . Each Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing amendment to the Note Agreement and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of their payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty Agreement after giving effect to such amendment. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing amendment, that the Guaranty Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Guaranty Agreement continues to guaranty the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement) arising under or in connection with the Note Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, as the same are amended by this letter agreement.
SECTION 9. Counterparts; Section Titles . This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
[signature page follows]
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Very Truly Yours, | ||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Joshua Shipley |
|
Vice President | ||
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA |
||
By: |
/s/ Joshua Shipley |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY |
||
By: |
Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as investment manager |
|
By: |
/s/ Joshua Shipley |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Joshua Shipley |
|
Vice President |
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Accepted and Agreed:
COMPANY: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
GUARANTORS: | ||
ADS WORLDWIDE, INC. | ||
PSA, INC. | ||
ADS STRUCTURES, INC. | ||
ADS VENTURES, INC. | ||
ADS INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
HANCOR HOLDING CORPORATION | ||
HANCOR, INC. | ||
MEDIA PLUS, INC. | ||
HANCOR INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
SPARTAN CONCRETE, INC. | ||
SEWER TAP, INC. | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE OF OHIO, INC. | ||
GREEN LINE POLYMERS, INC. |
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Ronald R. Vitarelli |
|
Name: | Ronald R. Vitarelli | |
Title: | General Manager |
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 6C
PERMITTED LIENS
Reference is made to Schedule 6B for a list of the Companys facilities upon which mortgages exist.
Liens securing the obligations under each of the following:
| The IDRB Facilities |
| Promissory Note, dated as of February 29, 2008, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with respect to property related to the premises located at 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 |
| Commercial Term Note, dated as of August 17, 2004, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of PNC Bank, National Association (successor to National City Bank) with respect to property related to the premises located at 2650 Hamilton-Eaton Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011 |
| Promissory Note, dated as of July 17, 2003, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of United Financial Bancorp, Inc. (as assignee of General Electric Capital Business Asset Funding Corporation) with respect to property related to the premises located at 58 Wyoming Street, Ludlow, Massachusetts 01056 |
Liens set forth in each of the following:
| The ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. Participation Agreement, as amended from time to time |
| The ADS Latina, LLC Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended from time to time |
| The Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada Interestholders Agreement, as amended from time to time |
Any Liens or security interests in Collateral or the Purchase Documents (both as defined in the Aircraft Lease as in effect on March 30, 2012) in favor of The Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee under Trust Agreement dated as of April 3, 2006 (the Lessor ), relating to that certain leased Cessna Model 560XL aircraft or arising under that certain (i) Aircraft Lease (as in effect on March 30, 2012), (ii) that certain Assignment of Purchase Agreement, dated on or about March 30, 2012, among the Lessor, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Cessna Aircraft Company (as in effect on March 30, 2012) or (iii) any other documentation related to any of the foregoing documents or to the transactions described therein.
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Set forth below is a list of all other liens, none of which secure Funded Debt, except as set forth below:
DEBTOR |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00073192577 01/23/2004 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | In lieu of financing statement from New York filed 05/31/2001 for One (1) 2000 Hyster H60XM Challenger | ||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00078476029 06/16/2004 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | One 2004 Case 588G R/T Forklift | ||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00079143934 07/08/2004 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | One Harlo Forklift | ||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00083806057 11/23/2004 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | One Case model forklift | ||||
Hancor, Inc. | OH Secretary of State |
OH00122851545 01/14/2008 |
Gelco Corporation dbs GE Fleet Services | One Harlo Forklift and 2 Sellick Forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
1169749 4 1 12/13/2001 |
General Electric Capital Corporation | 560 Citation Aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
22002891 07/29/2002 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | Lease: Forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
22389041 09/17/2002 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | Lease: In lieu of filings from VA, OH, CA, MS, PA, GA, FL, NC, KY, MA, UT, IA, IL, MN, AZ, WA for Forklifts. | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
31824385 * 07/17/2003 |
General Electric Capital Business Asset Funding Corporation | Blanket lien over items located at 58 Wyoming Street, Ludlow, MA 01056 | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
40545881 02/26/2004 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | Lease: Lift trucks and forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
52432004 08/05/2005 |
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. | 1995 Cessna Citation Ultra Aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
63483765 10/09/2006 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Lease: One forklift |
1 |
The Company no longer leases this aircraft. |
DEBTOR |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
64187464 12/01/2006 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Lease: Lift trucks and forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
70789700 ** 02/27/2007 |
National City Bank | Blanket lien over assets located at Logan, New Jersey | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
70796804 02/27/2007 |
Comdoc Inc. | Ricoh equipment located at various locations: CA, IN, GA, TX, MN, OH, FL, MS, NC, NY PA | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
71199156 03/30/2007 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Lease: Forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
71425312 04/14/2007 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Lease: Forklifts | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
74445465 11/19/2007 |
LaSalle National Leasing Corporation | One Cessna Citation Model Aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
80809341 03/06/2008 |
IBM Credit LLC | IBM Computers | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
81831955 05/29/2008 |
Comdoc, Inc. | Leased Collateral from Contract 24806420 | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
2009-4121445 12/23/09 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (lift truck) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
2010-0075642 01/08/10 |
ComDoc Leasing | Specific leased Xerox office equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
2010-2255481 06/29/10 |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Specific equipment (Cat walk-behind scrubber S/N 57077) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | DE Secretary of State |
2010-2255499 06/29/10 |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Specific equipment (Cat walk-behind scrubber S/N 56863) |
* | This lien secures Funded Debt and relates to the mortgage on the Ludlow, MA property described on Schedule 6B. |
** | This lien secures Funded Debt and relates to the mortgage on the Logan, NJ property described on Schedule 6B. |
Exhibit 10.3D
April 26, 2013
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Re: | Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated December 12, 2011, Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 9, 2012 and Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 30, 2012 (as so amended, the Note Agreement ), between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and each other Prudential Affiliate as therein defined which becomes bound by certain provisions thereof as therein provided, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement.
The Company has requested that Prudential and the holders of the Notes further amend the Note Agreement in connection with the following transactions, the effect of which will be the acquisition by ADS Worldwide, Inc. ( ADS Worldwide ) of an additional one percent (1%) of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. ( ADS Mexicana ) and ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. ( ADS Corporativo ), each an existing Joint Venture, in order for each of ADS Mexicana and ADS Corporativo to continue to be a Joint Venture and not a Subsidiary of the Transaction Parties for the purposes of the terms and conditions of the Note Agreement applicable to a Subsidiary of the Transaction Parties: (i) ADS Worldwides intercompany loan to and contribution to the capital of ADS Mexicana, the proceeds of which ADS Mexicana will apply to the issuance of additional equity interests to ADS Worldwide and to the redemption of certain issued and outstanding equity interests of ADS Mexicana held by Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. and (ii) ADS Worldwides intercompany loan to and contribution to the capital of ADS Corporativo, the proceeds of which ADS Corporativo will apply to the issuance of additional equity interests to ADS Worldwide and/or to the redemption of certain issued and outstanding equity interests of ADS Corporativo held by Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. (collectively, the Transaction ).
Prudential and the holders of the Notes executing this letter agreement are willing to agree to such amendment in the form and on the terms and conditions set forth below. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 . Amendments . From and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof) the parties hereto agree that the Note Agreement is amended as follows:
1.1. Paragraph 10B of the Note Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating the definition of Subsidiary in its entirety to read as follows:
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any Person, at the time of determination, any corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity: (i) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies thereof is at such time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries or (ii) which is at such time is controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries; provided that in determining the percentage of ownership interest of any Person , no ownership interest in the nature of a qualifying share of any such corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity shall be deemed outstanding; provided further , so long as no Transaction Party owns more than 51.0% of the total voting power of ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V. or ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V., respectively, each such entity shall not constitute a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement.
1.2. Schedule 6J to the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as attached to this letter agreement as Schedule 6J .
SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to Prudential and each holder of a Note that (i) the Transaction is permitted under the terms and conditions of the Note Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, and prior to giving effect to the amendments contained herein, (ii) the execution and delivery of this letter agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor, this letter agreement has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, and the Company and each Guarantor has obtained all authorizations, consents, and approval necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement and such authorizations, consents and approval are in full force and effect and (iii) after giving effect hereto (a) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8 of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date), (b) no Event of Default or Default exists and (c) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has paid or agreed to pay, and the Company and its Subsidiaries will not pay or agree to pay, any other fees or other consideration to the Bank Agent or any Bank (other than the legal fees paid to counsel for the Banks and Bank Agent) for or with respect to the amendments to the Credit Agreement or the Mexicana Credit Agreement referred to in Section 3.2 below.
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SECTION 3. Conditions Precedent . The amendments in Section 1 of this letter agreement shall become effective on the date (the Effective Date ) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
3.1. Documents . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received original counterparts of this letter agreement executed by Prudential, the Required Holders, the Company and each Guarantor.
3.2. Credit Agreement Amendment and Credit Agreement and Mexicana Credit Agreement Waivers . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received an amendment to each of the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement pursuant to which the Credit Agreement or the Mexicana Credit Agreement, as the case may be, is amended to be consistent with the amendments of the Note Agreement as set forth in this letter agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Prudential and the Required Holders.
3.3. Certificates .
(a) The Company and each Guarantor (other than Green Line Polymers, Inc.), by its execution and delivery of this letter agreement, shall have and be deemed to have certified to Prudential and the holders of the Notes that the certificates dated the December 12, 2011 and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, on behalf of itself and the Guarantors, remain true, correct and complete on and as of the Effective Date.
(b) Green Line Polymers, Inc., by its execution and delivery of this letter agreement, shall have and be deemed to have certified to the Prudential and the holders of the Notes that the certificate dated February 9, 2012 and signed by the Secretary of Green Line Polymers, Inc. remains true, correct and complete on and as of the Effective Date.
3.4. Material Adverse Effect . Since March 31, 2012, no event causing a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Company or the Guarantors.
3.5. Fees of Special Counsel to Prudential . All reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to Prudential and the holders of the Notes to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Effective Date shall have been paid (which shall be paid directly to such counsel).
3.6. Representations . All statements set forth in Section 2 shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date, except to the extent that any such statement expressly relates to an earlier date (in which case such statement was true and correct on and as of such earlier date).
3.7. Proceedings . All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this letter agreement shall be satisfactory to Prudential and each holder of a Note and its counsel, and Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.
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SECTION 4. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Note Agreement . Upon the effectiveness of the amendments to the Note Agreement made in this letter agreement, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in Section 1 hereof, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of a Note, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of the Note Agreement or Note at any time. Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that Prudential and any holder of a Note has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any amendments to the Note Agreement or any Note in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
SECTION 5. Expenses . The Company hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by Prudential or any holder of a Note, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by Prudential or such holder of a Note in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of Company under this Section 5 shall survive transfer by any holder of a Note of any Note and payment of any Note.
SECTION 6. Governing Law . THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 7. Reaffirmation . Each Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing amendment to the Note Agreement and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of their payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty Agreement after giving effect to such amendment. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing amendment, that the Guaranty Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Guaranty Agreement continues to guaranty the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement) arising under or in connection with the Note Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, as the same are amended by this letter agreement.
SECTION 8. Counterparts; Section Titles . This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
[signature page follows]
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Very Truly Yours, | ||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. |
||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY |
||
By: | Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as investment manager | |
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President |
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Accepted and Agreed: | ||
COMPANY: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
GUARANTORS: | ||
ADS WORLDWIDE, INC. | ||
PSA, INC. | ||
ADS STRUCTURES, INC. | ||
ADS VENTURES, INC. | ||
ADS INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
HANCOR HOLDING CORPORATION | ||
HANCOR, INC. | ||
MEDIA PLUS, INC. | ||
HANCOR INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
SPARTAN CONCRETE, INC. | ||
SEWER TAP, INC. | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE OF OHIO, INC. | ||
GREEN LINE POLYMERS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Ronald R. Vitarelli |
|
Name: | Ronald R. Vitarelli | |
Title: | General Manager |
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Schedule 6J
Existing Joint Ventures
Name |
Jurisdiction | Organization |
Equity Owner |
Percentage
Owned |
||||
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. 1 |
Mexico | Corporation | ADS Worldwide, Inc. | 51% | ||||
Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. |
49% | |||||||
ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. 2 |
Mexico | Corporation | ADS Worldwide, Inc. | 51% | ||||
Grupo Altima, S.A. de C.V. |
49% | |||||||
Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada |
Chile |
Socìedad de
responsiblìdad limitada |
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada | 50% | ||||
Tigre Chile S.A. |
50% | |||||||
Tubos y Plásticos Tigre-ADS de Chile Limitada |
Chile |
Socìedad de
responsiblìdad limitada |
Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 99.99998% | ||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada |
0.00001% | |||||||
Tigre Chile S.A. |
0.00001% | |||||||
Tubos Tigre-ADS do Brasil Limitada |
Brazil |
Sociedad de
responsabilidad limitada |
Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 99.8% | ||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada |
0.1% | |||||||
Tigre Chile S.A. |
0.1% | |||||||
Tigre-ADS Colombia Limitada |
Colombia |
Socìedad de
responsiblìdad limitada |
Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 98.04% | ||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada |
0.98% | |||||||
Tigre Chile S.A. |
0.98% | |||||||
Tigre-ADS Argentina S.R.L. |
Argentina |
Socìedad de
responsiblìdad limitada |
Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 95% | ||||
Tubos y Plásticos ADS Chile Limitada |
2.5% | |||||||
Tigre Chile S.A. |
2.5% | |||||||
ADSM Centro América, Sociedad Anónima |
Republic
of Costa Rica |
Corporation
(sociedad
|
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | 100% | ||||
Grupo Industrial Deplayusa S.A. de C.V. |
Mexico | Corporation | ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | 100% | ||||
Tigre ADS Perú S.A.C. 3 |
Peru |
Private law
legal entity |
Tuberías Tigre-ADS Limitada | 95% | ||||
Tubos y Plásticos Tigre-ADS de Chile Limitada |
2.5% | |||||||
Tigre Chile Limitata |
2.5% |
1 | Permitted to be consolidated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but treated as a Joint Venture under this Agreement. |
2 | Permitted to be consolidated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but treated as a Joint Venture under this Agreement. |
3 | Formation of the entity is currently in process. |
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3E
Execution Copy
June 12, 2013
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Re: | Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated December 12, 2011, Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 9, 2012, Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 30, 2012 and Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated April 26, 2013 (as so amended, the Note Agreement ), between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and each other Prudential Affiliate as therein defined which becomes bound by certain provisions thereof as therein provided, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement.
The Company has requested amendments to the Note Agreement as set forth below and Prudential and the holders of the Notes executing this letter are willing to agree to such amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 . Amendments . From and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof) the parties hereto agree that the Note Agreement is amended as follows:
1.1. Clause (ii) of paragraph 3A is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
(ii) the Intercreditor Agreement;
1.2. Clause (iv) of paragraph 3A is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
(iv) the Security Agreement;
1.3. Clause (v) of paragraph 3A is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
(v) the Pledge Agreement;
1.4. Clause (vi) of paragraph 3A is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
(vi) Intentionally Omitted;
1.5. Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Note Agreement are hereby amended and restated to read in their entirety as attached to this letter agreement as Annex I .
1.6. Clause (iii) of paragraph 7A is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(iii) the Company or any Transaction Party defaults (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) in any payment of principal of or interest on any other obligation for money borrowed (or any Capitalized Lease Obligation, any obligation under a conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any obligation issued or assumed as full or partial payment for property whether or not secured by a purchase money mortgage or any obligation under notes payable or drafts accepted representing extensions of credit) beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or the Company or any Transaction Party fails to perform or observe any other agreement, term or condition contained in any agreement under which any such obligation is created (or if any other event thereunder or under any such agreement shall occur and be continuing) and the effect of such failure or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such obligation (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such obligation to become due (or to be repurchased by the Company or any Transaction Party) prior to any stated maturity, provided that the aggregate amount of all obligations as to which such a payment default shall occur and be continuing or such a failure or other event causing or permitting acceleration (or resale to the Company or any Transaction Party) shall occur and be continuing exceeds $50,000,000
1.7. Clauses (vii), (viii), (ix) and (x) of paragraph 7A are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read as follows:
(vii) the Company or any Material Subsidiary makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or is generally not paying its debts as such debts become due or the Transaction Parties and the Material Subsidiaries cease to be solvent on a consolidated basis; or
(viii) any decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Material Subsidiary is entered under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law, whether now or hereafter in effect (herein called the Bankruptcy Law ), of any jurisdiction; or
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(ix) the Company or any Material Subsidiary petitions or applies to any tribunal for, or consents to, the appointment of, or taking possession by, a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or commences a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any proceedings (other than proceedings for the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a Subsidiary) relating to the Company or any Material Subsidiary under the Bankruptcy Law of any other jurisdiction; or
(x) any such petition or application described in clause (ix) of this paragraph 7A is filed, or any such case or proceedings described in clause (ix) of this paragraph 7A are commenced, against the Company or any Material Subsidiary and the Company or such Material Subsidiary by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein, or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or
1.8. Clauses (xii) and (xiii) of paragraph 7A are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read as follows:
(xii) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company or any Material Subsidiary decreeing a split-up of the Company or such Material Subsidiary which requires the divestiture of assets representing a substantial part, or the divestiture of the stock of a Material Subsidiary whose assets represent a substantial part, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) or which requires the divestiture of assets, or stock of a Material Subsidiary, which shall have contributed a substantial part of the consolidated net income of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) for any of the three fiscal years then most recently ended, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or
(xiii) one or more final judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000 (to the extent not adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and unaffiliated insurance company has acknowledged coverage) is rendered against the Company or any Material Subsidiary and either (a) enforcement proceedings have been commenced by any creditor upon any such judgment or (b) within 60 days after entry thereof, any such judgment is not discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or within 60 days after the expiration of any such stay, such judgment is not discharged; or
1.9. Paragraph 8E is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
8E. Title to Properties. The Company has and each of its Subsidiaries has good and indefeasible title to its respective material real properties (other than properties which it leases) and good title to all of its material other respective properties and assets, including the properties and assets reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in paragraph 8B (other than properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business), subject to no Lien of any kind except Liens permitted by this Agreement. All leases necessary in any material respect for the conduct of the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect.
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1.10. Paragraph 8R is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
8R. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc . (i) Neither the Company nor any Controlled Entity is (a) a Person whose name appears on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, United States Department of the Treasury ( OFAC ) (an OFAC Listed Person ) (b) an agent, department, or instrumentality of, or is otherwise beneficially owned by, controlled by or acting on behalf of, directly or indirectly, (1) any OFAC Listed Person or (2) any Person, entity, organization, foreign country or regime that is subject to any OFAC Sanctions Program, or (c) otherwise blocked, subject to sanctions under or engaged in any activity in violation of other United States economic sanctions, including but not limited to, the Trading with the Enemy Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act ( CISADA ) or any similar law or regulation with respect to Iran or any other country, the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, any OFAC Sanctions Program, or any economic sanctions regulations administered and enforced by the United States or any enabling legislation or executive order relating to any of the foregoing (collectively, U.S. Economic Sanctions ) (each OFAC Listed Person and each other Person, entity, organization and government of a country described in clause (a), clause (b) or clause (c), a Blocked Person ). Neither the Company nor any Controlled Entity has been notified that its name appears or may in the future appear on a state list of Persons that engage in investment or other commercial activities in Iran or any other country that is subject to U.S. Economic Sanctions.
(ii) No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder constitutes has or will constitute funds obtained on behalf of any Blocked Person or will otherwise be used by the Company or any Controlled Entity, directly or indirectly, (a) in connection with any investment in, or any transactions or dealings with, any Blocked Person, or (b) otherwise in violation of U.S. Economic Sanctions.
(iii) Neither the Company nor any Controlled Entity (a) has been found in violation of, charged with, or convicted of, money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorist-related activities or other money laundering predicate crimes under the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970 (otherwise known as the Bank Secrecy Act), the USA PATRIOT Act or any other United States law or regulation governing such activities (collectively, Anti-Money Laundering Laws ) or any U.S. Economic Sanctions violations, (b) to the Companys actual knowledge after making due inquiry, is under investigation by any Governmental Authority for possible violation of Anti-Money Laundering Laws or any U.S.
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Economic Sanctions violations, (c) has been assessed civil penalties under any Anti-Money Laundering Laws or any U.S. Economic Sanctions, or (d) has had any of its funds seized or forfeited in an action under any Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The Company has established procedures and controls which it reasonably believes are adequate (and otherwise comply with applicable law) to ensure that the Company and each Controlled Entity is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable current and future Anti-Money Laundering Laws and U.S. Economic Sanctions.
(iv) (1) Neither the Company nor any Controlled Entity (a) has been charged with, or convicted of bribery or any other anti-corruption related activity under any applicable law or regulation in a U.S. or any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction, including but not limited to, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 (collectively, Anti-Corruption Laws ), (b) to the Companys actual knowledge after making due inquiry, is under investigation by any U.S. or non-U.S. Governmental Authority for possible violation of Anti-Corruption Laws, (c) has been assessed civil or criminal penalties under any Anti-Corruption Laws or (d) has been or is the target of sanctions imposed by the United Nations or the European Union;
(2) To the Companys actual knowledge after making due inquiry, neither the Company nor any Controlled Entity has, within the last five years, directly or indirectly offered, promised, given, paid or authorized the offer, promise, giving or payment of anything of value to a Governmental Official or a commercial counterparty for the purposes of: (a) influencing any act, decision or failure to act by such Government Official in his or her official capacity or such commercial counterparty, (b) inducing a Governmental Official to do or omit to do any act in violation of the Governmental Officials lawful duty, or (c) inducing a Governmental Official or a commercial counterparty to use his or her influence with a government or instrumentality to affect any act or decision of such government or entity; in each case in order to obtain, retain or direct business or to otherwise secure an improper advantage in violation of any applicable law or regulation or which would cause any holder of a Note to be in violation of any law or regulation applicable to such holder; and
(3) No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder has or will be used, directly or indirectly, for any improper payments, including bribes, to any Governmental Official or commercial counterparty in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage. The Company has established procedures and controls which it reasonably believes are adequate (and otherwise comply with applicable law) to ensure that the Company and each Controlled Entity is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable current and future Anti-Corruption Laws.
1.11. Clauses (iv) and (v) of paragraph 9B are hereby amended and restated in their entireties to read as follows:
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(iv) the Source constitutes assets of an investment fund (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14 (the QPAM Exemption )) managed by a qualified professional asset manager or QPAM (within the meaning of Part VI of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plans assets that are managed by the QPAM in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of Part VI(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, represent more than 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(c) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the QPAM maintains an ownership interest in the Company that would cause the QPAM and the Company to be related within the meaning of Part VI(h) of the QPAM Exemption and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of any employee benefit plans whose assets in the investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of Part VI(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization, represent 10% or more of the assets of such investment fund, have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (iv); or
(v) the Source constitutes assets of a plan(s) (within the meaning of Part IV(h) of PTE 96-23 (the INHAM Exemption )) managed by an in-house asset manager or INHAM (within the meaning of Part IV(a) of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of control in Part IV(d)(3) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 10% or more interest in the Company and (a) the identity of such INHAM and (b) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (v); or
1.12. Paragraph 10B of the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as attached to this letter agreement as Annex II .
1.13. Schedules 6B , 6C , 8A(1) , 8G , 8K and 8Q to the Note Agreement are hereby amended and restated to read in their entirety as attached to this letter agreement as Schedules 6B , 6C , 8A(1) , 8G , 8K and 8Q , respectively; provided that, (i) Schedule 8A(1) shall be required to address only Domestic Subsidiaries, Canadian Subsidiaries and any other Subsidiary that is a borrower or co-obligor with the Company under, or is obligated under any Guaranty with respect to, any Indebtedness of the Company under the Credit Agreement, and (ii) Schedule 8Q shall be required to address only the Company and the Guarantors.
1.14. Schedules 6E and 6J to the Note Agreement are hereby deleted.
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SECTION 2. Guarantor Release. Effective upon the Effective Date, (i) each of the Guarantors as of the date of this letter agreement other than Stormtech, LLC (the Existing Guarantors) under that certain Guaranty Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, made by the Guarantors in favor of Prudential and the holders of the Notes (the Existing Guaranty), is hereby released from the Existing Guaranty and from the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, by and among the Company, each of the Guarantors and Prudential (the Existing Intercompany Subordination Agreement), (ii) each of the Existing Guaranty and the Existing Intercompany Subordination Agreement is terminated with respect to each Existing Guarantor and (iii) the holders of the Notes direct the Collateral Agent to release any and all Collateral pledged by such Existing Guarantor under the Collateral Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, Stormtech LLC is not released from the Existing Guaranty nor the Existing Intercompany Subordination Agreement, the Company is not released for the Existing Intercompany Agreement, the Existing Guaranty is not terminated as to Stormtech LLC and the Existing Intercompany Subordination Agreement is not terminated as to the Company or Stormtech LLC.
SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to Prudential and each holder of a Note that (i) the execution and delivery of this letter agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor, (ii) this letter agreement has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, (iii) the Company and each Guarantor has obtained all authorizations, consents, and approval necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement and such authorizations, consents and approval are in full force and effect and (iv) after giving effect hereto (a) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8 of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date and except that the representation and warranty set forth in: (1) paragraph 8D shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and its Material Subsidiaries, (2) paragraph 8F shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and its Material Subsidiaries and (3) paragraph 8Q shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and the Guarantors, (b) no Event of Default or Default exists, and (c) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has paid or agreed to pay, and the Company and its Subsidiaries will not pay or agree to pay, any other fees or other consideration to the Bank Agent or any Bank (other than the legal fees paid to counsel for the Banks and Bank Agent) for or with respect to the amendment and restatement to each of the Credit Agreement or the Mexicana Credit Agreement referred to in Section 4.2 below other than as expressly set forth therein or otherwise executed by the Banks and the Company in connection therewith.
SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent . The amendments in Section 1 of this letter agreement shall become effective on the date (the Effective Date ) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
4.1. Documents . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received original counterparts of this letter agreement executed by Prudential, the Required Holders, the Company and each Guarantor.
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4.2. Credit Agreement and Mexicana Credit Agreement . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received an executed copy of each of the Credit Agreement (as defined in the Note Agreement as amended by this letter) and the Mexicana Credit Agreement (as defined in the Note Agreement as amended by this letter) in form and substance consistent with the terms set forth herein and satisfactory to Prudential and the Required Holders.
4.3. Intercreditor Agreement and Collateral Documents Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received an executed copy of each of the Intercreditor Agreement, Security Agreement and Pledge Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Prudential and the Required Holders.
4.4. Material Adverse Effect . Since March 31, 2013, no event causing a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
4.5. Fees of Special Counsel to Prudential . All reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to Prudential and the holders of the Notes to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Effective Date shall have been paid (which shall be paid directly to such counsel).
4.6. Lien Search . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received a Lien search in acceptable scope and with acceptable results, showing no Liens other than Permitted Liens.
4.7. Amendment Fee . Each holder of a Note shall have received payment of the amendment fee referred to in Section 6.
4.8 Representations . All statements set forth in Section 3 shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date, except to the extent that any such statement expressly relates to an earlier date (in which case such statement was true and correct on and as of such earlier date).
4.9. Proceedings . All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this letter agreement shall be satisfactory to Prudential and each holder of a Note and its counsel, and Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.
SECTION 5. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Note Agreement . Upon the effectiveness of the amendments to the Note Agreement made in this letter agreement, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in Section 1 hereof, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of a Note, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of the Note Agreement or Note at any time. Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that Prudential and any holder of a Note has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any amendments to the Note Agreement or any Note in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
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SECTION 6. Expenses . The Company hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by Prudential or any holder of a Note, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by Prudential or such holder of a Note in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of Company under this Section 6 shall survive transfer by any holder of a Note of any Note and payment of any Note.
SECTION 7. Amendment Fee . In consideration of the execution and delivery of this Letter by the holders of the Notes, the Company agrees to pay each of the holders of the Notes an amendment fee in the aggregate amount for all such holders equal to $75,000, payable to each such holder pro rata in proportion to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by such holder. The amendment fee shall be paid in the same manner and to the same accounts as for payments of interest pursuant to the Note Agreement.
SECTION 8. Governing Law . THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 9. Reaffirmation . Each Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing amendment to the Note Agreement and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of their payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty Agreement after giving effect to such amendment. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing amendment, that the Guaranty Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Guaranty Agreement continues to guaranty the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement) arising under or in connection with the Note Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, as the same are amended by this letter agreement.
SECTION 10. Counterparts; Section Titles . This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
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Very Truly Yours, | ||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY |
||
By: |
Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as investment manager |
|
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Assistant Vice President |
AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Accepted and Agreed: | ||
COMPANY: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary, Executive Vice President, | |
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
||
GUARANTORS: | ||
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
ANNEX I
5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. During the Issuance Period and so long thereafter as any Note is outstanding and unpaid, the Company covenants as follows (and, for the purposes of paragraph 5A, ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. shall be deemed a Subsidiary if and while it is permitted under generally accepted accounting principles to be Consolidated with the Company):
5A. Financial Statements. The Company covenants that it will deliver to each Significant Holder in duplicate:
(i) as soon as practicable and in any event within 45 days after the end of each quarterly period (other than the last quarterly period) in each fiscal year, consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such quarterly period, and a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarterly period, setting forth in each case in comparative form figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to quarterly financial statements and certified by an authorized financial officer of the Company as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments;
(ii) as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, consolidated statements of income and cash flows and a consolidated statement of stockholders equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year, and a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form corresponding consolidated figures from the preceding annual audit, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, as to the consolidated statements, accompanied by an unqualified opinion thereon of Deloitte & Touche or such other independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Company and acceptable to the Required Holder(s), which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the results of their operations and cash flows and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in such circumstances, and shall be without limitation as to the scope of the audit, and, as to the consolidating statements, certified by an authorized financial officer of the Company;
(iii) promptly upon transmission thereof, copies of all such financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as it shall send to its public stockholders and copies of all registration statements (without exhibits) and all reports which it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission);
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(iv) Intentionally Omitted;
(v) promptly upon a Responsible Officer of the Company becoming aware thereof, written notice if: (a) any obligation (other than an obligation under this Agreement) of the Company or any Material Subsidiary for Indebtedness is declared or shall become due and payable prior to its stated maturity, or called and not paid when due, or (b) the holder of any note (other than the Notes), or other evidence of indebtedness, certificate or security evidencing any such obligation, or any obligee with respect to any other debt of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, declares such obligation due and payable prior to its stated maturity;
(vi) promptly upon a Responsible Officer of the Company becoming aware thereof, written notice of: (a) any citation, summons, subpoena, order to show cause or other order naming the Company or any Subsidiary a party to any proceeding before any governmental body which may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, including with such notice a copy of such citation, summons, subpoena, order to show cause or other order, (b) any lapse or other termination of any license, permit, franchise or other authorization issued to the Company or any Subsidiary by any governmental body, which lapse or termination may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (c) any refusal by any governmental body to renew or extend any such license, permit, franchise or other authorization which refusal may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (d) any dispute between the Company or any Subsidiary and any governmental body or Person which may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(vii) promptly upon a Responsible Officer of the Company becoming aware thereof, written notice in the event that (a) the Company or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payments when due and payable under any Plan, or (b) the Company or any Subsidiary shall receive notice from the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor that the Company or such Subsidiary shall have failed to meet the minimum funding requirements of any Plan, including therewith a copy of such notice, or (c) the Company or any Subsidiary or any member of the controlled group has given or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any reportable event (as defined in section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event;
(viii) by April 15th of each year, a projected balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement for each quarter of the fiscal year beginning April 1 st of such year.
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(ix) within 270 days after the close of each fiscal year, a statement of the unfunded liabilities of each Plan, if any Plan is in existence, certified as correct by an actuary enrolled under ERISA;
(x) promptly, and in any event within 10 days after a Responsible Officer of the Company becomes aware of, any Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan, a statement, signed by the Senior Vice President-Finance or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, describing said Reportable Event and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto;
(xi) promptly, and in any event within 10 days after a Responsible Officer of the Company becomes aware of the Companys receipt thereof, a copy of (i) any notice or claim to the effect that the Company or any Subsidiary is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries which liability if established would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, and (ii) any notice alleging any violation of any federal, state or local environmental, health or safety law or regulation by the Company or any Subsidiary which liability if established would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(xii) promptly upon their becoming available, one copy of each financial statement, report, circular, notice or proxy statement or similar document sent by the Company or any Material Subsidiary to its principal lending banks as a whole (excluding information sent to such banks in the ordinary course of administration of a bank facility, such as information relating to pricing and borrowing availability); and
(xiii) simultaneously with the transmission thereof, copies of all notices, reports, financial statements or other communications given to the Bank Agent or the Banks under the Credit Agreement, excluding routine borrowing requests;
(xiv) promptly upon the occurrence of a Reportable Compliance Event; and
(xv) with reasonable promptness, such other information and data with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as the Required Holders may reasonably request.
Together with each delivery of financial statements required by clauses (i) and (ii) above, the Company will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officers Certificate demonstrating (with computations in reasonable detail) compliance by the Company and its Subsidiaries with the provisions of paragraphs 6A(1), 6A(2), 6B, 6C, 6E, 6F, 6H and 6P and stating that there exists no Event of Default or Default, or, if any Event of Default or Default exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also covenants that immediately after any Responsible Officer obtains knowledge of an Event of Default or Default, it will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officers Certificate specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
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5B. Information Required by Rule 144A. Upon the request of any holder of a Note, provide such holder of a Note, and any qualified institutional buyer designated by such holder of a Note, such financial and other information as such holder of a Note may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to permit compliance with the information requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with the resale of Notes. For the purpose of this paragraph 5B, the term qualified institutional buyer shall have the meaning specified in Rule 144A.
5C. Inspection of Property. The Company covenants that it will permit any Person designated by any Significant Holder in writing, at such Significant Holders expense if no Default or Event of Default exists and at the Companys expense if a Default or an Event of Default exists, to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries, to examine the corporate books and financial records of the Company and its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of any of such corporations with the principal officers of the Company and its independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries with any such Person), provided, the Company shall have been given an opportunity to have a Responsible Officer of the Company to be present for such discussions, all at such reasonable times and as often as such Significant Holder may reasonably request.
5D. Covenant to Secure Notes Equally. The Company covenants that, if it or any Material Subsidiary shall create or assume any Lien upon any of its property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Liens permitted by the provisions of paragraph 6C (unless prior written consent to the creation or assumption thereof shall have been obtained pursuant to paragraph 11C), it will make or cause to be made effective provision whereby the Notes will be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with any and all other Indebtedness thereby secured so long as any such other Indebtedness shall be so secured; provided that the creation and maintenance of such equal and ratable Lien shall not in any way limit or modify the right of the holders of the Notes to enforce the provisions of paragraph 6C.
5E. Compliance with Law. The Company covenants that it will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including, without limitation, environmental laws, and will obtain and maintain in full force and effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises, operating rights and other authorizations from federal, state, foreign, regional, municipal and other local regulatory bodies or administrative agencies or governmental bodies having jurisdiction over the Company and its Material Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties necessary to the ownership, operation or maintenance of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in full force and effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises, operating rights and other authorizations could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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5F. Maintenance of Insurance. The Company covenants that it will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms and in such amounts as is customary in the case of entities of established reputations engaged in the same or similar and similarly situated business. The Collateral Agent shall be named as loss payee on all property insurance policies, and the Collateral Agent and all holders of Notes shall be named as additional insureds on all liability insurance policies, obtained or maintained by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries. Each policy of insurance or endorsement shall contain a clause requiring the insurer to give not less than 10 days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent and the holders of the Notes in the event of cancellation of the policy for any reason whatsoever and a clause specifying that the interests of the Collateral Agent and the holders of the Notes shall not be impaired or invalidated by any act or neglect the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries. If the Company fails to provide and pay for such insurance, the Collateral Agent or any holder of any Notes may, at its option, but shall not be required to, procure the same and charge the Company therefor.
5G. Maintenance of Properties. The Company covenants that it will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals and replacements thereto, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this paragraph 5G shall not prevent the Company or any Material Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and such discontinuance could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5H. Payment of Taxes. The Company covenants that it will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, file all income tax or similar tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies payable by any of them, and to pay and discharge all amounts payable for work, labor and materials, in each case to the extent such taxes, assessments, charges, levies and amounts payable have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, provided that neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary need pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or amount payable if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is being actively contested by the Company or such Material Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the Company or such Material Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles on the books of the Company or such Material Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies and amounts payable in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5I. Corporate Existence. The Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence. Subject to paragraph 6D, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, existence of each of its Material Subsidiaries (unless merged in a transaction permitted under paragraph 6G), unless the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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5J. Lines of Business. The Company covenants that it will not, and it will not permit any of its Domestic Subsidiaries and Canadian Subsidiaries of the Company to, engage in any business if, as a result thereof, the general nature of the businesses of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries and Canadian Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, would be substantially changed from the businesses of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries and Canadian Subsidiaries as conducted as of the date of this Agreement.
5K. Subsequent Guarantors. If any Person that is not then party to the Guaranty Agreement at any time becomes a co-borrower or co-obligor with the Company under, or is obligated under a Guarantee with respect to, any Indebtedness of the Company under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any other Material Indebtedness Agreement, then the Company shall cause such Person at such time to execute and deliver to Prudential and the holders of the Notes a joinder to the Guaranty Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A to the Guaranty Agreement, accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such Person certifying such Persons charter and by-laws (or comparable governing documents), resolutions of the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of such Person authorizing the execution and delivery of such joinder to the Guaranty Agreement and incumbency and specimen signatures of the officers of such Person executing such documents and such instruments and documents as Prudential or the Required Holder(s) shall request in connection therewith and an opinion of counsel in form and substance acceptable to Prudential and the Required Holder(s) as to the enforceability of the Guaranty Agreement against such Person.
5L. Deliveries; Further Assurances. Subject to any applicable terms of the Intercreditor Agreement , the Company covenants to, and to cause each Guarantor to, at its sole expense, promptly execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the holders of the Notes or the Collateral Agent, in due form for filing or recording (the Company hereby agrees to pay the cost of filing or recording the same (including without limitation any and all filing fees and recording taxes)) in all public offices necessary or deemed necessary by the Required Holder(s) or the Collateral Agent, such collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, warehouse receipts, bailee letters, consents, waivers, financing statements and other instruments and documents, and do such other acts and things, including, without limitation, all acts and things as the Required Holder(s) or the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request, to establish and maintain to the satisfaction of the Required Holder(s) and the Collateral Agent a valid and perfected first priority security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent in all of the present and/or future Collateral free of all other Liens whatsoever (subject only to the Liens permitted by paragraph 6C), and to deliver to the Collateral Agent or the holders of the Notes such certificates, documents, instruments and opinions in connection therewith as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent or the Required Holder(s), each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Holder(s).
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5M. Excess Leverage Fee. If the Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter is greater than 3.00 to 1.00, then, in addition to accruing interest on the Notes, the Company agrees to pay each holder of a Note a fee (the Excess Leverage Fee ) on the daily average outstanding principal amount of such Note during such fiscal quarter at a rate per annum of 2.00%. The Excess Leverage Fee with respect to each Note for any fiscal quarter shall be calculated on a rate per annum on the same basis as interest on such Note is calculated and shall be paid in arrears on the 45th day after the end of such fiscal quarter. The payment of any Excess Leverage Fee shall not constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default. If for any reason the Company fails to deliver the financial statements required by paragraph 5A hereof for a fiscal quarter by the date the Excess Leverage Fee, if any, would be payable for such fiscal quarter, the an Excess Leverage Fee shall be payable for such fiscal quarter.
6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. During the Issuance Period and so long thereafter as any Note or other amount due hereunder is outstanding and unpaid, the Company covenants as follows:
6A. Financial Covenants.
6A(1). Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Company covenants that it will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended, to be less than 1.25 to 1.00.
6A(2). Maximum Leverage Ratio . The Company covenants that it will not permit the Leverage Ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended, to exceed 4.00 to 1.00:
6B. Borrowing . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any liability for Indebtedness, except:
(i) | Indebtedness under this Agreement or any Note; |
(ii) | Existing Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 6B, including extensions, renewals or Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided there is no increase in the amount thereof or other significant change in the terms thereof unless otherwise specified on Schedule 6B; |
(iii) | Indebtedness of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries with respect to Purchase Money Security Interests and capitalized leases as and to the extent permitted under clause (viii) or clause (xx) of the definition of Permitted Lien with respect to the aggregate amount of unpaid principal loans and deferred payments (including, without limitation, imputed principal under capitalized leases); |
(iv) | (a) The Required Interest Rate Hedge (as defined in paragraph 5M of this Agreement prior to Amendment No. 5 to this Agreement), (b) any other Interest Rate Hedge approved by the Required Holders; or (c) any other Indebtedness under any Other Lender Provided Financial Services Product or under any currency swap or hedging arrangement or commodity hedging arrangement approved in writing by the Required Holders; provided, however, the Intercreditor Agreement shall be in full force and effect with respect thereto; |
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(v) | Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the Mexican Credit Agreement in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $487,000,000; |
(vi) | Indebtedness of a Transaction Party to another Transaction Party which is subordinated pursuant to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement; and Indebtedness of a Transaction Party owing to a Subsidiary which is not a Transaction Party and which is subordinated on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders; |
(vii) | Indebtedness secured by a Lien on real property, improvements to real property and fixtures permitted under clause (xix) of the definition of Permitted Liens; |
(viii) | Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted under clause (xx) of the definition of Permitted Liens with respect to Permitted Acquisitions; |
(ix) | Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the payment of the Notes on terms and conditions acceptable to Required Holders; |
(x) | Guaranties permitted under paragraph 6D; |
(xi) | Indebtedness for employer contributions to the ESOP not in excess of limitations set forth in Section 404 of the Code; |
(xii) | Indebtedness arising under the Companys stock repurchase liability under the ESOP; |
(xiii) | unsecured Indebtedness that (A) matures after, and does not require any scheduled amortization or other scheduled amortizations or other scheduled payments of principal prior to the latest maturity date of any outstanding Notes (it being understood that such Indebtedness may have mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption provisions satisfying the requirement of clause (B) hereof), and (B) has terms and conditions (other than interest rate, redemption premiums and subordination terms), taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable to the Company than the terms and conditions customary at the time for high-yield debt securities issued in a public offering (or if applicable, high-yield subordinated debt securities so issued); provided, however, that both immediately prior and after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, (x) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom and (y) the Company shall be in compliance with the covenants set forth in paragraph 6A(1) and paragraph 6A(2); and provided further that the Company shall make an offer to prepay the Notes from the proceeds of such unsecured Indebtedness in accordance with paragraph 4G above; and |
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(xiv) | other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000. |
6C. Liens; Lien Covenants . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, or agree or become liable to do so, except Permitted Liens.
6D. Guaranties . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, at any time, directly or indirectly, become or be liable in respect of any Guaranty, or assume, guarantee, become surety for, endorse or otherwise agree, become or remain directly or contingently liable upon or with respect to any obligation or liability of any other Person, except for:
(i) | Guaranties of Indebtedness or any other obligations or liabilities of the Transaction Parties or their Subsidiaries permitted hereunder; |
(ii) | Guaranties executed in connection with the Mexicana Credit Facility; |
(iii) | Guaranties by Subsidiaries that are not Transaction Parties of the Indebtedness of other Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures; |
(iv) | Guaranties by any Transaction Party of Indebtedness owing by any Joint Venture in an amount not to exceed, when taken together with any investment permitted pursuant to paragraph 6E(viii), $25,000,000 in any fiscal year; and |
(v) | the Guaranties specified on Schedule 6D . |
6E. Loans and Investments . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, at any time make or suffer to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or purchase, acquire or own any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest (whether general or limited) or limited liability company interest in, or any other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person, or agree, become or remain liable to do any of the foregoing, except:
(i) | Trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business; |
(ii) | Advances to employees to meet expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business; |
(iii) | Permitted Investments; |
(iv) | Loans and advances to, investments and interests in, and capital contributions to Persons (including Joint Ventures) other than Transaction Parties and Material Subsidiaries thereof not exceeding $100,000,000 outstanding at any time; |
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(v) | Loans and advances to, such investments and interests in, and capital contributions to, Transaction Parties and Material Subsidiaries thereof; |
(vi) | Transfer of certain assets to Foreign Subsidiaries permitted by paragraph 6H(x) in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate; |
(vii) | Investments in any interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor or other interest rate management instrument permitted under paragraph 6B(iv); |
(viii) | Investments acquired by a Transaction Party or any Material Subsidiary thereof: (A) in exchange for any other investment held by such Transaction Party or Material Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other investment, or (B) as a result of a foreclosure by such Transaction Party or Material Subsidiary with respect to any secured investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured investment in default; |
(ix) | advances to a Foreign Subsidiary consisting of raw materials purchased for consumption or processing in the ordinary course of business and otherwise permitted by paragraph 6I; and |
(x) | Permitted Acquisitions, and loans and advances to, and investments and interest in, third Persons by any Person which are outstanding at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of any Transaction Party or a Material Subsidiary thereof as a result of a Permitted Acquisition, but not any increase in the amount thereof. |
6F . Capital Distributions . The Company covenants that it will not permit any of its Domestic or Canadian Subsidiaries to, make or pay, or agree to become or remain liable to make or pay, any Capital Distribution of any nature (whether in cash, property, securities or otherwise), except as follows:
(i) | any Transaction Party may make a Capital Distribution to another Transaction Party; |
(ii) | any Domestic Subsidiary may make a Capital Distribution at any time to its parent company or a Transaction Party; |
(iii) | any Canadian Subsidiary may make a Capital Distribution to its parent company or a Transaction Party; |
(iv) | so long as prior to and immediately after giving effect to such Capital Distribution no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing the Company may make Capital Distributions if the Companys pro forma Leverage Ratio is less than 3.00 to 1.00: provided that if the Companys pro forma Leverage Ratio is greater than 3:00 to 1:00, such Capital Distributions shall not exceed $50,000,000 in any fiscal year; |
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(v) | as long as no Event of Default exists, the Company may make Capital Distributions to repurchase stock as required by the ESOP; provided, however, that (i) if an Event of Default exists, the Company may make Capital Distributions to the extent necessary in order to satisfy its payment requirements under Code Section 409(h)(5) and (6) with respect to put options (within the meaning of Section 409(h) of the Code) exercised by ESOP participants and their beneficiaries and (ii) any such Capital Distributions shall be made in cash only to the extent necessary to comply with said provisions of the Code. |
6G. Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any other Person, except:
(i) | any Transaction Party other than the Company may consolidate or merge into another Transaction Party; |
(ii) | any Subsidiary of a Transaction Party may be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, assets or property may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to a Transaction Party; |
(iii) | any Subsidiary of a Transaction Party may merge into its parent; |
(iv) | any Subsidiary that is not a Transaction Party may merge into any other Subsidiary that is not a Transaction Party; |
(v) | any Transaction Party may acquire, whether by merger or by purchase, lease or otherwise, (a) of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the equity interests of another Person or (b) all or substantially all of the assets of another Person or of a business or division of another Person (each, a Permitted Acquisition ), provided that each of the following requirements is met: |
(1) | if such Transaction Party is acquiring the equity interests in such Person and such Person will be a Domestic Subsidiary and constitute a Material Subsidiary upon the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition, such Person shall execute within thirty days after such Permitted Acquisition a Guaranty Agreement or a joinder to the Guaranty Agreement; |
(2) | the Transaction Parties or such Person, if such Person will be a Domestic Subsidiary and constitute a Material Subsidiary upon the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition, as applicable, shall grant Liens which can be created and perfected by the filing of financing statements in the assets of such Person or acquired from such Person and otherwise comply with paragraph 5L within thirty (30) days the date of such Permitted Acquisition; |
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(3) | the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person shall have approved such Permitted Acquisition and, if the Transaction Parties shall use any portion of the Notes to fund such Permitted Acquisition, the Transaction Parties also shall have delivered to the holders of the Notes written evidence of the approval of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of such Person for such Permitted Acquisition; |
(4) | the business or assets acquired, or the business conducted by the Person whose ownership interests are being acquired, as applicable, shall be reasonably related to as one or more line or lines of business conducted by the Transaction Parties and shall comply with paragraph 6K; |
(5) | no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition; |
(6) | the Company shall demonstrate that it shall be in compliance with the covenants contained in paragraphs 6A(1) and 6A(2) hereof immediately after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (including in such computation Indebtedness or other liabilities assumed or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and income earned or expenses incurred by the Person, business or assets to be acquired prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition); and |
(7) | the aggregate consideration for all Permitted Acquisitions shall not exceed $50,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Company if on a pro forma basis the Companys Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.00 to 1.00 at the time of such Permitted Acquisition (including in such computation Indebtedness or other liabilities assumed or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and income earned or expenses incurred by the Person, business or assets to be acquired prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition). |
6H. Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, sell, convey, assign, lease, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties or assets, tangible or intangible (including sale, assignment, discount or other disposition of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or general intangibles with or without recourse or of capital stock, shares of beneficial interest, partnership interests or limited liability company interests of a Subsidiary of such Transaction Party), except:
(i) | transactions involving the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business; |
(ii) | any disposal of damaged, obsolete, worn out or surplus assets or any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are no longer necessary or required in the conduct of such Transaction Partys or such Subsidiarys business; |
(iii) | any sale, transfer or lease of assets by any Transaction Party or any Subsidiary of any Transaction Party to another Transaction Party; |
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(iv) | any sale, transfer or lease of assets by a Material Subsidiary that is not a Transaction Party to another Material Subsidiary |
(v) | any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are replaced by substitute assets acquired or leased; provided such substitute assets are subject to the Collateral Agents Prior Security Interest; |
(vi) | if any disposition of real property to a governmental authority results in net cash proceeds after payment of related expenses the Company shall have made an offer to prepay Notes in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4G above; |
(vii) | the abandonment, cancellation or other disposition of intellectual property that is not material or is no longer used or useful in any material respect in the operation of the Company and the Transaction Parties; |
(viii) | the sale or discount, in each case without recourse and in the ordinary course of business, of overdue accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof consistent with customary industry practice (and not as part of any bulk sale or financing of receivables); |
(ix) | any sale, transfer or other disposition of equipment to a Foreign Subsidiary which equipment is not being used or necessary in the operations of the Transaction Parties in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Company; or |
(x) | any sale, transfer or lease of assets, other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above so long as (a) the Company has made an offer to prepay the Notes from the net cash proceeds (as reasonably estimated by the Company) thereof in accordance with paragraph 4E above, (b) the aggregate book value of such assets sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of in any fiscal year (other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (viii) above) does not exceed 10% of the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (c) the aggregate book value of all such assets sold, leased, transferred or disposed of after the date of this Agreement (other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (ix) above) does not exceed 30% of the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the end of such preceding fiscal year. |
6I. Affiliate Transactions. The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to enter into or carry out any transaction with any Affiliate of any Transaction Party (including purchasing property or services from or selling property or services to any Affiliate of any Transaction Party or other Person) unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement (including any intercompany transaction expressly permitted under this Agreement) is entered into in the ordinary course of business upon fair and reasonable arms-length terms and conditions and is in accordance with all applicable Law.
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6J. Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint Ventures. The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, own or create directly or indirectly any Subsidiaries other than (i) any Domestic Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary which has joined the Guaranty Agreement; (ii) any Non-Material Subsidiary, (iii) any Foreign Subsidiary existing as of the date of this Agreement and any Foreign Subsidiary formed and funded with investments made as permitted by paragraph 6E or acquired after the date of this Agreement as permitted under paragraph 6E, (iv) any Domestic Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary acquired after the date of this Agreement as permitted under paragraph 6G(v) and (v) any Domestic Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary formed after the date of this Agreement which joins the Guaranty Agreement as a Guarantor by delivering to the Required Holders, within thirty (30) days after the formation thereof (a) a Guaranty Agreement or joinder to the Guaranty Agreement and (b) documents necessary to grant and perfect Prior Security Interests to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Notes in the equity interests of (or, as to CFCs, 65% of the equity interest of), and Collateral held by (to the extent such perfection can be obtained by filing UCC financing statements), such Subsidiary excluding the equity interests held in any Foreign Holding Company, provided that recourse under the Guaranty Agreement of any Foreign Holding Company shall be limited to the Collateral pledged to secure such Guaranty Agreement.
6K. Continuation or Change in Business. The Company covenants that it will not permit any Domestic Subsidiary or Canadian Subsidiary to engage in any business other than the manufacture, sale and distribution of corrugated polyethylene, polypropylene and concrete pipe, storm and septic chambers, drainage structures and other related water drainage and water filtration products, and businesses which are related, supplemental or complementary thereto. Each Foreign Holding Company shall not engage in any business or operations or acquire any assets or incur any liabilities other than: (i) holding the ownership interests of one or more CFCs, and (ii) such other activities as are required or prudent in connection with the maintenance of good standing and administration of such Transaction Party.
6L. Fiscal Period. The Company covenants that it will not change its fiscal year from the twelve-month period beginning April 1st and ending March 31st.
6M. Issuance of Stock. The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any of its Domestic Subsidiaries or Canadian Subsidiaries to, issue any additional shares of its capital stock or any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof to the extent that the such issued shares, options, warrants and other rights are required to be Collateral, unless such shares, options, warrants and other rights are pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement and only to the extent required by paragraph 6J; provided however, the foregoing restriction shall not apply to the issuance of additional shares of capital stock of the Company, or options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof, so long as such issuance does not result in a Change of Control.
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6N. Changes in Organizational Documents. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, amend in any respect its certificate of incorporation (including any provisions or resolutions relating to capital stock), by-laws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents which change would be reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the holders of the Notes, without obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Holders.
6O. Real Property . The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, grant any Liens on any fee or leasehold interest in real property owned or held by such Transaction Party or Material Subsidiary to any other Person other than Permitted Liens.
6P. Intentionally Omitted
6R. Terrorism Sanctions Regulations . The Company covenants that it will not and will not permit any Controlled Entity to (i) become (including by virtue of being owned or controlled by a Blocked Person), own or control a Blocked Person or any Person that is the target of sanctions imposed by the United Nations or by the European Union, or (ii) directly or indirectly have any investment in or engage in any dealing or transaction (including, without limitation, any investment, dealing or transaction involving the proceeds of any of the Notes) with any Person if such investment, dealing or transaction (a) would cause any holder of a Note to be in violation of any law or regulation applicable to such holder, or (b) is prohibited by or subject to sanctions under any U.S. Economic Sanctions, or (iii) engage, or permit any Affiliate of the Company or any Controlled Entity to engage, in any activity that could subject such Person or any holder of a Note to sanctions under CISADA or any similar law or regulation with respect to Iran or any other country that is subject to U.S. Economic Sanctions.
6S. Most Favored Lender. The Company covenants that if, on any date, it or any Subsidiary enters into, assumes or otherwise becomes bound or obligated under any Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement that contains, or amends any Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement to contain, one or more Additional Covenants or Additional Defaults, then on such date the terms of this Agreement shall, without any further action on the part of the Company or any of the holders of the Notes, be deemed to be amended automatically to include each Additional Covenant and each Additional Default contained in such agreement, and the Company shall provide prompt written notice thereof to Prudential and the holders of the Notes of such event. The Company further covenants, upon the written request of the Required Holders, to promptly execute and deliver at its expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the holders of the Notes) an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holder(s) evidencing the amendment of this Agreement to include such Additional Covenants and Additional Defaults, provided that the execution and delivery of such amendment shall not be a precondition to the effectiveness of such amendment as provided for in this paragraph 6S, but shall merely be for the convenience of the parties hereto; provided that, upon the subsequent elimination of such Additional Covenant or Additional Default and the Company providing notice thereof to Prudential and each holder of a Note, the same shall be deemed eliminated hereunder if (i) no Default or Event of Default then exists, (ii) such elimination of such
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Additional Covenant or Additional Default shall not make this Agreement any less restrictive with respect to the Company and the Guarantors than as in effect on the date of this Agreement, as amended by any other amendments hereto, other than as a result of such Additional Covenant or Additional Default and (iii) if any fee or other compensation is paid to any person in respect of such elimination of such Additional Covenant or Additional Default, the Company shall pay each holder of a Note such fee or compensation on a ratable basis relative to the then outstanding aggregate principal amounts of the Notes. The Company further covenants to promptly execute and deliver at its expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the holders of the Notes) an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holder(s) evidencing (x) the amendment of this Agreement to include such Additional Covenants and Additional Defaults or (y) the elimination of such Additional Covenants and Additional Defaults, as applicable, provided that the execution and delivery of such amendment shall not be a precondition to the effectiveness of such amendment as provided for in this paragraph 6S, but shall merely be for the convenience of the parties hereto.
6T. Certain Subordination Agreements. The Company covenants that it will not , and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur any Indebtedness that has the benefit of any subordination or standstill provisions relative to the Put Right unless the holders of the Notes have received an agreement providing the holders of the Notes with the benefit of the same subordination and/or standstill provisions.
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ANNEX II
10B. Other Terms.
Acceptance shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(5) hereof.
Acceptance Day shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(5) hereof.
Acceptance Window shall mean, with respect to any interest rate quotes provided by Prudential pursuant to paragraph 2A(4), the time period designated by Prudential as the time period during which the Company may elect to accept such interest rate quotes. If no such time period is designated by Prudential with respect to any such interest rate quotes, then the Acceptance Window for such interest rate quotes will be 2 minutes after the time Prudential shall have provided such interest rate quotes to the Company.
Accepted Note shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(5) hereof.
Additional Covenant shall mean any affirmative or negative covenant or similar restriction applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary (regardless of whether such provision is labeled or otherwise characterized as a covenant) the subject matter of which either (i) is similar to that of any covenant in paragraph 5 or 6 of this Agreement, or related definitions in paragraph 10 of this Agreement, but contains one or more percentages, amounts or formulas that is more restrictive than those set forth herein or more beneficial to the holders of any Indebtedness under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement (and such covenant or similar restriction shall be deemed an Additional Covenant only to the extent that it is more restrictive or more beneficial) or (ii) is different from the subject matter of any covenants in paragraph 5 or 6 of this Agreement, or related definitions in paragraph 10 of this Agreement.
Additional Default shall mean any provision contained in the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement which permits the holder or holders of the Indebtedness under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement to accelerate (with the passage of time or giving of notice or both) the maturity thereof or otherwise requires the Company or any Subsidiary to purchase any such Indebtedness under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement prior to the stated maturity thereof and which either (i) is similar to any Default or Event of Default contained in paragraph 7 of this Agreement or related definitions in paragraph 10 of this Agreement, but contains one or more percentages, amounts or formulas that is more restrictive or has a shorter grace period than those set forth herein or is more beneficial to the holders of any Indebtedness under the Primary Working Capital Facility or any Material Indebtedness Agreement (and such provision shall be deemed an Additional Default only to the extent that it is more restrictive, has a shorter grace period or is more beneficial) or (ii) is different from the subject matter of any Default or Event of Default contained in paragraph 7 of this Agreement, or related definitions in paragraph 10 of this Agreement.
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Affiliate shall mean (i) with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such first Person, except a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be an Affiliate of the Company, and (ii) with respect to Prudential, shall include any managed account, investment fund or other vehicle for which Prudential Financial, Inc. or any Affiliate of Prudential Financial, Inc. then acts as investment advisor or portfolio manager. A Person shall be deemed to control a corporation or other entity if such Person owns 10% or more of any class of voting securities of such corporation or other entity if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation or other entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Amended By-Laws shall mean the Amended and Restated By-Laws of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., to be dated as of the initial Closing Day, a copy of which has been provided to Prudential.
Amendment No. 5 Transactions shall mean the transactions contemplated by Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated June 12, 2013, including the facilities evidenced by the Credit Agreement and Mexicana Credit Agreement being made available to the Company.
Anti-Corruption Laws shall have the meaning given in paragraph 8R(iv) hereof.
Anti-Money Laundering Laws shall have the meaning given in paragraph 8R(iii) hereof.
Anti-Terrorism Laws shall mean any Laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224, the USA Patriot Act, the Laws comprising or implementing the Bank Secrecy Act, and the Laws administered by the United States Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Asset Control (as any of the foregoing Laws may from time to time be amended, renewed, extended, or replaced)
Authorized Officer shall mean (i) in the case of the Company, its chief executive officer, its chief financial officer, any vice president of the Company designated as an Authorized Officer of the Company in the Information Schedule attached hereto or any vice president of the Company designated as an Authorized Officer of the Company for the purpose of this Agreement in an Officers Certificate executed by the Companys chief executive officer or chief financial officer and delivered to Prudential, and (ii) in the case of Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate, any Person designated as an Authorized Officer of Prudential and Prudential Affiliates in the Information Schedule or any Person designated as its Authorized Officer for the purpose of this Agreement in a certificate executed by one of Prudentials Authorized Officers or a lawyer in Prudentials law department. Any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of the Company by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of the Company and whom Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of the Company at the time of such action shall be binding on the Company even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of the Company, and any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of Prudential or such Prudential Affiliate and whom the Company in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential or such Prudential Affiliate at the time of such action shall be binding on Prudential or such Prudential Affiliate even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential or such Prudential Affiliate.
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Available Facility Amount shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(1) hereof.
Bank Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association as agent for the Banks under the Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in that capacity.
Banks shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and the lenders from time to time party to the Credit Agreement, and their respective successors and assigns.
Bankruptcy Law shall have the meaning given in clause (viii) of paragraph 7A hereof.
Blocked Person shall have the meaning given in paragraph 8R(i).
Business Day shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed and (iii) for purposes of paragraph 2A(3) hereof only, a day on which Prudential is not open for business.
Canadian Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized or formed under the laws of Canada or any province thereof.
Cancellation Date shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(iv) hereof.
Cancellation Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(iv) hereof.
Capital Distribution shall mean a payment made, liability incurred or other consideration given for the purchase, acquisition, redemption or retirement of any capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any Subsidiary or as a dividend, return of capital or other distribution (other than any stock dividend, stock split or other equity distribution payable only in capital stock or other equity of the Company or such Subsidiary) in respect of the Companys or any Subsidiarys capital stock or other equity interest.
Capital Expenditures shall mean the amount of capital expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries as determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
Capitalized Lease shall mean any lease the obligations of the lessee under which constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations.
Capitalized Lease Obligation shall mean any rental obligation which, under generally accepted accounting principles, would be required to be capitalized on the books of the Company or any Subsidiary, taken at the amount thereof accounted for as indebtedness (net of interest expense) in accordance with such principles.
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Cash Equivalents shall mean, at any time, any of the following investments which are not subject to a Lien in favor of any Person other than the Collateral Agent: (i) Indebtedness with a maturity of one year or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof), (ii) certificates of deposit or acceptances with a maturity of one year or less of any financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000, (iii) commercial paper with a maturity of 270 days or less issued by a corporation (except an Affiliate of the Company) organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poors or at least P-1 by Moodys Investors Services, Inc., (iv) repurchase agreements with institutions described in clause (ii) with respect to investments described in clause (i), (v) money market mutual funds or cash management trusts rated in the highest rating by Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Services, Inc. (and not rated other than in the highest rating by Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Services, Inc.) or investing solely in investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above and (vi) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, Permitted Investments made locally of a type comparable to those described in clause (i) through (v) of this definition.
CFC shall mean a Controlled Foreign Corporation as such term is defined in Section 957 of the Code.
Change of Control shall mean (i) at any time prior to the creation of a Public Market Management, the ESOP, the Related Investor and their Permitted Transferees shall cease to have beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the Voting Stock of the Company (on a present, non-fully diluted basis and as adjusted for any stock splits, dividends or similar events), (ii) at any time prior to the creation of a Public Market, within a period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Company on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board; provided that , for purposes of subsection (i) above, a member of Management shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company as long as such member or Management or his/her Permitted Transferee has beneficial ownership of such Voting Stock of the Company; and (iii) at any time after the creation of a Public Market, any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, but excluding the ESOP, Management, the Related Investor and their Permitted Transferees) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d 3 and 13d 5 under the Securities Exchange Act, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all Voting Stock that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an option right)), directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of the Voting Stock of the Company on a fully diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);.
CISADA shall have the meaning given in paragraph 8R(i) hereof.
Closing Day shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the Business Day specified for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note in the Confirmation of Acceptance for such Accepted Note, provided that (i) if the Company and the Purchaser which is obligated to purchase such Accepted Note agree on an earlier Business Day for such closing, the
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Closing Day for such Accepted Note shall be such earlier Business Day, and (ii) if the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is rescheduled pursuant to paragraph 2A(7), the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, for all purposes of this Agreement except references to original Closing Day in paragraph 2A(8)(iii), shall mean the Rescheduled Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Collateral shall mean the collateral in which a Lien is granted to the Collateral Agent under any of the (i) Security Agreement or (ii) Pledge Agreement, which shall in any event not include: (v) equity interests in Domestic Subsidiaries which are Foreign Holding Companies, (w) any assets not located in the United States (other than assets which Liens against can be perfected against by the filing of a UCC financing statement), (x) any assets owned by a Foreign Subsidiary, (y) any right, title and interest of any Transaction Parties or Subsidiaries of the Transaction Parties in any fee or leasehold interest in real property, and (z) any right, title and interest of the Transaction Parties in, to and under the Fleet Leases and the equipment leased thereunder.
Collateral Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent under the Intercreditor Agreement, and its successor and assigns in that capacity.
Collateral Documents shall mean the Security Agreement and the Pledge Agreement.
Credit Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, between the Company and the Banks, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Confirmation of Acceptance shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(5).
Confirmation of Guaranty shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(ii).
Consolidated EBITDAE for any period of determination shall mean, without duplication, (i) net income, plus , to the extent reducing net income, the sum, of amounts for (a) consolidated interest expense, (b) charges for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, (c) total depreciation expense, (d) total amortization expense, (e) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Amendment No. 5 Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,100,000, (f) other non-cash charges reducing net income for such period, (g) ESOP Compensation, and (h) non-cash compensation related to stock options and restricted stock, minus (ii) non-cash gains increasing net income, in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP .
For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAE (a) with respect to a business acquired by the Transaction Parties or Subsidiaries thereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 or Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as
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interpreted by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission), using historical numbers of any business so acquired, in accordance with GAAP as if the Permitted Acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period, and (b) with respect to a business or assets liquidated, sold or disposed of by the Transaction Parties or Subsidiaries pursuant to paragraph 6H, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on the basis stated above), using historical numbers of any business or assets so liquidated, sold or disposed of, in accordance with GAAP as if such liquidation, sale or disposition had been consummated at the beginning of such period.
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.
Controlled Entity shall mean any of the Subsidiaries of the Company and any of their or the Companys respective Controlled Affiliates. As used in this definition, Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Covered Entity means (i) the Company, all Subsidiaries of the Company, all Guarantors and pledgors of Collateral and (ii) each Person which, directly or indirectly, controls any Person described in clause (i) above. For purposes of this definition, control of a Person shall mean the direct or indirect (a) ownership of, or power to vote, 10% or more of any class of the voting or other equity interests of such Person or (b) power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by ownership of voting or other equity interests, contract or otherwise.
Default shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, whether or not any requirement for such event to become an Event of Default has been satisfied.
Default Rate shall mean, with respect to any Note, a rate per annum from time to time equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, and (ii) the greater of (a) 2.00% per annum above the rate of interest stated in such Note, or (b) 2.00% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, from time to time in New York City as its Prime Rate.
Delayed Delivery Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(iii) hereof.
Domestic Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized or formed under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
ERISA Affiliate shall mean any corporation which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations as the Company within the meaning of section 414(b) of the Code, or any trade or business which is under common control with the Company within the meaning of section 414(c) of the Code.
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ESOP shall mean the Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
ESOP Compensation shall mean the non-cash charge portion of the ESOP compensation expense reflected in Companys financial statements.
Event of Default shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Excess Leverage Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 5M hereof.
Existing Agreement shall have the meaning given in the Introduction.
Existing Credit Agreement shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 28, 2009 by and among the Company, the Banks (as defined therein), National City Bank, as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Sole Book Runner, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Fifth Third Bank and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, as Co-Documentation Agents.
Existing Mexicana Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2009, by and among ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, the various financial institutions party thereto, and National City Bank, as agent.
Facility shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(1) hereof.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall mean for any period of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDAE for such period of determination, minus the amount of Capital Expenditures paid during such period of determination, minus cash income taxes paid during such period of determination, to (b) Fixed Charges for such period of determination. For the avoidance of doubt, any make-whole payment or yield maintenance payment required in connection with the prepayment of the Notes or any other Indebtedness after the initial Closing Day shall be included in the denominator of the foregoing ratio as a component of cash interest expense.
Fixed Charges shall mean for any period of determination the sum of (i) cash interest expense, plus (ii) scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness, plus (iii) such portion of Capital Distributions pursuant to the ESOP exceeding $10,000,000 during any fiscal year, in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
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Fleet Leases shall mean each of the equipment leases entered into by Transaction Parties in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices with respect to leased trucks, trailers, cars, forklifts, and other rolling stock to the extent that such leases are operating leases and not capital leases.
Foreign Holding Company shall mean any Guarantor which has as its principal purpose the holding of ownership interest in one or more CFCs and has no other material assets or operations, and shall include, as of the initial Closing Day, ADS Worldwide, Inc. and ADS International, Inc.
Foreign Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
Governmental Authority shall mean the government of the United States of America, any other nation (including, but not limited to, the United Kingdom) or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
Governmental Official shall mean any governmental official or employee, employee of any government-owned or government-controlled entity, political party, any official of a political party, candidate for political office, official of any public international organization or anyone else acting in an official capacity.
Guarantor shall mean each Person which may from time to time execute a Guaranty Agreement.
Guaranty of a Person shall mean any agreement by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes liable upon, the obligation of any other Person, or agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any other Person or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against loss, including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating agreement or take-or-pay contract.
Guaranty Agreement and Guaranty Agreements shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A (ii) hereof.
Hedge Treasury Note(s) shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the United States Treasury Note or Notes whose duration (as determined by Prudential) most closely matches the duration of such Accepted Note.
Hostile Tender Offer shall mean, with respect to the use of proceeds of any Note, any offer to purchase, or any purchase of, shares of capital stock of any corporation or equity interests in any other entity, or securities convertible into or representing the beneficial ownership of, or rights to acquire, any such shares or equity interests, if such shares, equity interests, securities or rights are of a class which is publicly traded on any securities exchange or in any over-the-counter market, other than purchases of such shares, equity interests, securities or rights representing less than 5% of the equity interests or beneficial ownership of such corporation or other entity for portfolio investment purposes, and such offer or purchase has not been duly approved by the board of directors of such corporation or the equivalent governing body of such other entity prior to the date on which the Company makes the Request for Purchase of such Note.
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IDRB Facilities shall mean (i) the $7,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount Variable Rate Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2002 (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Project) of the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority having an outstanding principal balance on the date of this Agreement in the amount of $1,070,000, and (ii) the $9,000,000 Variable Rate Demand Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Project), Series 2007, of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, having an outstanding principal balance on the date of this Agreement in the amount of $4,930,000.
including shall mean, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, including without limitation, whether or not so stated.
Indebtedness shall mean, as to any Person at any time, without duplication, any and all indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or joint or several) of such Person for or in respect of: (i) borrowed money, (ii) amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any note purchase or acceptance credit facility, (iii) reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under any letter of credit agreement, (iv) obligations under any currency swap agreement, interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate management device, (v) any other transaction (including forward sale or purchase agreements, capitalized leases and conditional sales agreements) having the commercial effect of a borrowing of money entered into by such Person to finance its operations or capital requirements (but not including, for purposes of this definition, trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not represented by a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness, nor any obligations or liabilities relating to Fleet Leases), or (vi) any Guaranty of Indebtedness for borrowed money.
Initial Purchasers shall have the meaning given in the address block of this Agreement.
Institutional Investor shall mean any insurance company, commercial, investment or merchant bank, finance company, mutual fund, registered money or asset manager, savings and loan association, credit union, registered investment advisor, pension fund, investment company, licensed broker or dealer, qualified institutional buyer (as such term is defined under Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act) or accredited investor (as such term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act).
Intercreditor Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement dated as of June 12. 2013 by and among the Bank Agent, on behalf of the Banks, the Mexican Bank Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Company and the holder(s) of the Note(s), as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
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Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an interest rate exchange, collar, cap, swap, adjustable strike cap, adjustable strike corridor or similar agreements entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to provide protection to, or minimize the impact upon, the Company, any Guarantor and/or their Subsidiaries of increasing floating rates of interest applicable to Indebtedness.
Issuance Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(ii) hereof.
Issuance Period shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(2) hereof.
Joint Venture shall mean a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement whether in corporate, partnership or other entity; provided that no corporate Subsidiary of any Transaction Party shall be considered to be a Joint Venture other than ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V. and ADS Corporativo S.A. de C.V. (each of which shall be considered to be a Joint Venture). For the avoidance of doubt, any Subsidiary of a Joint Venture shall be considered to be a Joint Venture.
Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an Interest Rate Hedge which is provided to the Transaction Parties by any Bank or its Affiliate so long as such Interest Rate Hedge is subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement
Leverage Ratio shall mean ratio of consolidated total Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding (i) any Indebtedness arising from reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under standby letters of credit in an aggregate amount not exceeding $10,000,000 and (ii) obligations with respect to interest rate swaps, fuel hedges and other commodity hedging arrangements and related marked-to-market liabilities, but including termination obligations arising by reason of the termination or close out of such interest rate swaps, fuel hedges and other commodity hedge arrangements the value of which being determined as of such time of such termination or close out in accordance with the terms of such agreements) to Consolidated EBITDAE, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given, including any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of, security and any filed financing statement or other notice of any of the foregoing (whether or not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at the time of the filing).
Management shall mean the current officers and directors of the Company (other than directors which are nominated by the Sponsor) that are serving as of June 12, 2013.
Material Adverse Effect shall mean a (i) material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, operations, or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) material impairment of the Companys or any Guarantors ability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Document or (iii) material impairment of the validity or enforceability of the rights of, or the benefits available to, the holders of any of the Notes under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Document.
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Material Indebtedness shall mean any Indebtedness with any outstanding principal amount of greater than $25,000,000.
Material Indebtedness Agreement shall mean any agreement providing for the issuance of any Material Indebtedness, under which any Material Indebtedness is outstanding or evidencing or otherwise relating to any Material Indebtedness, or providing for a commitment to lend to the Company or any Subsidiary amounts greater than $25,000,000 in the aggregate.
Material Subsidiary shall mean each Domestic Subsidiary or Canadian Subsidiary of the Company which has total assets in excess of 3% of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries and Canadian Subsidiaries; provided that , if the consolidated total assets of all Non-Material Subsidiaries shall exceed 10% of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Company shall by written notice to Prudential and each holder of a Note designate one or more Non-Material Subsidiaries to be Material Subsidiaries to the extent necessary to cause the total consolidated assets of all Non-Material Subsidiaries to be less than 10% of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in which event such Non-Material Subsidiary so designated shall thereafter be a Material Subsidiary.
Mexicana Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, by and among ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, the various financial institutions party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, as agent.
Multiemployer Plan shall mean any Plan which is a multiemployer plan (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
Non-Material Subsidiaries shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary.
Notes shall have the meaning given in paragraph 1 hereof.
OFAC shall have the meaning given in paragraph 8R(i).
OFAC Listed Person shall have the meaning given in paragraph 8R(i).
OFAC Sanctions Program shall mean any economic or trade sanction that OFAC is responsible for administering and enforcing. A list of OFAC Sanctions Programs may be found at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx.
Officers Certificate shall mean a certificate signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer of the Company.
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Official Body 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) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).
Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product shall mean agreements or other arrangements under which any of the Banks or Affiliate of the Banks provide any of the following products or services to any of the Transaction Parties or their Subsidiaries: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions, (f) cash management, including overdrafts, controlled disbursement, accounts or services, or (g) foreign currency exchange transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions, and (h) commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts and any other similar transactions.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor or replacement entity thereto under ERISA.
Permitted Acquisition shall have the meaning assigned to that term in paragraph 6G.
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America maturing in twelve (12) months or less from the date of acquisition;
(ii) commercial paper maturing in 180 days or less rated not lower than A-1, by Standard & Poors or P-1 by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. on the date of acquisition;
(iii) demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit maturing within one year in commercial banks whose obligations are rated A-1, A or the equivalent or better by Standard & Poors on the date of acquisition;
(iv) money market or mutual funds whose investments are limited to those types of investments described in clauses (i)-(iii) above; and
(v) Cash Equivalents.
Permitted Liens shall mean:
(i) Liens for taxes, assessments, customs duties, or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable;
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(ii) Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of workmens compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with workmens compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs;
(iii) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable and Liens of landlords securing obligations to pay lease payments that are not yet due and payable or in default;
(iv) Good-faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in excess of the aggregate amount due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or surety, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the ordinary course of business;
(v) Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements or other restrictions on the use of real property, none of which materially impairs the use of such property or the value thereof, and none of which is violated in any material respect by existing or proposed structures or land use;
(vi) Security interests and other Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent securing the Senior Secured Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents;
(vii) Any Lien existing on June 12, 2013 and described on Schedule 6C , and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that the principal amount secured thereby is not hereafter or thereafter increased, and no additional assets become subject to such Lien;
(viii) Purchase Money Security Interests (including security interests in connection with capitalized leases); provided that the aggregate amount of loans and deferred payments secured by such Purchase Money Security Interests shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding (excluding for the purpose of this computation any loans or deferred payments secured by Liens described on Schedule 6C );
(ix) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease and covering only the assets so leased and any interest of non-exclusive licensors under license agreements in the ordinary course of business;
(x) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(xi) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases of personal property, consignments that are not Purchase Money Security Interests and similar arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
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(xii) non-exclusive outbound licenses of patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any respect with the ordinary conduct of or materially detracting from the value of the business of the Company or such Subsidiary;
(xiii) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory, contractual or common law provision relating to rights of set-off or similar rights relating to the establishment of depository relations in the ordinary course of business with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness;
(xiv) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;
(xv) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods arising under Article 2 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code in the ordinary course of business securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances and letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods, in any case covering only goods actually sold;
(xvi) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of premiums with respect thereto to the extent permitted hereunder;
(xvii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by any Transaction Party as the seller of such goods, and Liens incurred on specific items of inventory identified to any contract with the government of the United States in respect of progress payments received by any Transaction Party, in each case as made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of such Transaction Party;
(xviii) Intentionally Omitted;
(xix) Liens on real property, improvements to real property and fixtures of Transaction Parties or Material Subsidiaries to secure Indebtedness of such Transaction Party or Material Subsidiary in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(xx) Liens not to exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding on fixed assets acquired or property of a Subsidiary of the Company acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, excluding a Purchase Money Security Interest which secures a payment obligation to the seller of such assets or Subsidiary; provided however (A) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Persons becoming a Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, (B) such Lien shall not attach or apply to any other property or assets of the Company or such Subsidiary, and (C) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(xxi) Liens not otherwise permitted above in this definition securing Indebtedness in an amount not exceeding $25,000,000 at any time outstanding; and
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(xxii) The following, (A) if the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted so long as levy and execution thereon have been stayed and continue to be stayed or (B) if a final judgment is entered and such judgment is discharged within thirty (30) days of entry, and in either case they do not affect the Collateral in a material or adverse manner or, in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of any Transaction Party to perform its obligations hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents:
(1) Claims or Liens for taxes, assessments or charges due and payable and subject to interest or penalty; provided that the applicable Transaction Party maintains such reserves or other appropriate provisions as shall be required by GAAP and pays all such taxes, assessments or charges forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any such Lien;
(2) Claims, Liens or encumbrances upon, and defects of title to, real or personal property other than the Collateral, including any attachment of personal or real property or other legal process prior to adjudication of a dispute on the merits;
(3) Claims or Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other statutory nonconsensual Liens; or
(4) Liens resulting from final judgments or orders described in paragraph 7A(xiii).
Permitted Refinancing means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided , that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder; (b) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended (except by virtue of amortization of or prepayment of Indebtedness prior to such date of determination); (c) at the time thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the holders of the Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; (e) the original obligors in respect of such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended remain the only obligors thereon; and (f) the terms and conditions of any such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the holders of the Notes than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended.
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Permitted Transferee shall mean, with respect to the holder of beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company, any person that is (i) a spouse or surviving spouse, descendant or sibling of such holder, any spouse or surviving spouse or descendant of any of these persons, any religious, charitable or educational organization, any trust of which any such holder, or any of these other persons or entities, or any combination thereof, are primary beneficiaries (such holder, any such other person or entity, and each settlor of any such trust, each a Permitted Beneficiary ), (ii) any Permitted Beneficiary of such holder that is a trust (determined, for this purpose, as if any settlor of the trust was the holder of such voting capital stock as of the date of this Agreement), (iii) the estate of any such holder who is an individual, (iv) any Permitted Beneficiary of any such holder as a beneficiary of such holders estate or trust, including without limitation pursuant to applicable will, trust or contract provision or applicable law, (v) in the case of a holder that is a trust, any current or former employee of the Company as a beneficiary of the trust, (vi) in the case of a holder that is a partnership, limited liability company or other entity, any one or more partners, members or other owners of such entity as of the date of this Agreement or to any Permitted Beneficiary of any such partner, member or other owner, or (vii) in the case of the ESOP, any person that receives distribution of shares of Voting Stock from the ESOP as a result of the termination of the ESOP or the retirement of such person; including, in each such case, any such Person that received such Persons beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company from such holder prior to the Closing Date.
Person shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, a limited liability company, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.
Plan shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in section 3 of ERISA) which is or has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or have been made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.
Pledge Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 executed and delivered by each of the Transaction Parties to the Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time.
Primary Working Capital Facility shall mean the Existing Credit Agreement or any credit facility pursuant to which any Primary Working Capital Facility is extended, refinanced or replaced.
Prior Security Interest shall mean a valid and enforceable perfected first-priority security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code in the Collateral which is subject only to Liens of the type described in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), (vii), (viii), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv), (xvii), (xx)and (xxii)(1) and (3) of the definition of Permitted Liens.
Property shall mean all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property.
Prudential shall have the meaning given in the address block of this Agreement.
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Prudential Affiliate shall mean any Affiliate of Prudential.
Public Market shall exist if (a) a Public Offering has been consummated and (b) any equity interests of the Company have been distributed by means of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
Public Offering shall mean a public offering of the equity interests of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
Purchase Money Security Interest shall mean Liens (including security interests in connection with capitalized leases) upon tangible personal property securing loans to any Transaction Party or Subsidiary of a Transaction Party or deferred payments by such Transaction Party or Subsidiary for the purchase of such tangible personal property.
Purchasers shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Notes, the Prudential Affiliate(s) which are purchasing such Accepted Notes.
Put Right shall mean any right of the holders of the securities issued under the Stock Purchase Documentation to require the Company to purchase such securities.
Related Investor shall mean the University of Notre Dame.
Reportable Compliance Event shall mean that any Covered Entity becomes a Sanctioned Person, or is indicted, arraigned, subject to formal investigation or custodially detained, or receives a subpoena or other formal request for information from regulatory or law enforcement officials, in connection with any Anti-Terrorism Law or any predicate crime to any Anti-Terrorism Law, or self-discovers facts or circumstances it to the effect that it is reasonably likely that an aspect of its operations are in actual or probable violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law.
Reportable Event shall mean a reportable event as defined in section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC by regulation waived the requirement of section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and of section 302 of ERISA shall be a reportable event regardless of the issuance of any such waivers in accordance with section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Request for Purchase shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(3) hereof.
Required Holder(s) shall mean the holder or holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes or, if the term is expressly used with respect to a Series of Notes, of such Series of Notes from time to time outstanding.
Rescheduled Closing Day shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(7) hereof.
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Responsible Officer shall mean the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company or any other officer of the Company involved principally in its financial administration or its controllership function.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Security Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, executed and delivered by each of the Transaction Parties to the Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time.
Senior Secured Obligations shall have the meaning given in the Intercreditor Agreement.
Series shall have the meaning given in paragraph 1 hereof.
Shelf Notes shall have the meaning given in paragraph 1 hereof.
Significant Holder shall mean (i) Prudential, (ii) each Purchaser, so long as such Purchaser or any of its Affiliates shall hold (or be obligated under this Agreement to purchase) any Note, or (iii) any other Person which, together with its Affiliates, is the holder of at least 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any Series from time to time outstanding.
Sponsor shall mean American Securities LLC or any of its Affiliates (but excluding any operating portfolio companies of the foregoing).
Stock Purchase Documentation means all agreements entered into with respect to the Stock Purchase Agreement, including that certain Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2010, by and among the Company and those Persons set forth on Schedule I thereto, amending and restating the Stockholders Agreement entered into as of June 29, 1988, as the same has been amended from time to time.
Structuring Fee shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2A(8)(i) hereof.
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any Person, at the time of determination, any corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity: (i) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies thereof is at such time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries or (ii) which is at such time is controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more of such Persons Subsidiaries; provided that in determining the percentage of ownership interest of any Person , no ownership interest in the nature of a qualifying share of any such corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity shall be deemed outstanding; provided further, so long as no Transaction Party owns more than 51.0% of the total voting power of ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V. or ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V., respectively, each such entity shall not constitute a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement.
II-18
Transaction shall mean the recapitalization transaction which occurred in 2010 pursuant to which (i) existing Indebtedness was refinanced, (ii) Sponsor contributed cash equity in the minimum amount of $300,000,000, (iii) the facilities evidenced by the Existing Credit Agreement, the Existing Mexicana Credit Agreement and this Agreement were made available to Company and (iv) equity interests in the Company were repurchased from Affiliates of the Berkshire Group, the ESOP, management and other shareholders.
Transaction Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, each Collateral Document, each Guaranty Agreement, each Confirmation of Guaranty and the other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments now or hereafter executed or delivered by the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate in connection with this Agreement.
Transaction Party shall mean the Company or any Guarantor; provided , however , that Stormtech LLC shall not be a Transaction Party for purposes of paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Note Agreement unless and until such time as Stormtech LLC becomes a Material Subsidiary as defined in this Agreement.
Transferee shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of all or any part of any Note purchased by any Purchaser under this Agreement.
USA Patriot Act shall mean United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
U.S. Economic Sanctions shall have the meaning given in paragraph 8R(i) hereof.
Voting Stock shall mean, with respect to any corporation, any shares of stock of such corporation whose holders are entitled under ordinary circumstances to vote for the election of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) 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 thereof, 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 (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
II-19
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary of the Company all of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of every class of which is owned by the Company or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company, and which has outstanding no options, warrants, rights or other securities entitling the holder thereof (other than the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) to acquire shares of capital stock or other equity interests of such Subsidiary.
II-20
SCHEDULE 6B
EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
Existing Funded Debt :
(xv) | Indebtedness of the Company and/or any Subsidiary in connection with: |
a. | the indebtedness listed in the table below; |
b. | the Liens listed on Schedule 6C hereto; |
c. | the letters of credit listed below; |
Set forth below is a list of certain indebtedness of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, including the lender thereof, the Company facility to which it relates, as applicable, and, except as otherwise noted below, the outstanding balance as of June __, 2013:
Lender |
Security |
Facility |
Balance |
|||
Upper Illinois River Valley |
||||||
Development Authority |
||||||
(U.S. Bank Trustee) |
Mortgage | Mendota, IL | $1,070,000 | |||
New Jersey Economic |
||||||
Development Authority |
||||||
(U.S. Bank Trustee) |
Mortgage | Logan Twp., NJ | $4,930,000 | |||
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
Mortgage | Hilliard, OH | $3,277,764 | |||
PNC Bank, National Association (successor by merger to National City Bank) | Mortgage | New Miami, OH | $844,444.56 | |||
Banco Itau, Chile |
Guaranty | Chile (Tubos y Plásticos Tigre-ADS de Chile Limitada) | See footnote* |
* | Maximum Exposure: $7,000,000 plus 50% of interest and other charges. Guaranty by the Company of 50% of amounts outstanding under note(s) outstanding by indirect 50%-owned Joint Venture to Banco Itau. |
P AGE 1
LETTERS OF CREDIT
Outstanding Balance as
of the Closing Day |
||||
Standby or Commercial LOCs |
||||
St. Paul Travelers Insurance Co. |
$ | 8,155,000 | ||
The Hartford Insurance Co. |
$ | 100,000 | ||
State Health Commissioner (VA) |
$ | 100,000 | ||
State Health Commissioner (SC) |
$ | 100,000 | ||
City of Albuquerque (NM) |
$ | 50,000 | ||
|
|
|||
Subtotal |
$ | 8,505,000 | ||
IDRBs |
||||
Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority |
$ | 1,070,000 | ||
New Jersey Economic Development Authority |
$ | 4,930,000 | ||
|
|
|||
Subtotal |
$ | 6,000,000 |
P AGE 2
SCHEDULE 6C
PERMITTED LIENS
Reference is made to Schedule 6B for a list of the Companys facilities upon which mortgages exist.
Liens securing the obligations under each of the following:
| The IDRB Facilities |
| Promissory Note, dated as of February 29, 2008, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with respect to property related to the premises located at 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 |
| Commercial Term Note, dated as of August 17, 2004, from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in favor of PNC Bank, National Association (successor to National City Bank) with respect to property related to the premises located at 2650 Hamilton-Eaton Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011 |
Any Liens or security interests in favor of The Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee under Trust Agreement dated as of April 3, 2006 (the Lessor ), relating to that certain leased Cessna Model 560XL aircraft or arising under that certain (i) Aircraft Lease (S/N 560-6103), dated on or about March 30, 2012, between the Lessor and Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., (ii) that certain Assignment of Purchase Agreement, dated on or about March 30, 2012, among the Lessor, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and Cessna Aircraft Company or (iii) any other documentation related to any of the foregoing documents or to the transactions described therein.
P AGE 3
Set forth below is a list of all other liens, none of which secure Funded Debt, except as set forth below:
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2238904 1 Filed 09/17/02
Continued 05/04/07 Continued 06/11/12 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | In lieu filing from multiple jurisdictions pertaining to specific leased equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
4054588 1 Filed 02/26/04
62 amendments to add collateral filed 2/27/04 through 07/19/06
Continued 01/23/09 |
D.L. Peterson Trust | Specific leased equipment (lift trucks/forklifts) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
6348376 5 Filed 10/09/06
Continued 08/10/11 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (forklifts) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2007-1199156 Filed 03/30/07
19 amendments to add collateral filed 03/30/07 through 12/19/08
Continued 01/06/12 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (forklifts/lift trucks) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2007-1425312 Filed 04/17/07
4 amendments to add collateral filed 04/20/07 through 05/16/07
Continued 02/13/12 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (forklifts) |
P AGE 4
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2007-4445465 Filed 11/19/07
Continued 10/31/12 |
LaSalle National Leasing Corporation | Leased Cessna Citation Model 560XL aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2008-1831955 Filed 05/29/08 |
COMDOC, Inc. | Leased equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2009-4121445 Filed 12/23/09
17 amendments to add collateral filed 12/28/09 through 04/18/11 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment (lift trucks/forklifts) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2010-0075642 Filed 01/08/10
Secured Party name change amendment filed 01/22/10 |
COMDOC, INC. | Specific leased Xerox office equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2010-2255481
Filed 06/29/10 |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Specific equipment (Cat walk-behind scrubber S/N 57077) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2010-2255499 Filed 06/29/10 |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Specific equipment (Cat walk-behind scrubber S/N 56863) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2011 1586489 Filed 04/28/11
6 amendments to add collateral filed 05/11/11 through 04/03/12 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | Specific leased equipment | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 0826109 Filed 03/02/12 |
United Rentals Northwest, Inc. | Specific equipment described therein |
P AGE 5
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 0939845 Filed 03/12/12 |
United Rentals (North America), Inc. | Specific equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 1442385 Filed 04/03/12
36 amendments to add collateral filed 05/02/12 through 04/01/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 1442492 Filed 04/03/12 |
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST AGREEMENT DATED AS OF APRIL 3, 2006 | Leased Cessna Model 560XL Aircraft, Serial Number 560-6103, two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545C Engines, one Honeywell Model RE100(XL) Auxiliary Power Unit, all leased pursuant to Aircraft Lease Agreement dated as of 3/30/12 | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1170274 Filed 3/20/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
P AGE 6
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1171009 Filed 03/20/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1172403 Filed 03/20/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1180299 Filed 03/27/13 |
COMDOC, INC. | Specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1226019 Filed 03/21/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
P AGE 7
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1228221 Filed 03/21/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1231597 Filed 03/21/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1244616 Filed 03/21/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
P AGE 8
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1254755 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1254987 | Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1255026 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein |
P AGE 9
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1255091 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1256032 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1256057 Filed 03/22/13 |
Chesapeake Funding LLC | All goods (including equipment and inventory) leased or financed pursuant to Lease Agreement dated 3/31/78, including, but not limited to, specific leased equipment described therein | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2013 1658872 Filed 05/01/13 |
Oracle Credit Corporation | Hardware and other personal property identified in the Order, specified in Payment Schedule No. 55033 between secured party and debtor which incorporates the terms of the Payment Plan Agreement No. 5063 (server and database computer equipment) |
P AGE 10
UCC FILINGS FOR WHICH NO DEBT IS OUTSTANDING
TERMINATIONS IN PROCESS
ENTITY |
JURISDICTION |
FILE NO. & DATE |
SECURED PARTY |
COLLATERAL |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
31824385 Filed 07/17/03
Continued 04/09/08 |
General Electric Capital Business Asset Funding Corporation | Blanket filing on property related to the premises in Ludlow, Massachusetts (includes legal description of real property) | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
5243200 4 Filed 08/05/05
Continued 04/26/10 |
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance Inc. | Leased 1995 Cessna Citation Ultra Aircraft | ||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware Secretary of State |
2012 3711951 Filed 9/26/12 |
Henry Company LLC | All of buyers goods and materials, inventory, instruments, accounts receivable, notes, chattel paper, equipment, general and payment intangibles and choses in action relating to goods sold to buyer |
P AGE 11
SCHEDULE 8A(1)
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Subsidiaries
P AGE 12
Hancor, Inc. Subsidiaries | ||||||
Name |
Percent Owned | Jurisdiction | Organization | |||
Hancor Leasing Corp. |
100% | Ohio | Corporation | |||
Media Plus, Inc. |
100% | Ohio | Corporation | |||
Hancor International, Inc. |
100% | Delaware | Corporation | |||
Hancor, Inc. (NV) |
100% | Nevada | Corporation |
* | Guarantor under the Credit Agreement. |
P AGE 13
SCHEDULE 8G
AGREEMENTS RESTRICTING INDEBTEDNESS
1. | The Credit Agreement. |
2. | The Mexicana Credit Agreement. |
3. | The ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. Participation Agreement, as amended from time to time. |
4. | Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, as amended from time to time. |
SCHEDULE 8K
The UCC-1 Financing Statements to be filed with the secretaries of state of the following states in order to perfect the security interests created pursuant to the Collateral Documents:
Delaware
SCHEDULE 8Q
COLLATERAL
1. The Company and each Guarantors name, jurisdiction of organization and organizational identification number is as follows:
Each entitys state of organization is as follows:
Entity Name |
Jurisdiction of Organization |
Organizational Identification Number |
||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
Delaware | 0648730 | ||
StormTech LLC |
Delaware | 3673164 |
2. The location of the Companys and each Guarantors chief executive office is set forth below:
|
Name of
|
Mailing Address |
County |
State |
||||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Hilliard, OH |
4640 Trueman Blvd.,
Hilliard, OH 43026 |
Franklin | OH | ||||
StormTech LLC | Hilliard, OH |
4640 Trueman Blvd.,
Hilliard, OH 43026 |
Franklin | OH |
3. The following is a list of trade names and service names which are owned or licensed by the Company or any Guarantor:
Trade Names and Service Names Except as set forth below, the Company and each Subsidiary uses no trade names, service names or fictitious names. Each such entitys true and full name is as follows:
Entity Name |
Other Name(s) |
|
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
ADS (Unregistered Trade Name) ADS, Inc. (Unregistered Trade Name) Century Plastics (Assumed Name) Century Plastics, Inc. (Assumed Name) |
|
StormTech LLC | None |
Exhibit 10.3F
June 24, 2013
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Re: | Supplement to Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated June 12, 2013 ( Amendment No. 5 ), pursuant to which the Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, as previously amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated December 12, 2011, Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 9, 2012, Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 30, 2012 and Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated April 26, 2013 (as amended thereby and by Amendment No. 5, the Note Agreement ), between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and each other Prudential Affiliate as therein defined which becomes bound by certain provisions thereof as therein provided, on the other hand, was further amended. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Amendment No. 5.
The Company has requested a supplement to Amendment No. 5 as set forth below and Prudential and the holders of the Notes executing this letter are willing to agree to such supplement on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 . Supplement . Effective as of the Effective Date of Amendment No. 5, the parties hereto agree that Amendment 5 is hereby supplemented to insert the following amendments to the Note Agreement:
1.15. Paragraph 4E(1) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
4E(1). Notice of Asset Sale Prepayment. If, at the time of any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under paragraph 6H resulting in either (i) net cash proceeds greater than $5,000,000 or (ii) the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries receiving greater than $20,000,000 in aggregate in net cash proceeds from all such transactions, the Companys Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.25 to 1.00, then within five (5) Business Days of such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets, the Company shall make an offer to prepay Notes from such net proceeds pursuant to this paragraph 4E by giving written notice of such proposed asset sale to each holder of the Notes. Such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay the Notes as described in paragraph 4E(3) and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in paragraph 4E(6).
1.16. Paragraph 4F(1) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
4F(1). Notice of Receipt of Insurance or Condemnation Proceeds . If, at the time of receipt by the Company, any Subsidiary or the Collateral Agent of any insurance proceeds with respect to assets of any the Company or its Subsidiaries or condemnation proceeds with respect to assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries taken as a result of an Official Bodys exercise of or threat to exercise the power of eminent domain, condemnation of similar power, when such insurance or condemnation proceeds are greater than $5,000,000, the Companys Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.25 to 1.00, then within five (5) Business Days after the receipt of such proceeds, the Company shall make an offer to prepay Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4F by giving written notice of such proposed prepayment to each holder of the Notes. Such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay the Notes as described in paragraph 4F(3) and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in paragraph 4F(6).
1.17. Paragraph 4G(1) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
4G(1). Notice of Equity Issuance. If at the time of issuance by a Transaction Party of (A) any equity security for cash proceeds, (excluding any cash proceeds received with respect to (i) any capital contribution to the Company or its Subsidiaries by the Company or its Subsidiaries or by the Sponsor or any owner of equity securities in Company or its Subsidiaries on the initial Closing Day (after giving effect to the Transaction), or (ii) any issuance or sale of any equity security (a) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, (b) constituting directors qualifying shares, (c) to management or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries under any employee stock option, stock purchase plan, employee benefit plan or other similar arrangements in existence from time to time, (d) to the Sponsor with respect to the Transaction, (e) as consideration for or to finance a Permitted Acquisition) or in connection with a Public Offering, or (B) any Indebtedness permitted by paragraph 6B(xiii), the Companys Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.25 to 1.00 then within five (5) Business Days of such issuance the Company shall make an offer to prepay Notes from 50% of the net cash proceeds of any equity issuance or capital contribution or 100% of the net proceeds of such Indebtedness pursuant to this paragraph 4G by giving written notice of such proposed prepayment to each holder of the Notes. Such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay the Notes as described in paragraph 4G(3) and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in paragraph 4G(6).
1.18. Paragraph 10B is hereby amended by amending and restating the definition of Leverage Ratio to read as follows:
- 2 -
Leverage Ratio shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of consolidated total Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such date (excluding (i) any Indebtedness arising from reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under standby letters of credit in an aggregate amount not exceeding $10,000,000 and (ii) obligations with respect to interest rate swaps, fuel hedges and other commodity hedging arrangements and related marked-to-market liabilities, but including termination obligations arising by reason of the termination or close out of such interest rate swaps, fuel hedges and other commodity hedge arrangements the value of which being determined as of such time of such termination or close out in accordance with the terms of such agreements) to Consolidated EBITDAE, for the four fiscal quarters then ended on such date (or, if such date is not the last day of the fiscal quarter, the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to such date).
SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to Prudential and each holder of a Note that (i) the execution and delivery of this letter agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor, (ii) this letter agreement has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, (iii) the Company and each Guarantor has obtained all authorizations, consents, and approval necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement and such authorizations, consents and approval are in full force and effect and (iv) after giving effect hereto (a) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8 of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date and except that the representation and warranty set forth in: (1) paragraph 8D shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and its Material Subsidiaries, (2) paragraph 8F shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and its Material Subsidiaries and (3) paragraph 8Q shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and the Guarantors, (b) no Event of Default or Default exists.
SECTION 3. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Note Agreement . Upon the effectiveness of the amendments to Amendment No. 5 made in this letter agreement, each reference to Amendment No. 5 in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to Amendment No. 5 as supplemented by this letter agreement. Except as specifically set forth in Section 1 hereof, each of Amendment No. 5 and the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend Amendment No. 5, the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of a Note, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of Amendment No. 5, the Note Agreement or any Note at any time. Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that Prudential and any holder of a Note has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any amendments to the Note Agreement (or supplement any amendment thereto) or any Note in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
- 3 -
SECTION 4. Expenses . The Company hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by Prudential or any holder of a Note, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by Prudential or such holder of a Note in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of Company under this Section 4 shall survive transfer by any holder of a Note of any Note and payment of any Note.
SECTION 5. Governing Law . THIS LETTER AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 6. Reaffirmation . Each Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing supplement to Amendment No. 5 and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of their payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty Agreement after giving effect to such supplement. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing amendments, that the Guaranty Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Guaranty Agreement continues to guaranty the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement) arising under or in connection with the Note Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, as the same are amended by this letter agreement.
SECTION 7. Counterparts; Section Titles . This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
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Very Truly Yours, |
||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President |
||
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA |
||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President |
||
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY |
||
By: |
Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as investment manager |
|
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY |
||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President |
Accepted and Agreed: | ||
COMPANY: |
||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. |
||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: |
Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: |
Secretary and Treasurer | |
GUARANTORS: |
||
STORMTECH LLC |
||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: |
Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: |
Secretary and Treasurer |
Exhibit 10.3G
September 23, 2013
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Re: Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated December 12, 2011, Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 9, 2012, Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 30, 2012, Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated April 26, 2013 and Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated June 12, 2013, including the Supplement thereto dated June 24, 2013 (as so amended, the Note Agreement ), between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and each other Prudential Affiliate as therein defined which becomes bound by certain provisions thereof as therein provided, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement.
The Company has requested amendments to the Note Agreement as set forth below and Prudential and the holders of the Notes executing this letter are willing to agree to such amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 . Amendments . From and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof) the parties hereto agree that the Note Agreement is amended as follows:
1.1. Clause (iv) of paragraph 6B is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
(iv)(a) The Required Interest Rate Hedge (as defined in paragraph 5M of this Agreement prior to Amendment No. 5 to this Agreement), (b) any other Interest Rate Hedge approved by the Required Holders, or (c) any other Indebtedness under (1) any Other Lender Provided Financial Services Product so long as the Intercreditor Agreement shall be in full force and effect with respect thereto or (2) under any currency swap or hedging arrangement or commodity hedging arrangement with a counterparty other than the Bank Agent or a Bank; provided, however, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall enter into the Required Interest Rate Hedge, any other Interest Rate Hedge, any Other Lender Provided Financial Services Product, and any currency swap or hedging arrangement or commodity hedging arrangement for hedging (rather than speculative) purposes.
SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to Prudential and each holder of a Note that (i) the execution and delivery of this letter agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor, (ii) this letter agreement has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, (iii) the Company and each Guarantor has obtained all authorizations, consents, and approval necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement and such authorizations, consents and approval are in full force and effect and (iv) after giving effect hereto (a) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8 of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date and except that the representation and warranty set forth in: (1) paragraph 8D shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and its Material Subsidiaries, (2) paragraph 8F shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and its Material Subsidiaries and (3) paragraph 8Q shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and the Guarantors, and (b) no Event of Default or Default exists.
SECTION 3. Conditions Precedent . The amendments in Section 1 of this letter agreement shall become effective on the date (the Effective Date ) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
3.1. Documents . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received original counterparts of this letter agreement executed by Prudential, the Required Holders, the Company and each Guarantor.
3.2. Representations . All statements set forth in Section 2 shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date, except to the extent that any such statement expressly relates to an earlier date (in which case such statement was true and correct on and as of such earlier date).
3.3. Proceedings . All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this letter agreement shall be satisfactory to Prudential and each holder of a Note and its counsel, and Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.
SECTION 4. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Note Agreement . Upon the effectiveness of the amendments to the Note Agreement made in this letter agreement, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in Section 1 hereof, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of a
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Note, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of the Note Agreement or Note at any time. Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that Prudential and any holder of a Note has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any amendments to the Note Agreement or any Note in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
SECTION 5. Expenses . The Company hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by Prudential or any holder of a Note, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by Prudential or such holder of a Note in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of Company under this Section 5 shall survive transfer by any holder of a Note of any Note and payment of any Note.
SECTION 6. Governing Law . THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 7. Reaffirmation . Each Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing amendment to the Note Agreement and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of their payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty Agreement after giving effect to such amendment. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing amendment, that the Guaranty Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Guaranty Agreement continues to guaranty the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement) arising under or in connection with the Note Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, as the same are amended by this letter agreement.
SECTION 8. Counterparts; Section Titles . This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
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Very Truly Yours, | ||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY |
||
By: |
Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as investment manager |
|
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President |
AMENDMENT NO. 6 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Accepted and Agreed:
COMPANY: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
GUARANTORS: | ||
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
AMENDMENT NO. 6 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3H
December 31, 2013
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Re: | Amendment No. 7 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated December 12, 2011, Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 9, 2012, Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated March 30, 2012, Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated April 26, 2013, Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated June 12, 2013, including the Supplement thereto dated June 24, 2013, and Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated September 23, 2013 (as so amended, the Note Agreement ), between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on one hand, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. ( Prudential ) and each other Prudential Affiliate as therein defined which becomes bound by certain provisions thereof as therein provided, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement.
The Company has requested amendments to the Note Agreement as set forth below and Prudential and the holders of the Notes executing this letter are willing to agree to such amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 . Amendments . From and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof) the parties hereto agree that the Note Agreement is amended as follows:
1.1. Paragraph 10B is hereby amended by inserting or amending and restating, as the case may be, the following definitions:
Consolidated EBITDAE for any period of determination shall mean, without duplication, (i) net income, plus , to the extent reducing net income, the sum, of amounts for (a) consolidated interest expense, (b) charges for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, (c) total depreciation expense, (d) total amortization expense, (e) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Amendment No. 5 Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,100,000, (f) non-cash charges reducing net income for such period, (g) ESOP Compensation, (h) ESOP Dividends on Unallocated Shares, and (i) non-cash compensation related to stock options and restricted stock, minus (ii) non-cash gains increasing net income, in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP .
For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAE (x) with respect to a business acquired by the Transaction Parties or Subsidiaries thereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 or Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as interpreted by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission), using historical numbers of any business so acquired, in accordance with GAAP as if the Permitted Acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period, and (y) with respect to a business or assets liquidated, sold or disposed of by the Transaction Parties or Subsidiaries pursuant to paragraph 6H, Consolidated EBITDAE shall be calculated on a pro forma basis (determined on the basis stated above), using historical numbers of any business or assets so liquidated, sold or disposed of, in accordance with GAAP as if such liquidation, sale or disposition had been consummated at the beginning of such period.
ESOP Dividends on Unallocated Shares shall mean the Capital Distributions made by the Company in January, 2014 with respect to the shares of stock of the Company held by the ESOP which have not been allocated to the ESOP accounts of employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which Capital Distributions shall not exceed $22,624,300 in the aggregate.
Fixed Charges shall mean for any period of determination the sum of (i) cash interest expense, plus (ii) scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness, plus (iii) such portion of Capital Distributions pursuant to the ESOP exceeding $10,000,000 during any fiscal year (excluding the Capital Distributions with respect to the ESOP Dividends on Unallocated Shares), in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to Prudential and each holder of a Note that (i) the execution and delivery of this letter agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor, (ii) this letter agreement has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, (iii) the Company and each Guarantor has obtained all authorizations, consents, and approval necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement and such authorizations, consents and approval are in full force and effect, (iv) Since March 31, 2013, no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Company or any of the Guarantors and (v) after giving effect hereto (a) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8 of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in
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which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date and except that the representation and warranty set forth in: (1) paragraph 8D shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and its Material Subsidiaries, (2) paragraph 8F shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and its Material Subsidiaries and (3) paragraph 8Q shall be interpreted to be addressing only the Company and the Guarantors, (b) no Event of Default or Default exists and (c) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has paid or agreed to pay, and the Company and its Subsidiaries will not pay or agree to pay, any other fees or other consideration to the Bank Agent, any Bank or any lender under the Mexicana Credit Agreement (other than the legal fees paid to counsel for the Banks, Bank Agent and such lenders) for or with respect to the amendments or waivers to the Credit Agreement or the Mexicana Credit Agreement referred to in Section 3.2 below.
SECTION 3. Conditions Precedent . The amendments in Section 1 of this letter agreement shall become effective on the date (the Effective Date ) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
3.1. Documents . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received counterparts of this letter agreement executed by Prudential, the Required Holders, the Company and each Guarantor.
3.2. Credit Agreement and Mexicana Credit Agreement . Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received an executed copy of an amendment to each of the Credit Agreement and the Mexicana Credit Agreement in form and substance consistent with the terms set forth herein and satisfactory to Prudential and the Required Holders.
3.3 Representations . All statements set forth in Section 2 shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date, except to the extent that any such statement expressly relates to an earlier date (in which case such statement was true and correct on and as of such earlier date).
3.4. Proceedings . All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this letter agreement shall be satisfactory to Prudential and each holder of a Note and its counsel, and Prudential and each holder of a Note shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.
SECTION 4. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Note Agreement . Upon the effectiveness of the amendments to the Note Agreement made in this letter agreement, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in Section 1 hereof, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of a Note, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of the Note Agreement or Note at any time. Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that Prudential and any holder of a Note has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any amendments to the Note Agreement or any Note in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
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SECTION 5. Expenses . The Company hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by Prudential or any holder of a Note, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by Prudential or such holder of a Note in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of Company under this Section 5 shall survive transfer by any holder of a Note of any Note and payment of any Note.
SECTION 6. Governing Law . THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 7. Reaffirmation . Each Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing amendment to the Note Agreement and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of their payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty Agreement after giving effect to such amendment. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing amendment, that the Guaranty Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Guaranty Agreement continues to guaranty the Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement) arising under or in connection with the Note Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, as the same are amended by this letter agreement.
SECTION 8. Counterparts; Section Titles . This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
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Very Truly Yours, | ||
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE | ||
AND ANNUITY COMPANY | ||
By: | Prudential Investment Management, Inc., | |
as investment manager | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President | ||
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ David Quackenbush |
|
Vice President |
AMENDMENT NO. 7 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Accepted and Agreed: | ||
COMPANY: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
GUARANTORS: | ||
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
AMENDMENT NO. 7 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT (the Agreement ), dated as of June 12, 2013, is entered into by and among ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the Borrower ), and EACH OF THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO AND EACH OF THE OTHER PERSONS AND ENTITIES THAT BECOMES BOUND HEREBY FROM TIME TO TIME by joinder, assumption or otherwise (together with the Borrower, each a Debtor and, collectively, the Debtors ), and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Collateral Agent (in such capacity, the Collateral Agent ) for the Secured Parties (as defined below);
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, the Debtors are (or will be with respect to after-acquired property) the legal and beneficial owners and the holders of the Collateral (as defined in Section 1 hereof).
WHEREAS, the Debtors are party to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (as it may be further amended, restated, replaced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Domestic Credit Agreement ), with PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent ), the other agents party thereto, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the Domestic Facility Lenders ) pursuant to which the Domestic Facility Lenders are providing, among other things, for revolving credit loans (including a letter of credit subfacility and a swing loan subfacility) and term loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $425,000,000, as the same may be increased to an aggregate amount not to exceed $475,000,000 pursuant to the terms of the Domestic Credit Agreement, which revolving credit loans and term loans may be evidenced by notes (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, supplemented, extended and increased from time to time, the Domestic Bank Notes ).
WHEREAS, ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation, is party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (as it may be further amended, restated, replaced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Mexican Credit Agreement ), with PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the Mexican Facility Agent ), the other agents party thereto, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the Mexican Facility Lenders ) pursuant to which the Mexican Facility Lenders are providing, among other things, for revolving credit loans (including a letter of credit subfacility) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12,000,000, which revolving credit loans may be evidenced by notes (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, supplemented, extended and increased from time to time, the Mexican Bank Notes ).
WHEREAS, the Borrower has entered into an Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated as of September 24, 2010 (as amended, restated, replaced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Note Agreement ) pursuant to which the Borrower issued and sold to each of the Noteholders (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined below)) the Borrowers 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018 in the original aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 (such notes, as amended, restated, replaced,
modified and supplemented from time to time, the Series A Notes ) and pursuant to which the Borrower may from time to time hereafter issue and sell one or more additional series of Shelf Notes (as defined therein) (such notes, as amended, restated, replaced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Shelf Notes ; and, collectively with the Series A Notes, the Senior Notes ).
WHEREAS, the Borrower has entered into Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 ( Amendment No. 5 ) with the Noteholders which further amends the Note Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Bank Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) under the Domestic Credit Agreement, the Mexican Credit Agreement and the other Bank Loan Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) have been absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates (each as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) of the Borrower pursuant to one or more guaranties (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, and supplemented from time to time and including all joinders thereto, collectively, the Lender Guaranty Agreements ).
WHEREAS, the Noteholders Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) under the Note Agreement and the other Senior Note Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) have been absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrower pursuant to one or more guaranties (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, and supplemented from time to time and including all joinders thereto, collectively, the Noteholder Guaranty Agreements ).
WHEREAS, the Debtors, the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Facility Agent, the Collateral Agent, and the Noteholders are entering into that certain Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement of even date herewith (as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time, the Intercreditor Agreement ) which among other things, continues the appointment of PNC Bank, National Association as the Collateral Agent thereunder and sets forth certain responsibilities and obligations of the Collateral Agent and establishes among the Secured Parties their respective rights with respect to certain payments that may be received by the Collateral Agent in respect of the Collateral (as defined below).
WHEREAS, to induce the Administrative Agent and the Domestic Facility Lenders to enter into the Domestic Credit Agreement, to induce Mexican Facility Agent and the Mexican Facility Lenders to enter into the Mexican Credit Agreement, and to induce the Noteholders to enter into Amendment No. 5, each Debtor has agreed to pledge and grant a security interest in the Collateral as security for the Senior Secured Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
2
NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. Terms which are defined in the Intercreditor Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined therein and the rules of construction set forth in Section 1.2 [Other Interpretive Provisions] of the Intercreditor Agreement shall apply to this Agreement. The following words and terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context hereof otherwise clearly requires:
(a) ADS Corporativo means ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation.
(b) Code means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Ohio on the date hereof and as amended from time to time, except to the extent that the conflict of law rules of such Uniform Commercial Code shall apply the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in any other state to specific property or other matters.
(c) Collateral means all of any Debtors right, title and interest in, to and under the following described property of such Debtor (each capitalized term used in this Section 1(b) shall have in this Agreement the meaning given to it by the Code):
(i) all now existing and hereafter acquired or arising Accounts, Goods, General Intangibles, Payment Intangibles, Deposit Accounts, Chattel Paper (including Electronic Chattel Paper), Documents, Instruments, Software, Investment Property, Letters of Credit, Letter-of-Credit Rights, advices of credit, money, Commercial Tort Claims as listed on Schedule B hereto (as such Schedule is amended or supplemented from time to time), Equipment, Inventory, Fixtures, and Supporting Obligations, together with all products of and Accessions to any of the foregoing and all Proceeds of any of the foregoing (including without limitation all insurance policies and proceeds thereof);
(ii) to the extent, if any, not included in clause (i) above, each and every other item of personal property and fixtures, whether now existing or hereafter arising or acquired, including, without limitation, all licenses, contracts and agreements, and all collateral for the payment or performance of any contract or agreement, together with all products and Proceeds (including all insurance policies and proceeds) of or any Accessions to any of the foregoing; and
(iii) all present and future business records and information, including computer tapes and other storage media containing the same and computer programs and software (including without limitation, source code, object code and related manuals and documentation and all licenses to use such software) for accessing and manipulating such information.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, the security interest created by this Agreement shall not extend to, and the term Collateral shall not include, any Excluded Property.
(d) Excluded Property means:
(i) after giving effect to Sections 9 406, 9 407, 9 408 or 9-409 of the Code (or any successor provision or provisions) or any other applicable law (including the United States Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity: (A) any permit or license issued by any governmental authority to any Debtor, (B) Equipment owned by any Debtor on the date
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hereof or hereafter acquired that is subject to a Lien securing a purchase money obligation or capitalized lease permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Financing Documents, and (C) Equipment subject to any equipment leases entered into by the Debtors in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices with respect to leased trucks, trailers, cars, forklifts, and other rolling stock to the extent that such leases are operating leases and not capital leases, but only in any of the foregoing cases, to the extent and for so long as (x) the terms of such permit or license or any requirement of law applicable thereto under clause (A), (y) the contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted (or the documentation providing for such purchase money obligation or capitalized lease) under clause (B), or (z) the lease contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted for such Fleet Lease;
(ii) any intent-to-use trademark application to the extent and for so long as creation by a Debtor of a security interest therein would result in the loss by such Debtor of any material rights therein;
(iii) any capital stock, shares, securities, investment property, member interests, partnership interests, and all other ownership or participation interests issued by any first-tier Foreign Subsidiary owned by a Debtor to the extent such ownership interests exceed 65% of the total voting power of all outstanding voting ownership interests of such Foreign Subsidiary;
(iv) any capital stock, shares, securities, investment property, member interests, partnership interests, and all other ownership or participation interests issued by any Foreign Subsidiary which is not a first-tier Foreign Subsidiary of a Debtor;
(v) any capital stock, shares, securities, investment property, member interests, partnership interests, and all other ownership or participation interests issued by any Guarantor which has as its principal purpose the holding of ownership interest in one or more CFCs and has no other material assets or operations (for the purposes of hereof, CFC and CFCs shall mean one or more Controlled Foreign Corporations, as such term in Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended); and
(vi) owned real property and leasehold interests in real property of a Debtor to the extent excluded from the Code;
provided , however , that Excluded Property shall not include any proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Property (unless such Proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Property).
(e) Foreign Subsidiary means a Subsidiary that is not organized or formed under the laws of the United States of America or any state of the United States of America
(f) Financing Documents mean (i) the Note Agreement and the Senior Notes, (ii) the Noteholder Guaranty Agreements, (iii) the Domestic Credit Agreement and the Domestic Bank Notes, (iv) the Mexican Credit Agreement and the Mexican Bank Notes, (v) the Lender Guaranty Agreements, (vi) any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge, (vii) any Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product, (viii) this Agreement and the other Security Documents, and (ix) any amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications in respect of the foregoing.
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(g) Permitted Lien shall have the meaning set forth in the Financing Documents.
(h) Receivables means all of the Accounts, Payment Intangibles, Chattel Paper (including, without limitation, Electronic Chattel Paper, all Proceeds of the foregoing and other Collateral arising from the foregoing, and all other rights to payment and all collateral support and Supporting Obligations related thereto and all Records relating thereto).
(i) Secured Party means any one of the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Facility Agent, the Domestic Facility Lenders, the Mexican Facility Lenders, Noteholders and any other holders of Senior Notes, the Lender Affiliates, the Collateral Agent, and any successors and permitted assigns to the interests in the Senior Secured Obligations owing to any such Persons.
(j) Specified Collateral means any item of Collateral as to which the perfection of a valid and enforceable security interest and Lien therein under the Code cannot be accomplished by (i) the filing in the appropriate location of a Code financing statement naming the Collateral Agent as secured party, or (ii) in the case of certificated securities, possession by the Collateral Agent.
2. As security for the due and punctual payment and performance of the Senior Secured Obligations in full, each Debtor hereby agrees that the Collateral Agent shall have, and each Debtor hereby grants to and creates in favor of the Collateral Agent (and hereby confirms the continuation of the grant to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Existing Security Agreement (as defined below) of), for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent, the other Secured Parties and any of their respective Affiliates to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, a continuing Lien on and security interest under the Code in and to the Collateral which (a) with respect to Collateral other than Specified Collateral, is a first priority Lien and security interest, subject only to Permitted Liens, and (b) with respect to Specified Collateral, only when the Collateral Agent has taken such steps to accomplish perfection as contemplated by clause (ii) of Section 5(e) hereof, if applicable, shall be a first priority Lien and security interest, subject only to Permitted Liens.
3. Each Debtor represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties that (a) except for the security interest granted to and created in favor of the Collateral Agent hereunder, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent, the other Secured Parties and any of their respective Affiliates to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, and Permitted Liens, all the Collateral is free and clear of any Lien, (b) as of the date hereof, the exact legal name of such Debtor is as set forth on the applicable Schedule A hereto, (c) as of the date hereof, the state of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, of such Debtor is as set forth on the applicable Schedule A hereto, and (d) as of the date hereof, the chief executive office of such Debtor is as set forth on the applicable Schedule A hereto.
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4. Each Debtor (a) will faithfully preserve and protect the Collateral Agents security interest in the Collateral (except Specified Collateral, unless the Collateral Agent has taken such steps to accomplish perfection of its security interest in such Specified Collateral as provided in clause (ii) of Section 5(e), if applicable) as a perfected security interest under the Code, superior and prior to the rights of all third Persons, except for holders of Permitted Liens, and (b) will, upon the reasonable request therefor by the Collateral Agent, execute, deliver, file and record, and each Debtor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to so file, all such Code financing statements, and amendments thereto and continuations thereof, and powers of attorney with respect to the Collateral (except Specified Collateral unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as contemplated by clause (ii) of Section 5(e)), and pay all filing fees and taxes related thereto, as the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion may deem necessary or advisable from time to time in order to (i) with respect to all Collateral, attach, and (ii) with respect to all Collateral, except Specified Collateral (unless the Collateral Agent has taken such steps to accomplish perfection of its security interest in such Specified Collateral as provided in clause (ii) of Section 5(e), if applicable), continue, preserve, perfect, and protect said security interest (including the filing at any time or times after the date hereof of financing statements under, and in the locations advisable pursuant to, the Code); and each Debtor hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent, its officers, employees and agents, or any of them, as attorneys-in-fact for such Debtor to execute, deliver, file and record such items for such Debtor and in such Debtors name, place and stead. This power of attorney, being coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable for the term of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything contained elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) no Debtor shall be required to enter into or deliver any agreements, instruments, certificates or other documents, or make any filings, that are solely related to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America (or its territories or possessions) in connection with the grant and perfection of the Liens and security interests set forth in this Agreement, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred or exists and is continuing as contemplated by clause (ii) of Section 5(e), no Debtor shall be required to enter into or deliver any other or additional agreements, instruments, certificates or other documents, or make any filings with respect to any Specified Collateral.
5. Each Debtor jointly and severally covenants and agrees that:
(a) it will defend the Collateral Agents and each Secured Partys right, title and Lien on and security interest in and to the Collateral and the Proceeds thereof against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever, other than any Person claiming a right in the Collateral pursuant to an agreement between such Person and the Collateral Agent and holders of Permitted Liens;
(b) it will not suffer or permit to exist on any Collateral any Lien except for Permitted Liens;
(c) it will not take or omit to take any action, the taking or the omission of which could reasonably be expected to result in a material alteration (except as permitted by the Financing Documents) or impairment of the Collateral or of the Collateral Agents rights under this Agreement;
(d) it will not sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any portion of the Collateral except as permitted in the Financing Documents;
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(e) it will (i) deliver to the Collateral Agent possession of all certificated securities representing the Collateral, (ii) upon the Collateral Agents request upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, execute control agreements and use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause other Persons to execute acknowledgments in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent evidencing the Collateral Agents control with respect to all Collateral the control or acknowledgment of which perfects the Collateral Agents security interest therein, including Letters of Credit, Letter-of-Credit Rights, Electronic Chattel Paper, Deposit Accounts and Investment Property, and without prior notice to or consent of any Debtor, the Collateral Agent may at its option take such actions as the Collateral Agent deems appropriate to attach, perfect, continue, preserve and protect the Collateral Agents and the Secured Parties first priority (subject only to Permitted Liens) security interest in or Lien on such Specified Collateral, and (iii) keep materially accurate and complete books and records concerning the Collateral and such other books and records as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably require;
(f) without limiting the generality of Section 10 hereof, it will promptly furnish to the Collateral Agent such information and documents relating to the Collateral as the Collateral Agent, upon instruction from either the Required Lenders or the Required Holders, may reasonably request; provided that, prior to an Event of Default, no documents will be required in connection with the perfection of the security interest granted under this Agreement other than in connection with (i) the filing in the appropriate location of a Code financing statement naming the Collateral Agent as secured party, and (ii) in the case of certificated securities, delivery of possession to the Collateral Agent;
(g) such Debtor will not change its state of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, without providing at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent;
(h) such Debtor will not change its legal name or chief executive office without providing at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent;
(i) [Intentionally Omitted]
(j) such Debtor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to, at any time and from time to time, file in any one or more jurisdictions located within the United States of America (or its territories or possessions) financing statements that describe the Collateral, together with continuation statements thereof and amendments thereto, without the signature of such Debtor and which contain any information required by the Code or any other applicable statute applicable to such jurisdiction for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statements, continuation statements, or amendments. Such Debtor agrees to furnish any such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request. Any such financing statements, continuation statements, or amendments may be signed by Collateral Agent on behalf of such Debtor if the Collateral Agent so elects and may be filed at any time in any jurisdiction;
(k) such Debtor shall at any time and from time to time take such steps as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request as are necessary for the Collateral Agent to ensure the continued perfection of the Collateral Agents and each Secured Partys security interest in the Collateral (except for Specified Collateral, unless otherwise provided in, and as contemplated by, clause (ii) of Section 5(e), if applicable) with the same priority required hereby and the preservation of its rights therein; and
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(l) such Debtor shall preserve its corporate existence and shall not (i) in one or a series of related transactions, merge into or consolidate with any other entity, or (ii) sell all or substantially all of its assets, in each case except as permitted by the Financing Documents.
6. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equivalent to that which the Collateral Agent, in its individual capacity, accords its own property consisting of similar instruments or interests.
7. The pledge, security interests, and other Liens and the obligations of each Debtor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise diminished by any failure, default, omission, or delay, willful or otherwise, by Collateral Agent, or any other obligor on any of the Senior Secured Obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Debtor or which would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Debtor as a matter of law or equity. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Debtor hereby agrees that the pledge, security interests, and other Liens given by such Debtor hereunder shall not be diminished, terminated, or otherwise similarly affected by any of the following at any time and from time to time:
(a) Any lack of genuineness, legality, validity, enforceability, or allowability (in a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding, or otherwise), or any avoidance or subordination, in whole or in part, of any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations and regardless of any law, regulation, or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of the Senior Secured Obligations, any of the terms of the Financing Documents, or any rights of the Collateral Agent or any other Person with respect thereto; provided , however , that the agreement above with respect to any lack of such allowability, or any avoidance or subordination shall not apply to any Specified Collateral unless and to the extent the transactions and other actions contemplated by clause (ii) of Section 5(e) have occurred or exist and the Collateral Agent has taken such steps to accomplish perfection of its security interest in such Specified Collateral;
(b) Any increase, decrease, or change in the amount, nature, type or purpose of any of the Senior Secured Obligations (whether or not contemplated by the Financing Documents as presently constituted); any change in the time, manner, method, or place of payment or performance of, or in any other term of, any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any execution or delivery of any additional Financing Documents; or any amendment, modification or supplement to, or refinancing or refunding of, any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations;
(c) Any failure to assert any breach of or default under any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any extensions of credit in excess of the amount committed under or contemplated by the Financing Documents, or in circumstances in which any
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condition to such extensions of credit has not been satisfied; any other exercise or non-exercise, or any other failure, omission, breach, default, delay, or wrongful action in connection with any exercise or non-exercise, of any right or remedy against such Debtor or any other Person under or in connection with any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any refusal of payment or performance of any of the Senior Secured Obligations, whether or not with any reservation of rights against any Debtor; or any application of collections (including collections resulting from realization upon any direct or indirect security for the Senior Secured Obligations) to other obligations, if any, not entitled to the benefits of this Agreement, in preference to Senior Secured Obligations or, if any collections are applied to Senior Secured Obligations, any application to particular Senior Secured Obligations;
(d) Any taking, exchange, amendment, modification, supplement, termination, subordination, release, loss, or impairment of, or any failure to protect, perfect, or preserve the value of, or any enforcement of, realization upon, or exercise of rights or remedies under or in connection with, or any failure, omission, breach, default, delay, or wrongful action by the Collateral Agent or any other Person in connection with the enforcement of, realization upon, or exercise of rights or remedies under or in connection with, or, any other action or inaction by Collateral Agent or any other Person in respect of, any direct or indirect security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations (including the Collateral). As used in this Agreement, direct or indirect security for the Senior Secured Obligations, and similar phrases, includes any collateral security, guaranty, suretyship, letter of credit, capital maintenance agreement, put option, subordination agreement, or other right or arrangement of any nature providing direct or indirect assurance of payment or performance of any of the Senior Secured Obligations, made by or on behalf of any Person;
(e) Any merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, charter revocation, or forfeiture, or other change in, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of, any Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person; any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to any Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person; or any action taken or election (including any election under Section 1111(b)(2) of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable law of any jurisdiction) made by Collateral Agent or any Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or by any other Person in connection with any such proceeding;
(f) Any defense, setoff, or counterclaim which may at any time be available to or be asserted by any Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person with respect to any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations; or any discharge by operation of law or release of any Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person from the performance or observance of any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations; or
(g) Any other event or circumstance, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, and whether known or unknown, which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or limit the liability of a guarantor or a surety, including any Debtor, excepting only indefeasible payment and performance of the Senior Secured Obligations in full.
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8. Each Debtor hereby waives any and all defenses which such Debtor may now or hereafter have based on principles of suretyship, impairment of collateral, or the like and each Debtor hereby waives any defense to or limitation on its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or based on any event or circumstance referred to in the immediately preceding Section hereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Debtor hereby further waives each of the following:
(a) All notices, disclosures and demands of any nature which otherwise might be required from time to time to preserve intact any rights against such Debtor, including the following: any notice of any event or circumstance described in the immediately preceding Section hereof; any notice required by any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction; any notice of nonpayment, nonperformance, dishonor, or protest under any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any notice of the incurrence of any Senior Secured Obligations; any notice of any default or any failure on the part of such Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person to comply with any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations or any requirement pertaining to any direct or indirect security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations; and any notice or other information pertaining to the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Borrower, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person;
(b) Any right to any marshalling of assets, to the filing of any claim against such Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person in the event of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar proceeding, or to the exercise against such Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo, or any other Person of any other right or remedy under or in connection with any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations or any direct or indirect security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any requirement of promptness or diligence on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Person; any requirement to exhaust any remedies under or in connection with, or to mitigate the damages resulting from default under, any Financing Document or any of the Senior Secured Obligations or any direct or indirect security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any benefit of any statute of limitations; and any requirement of acceptance of this Agreement or any other Financing Document, and any requirement that any Debtor receive notice of any such acceptance; and
(c) Any defense or other right arising by reason of any law now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction pertaining to election of remedies (including anti-deficiency laws, one action laws, or the like), or by reason of any election of remedies or other action or inaction by the Collateral Agent (including commencement or completion of any judicial proceeding or nonjudicial sale or other action in respect of collateral security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations), which results in denial or impairment of the right of the Collateral Agent to seek a deficiency against any Debtor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person or which otherwise discharges or impairs any of the Senior Secured Obligations.
9. The Senior Secured Obligations and any additional liabilities of the Debtors under this Agreement are joint and several obligations of the Debtors, and each Debtor hereby waives to the full extent permitted by law any defense it may otherwise have to the payment and performance of the Senior Secured Obligations that its liability hereunder is limited and not joint
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and several. Each Debtor acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing waivers serve as a material inducement to the agreement of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties to make the loans and other financial accommodations provided under the Financing Documents, and that the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties are relying on each specific waiver and all such waivers in entering into this Agreement. The undertakings of each Debtor hereunder secure the obligations of itself and the other Debtors. The Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, or any of them, may, in their sole discretion, elect to enforce this Agreement against any Debtor without any duty or responsibility to pursue any other Debtor and such an election by the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, or any of them, shall not be a defense to any action the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, or any of them, may elect to take against any Debtor. Each of the Secured Parties and Collateral Agent hereby reserve all right against each Debtor.
10. (a) At any time and from time to time whether or not an Event of Default then exists and is continuing, and without prior notice to or consent of any Debtor, the Collateral Agent may at its option take such actions as the Collateral Agent deems appropriate (i) except with respect to the Specified Collateral (as to which clause (ii) of Section 5(e) shall govern, if applicable), to attach, perfect, continue, preserve and protect the Collateral Agents and the Secured Parties first priority (subject only to Permitted Liens) security interest in or Lien on such Collateral, and/or (ii) to inspect, audit and verify the Collateral, including reviewing all of such Debtors books and records and copying and making excerpts therefrom, provided that the same is done with advance notice during normal business hours to the extent access to such Debtors premises is required and no more than two such visits for the Collateral Agent shall be permitted in any fiscal year, unless an Event of Default or an event or condition which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing during which period no such notice, timing or frequency requirements or restrictions shall apply, and (iii) to add all liabilities, obligations, costs and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) to the Senior Secured Obligations, to be paid by the Debtors to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, upon demand, unless and to the extent the Financing Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement expressly otherwise provide;
(b) At any time and from time to time after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and without prior notice to or consent of any Debtor, the Collateral Agent may at its option take such action as the Collateral Agent deems appropriate (i) to maintain, repair, protect and insure the Collateral, and/or (ii) to perform, keep, observe and render true and correct any and all material covenants, agreements, representations and warranties of any Debtor hereunder, and (iii) to add all liabilities, obligations, costs and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) to the Senior Secured Obligations, to be paid by any Debtor to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, upon demand.
11. After there exists any Event of Default under any of the Financing Documents which has not been cured or waived by the Secured Parties pursuant to the applicable Financing Documents:
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(a) The Collateral Agent shall have and may exercise all the rights and remedies available to a secured party under the Code in effect at the time, and such other rights and remedies as may be provided by law and as set forth below, including without limitation to take over and collect all of any Debtors Receivables and all other Collateral, and to this end each Debtor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent, its officers, employees and agents, as its irrevocable, true and lawful attorneys-in-fact with all necessary power and authority to (i) take possession immediately, with or without notice, demand, or legal process, of any of or all of the Collateral wherever found, and for such purposes, enter upon any premises upon which the Collateral may be found and remove the Collateral therefrom, (ii) require any Debtor to assemble the Collateral and deliver it to the Collateral Agent or to any place designated by the Collateral Agent at the Debtors expense, (iii) receive and open of all mail addressed to any Debtor and notify postal authorities to change the address for delivery thereof to such address as the Collateral Agent may designate, (iv) demand payment of the Receivables, (v) enforce payment of the Receivables by legal proceedings or otherwise, (vi) exercise all of any Debtors rights and remedies with respect to the collection of the Receivables, (vii) settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew the Receivables, (viii) settle, adjust or compromise any legal proceedings brought to collect the Receivables, (ix) to the extent permitted by applicable law, sell or assign the Receivables upon such terms, for such amounts and at such time or times as the Collateral Agent deems advisable, (x) discharge and release the Receivables, (xi) take control, in any manner, of any item of payment or proceeds from any account debtor, (xii) prepare, file and sign any Debtors name on any proof of claim in bankruptcy or similar document against any account debtor, (xiii) prepare, file and sign any Debtors name on any notice of Lien, assignment or satisfaction of Lien or similar document in connection with the Receivables, (xiv) do all acts and things necessary, in the Collateral Agents sole discretion, to fulfill any Debtors or the Mexican Borrowers obligations to the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties under the Financing Documents or otherwise, (xv) endorse the name of any Debtor upon any check, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, invoice, freight bill, bill of lading or similar document or agreement relating to the Receivables or Inventory, (xvi) use any Debtors stationery and sign such Debtors name to verifications of the Receivables and notices thereof to account debtors, (xvii) access and use the information recorded on or contained in any data processing equipment or computer hardware or software relating to the Receivables, Inventory, or other Collateral or proceeds thereof to which any Debtor has access, (xviii) demand, sue for, collect, compromise and give acquittances for any and all Collateral, (xix) prosecute, defend or compromise any action, claim or proceeding with respect to any of the Collateral, and (xx) take such other action as the Collateral Agent may deem appropriate, including extending or modifying the terms of payment of any Debtors debtors. This power of attorney, being coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable for the term of this Agreement. To the extent permitted by law, each Debtor hereby waives all claims of damages due to or arising from or connected with any of the rights or remedies exercised by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement, except claims for damage to the Collateral arising from gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Collateral Agent.
(b) The Collateral Agent shall have the right to lease, sell or otherwise dispose of all or any of the Collateral at public or private sale or sales for cash, credit or any combination thereof, with such notice as may be required by law (it being agreed by each Debtor that, in the absence of any contrary requirement of law, at least ten (10) days prior notice (in any manner permitted by the Code) of a public or private sale of Collateral as required by the Code shall be
12
deemed reasonable notice), in lots or in bulk, for cash or on credit, all as the Collateral Agent, in its sole discretion, may deem advisable. Such sales may be adjourned from time to time with or without notice. The Collateral Agent shall have the right to conduct such sales on any Debtors premises or elsewhere and shall have the right to use any Debtors premises without charge for such sales for such time or times as the Collateral Agent may see fit. The Collateral Agent may purchase all or any part of the Collateral at public or, if permitted by law, private sale and, in lieu of actual payment of such purchase price, may set off the amount of such price against the Senior Secured Obligations.
(c) Each Debtor, at its cost and expense (including the cost and expense of any of the following referenced consents, approvals, etc.) will promptly execute and deliver or use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the execution and delivery of all applications, certificates, instruments, registration statements, and all other documents and papers the Collateral Agent may request in connection with the obtaining of any consent, approval, registration, qualification, permit, license, accreditation, or authorization of any Governmental Authority or other Person necessary or appropriate for the effective exercise of any rights hereunder or under the other Financing Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Debtor agrees that, in the event the Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and/or the Secured Parties shall exercise its rights hereunder or pursuant to the other Financing Documents, to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, or vote, consent, operate, or take any other action in connection with any of the Collateral, such Debtor shall execute and deliver (or use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be executed and delivered) all applications, certificates, assignments and other documents that the Collateral Agent requests to facilitate such actions and shall otherwise promptly, fully, and diligently cooperate with the Collateral Agent and any other Persons in making any application for the prior consent or approval of any Governmental Authority or any other Person to the exercise by the Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and/or the Secured Parties or any such rights relating to all or any of the Collateral. Furthermore, because each Debtor agrees that the remedies at law of the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and/or the Secured Parties, for failure of such Debtor to comply with this Subsection (c) would be inadequate, and that any such failure would not be adequately compensable in damages, each Debtor agrees that this Subsection (c) may be specifically enforced.
(d) The Collateral Agent may request, without limiting the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties otherwise provided hereunder and under the other Financing Documents, that each Debtor do any of the following: (i) give the Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties specific assignments of the accounts receivable of such Debtor after such accounts receivable come into existence, and schedules of such accounts receivable, the form and content of such assignment and schedules to be satisfactory to Collateral Agent, and (ii) in order to better secure the Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, to the extent permitted by law, enter into such lockbox agreements and establish such lockbox accounts as the Collateral Agent may require, all at the sole expense of the Debtors, and shall direct all payments from all payors due to such Debtor, to such lockbox accounts.
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12. The Lien on and security interest in each Debtors Collateral granted to and created in favor of the Collateral Agent by this Agreement shall be for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent, the other Secured Parties and any of their respective Affiliates to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement. Each of the rights, privileges, and remedies provided to the Collateral Agent hereunder or otherwise by law with respect to any Debtors Collateral shall be exercised by the Collateral Agent only for its own benefit and the ratable benefit of the other Secured Parties and any of their respective Affiliates to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, and any of such Debtors Collateral or proceeds thereof held or realized upon at any time by the Collateral Agent shall be applied as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. Each Debtor shall remain liable to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties and any of their respective Affiliates for and shall pay to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of itself, the other Secured Parties and any of their respective Affiliates to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, and any of their respective Affiliates, any deficiency which may remain after such sale or collection.
13. [Intentionally Omitted]
14. It is contemplated by the parties hereto that there may be times when no Senior Secured Obligations are outstanding, but notwithstanding such occurrences, this Agreement shall remain valid and shall be in full force and effect as to subsequent outstanding Senior Secured Obligations. Upon the satisfaction in full of the Senior Secured Obligations and the termination or expiration of the Financing Documents and all commitments thereunder (other than (i) indemnity obligations that survive the termination of this Agreement for which no notice of claims has been received by the Debtors and (ii) Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized to the satisfaction of the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion), the Collateral shall be automatically released from the Liens created hereby, and this Agreement shall terminate (other than those provisions expressly stated to survive such termination) and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the applicable Debtor, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party. The Collateral Agent will thereafter, upon any Debtors request and at such Debtors expense, (a) return to such Debtor such of the Collateral in the Collateral Agents possession as shall not have been sold or otherwise disposed of or applied pursuant to the terms hereof, and (b) execute and deliver to such Debtor such documents as such Debtor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination. If any of the Collateral shall be sold or otherwise disposed of by any Debtor in a transaction permitted by the Financing Documents, then the Collateral Agent, at the request and sole expense of such Debtor, shall execute and deliver to such Debtor all releases or other documents necessary for the release of the Liens created hereby on such Collateral. Each Debtor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement originally filed in connection herewith without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, subject to such Debtors rights under Sections 9-509(d)(2) and 9-518 of the Code.
15. No failure or delay on the part of the Collateral Agent in exercising any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege of the Collateral Agent hereunder; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. No waiver of a single Event of Default shall be deemed a waiver of a subsequent Event of Default. All waivers under this Agreement must be in writing. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement are cumulative and in addition to any rights or remedies which it may otherwise have, and the Collateral Agent may enforce any one or more remedies hereunder successively or concurrently at its option.
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16. All notices, statements, requests and demands given to or made upon either party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be given or made as provided in Section 11.5 [Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications] of the Domestic Credit Agreement in the case of the Debtors and as set forth in Section 7.9 [Notices] of the Intercreditor Agreement in the case of the Collateral Agent.
17. Each Debtor agrees that, as of the date hereof, all information contained on the applicable Security Interest Data Summary attached hereto as Schedule A is accurate and complete and contains no omission or misrepresentation.
18. Each Debtor acknowledges that the provisions hereof giving the Collateral Agent rights of access to books, records and information concerning the Collateral and such Debtors operations and providing the Collateral Agent access to such Debtors premises are intended to afford the Collateral Agent with immediate access to current information concerning such Debtor and its activities, including without limitation, the value, nature and location of the Collateral so that the Collateral Agent can, among other things, make an appropriate determination after the occurrence of an Event of Default, whether and when to exercise its other remedies hereunder and at law, including without limitation, instituting a replevin action should any Debtor refuse to turn over any Collateral to the Collateral Agent. Each Debtor further acknowledges that should such Debtor at any time fail to promptly provide such information and access to the Collateral Agent, each Debtor acknowledges that the Collateral Agent would have no adequate remedy at law to promptly obtain the same. Each Debtor agrees that the provisions hereof may be specifically enforced by the Collateral Agent and waives any claim or defense in any such action or proceeding that the Collateral Agent has an adequate remedy at law.
19. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent, the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns, and each Debtor and each of its respective successors and assigns, except that no Debtor may assign or transfer such Debtors obligations hereunder or any interest herein.
20. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of Ohio and shall for all purposes be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflicts of laws principles, except to the extent of any provision of the Code that applies the law of the jurisdiction in which the Collateral is located; provided, however, that in no event shall this Section be applied or interpreted to defeat a perfected security interest in the Collateral that would be valid under an otherwise applicable law.
21. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate 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.
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22. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR OHIO STATE COURT SITTING IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT OR TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH OHIO STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT OR TRANSACTION RELATING HERETO OR THERETO SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE COLLATERAL AGENT, ANY SECURED PARTY OR THE ISSUING LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT OR TRANSACTION RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, AGAINST EACH PARTY HERETO OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
23. EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY A JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR TRANSACTIONS RELATING THERETO.
24. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. Each Debtor acknowledges and agrees that a telecopy transmission to the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of the signature pages hereof purporting to be signed on behalf of any Debtor shall constitute effective and binding execution and delivery hereof by such Debtor.
25. At any time after the initial execution of this Agreement, additional Persons may become parties to this Agreement and thereby acquire the duties and rights of being Debtors hereunder by executing and delivering to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties joinder agreements pursuant to the Financing Documents. No notice of the addition of any Debtor shall be required to be given to any pre-existing Debtor, and each Debtor hereby consents thereto.
26. This Agreement hereby amends and restates, in its entirety, the existing Security Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010 (the Existing Security Agreement ), by and among the parties thereto, and the parties hereto agree and acknowledge that this Agreement is not intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, an interruption, suspension of continuity, satisfaction, discharge of prior duties, novation, or termination of the Liens, security interests, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, expenses, or obligations under the Existing Security Agreement or under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (except in each case as
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expressly modified in accordance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents amended in connection therewith). Notwithstanding the foregoing, debtors which were party to the Existing Security Agreement but which are not parties to this Agreement are hereby released from the Exiting Security Agreement and all collateral pledged by each such debtor not a party to this Agreement is hereby released.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto duly authorized, have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth.
DEBTORS: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary, Executive Vice President, | |
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | ||
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: |
Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: |
Secretary and Treasurer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT]
COLLATERAL AGENT: | ||
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
By: |
/s/ George M. Gevas |
|
Name: | George M. Gevas | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
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SCHEDULE A TO
SECURITY AGREEMENT
SECURITY INTEREST DATA SUMMARY
1. The chief executive office of each of ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. and STORMTECH LLC (each a Debtor ) is located at:
4640 Trueman Boulevard
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
2. Except as set forth below, each Debtor uses no trade names or fictitious names. Each Debtors true and full name is as follows:
Entity Name |
Other Name(s) |
|
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
ADS (Unregistered Trade Name) ADS, Inc. (Unregistered Trade Name) Century Plastics (Assumed Name) Century Plastics, Inc. (Assumed Name) |
|
StormTech LLC | None |
3. Each Debtors form of organization is as follows:
Entity Name |
Form of Organization |
|
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Corporation | |
StormTech LLC | Limited Liability Company |
4. Each Debtors state of organization is as follows:
Entity Name |
Jurisdiction of Organization |
|
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | Delaware | |
StormTech LLC | Delaware |
5. Each Debtors Employer Identification Number is as follows:
Entity Name |
Employer Identification Number |
|
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 51-0105665 | |
StormTech LLC | 56-2372585 |
6. Each Debtors organization ID # (if any exists) is as follows:
Entity Name |
Organizational Identification Number |
|
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | 0648730 | |
StormTech LLC | 3673164 |
SCHEDULE B
TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT
COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS
None.
Exhibit 10.5
AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AGREEMENT , dated as of June 12, 2013, (as further restated, amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the Agreement ), is given by EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED PARTIES LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO and EACH OF THE OTHER PERSONS AND ENTITIES THAT BECOMES BOUND HEREBY FROM TIME TO TIME by joinder, assumption or otherwise (each a Pledgor and collectively the Pledgors ), as a Pledgor of the each of the Companies (as defined herein), to PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Collateral Agent (in such capacity, the Collateral Agent ) for the Secured Parties (as defined below).
RECITALS :
WHEREAS, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Borrower ), is a party to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (as it may be further amended, restated, replaced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Domestic Credit Agreement ), with certain subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent ), the other agents party thereto, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the Domestic Facility Lenders ) pursuant to which the Domestic Facility Lenders are providing, among other things, for revolving credit loans (including a letter of credit subfacility and a swing loan subfacility) and term loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $425,000,000, as the same may be increased to an aggregate amount not to exceed $475,000,000 pursuant to the terms of the Domestic Credit Agreement, which revolving credit loans and term loans may be evidenced by notes (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, supplemented, extended and increased from time to time, the Domestic Bank Notes ); and
WHEREAS, ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation, is a party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (as it may be further amended, restated, replaced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Mexican Credit Agreement ), with PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the Mexican Facility Agent ), the other agents party thereto, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the Mexican Facility Lenders ) pursuant to which the Mexican Facility Lenders are providing, among other things, for revolving credit loans (including a letter of credit subfacility) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12,000,000, which revolving credit loans may be evidenced by notes (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, supplemented, extended and increased from time to time, the Mexican Bank Notes ); and
WHEREAS, the Borrower has entered into an Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated as of September 24, 2010 (as amended, restated, replaced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Note Agreement ) pursuant to which the Borrower issued and sold to each of the Noteholders (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined below)) the Borrowers 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018 in the original aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 (such notes, as amended, restated, replaced,
modified and supplemented from time to time, the Series A Notes ) and pursuant to which the Borrower may from time to time hereafter issue and sell one or more additional series of Shelf Notes (as defined therein) (such notes, as amended, restated, replaced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Shelf Notes ; and, collectively with the Series A Notes, the Senior Notes ); and
WHEREAS, the Borrower has entered into Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 ( Amendment No. 5 ) with the Noteholders which further amends the Note Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Bank Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) under the Domestic Credit Agreement, the Mexican Credit Agreement and the other Bank Loan Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) have been absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates (each as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) of the Borrower (each a Bank Guarantor and collectively, the Bank Guarantors ) pursuant to one or more guaranties (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, and supplemented from time to time and including all joinders thereto, collectively, the Lender Guaranty Agreements ); and
WHEREAS, the Noteholders Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) under the Note Agreement and the other Senior Note Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) have been absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrower (the Noteholder Guarantors ) pursuant to one or more guaranties (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, and supplemented from time to time and including all joinders thereto, collectively, the Noteholder Guaranty Agreements ); and
WHEREAS, the Pledgors, the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Facility Agent, the Collateral Agent, and the Noteholders are entering into that certain Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement of even date herewith (as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time, the Intercreditor Agreement ) which among other things, appoints PNC Bank, National Association as the Collateral Agent thereunder and sets forth certain responsibilities and obligations of the Collateral Agent and establishes among the Secured Parties their respective rights with respect to certain payments that may be received by the Collateral Agent in respect of the Collateral (as defined therein), including without limitation, the Pledged Collateral (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, each Pledgor owns the outstanding capital stock, member interests and partnership interests of the Companies as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof, as updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, as a condition to and to induce the Administrative Agent and the Domestic Facility Lenders to enter into the Domestic Credit Agreement, as a condition to and to induce the Mexican Facility Agent and the Mexican Facility Lenders to enter into the Mexican Credit Agreement, and as a condition to and to induce the Noteholders to enter into Amendment No. 5, each Pledgor has agreed to pledge and grant a security interest in the Pledged Collateral and other property as security for the Senior Secured Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Recitals; Defined Terms .
(a) The Recitals set forth above are hereby incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth herein.
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the rules of construction set forth in Section 1.2 [Other Interpretive Provisions] of the Intercreditor Agreement shall apply to this Agreement. Where applicable and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, terms used herein (whether or not capitalized) shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Article 8 and Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted in Ohio as amended from time to time (the Code ).
ADS Corporativo means ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation.
CFC and CFCs shall mean one or more Controlled Foreign Corporations, as such term in Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Company and Companies shall mean one or more of the entities issuing any of the Collateral which is or should be (in accordance with Section 5(g) hereto) described on Schedule A hereto, as updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Domestic Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized or formed under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof.
Financing Documents shall mean (i) the Note Agreement and the Senior Notes, (ii) the Noteholder Guaranty Agreements, (iii) the Domestic Credit Agreement and the Domestic Bank Notes, (iv) the Mexican Credit Agreement and the Mexican Bank Notes, (v) the Lender Guaranty Agreements, (vi) any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge, (vii) any Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product, (viii) this Agreement and the other Security Documents, and (ix) any amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications in respect of the foregoing.
Foreign Company shall mean one or more of the entities issuing any of the Pledged Collateral which is not organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America which is or should be (in accordance with Section 5(g) hereto) described on Schedule A hereto, as updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Foreign Holding Company shall mean one or more Person which has as its principal purpose the holding of ownership interest in one or more CFCs and has no other material assets or operations.
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Material Subsidiary shall mean each Domestic Subsidiary, or Subsidiary that is organized or formed under the laws of Canada or any province thereof, of the Borrower which has total assets in excess of 3% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower, its Domestic Subsidiaries and Subsidiaries organized or formed under the laws of Canada or any province thereof; provided , that if the consolidated total assets of all Subsidiaries which are not Material Subsidiaries as aforesaid ( Non-Material Subsidiaries ) shall exceed 10% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall by written notice to the Collateral Agent designate one or more Non-Material Subsidiaries to be Material Subsidiaries to the extent necessary to cause the consolidated total assets of all Non-Material Subsidiaries to be less than 10% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in which event such Non-Material Subsidiary so designated shall thereafter be a Material Subsidiary.
Payment In Full shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2, and Paid In Full shall have the correlative meaning.
Permitted Lien shall mean Liens for taxes, assessments, customs duties or similar charges incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not yet due and payable but only to the extent any applicable statute provides for a Lien on any of the Pledged Collateral.
Pledged Collateral shall mean and include the following: (i) the capital stock, shares, securities, investment property, member interests, partnership interests, warrants, options, put rights, call rights, similar rights, and all other ownership or participation interests owned or held by each Pledgor at any time and listed on Schedule A hereto, as updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, all capital stock, shares, securities, investment property, member interests, partnership interests, warrants, options, put rights, call rights, similar rights, and all other ownership or participation interests in each Company owned or held by each Pledgor at any time and any and all other securities, shares, capital stock, investment property, member interests, partnership interests and other ownership interests hereafter pledged by a Pledgor to the Collateral Agent, (ii) all rights and privileges pertaining thereto, including all present and future securities, shares, capital stock, investment property, dividends, distributions and other ownership interests receivable in respect of or in exchange for any of the foregoing, all present and future rights to subscribe for securities, shares, capital stock, investment property or other ownership interests incident to or arising from ownership of any of the foregoing, all present and future cash, interest, stock or other dividends or distributions paid or payable on any of the foregoing, and all present and future books and records (whether paper, electronic or any other medium) pertaining to any of the foregoing, including all stock record and transfer books and (iii) whatever is received when any of the foregoing is sold, exchanged, replaced or otherwise disposed of, including all proceeds, as such term is defined in the Code, thereof; provided , however , that in no event shall any of the capital stock, shares, securities, investment property, member interests, partnership interests, and all other ownership or participation interests issued by any Foreign Holding Company, by ADS Latina, LLC, a Delaware corporation, or by any Foreign Company that is not a first-tier Subsidiary directly owned by a Pledgor, be pledged hereunder or otherwise constitute Pledged Collateral, nor shall any rights and privileges pertaining to any such equity interests, or any assets received in respect thereof, be pledged hereunder or otherwise constitute Pledged Collateral.
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Secured Party shall mean any one of the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Facility Agent, the Domestic Facility Lenders, the Mexican Facility Lenders, the Noteholders and any other holders of Senior Notes, the Lender Affiliates, the Collateral Agent, and any successors and permitted assigns to the interests in the Senior Secured Obligations owing to any such Persons.
2. Grant of Security Interests .
(a) To secure on a first priority (subject to Permitted Liens) perfected basis the indefeasible payment and performance in full of all Senior Secured Obligations when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) ( Payment In Full ), each Pledgor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent (and hereby confirms the continuation of the grant to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Existing Pledge Agreement (as defined below) of) a continuing first priority (subject to Permitted Liens) security interest under the Code in and hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, in each case for the ratable benefit of each of the Secured Parties to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, all of such Pledgors now existing and hereafter acquired or arising right, title and interest in, to, and under the Pledged Collateral whether now or hereafter existing and wherever located.
(b) Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each Pledgor shall deliver to and deposit with the Collateral Agent (or with a Person designated by the Collateral Agent to hold the Pledged Collateral on behalf of the Collateral Agent) in pledge, all of such Pledgors certificates, instruments or other documents comprising or evidencing the Pledged Collateral, together with undated stock powers, instruments or other documents signed in blank by such Pledgor. In the event that any Pledgor should ever acquire or receive certificates, securities, instruments or other documents evidencing the Pledged Collateral, such Pledgor shall promptly deliver to and deposit with the Collateral Agent in pledge, all such certificates, securities, instruments or other documents which evidence the Pledged Collateral.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement (i) the Pledged Collateral issued by any one Foreign Company shall not exceed sixty-five percent (65%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock, shares, securities, member interests, partnership interests and other ownership interests entitled to vote issued by such Foreign Company, and (ii) this Agreement shall not apply to any such stock, shares, securities, member interests, partnership interests or ownership interests which are in excess of such sixty-five percent (65%) limitation. To the extent the Collateral Agent receives more than sixty-five percent (65%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock, shares, securities, member interests, partnership interests and other ownership interests entitle to vote issued by any Foreign Company, the Collateral Agent shall return such excess stock, shares, securities, member interests, partnership interests and other ownership interests upon the request of a Pledgor.
3. Further Assurances .
Prior to or concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and thereafter at any time and from time to time upon reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, each Pledgor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent all financing statements, continuation financing
5
statements, assignments, certificates and documents of title, affidavits, reports, notices, schedules of account, letters of authority, further pledges, powers of attorney and all other documents (collectively, the Security Documents ) that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and take such other action which the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to perfect and continue perfected and to create and maintain the first priority (subject to Permitted Liens) status of the Collateral Agents security interest in the Pledged Collateral and to fully consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement. Each Pledgor agrees that the Collateral Agent may record any one or more financing statements under the applicable Uniform Commercial Code with respect to the pledge and security interest herein granted. Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and any of the Collateral Agents officers or employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent) as such Pledgors true and lawful attorney with power to sign the name of such Pledgor on all or any of the Security Documents which the Collateral Agent determines must be executed, filed, recorded or sent in order to perfect or continue perfected the Collateral Agents security interest in the Pledged Collateral in any jurisdiction. Such power, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable until Payment In Full. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything contained elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, no Pledgor shall be required to enter into or deliver any agreements, instruments, certificates or other documents, or make any filings, that are solely related to any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America (or its territories or possessions) in connection with the grant and perfection of the Liens and security interests set forth in this Agreement.
4. Representations and Warranties .
Each Pledgor hereby, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent as follows:
(a) The Pledged Collateral does not include Margin Stock and no loan under any of the Bank Credit Agreements nor proceeds from the issuance of notes under the Note Agreement shall be used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock. Margin Stock as used in this clause (a) shall have the meaning ascribed to such term by Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States;
(b) [Intentionally omitted];
(c) The capital stock, shares, securities, member interests, partnership interests and other ownership interests constituting the Pledged Collateral of such Pledgor have been duly authorized and validly issued to such Pledgor, are fully paid and nonassessable and constitute (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock, member interests or partnership interests of each Company owned by such Pledgor, and (ii) no more than sixty-five percent (65%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock, member interests or partnership interests of each Foreign Company and each Subsidiary of a Foreign Holding Company, all as set forth on Schedule A hereto, as updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
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(d) The security interests in the Pledged Collateral granted hereunder are valid, perfected and of first priority, subject to the Lien of no other Person other than Permitted Liens and Liens of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement;
(e) There are no restrictions upon the transfer of the Pledged Collateral and such Pledgor has the power and authority and unencumbered right to transfer the Pledged Collateral owned by such Pledgor free of any Lien and without the necessity of obtaining the consent of any other Person;
(f) Such Pledgor has full power to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement, and all such actions have been duly authorized by all necessary proceedings on its part;
(g) There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to such Pledgors knowledge after due inquiry, threatened against such Pledgor, any of such Pledgors Material Subsidiaries or affecting such Pledgor with respect to, or otherwise affecting, the Pledged Collateral, at law or in equity or before or by any Governmental Authority, and such Pledgor is not in default with respect to any judgment, order, writ, injunction, rule, regulation, or any decree of any Governmental Authority which could (i) materially and adversely affect such Pledgors performance of the terms of this Agreement or (ii) adversely affect the Pledged Collateral;
(h) This Agreement (i) has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Pledgor, and (ii) constitutes, or will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of such Pledgor, enforceable against such Pledgor in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability;
(i) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Pledgor nor the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by such Pledgor will conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any breach of (i) the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of such Pledgor or (ii) any law or any material agreement or instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to which such Pledgor or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its Material Subsidiaries is bound or to which it is subject, or result in the creation or enforcement of any Lien, charge or encumbrance whatsoever upon any property (now or hereafter acquired) of such Pledgor or any of its Material Subsidiaries (other than Liens of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties to the extent provided in the Intercreditor Agreement);
(j) Such Pledgors exact legal name is as set forth on Schedule A hereto, as updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
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(k) The jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, of such Pledgor is as set forth on Schedule A hereto, as updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and
(l) All rights of such Pledgor in connection with its ownership of each of the Companies are evidenced and governed solely by the stock certificates, instruments or other documents evidencing ownership and organizational documents of each of the Companies and no shareholder, voting, or other similar agreements are applicable to any of the Pledged Collateral or any of any Pledgors rights with respect thereto, and no such certificate, instrument or other document provides that any member interest, partnership interest or other intangible ownership interest constituting Pledged Collateral is a security within the meaning of and subject to Article 8 of the Code, except pursuant to Section 5(j) hereof; and the organizational documents of each Company contain no restrictions on the rights of shareholders, members or partners other than those that normally would apply to a company organized under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of each of the Companies.
5. General Covenants .
Each Pledgor hereby, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees as follows:
(a) Such Pledgor shall do all reasonable acts that may be necessary and appropriate to maintain, preserve and protect the Pledged Collateral; such Pledgor shall be responsible for the risk of loss of, damage to, or destruction of the Pledged Collateral owned by such Pledgor, unless such loss is the result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Collateral Agent;
(b) Such Pledgor shall appear in and defend any action or proceeding of which such Pledgor is aware which could reasonably be expected to adversely affect such Pledgors title to, or the Collateral Agents interest in, the Pledged Collateral or the proceeds thereof; provided, however , that with the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, such Pledgor may settle such actions or proceedings with respect to the Pledged Collateral;
(c) Such Pledgor shall, and shall cause each of the Companies to, keep separate, accurate and complete records of the Pledged Collateral, disclosing the Collateral Agents security interest hereunder;
(d) Such Pledgor shall comply with all laws applicable to the Pledged Collateral unless any noncompliance would not individually or in the aggregate materially impair the use or value of the Pledged Collateral or the Collateral Agents rights hereunder;
(e) Such Pledgor shall pay all taxes, duties, fees or imposts of any nature imposed by any Governmental Authority ( Taxes ) on any of the Pledged Collateral before any penalty or fine accrues thereon; provided , that no such Tax needs to be paid to the extent it is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long as (i) adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions as shall be required in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as are in effect from time to time, and applied on a consistent basis both as to classification of items and amounts shall have been made therefor, and (ii) such contest proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Pledged Collateral to satisfy such Tax;
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(f) Such Pledgor shall permit the Collateral Agent, its officers, employees and agents at reasonable times to inspect all books and records related to the Pledged Collateral, all in such detail and at such times during normal business hours and as often as any of the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and with reasonable notice prior to any inspection; provided , that in the absence of an Event of Default, no more than two such visits for the Collateral Agent will be permitted in any fiscal year;
(g) Subject to Section 2(c) hereof, to the extent, following the date hereof, such Pledgor acquires capital stock, shares, securities, member interests, partnership interests, investment property and other ownership interests of any of the Companies or any of the rights, property or securities, shares, capital stock, member interests, partnership interests, investment property or any other ownership interests described in the definition of Pledged Collateral with respect to any of the Companies, all such ownership interests shall be subject to the terms hereof and, upon such acquisition, shall be deemed to be hereby pledged to the Collateral Agent; and, such Pledgor thereupon, in confirmation thereof, shall provide the Collateral Agent prompt written notice thereof and shall deliver all such securities, shares, capital stock, member interests, partnership interests, investment property and other ownership interests together with an updated Schedule A hereto, to the Collateral Agent together with, subject to Section 3 hereof, all such control agreements, financing statements, and any other documents necessary to implement the provisions and purposes of this Agreement as the Collateral Agent may request;
(h) Except as otherwise expressly permitted under the Financing Documents, during the term of this Agreement, such Pledgor shall not sell, assign, replace, retire, transfer or otherwise dispose of its Pledged Collateral without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent;
(i) Such Pledgor shall notify the Collateral Agent in writing not less than fifteen (15) days prior to any change in such Pledgors chief executive office address, legal name, or state of incorporation, formation or organization;
(j) During the term of this Agreement, such Pledgor shall not (i) permit any Company to issue any uncertificated ownership interests unless such ownership interests are immediately perfected by delivery to the Collateral Agent (in the manner required by Section 8-301(b) of the Code or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) upon issuance, together with all evidence of such election and issuance and all Security Documents as set forth in Section 3 hereof or (ii) elect to treat any ownership interests as securities that are subject to Article 8 of the Code; and
(k) Such Pledgor hereby (i) waives, and has caused each applicable Company to waive, any restrictions upon the pledge or any other transfer of the Pledged Collateral as contemplated hereby, by any of the other Financing Documents or by the Intercreditor Agreement; and (ii) acknowledges and agrees that (A) no other consent or approval of any other Person is required in connection herewith or therewith, (B) there exists no option, or other right outstanding to purchase any of the Pledged Collateral; and (C) as long as this Agreement remains in effect, the rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, under any of the Financing Documents and under the Intercreditor Agreement are superior to any first refusal right with respect to the Pledged Collateral and any such first refusal right shall in no manner whatsoever affect any exercise of the Collateral Agent of any of the Collateral Agents rights under this Agreement, any of the other Financing Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.
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6. Other Rights With Respect to Pledged Collateral .
In addition to the other rights with respect to the Pledged Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder, at any time and from time to time, after and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent, at its option and at the expense of the Pledgors, may (a) transfer into its own name, or into the name of its nominee, all or any part of the Pledged Collateral, thereafter receiving all dividends, income or other distributions upon the Pledged Collateral; (b) take control of and manage all or any of the Pledged Collateral; (c) apply to the payment of any of the Senior Secured Obligations, whether any be due and payable or not, any moneys, including cash dividends and income from any Pledged Collateral, now or hereafter in the hands of the Collateral Agent or any Affiliate of the Collateral Agent, on deposit or otherwise, belonging to any Pledgor, as the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement. shall determine; and (d) do anything which any Pledgor is required but fails to do hereunder.
7. Additional Remedies Upon Event of Default .
Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default and while such Event of Default shall be continuing, the Collateral Agent shall have, in addition to all rights and remedies of a secured party under the Code or other applicable law, and in addition to its rights under Section 6 above, under the other Financing Documents and under the Intercreditor Agreement, the following rights and remedies:
(a) The Collateral Agent may, after at least ten (10) days advance notice to a Pledgor (in any manner permitted by the Code), sell, assign, give an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of such Pledgors Pledged Collateral or any part thereof at public or private sale, at any of the Collateral Agents offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable. Each Pledgor agrees that at least ten (10) days advance notice (in any manner permitted by the Code) of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Pledged Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. Each Pledgor recognizes that the Collateral Agent may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales of the Pledged Collateral to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities, shares, capital stock, member interests, partnership interests, investment property or ownership interests for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof.
(b) The Pledgors and each of the Companies hereby agree that, at the joint and several expense of the Pledgors and the Companies, the Collateral Agent may have this Agreement translated into the official language of the Collateral Agent, any Pledgor or any
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Company at any time in the Collateral Agents discretion. In the event of any disagreement between the Collateral Agent and any Pledgor or any of the Companies regarding the translation of this Agreement, the Collateral Agent may submit this Agreement to an internationally recognized translator for translation, at the joint and several expense of Pledgors and the Companies, and each of the Pledgors and each of the Companies is hereby irrevocably deemed to accept as accurate and agree to the translation rendered thereby.
(c) The proceeds of any collection, sale or other disposition of the Pledged Collateral, or any part thereof, shall, after the Collateral Agent has made all deductions of expenses, including but not limited to attorneys fees (including the allocated costs of staff counsel) and other expenses incurred in connection with repossession, collection, sale or disposition of such Pledged Collateral or in connection with the enforcement of the Collateral Agents rights with respect to the Pledged Collateral, including in any insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings, be applied against the Senior Secured Obligations, whether or not all the same be then due and payable, be applied as set forth in Section 5.10 [Distribution of Proceeds] of the Intercreditor Agreement.
8. Collateral Agents Duties .
The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Pledged Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Pledged Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Pledged Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Pledged Collateral.
9. Additional Pledgors .
It is anticipated that additional Persons may from time to time become Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower or a Guarantor which are Material Subsidiaries, each of whom may be required to join this Agreement if and to the extent required pursuant to the terms of any of the Financing Documents. It is acknowledged and agreed that such new Subsidiaries of the Borrower or of a Guarantor may become Pledgors hereunder and will be bound hereby simply by executing and delivering to the Collateral Agent one or more joinders hereto as set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement. In addition, a new Schedule A hereto shall be provided to the Collateral Agent showing the pledge of the ownership interest in such new Subsidiary and any ownership interests that such new Subsidiary owns in any other Person. No notice of the addition of any Pledgor shall be required to be given to any pre-existing Pledgor, and each Pledgor hereby consents thereto.
10. No Discharge Until Indefeasible Payment of the Senior Secured Obligations .
The pledge, security interests, and other Liens and the obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise diminished by any failure, default, omission, or delay, willful or otherwise, by the Collateral Agent, or any other obligor on any of the Senior Secured Obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Pledgor or
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which would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Pledgor as a matter of law or equity. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Pledgor hereby consents to, and the pledge, security interests, and other Liens given by such Pledgor hereunder shall not be diminished, terminated, or otherwise similarly affected by any of the following at any time and from time to time:
(i) Any lack of genuineness, legality, validity, enforceability, or allowability (in a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding, or otherwise), or any avoidance or subordination, in whole or in part, of any of the Financing Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or any of the Senior Secured Obligations and regardless of any law, regulation, or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of the Senior Secured Obligations, any of the terms of any of the Financing Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, or any rights of the Collateral Agent or any other Person with respect thereto;
(ii) Any increase, decrease, or change in the amount, nature, type or purpose of any of the Senior Secured Obligations (whether or not contemplated by any of the Financing Documents as presently constituted); any change in the time, manner, method, or place of payment or performance of, or in any other term of, any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any execution or delivery of any additional Financing Documents or Intercreditor Agreement; or any amendment, modification or supplement to, or refinancing or refunding of, any of the Financing Documents, any of the Senior Secured Obligations or the Intercreditor Agreement;
(iii) Any failure to assert any breach of or default under any of the Financing Document, any of the Senior Secured Obligations or the Intercreditor Agreement; any extensions of credit in excess of the amount committed under or contemplated by any of the Financing Documents, or in circumstances in which any condition to such extensions of credit has not been satisfied; any other exercise or non-exercise, or any other failure, omission, breach, default, delay, or wrongful action in connection with any exercise or non-exercise, of any right or remedy against such Pledgor or any other Person under or in connection with any of the Financing Document, any of the Senior Secured Obligations, or the Intercreditor Agreement; any refusal of payment or performance of any of the Senior Secured Obligations, whether or not with any reservation of rights against any Pledgor; or any application of collections (including collections resulting from realization upon any direct or indirect security for the Senior Secured Obligations) to other obligations, if any, not entitled to the benefits of this Agreement, in preference to the Senior Secured Obligations or, if any collections are applied to the Senior Secured Obligations, any application to particular Senior Secured Obligations;
(iv) Any taking, exchange, amendment, modification, supplement, termination, subordination, release, loss, or impairment of, or any failure to protect, perfect, or preserve the value of, or any enforcement of, realization upon, or exercise of rights or remedies under or in connection with, or any failure, omission, breach, default, delay, or wrongful action by the Collateral Agent or any other Person in connection with the enforcement of, realization upon, or exercise of rights or remedies under or in connection with, or, any other action or inaction by Collateral Agent or any other Person in respect
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of, any direct or indirect security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations (including the Pledged Collateral). As used in this Agreement, direct or indirect security for the Senior Secured Obligations, and similar phrases, includes any collateral security, guaranty, suretyship, letter of credit, capital maintenance agreement, put option, subordination agreement, or other right or arrangement of any nature providing direct or indirect assurance of payment or performance of any of the Senior Secured Obligations, made by or on behalf of any Person;
(v) Any merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, charter revocation, or forfeiture, or other change in, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of, any Pledgor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person; any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to any Pledgor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person; or any action taken or election (including any election under Section 1111(b)(2) of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable law of any jurisdiction) made by Collateral Agent or any Pledgor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or by any other Person in connection with any such proceeding;
(vi) Any defense, setoff, or counterclaim which may at any time be available to or be asserted by any Pledgor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person with respect to any of the Financing Documents, any of the Senior Secured Obligations or the Intercreditor Agreement; or any discharge by operation of law or release of any Pledgor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person from the performance or observance of any of the Financing Documents, any of the Senior Secured Obligations or the Intercreditor Agreement; or
(vii) Any other event or circumstance, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, and whether known or unknown, which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or limit the liability of a guarantor or a surety, including any Pledgor, excepting only performance and Payment In Full of the Senior Secured Obligations.
11. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies .
No failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Collateral Agent, 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 further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver of a single Event of Default shall be deemed a waiver of a subsequent Event of Default. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided under the other Financing Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or by law, rule or regulation and the Collateral Agent may enforce any one or more remedies hereunder successively or concurrently at its option. Each Pledgor waives any right to require the Collateral Agent to proceed against any other Person or to exhaust any of the Pledged Collateral or other security for the Senior Secured Obligations or to pursue any remedy in the Collateral Agents power.
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12. Waivers .
Each Pledgor hereby waives any and all defenses that any Pledgor may now or hereafter have based on principles of suretyship, impairment of collateral, or the like and each Pledgor hereby waives any defense to or limitation on its obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Pledgor hereby further waives each of the following:
(a) All notices, disclosures and demands of any nature that otherwise might be required from time to time to preserve intact any rights against such Pledgor, including the following: any notice of any event or circumstance described in the immediately preceding Section hereof; any notice required by any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction; any notice of nonpayment, nonperformance, dishonor or protest under any of the Financing Documents, any of the Senior Secured Obligations or the Intercreditor Agreement; any notice of the incurrence of any Senior Secured Obligations; any notice of any default or any failure on the part of such Pledgor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person to comply with any of the Financing Documents, any of the Senior Secured Obligations or the Intercreditor Agreement, or any requirement pertaining to any direct or indirect security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations; and any notice or other information pertaining to the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Borrower, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person;
(b) Any right to any marshalling of assets, to the filing of any claim against such Pledgor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person in the event of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar proceeding, or to the exercise against such Pledgor, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person of any other right or remedy under or in connection with any of the Financing Documents, any of the Senior Secured Obligations or the Intercreditor Agreement, or any direct or indirect security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any requirement of promptness or diligence on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Person; any requirement to exhaust any remedies under or in connection with, or to mitigate the damages resulting from default under, any of the Financing Documents, any of the Senior Secured Obligations or the Intercreditor Agreement, or any direct or indirect security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations; any benefit of any statute of limitations; and any requirement of acceptance of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, and any requirement that any Pledgor receive notice of any such acceptance; and
(c) Any defense or other right arising by reason of any law now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction pertaining to election of remedies (including anti-deficiency laws, one action laws, or the like), or by reason of any election of remedies or other action or inaction by the Collateral Agent (including commencement or completion of any judicial proceeding or nonjudicial sale or other action in respect of collateral security for any of the Senior Secured Obligations), which results in denial or impairment of the right of the Collateral Agent to seek a deficiency against the Borrower, the Mexican Borrower, ADS Corporativo or any other Person or which otherwise discharges or impairs any of the Senior Secured Obligations.
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13. Taxes .
(a) [Intentionally omitted].
(b) Without limiting anything contained in any of the Financing Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, each Pledgor acknowledges that the Pledged Collateral secures payment of all present and future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges, or similar levies which arise from any payment or collection made hereunder or from the execution, delivery, or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as Other Taxes ).
(c) Each Pledgor acknowledges that the Pledged Collateral secures the full amount of Other Taxes (including any Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Collateral Agent and any liability (including penalties, interest, and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted.
(d) As soon as practicable after the payment of Other Taxes by any Pledgor to a Governmental Authority, such Pledgor shall furnish to the Collateral Agent, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.
(e) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Pledgor hereunder, the agreements and obligations of each Pledgor contained in clauses (a) through (d) directly above shall survive Payment In Full.
14. Judgment Currency .
(a) If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due under this Agreement in any currency (the Original Currency ) into another currency (the Other Currency ), each Pledgor hereby agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Collateral Agent could purchase the Original Currency with the Other Currency after any premium and costs of exchange on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.
(b) The obligation of each Pledgor in respect of any sum due from such Pledgor to the Collateral Agent under this Agreement shall, notwithstanding any judgment in an Other Currency, whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise, be discharged only to the extent that, on the business day (being a day on which the Collateral Agent is open for business at its principal office) following receipt by the Collateral Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in such Other Currency, the Collateral Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Original Currency with such Other Currency. If the amount of the Original Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Collateral Agent in the Original Currency, such Pledgor agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment or payment, that Pledged Collateral secures payment to the Collateral Agent to indemnify it against such loss.
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15. Waiver of Sovereign Immunity .
To the extent that any Pledgor has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution, or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, such Pledgor hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement and any other document or agreement executed or given in connection therewith, and such Pledgor agrees that it will not raise or claim any such immunity at or in respect of any such action or proceeding.
16. Assignment .
All rights of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of its successors and assigns. All obligations of each Pledgor shall bind its successors and assigns; provided , however , each Pledgor may not assign or transfer any of its rights and obligations hereunder or any interest herein, and any such purported assignment or transfer shall be null and void.
17. Severability .
Any provision (or portion thereof) of this Agreement which shall be held invalid or unenforceable shall be ineffective without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or portions thereof.
18. Governing Law .
This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of Ohio and shall for all purposes be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflicts of laws principles, except to the extent of any provision of the Code that applies the law of the jurisdiction in which the Pledged Collateral is located; provided , however , that in no event shall this Section be applied or interpreted to defeat a perfected security interest in the Pledged Collateral that would be valid under an otherwise applicable law.
19. Notices .
All notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications (collectively, notices ) given to or made upon any party hereto under the provisions of this Agreement shall be given or made as set forth in Section 11.5 [Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication] of the Domestic Credit Agreement in the case of the Pledgors and as set forth in Section 7.9 [Notices] of the Intercreditor Agreement in the case of the Collateral Agent.
20. Specific Performance .
Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that, in addition to the other rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, under the other Financing Documents and under the Intercreditor Agreement, because the Collateral Agents remedies at law for failure of such Pledgor to comply with the provisions hereof relating to the Collateral Agents rights (i) to inspect the books and
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records related to the Pledged Collateral, (ii) to receive the various notifications such Pledgor is required to deliver hereunder, (iii) to obtain copies of agreements and documents as provided herein with respect to the Pledged Collateral, (iv) to enforce the provisions hereof pursuant to which such Pledgor has appointed the Collateral Agent its attorney-in-fact, and (v) to enforce the Collateral Agents remedies hereunder, would be inadequate and that any such failure would not be adequately compensable in damages, such Pledgor agrees that each such provision hereof may be specifically enforced.
21. Voting Rights in Respect of the Pledged Collateral .
So long as no Event of Default shall occur and be continuing under any of the Financing Documents, each Pledgor may exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, the other Financing Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement; provided , however , that such Pledgor will not exercise or will refrain from exercising any such voting and other consensual right pertaining to the Pledged Collateral, as the case may be, if such action would impair any Pledged Collateral. At any time and from time to time, after and during the continuation of an Event of Default, no Pledgor shall be permitted to exercise any of its respective voting and other consensual rights whatsoever pertaining to the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof; provided , however , in addition to the other rights with respect to the Pledged Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties hereunder, at any time and from time to time, after and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights of each and every Pledgor pertaining to the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and in addition thereto, without the written consent of the Collateral Agent, the Pledgors shall not vote to enable, or take any other action to permit, any of the Companies to issue any stock, member interests, partnership interests or other equity securities, member interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests of any nature or to issue any other securities, shares, capital stock, member interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests convertible into or granting the right to purchase or exchange for any stock, member interests, partnership interests or other equity securities, member interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests of any nature of any such Company, unless all such additional stock, member interests, partnership interests, or other equity securities shall be Pledged Collateral subject to the terms of this Agreement. The Pledgors shall not enter into any agreement or undertaking restricting the right or ability of the Pledgor or the Collateral Agent to sell, assign or transfer any of the Pledged Collateral.
22. Consent to Jurisdiction .
Each Pledgor and each of the Companies hereby irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. federal or Ohio state court sitting in Franklin County, Ohio, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, and Pledgors and each of the Companies hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Ohio state or federal court. Each Pledgor and each of the Companies hereby waives to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding. Each Pledgor and each of the Companies hereby appoints the process agent identified below (the Process Agent ) as its
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agent to receive on behalf of such party and its respective property service of copies of the summons and complaint and any other process which may be served in any action or proceeding. Such service may be made by mailing or delivering a copy of such process to any of the Pledgors or the Companies in care of the Process Agent at the Process Agents address, and each of the Pledgors and the Companies hereby authorizes and directs the Process Agent to receive such service on its behalf. Each Pledgor and each of the Companies agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions (or any political subdivision thereof) by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Each Pledgor and each of the Companies further agrees that it shall, for so long as any Commitment or any obligation of any Loan Party to any Secured Party remains outstanding, continue to retain Process Agent for the purposes set forth in this Section. The Process Agent is Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with an office on the date hereof at 4640 Trueman Boulevard, Hilliard, Ohio 43026, United States of America. Each Pledgor and each of the Companies shall produce to the Collateral Agent evidence of the acceptance by Process Agent of such appointment.
23. Waiver of Jury Trial .
EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY LAW, EACH PLEDGOR, EACH OF THE COMPANIES AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT, ON BEHALF OF THE SECURED PARTIES, HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY A JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR TRANSACTIONS RELATING THERETO.
24. Entire Agreement; Amendments .
(a) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements relating to a grant of a security interest in the Pledged Collateral by any Pledgor to the Collateral Agent but solely to the extent irreconcilably inconsistent with this Agreement.
(b) Except as expressly provided in Section 5(g) with respect to additions to Schedule A hereto, as updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and in Section 9 with respect to additional Pledgors, this Agreement may not be amended or supplemented except by a writing signed by the Collateral Agent and the Pledgors.
25. Counterparts; Telecopy Signatures .
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that a telecopy or other electronic transmission to the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of the signature pages hereof purporting to be signed on behalf of any Pledgor shall constitute effective and binding execution and delivery hereof by such Pledgor.
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26. Descriptive Headings .
The descriptive headings which are used in this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.
27. Amendment and Restatement; No Novation . This Agreement hereby amends and restates, in its entirety, the existing Pledge Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010 (the Existing Pledge Agreement ), by and among the parties thereto, and the parties hereto agree and acknowledge that this Agreement is not intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, an interruption, suspension of continuity, satisfaction, discharge of prior duties, novation, or termination of the Liens, security interests, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, expenses, or obligations under the Existing Pledge Agreement or under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (except in each case as expressly modified in accordance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents amended in connection therewith). Notwithstanding the foregoing, pledgors which were party to the Existing Pledge Agreement but which are not parties to this Agreement are hereby released from the Exiting Pledge Agreement and all collateral pledged by each such pledgor not a party to this Agreement is hereby released.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ George M. Gevas |
|
Name: | George M. Gevas | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AGREEMENT]
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary, Executive Vice President, | |
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | ||
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT
Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, made by THE PLEDGORS PARTY THERETO for the benefit of PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent (the Pledge Agreement ). Each of the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, agrees for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties as follows:
1. Each of the undersigned will be bound by the terms of the Pledge Agreement and will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to the undersigned, including those terms in Sections 5(l), 22 and 23 of the Pledge Agreement.
2. Each of the undersigned will notify the Collateral Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of any of the events described in Section 5(g) of the Pledge Agreement.
3. The terms of Section 3 of the Pledge Agreement shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis, with respect to all actions that may facilitate, in the reasonable judgment of the Collateral Agent, the carrying out of Section 3 of the Pledge Agreement.
4. To the extent that any of undersigned has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution, or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, each of undersigned hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under the Pledge Agreement and any other document or agreement executed in connection therewith, and each of undersigned agrees that it will not raise or claim any such immunity at or in respect of any such action or proceeding.
5. Each of the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that any notices sent to the Pledgor regarding any of the Pledged Collateral shall also be sent to the Collateral Agent in the manner and at the address of the Collateral Agent as indicated in Section 19 of the Pledge Agreement.
6. During the term of this Agreement, each of the undersigned shall not treat any uncertificated ownership interests in it as securities which are subject to Article 8 of the Code except pursuant to Section 5(j) of the Pledge Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto have caused this Acknowledgement and Consent to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
ADS STRUCTURES, INC. | ||||||
ADS VENTURES, INC. | ||||||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE OF OHIO, INC. | ||||||
GREEN LINE POLYMERS, INC. | ||||||
HANCOR HOLDING CORPORATION
INLET & PIPE PROTECTION, INC. |
||||||
PSA, INC. | ||||||
SEWER TAP, INC. | ||||||
SPARTAN CONCRETE, INC. | ||||||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|||||
Name: |
Mark B. Sturgeon |
|||||
Title: |
Secretary and Treasurer |
SCHEDULE A
TO
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
Description of Pledged Collateral
A. Corporations:
Pledgor and Pledgors jurisdiction of formation |
Pledged Shares |
Type and Amount of Ownership |
||
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (Delaware) | Hancor Holding Corporation | 100 common shares | ||
ADS Ventures, Inc. | 10 common shares | |||
Sewer Tap, Inc. | 100 common shares | |||
Spartan Concrete, Inc. | 100 common shares | |||
PSA, Inc. | 100 common shares | |||
ADS Structures, Inc. | 100 common shares | |||
Advanced Drainage of Ohio, Inc. | 100 common shares | |||
Green Line Polymers, Inc. | 100 common shares | |||
Inlet & Pipe Protection, Inc. | 100 common shares |
B. Limited Liability Companies:
Pledgor and Pledgors jurisdiction of formation |
Pledged Limited Liability Company Interests |
Type and Amount of Ownership |
||
None | None | None |
C. Partnerships:
Pledgor and Pledgors jurisdiction of formation |
Pledged Partnership Interests |
Type and Amount of Ownership |
||
None | None | None |
Exhibit 10.6
AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERCOMPANY SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERCOMPANY SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT (the Agreement )is dated as of June 12, 2013 and is made by and among ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. , a Delaware corporation ( ADS ), EACH GUARANTOR (as defined in the Credit Agreement, as defined herein), EACH PERSON WHO HEREAFTER BECOMES A GUARANTOR UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT (ADS and each Guarantor being individually referred to herein as a Company and collectively as the Companies ), and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent ) for the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among ADS, the Guarantors now or hereafter party thereto, the Lenders now or hereafter party thereto, and the Administrative Agent, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be hereafter amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement ), the Lenders intend to make Loans and grant other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties; and
WHEREAS, the Companies are or may become indebted to each other (the indebtedness of each of the Companies to any other Company, now existing or hereafter incurred (whether created directly or acquired by assignment or otherwise), and interest and premiums, if any, thereon and other amounts payable in respect thereof and all other obligations and other amounts payable by any Company to any other Company are hereinafter collectively referred to as the Subordinated Indebtedness ); and
WHEREAS, the obligations of the Lenders to maintain the Commitments and make Loans and grant other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties from time to time are subject to the condition, among others, that the Companies subordinate the Subordinated Indebtedness to the Obligations (the Senior Debt ) in the manner set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms . Each capitalized term used herein shall, unless otherwise defined herein, have the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement and the rules of construction set forth in Section 1.2 [Construction] of the Credit Agreement shall apply to this Agreement.
2. Subordinated Indebtedness Subordinated to Senior Debt . The recitals set forth above are hereby incorporated by reference. All Subordinated Indebtedness shall be subordinate and subject in right of Payment In Full pursuant to the provisions contained herein.
3. Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc . Upon any distribution of assets of any Company in the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to such Company or to its creditors, as such, or to its assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of such Company, whether voluntary or involuntary
and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of assets and liabilities of such Company (a Company distributing assets as set forth herein being referred to in such capacity as a Distributing Company ), then and in any such event, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to receive, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as their respective interests may appear, Payment In Full of all amounts due or to become due (whether or not an Event of Default has occurred under the terms of the Loan Documents or the Senior Debt has been declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable) on or in respect of any and all Senior Debt before the holder of any Subordinated Indebtedness owed by the Distributing Company is entitled to receive any payment on account of the principal of or interest on such Subordinated Indebtedness, and to that end, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment of the Senior Debt, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness owed by the Distributing Company in any such case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up event.
4. No Commencement of Any Proceeding . Each Company agrees that, so long as the Senior Debt shall remain unpaid, it will not commence, or join with any creditor other than the Lenders and the Administrative Agent in commencing, any proceeding, including those described in Section 3, or other enforcement action of any kind against any other Company.
5. Prior Payment of Senior Debt Upon Acceleration of Subordinated Indebtedness . If any portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness owed by any Company becomes or is declared due and payable before its stated maturity, then and in such event the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to receive Payment In Full of all amounts due and to become due on or in respect of the Senior Debt (whether or not an Event of Default has occurred under the terms of the Loan Documents or the Senior Debt has been declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable) before the holder of any such Subordinated Indebtedness is entitled to receive any payment thereon.
6. No Payment When Senior Debt in Default . If any Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or such an Event of Default or Potential Default would result from or exist after giving effect to a payment with respect to any portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness, unless the Required Lenders shall have consented to or waived the same, so long as any of the Senior Debt shall remain outstanding, no payment shall be made by any Company owing such Subordinated Indebtedness on account of principal or interest on any portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness.
7. Payment Permitted if No Default . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent any Company, at any time except during the pendency of any of the conditions described in Sections 3, 5 and 6, from making the regularly scheduled payments of principal of or interest on any portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness, or the retention thereof by any Company of any money deposited with it for the payment of or on account of the principal of or interest on the Subordinated Indebtedness.
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8. Receipt of Prohibited Payments . If, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Sections 3, 5, 6 and 7, a Company that is owed Subordinated Indebtedness by a Distributing Company shall have received any payment or distribution of assets from the Distributing Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, then and in such event such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as their respective interests may appear, shall be segregated from other funds and property held by such Company, and shall be forthwith paid over to the Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement) to be applied (in the case of cash) to or held as collateral (in the case of noncash property or securities) for the payment or prepayment of the Senior Debt in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
9. Rights of Subrogation . Each Company agrees that no payment or distribution to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle it to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until the Senior Debt shall have been Paid In Full.
10. Instruments Evidencing Subordinated Indebtedness . Each Company shall cause each instrument that now or hereafter evidences all or a portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness to be conspicuously marked as follows:
This instrument is subject to the terms of an Amended and Restated Intercompany Subordination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013, in favor of PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders referred to therein, which Amended and Restated Intercompany Subordination Agreement is incorporated herein by reference. Notwithstanding any contrary statement contained in the within instrument, no payment on account of the principal thereof or interest thereon shall become due or payable except in accordance with the express terms of said Amended and Restated Intercompany Subordination Agreement.
Each Company will further mark its books of account in such a manner as shall be effective to give proper notice to the effect of this Agreement.
11. Agreement Solely to Define Relative Rights . The purpose of this Agreement is solely to define the relative rights of the Companies, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair, as between any of the Companies and their creditors other than the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, the obligation of the Companies to each other to pay the principal of and interest on the Subordinated Indebtedness as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with its terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights among the Companies and their creditors other than the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, nor shall anything herein prevent any of the Companies from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable Law upon default under any agreement pursuant to which the Subordinated Indebtedness is created, subject to the rights, if any, under this Agreement of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to receive cash, property or securities otherwise payable or deliverable with respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness.
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12. No Implied Waivers of Subordination . No right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce subordination, as herein provided, shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of any Company or by any act or failure to act by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or by any non-compliance by any Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of any agreement pursuant to which the Subordinated Indebtedness is created, regardless of any knowledge thereof with which the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have or be otherwise charged with. Each Company by its acceptance hereof shall agree that, so long as there is Senior Debt outstanding or Commitments in effect under the Credit Agreement, such Company shall not agree to sell, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of, or agree to compromise, the obligations of the other Companies with respect to their Subordinated Indebtedness, other than by means of payment of such Subordinated Indebtedness according to its terms, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to any of the Companies, without incurring responsibility to any of the Companies and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Agreement or the obligations hereunder of the Companies to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment, or extend the time of payment, renew or alter the Senior Debt or otherwise amend or supplement the Senior Debt or the Loan Documents; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing the Senior Debt; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the payment or collection of the Senior Debt; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against any of the Companies and any other Person.
13. Additional Subsidiaries . The Companies covenant and agree that they shall cause Subsidiaries required to join this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2.9 [Subsidiaries and Partnerships] or otherwise under the Credit Agreement, including Domestic Subsidiaries which are Material Subsidiaries created or acquired after the date of this Agreement, to execute a Guarantor Joinder in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(1) to the Credit Agreement, whereby such Subsidiary joins this Agreement and subordinates all Indebtedness owed to any such Subsidiary by any of the Companies or other Subsidiaries hereafter created or acquired to the Senior Debt.
14. Continuing Force and Effect . This Agreement shall continue in force until all of the Senior Debt is Paid In Full, it being contemplated that this Agreement be of a continuing nature.
15. Modification, Amendments or Waivers . No amendment to or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by any Company herefrom, shall in any event be effective unless in a writing manually signed by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent and the requisite Lenders pursuant to Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers] of the Credit Agreement. Any such agreement, waiver or consent made with such written consent being effective to bind all the Lenders.
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16. Expenses . Each Company, unconditionally and jointly and severally, agrees upon demand to pay to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the amount of any and all out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements for which reimbursement is customarily obtained, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel (including the allocated costs of staff counsel), which the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders may incur in connection with (a) the administration of this Agreement, (b) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder, or (c) the failure by any Company to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.
17. Severability . The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction.
18. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the Laws of the State of Ohio and shall for all purposes shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.
19. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, and the obligations of the Companies shall be binding upon their respective successors and permitted assigns, provided , that no Company may assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein and any such purported assignment or transfer shall be null and void. The duties and obligations of the Companies may not be delegated or transferred by the Companies without the written consent of the Lenders and any such delegation or transfer without such consent shall be null and void.
20. Joint and Several Obligations . Each of the obligations of each and every Company under this Agreement is joint and several. The Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of the Lenders, in its sole discretion, may elect to enforce this Agreement against any Company without any duty or responsibility to pursue any other Company and such an election by the Administrative Agent shall not be a defense to any action the Administrative Agent may elect to take against any Company. Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby reserve all right against each Company.
21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
22. Attorneys-in-Fact . Each Company hereby authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent, at the election of the Administrative Agent and in the name of either the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as their respective interests may appear, or in the name of each such Company as is owed Subordinated Indebtedness, to execute and file proofs and documents and take any other action the Administrative Agent may deem advisable to completely protect the Administrative Agents and
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the Lenders interests in the Subordinated Indebtedness and the right of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of enforcement thereof, and to that end each Company hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent, its officers, employees and agents, or any of them, with full power of substitution, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of such Company, and with full power for such Company, and in the name, place and stead of such Company for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, and taking any action and executing, delivering, filing and recording any instruments which the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which power of attorney, being given for security, is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. Each Company hereby ratifies and confirms, and agrees to ratify and confirm, all action taken by the Administrative Agent, its officers, employees or agents pursuant to the foregoing power of attorney. Each Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the power of attorney herein granted shall in no way be construed as to benefit such Company; (b) the Administrative Agent herein granted this power of attorney shall have no duty to exercise any powers granted hereunder for the benefit of such Company; and (c) the Administrative Agent herein granted this power of attorney shall, to the extent exercisable, exercise any and all powers granted hereunder for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent hereby accepts this power of attorney and all powers granted hereunder for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
23. Application of Payments . In the event any payments are received by the Administrative Agent under the terms of this Agreement for application to the Senior Debt at any time when the Senior Debt has not been declared due and payable and prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, such payment shall constitute a voluntary prepayment of the Senior Debt for all purposes under the Credit Agreement.
24. Remedies . In the event of a breach by any of the Companies in the performance of any of the terms of this Agreement, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may demand specific performance of this Agreement and seek injunctive relief and may exercise any other remedy available at law or in equity, it being recognized that the remedies of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders at law may not fully compensate the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders for the damages they may suffer in the event of a breach hereof.
25. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR OHIO STATE COURT SITTING IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH OHIO STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY
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OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
26. Notices . All notices, statements, requests and demands and other communications given to or made upon the Companies, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be given or made in the manner as provided in Section 11.5 [Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication] of the Credit Agreement.
27. Amendment and Restatement; No Novation . This Agreement hereby amends and restates, in its entirety, the existing Intercompany Subordination Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2010 (the Existing Intercompany Subordination Agreement ), by and among the parties thereto, and the parties hereto agree and acknowledge that this Agreement is not intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, an interruption, suspension of continuity, satisfaction, discharge of prior duties, novation, or termination of the Liens, guarantees, security interests, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, expenses, or obligations under the Existing Intercompany Subordination Agreement or under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (except in each case as expressly modified in accordance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents amended in connection therewith).
[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]
7
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCOMPANY SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT]
WITNESS the due execution hereof as of the day and year first above written.
COMPANIES: | ||
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary, Executive Vice President, | |
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | ||
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
|
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCOMPANY SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ George M. Gevas |
|
Name: | George M. Gevas | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
Exhibit 10.7
AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERCREDITOR
AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (this Agreement), is entered into by and among PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, in its capacity as collateral agent pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement (the Collateral Agent), PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, in its capacity as Administrative Agent (as hereinafter defined) on behalf of each of the Domestic Facility Lenders (as hereinafter defined), PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, in its capacity as Mexican Facility Agent (as hereinafter defined) on behalf of each of the Mexican Facility Lenders (as hereinafter defined) and each of the NOTEHOLDERS (as hereinafter defined).
Recitals:
A. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Borrower) is a party to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (as it may be amended, restated, replaced, Refinanced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Domestic Credit Agreement), with PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent), the other agents party thereto, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the Domestic Facility Lenders) pursuant to which the Domestic Facility Lenders are providing, among other things, for (i) revolving credit loans (including a letter of credit subfacility and a swing loan subfacility) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $325,000,000, and (ii) term loans in the amount of $100,000,000, which revolving credit loans and term loans may be evidenced by notes (as may be amended, restated, replaced, Refinanced modified, supplemented, extended and increased from time to time, the Domestic Bank Notes, and all such revolving credit loans and term loans, whether or not represented by Domestic Bank Notes shall be referred to as the Domestic Bank Loans). The Domestic Facility Lenders and/or certain of their Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) may from time to time enter into Interest Rate Hedges (as hereinafter defined) and/or Other Lender Provided Financial Service Products (as hereinafter defined).
B. ADS Mexicana S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation (the Mexican Borrower) is a party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2013 (as it may be amended, restated, replaced, Refinanced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Mexican Credit Agreement), with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (the Mexican Facility Agent), and the other lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the Mexican Facility Lenders) pursuant to which the Mexican Facility Lenders are providing, among other things, for revolving credit loans (including a letter of credit subfacility) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12,000,000, which revolving credit loans may be evidenced by notes (as may be amended, restated, replaced, Refinanced, modified, supplemented, extended and increased from time to time, the Mexican Bank Notes, and all such revolving credit loans, whether or not represented by Mexican Bank Notes shall be referred to as the Mexican Bank Loans).
C. The Borrower has entered into an Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated as of September 24, 2010 (as amended, restated, replaced, Refinanced, modified and supplemented from time to time, including without limitation, an Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement dated as of June 12, 2013, the Note Agreement) pursuant to which the Borrower has issued and sold the Borrowers 5.60% Senior Series A Secured Notes due September 24, 2018 in the original aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 (such notes, as amended, restated, replaced, Refinanced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Series A Notes) and pursuant to which the Borrower may from time to time hereafter issue and sell one or more additional series of Shelf Notes (as defined therein) (such notes, as amended, restated, replaced, Refinanced, modified and supplemented from time to time, the Shelf Notes; and, collectively with the Series A Notes, the Senior Notes).
E. The Bank Obligations (as hereinafter defined) under the Domestic Credit Agreement, the Mexican Credit Agreement and the other Bank Loan Documents (as hereinafter defined), have been absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Stormtech LLC and may hereafter be guaranteed by material Subsidiaries of the Borrower (each a Bank Guarantor and collectively, the Bank Guarantors) pursuant to one or more guaranties (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, and supplemented from time to time and including all joinders thereto, collectively, the Lender Guaranty Agreements).
F. The Noteholders Obligations (as hereinafter defined) under the Note Agreement and the other Senior Note Documents (as hereinafter defined), have been absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Stormtech LLC and may hereafter be guaranteed by material Subsidiaries of the Borrower (the Noteholder Guarantors) pursuant to one or more guaranties (as may be amended, restated, replaced, modified, and supplemented from time to time and including all joinders thereto, collectively, the Noteholder Guaranty Agreements).
G. The Bank Obligations and the Noteholders Obligations are to be secured equally and ratably, subject to distribution of proceeds as provided in Section 5.10 hereof, by the Collateral (as hereinafter defined) pursuant to (i) that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of June 12, 2013, by and between the Borrower, each of the Debtors (as hereinafter defined) party thereto and the Collateral Agent (the Security Agreement), (ii) that certain Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement dated as of June 12, 2013, by and between the Borrower, each of the Debtors (as hereinafter defined) party thereto and the Collateral Agent (the Pledge Agreement), along with the other Security Documents (as hereinafter defined). The Lenders and the Noteholders desire to appoint PNC Bank, National Association as the Collateral Agent to act on behalf of the Creditors (as hereinafter defined) regarding the Collateral, all as more fully provided herein. The parties hereto have entered into this Agreement to, among other things, define the rights, duties, authority and responsibilities of the Collateral Agent and the relationship between the Creditors regarding their pari passu (subject to distribution of proceeds as provided in Section 5.10 hereof) interests in the Collateral.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
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SECTION 1. Definitions.
Section 1.1 Definitions . The following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1 or in the provisions of this Agreement referred to below:
Administrative Agent shall mean the party identified as such in the Recitals hereof, and its successors and permitted assigns, or, in the case of a Refinancing of the Domestic Credit Agreement, the agent for Lenders thereunder.
Affiliate means, with respect to any 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. Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 5% or more of the Voting Equity Interests of such Person.
Agent-Related Person means the Collateral Agent, together with its Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact, co-trustees or separate trustees of the Collateral Agent and its Affiliates.
Agreement shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble hereof, and shall include such agreement as amended, supplemented, replaced, restated or otherwise modified in accordance with its terms.
Aggregate Commitments shall mean the aggregate of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments (or similar terms) as defined in the Domestic Credit Agreement as in effect from time to time of all of the Domestic Facility Lenders under the Domestic Credit Agreement, (ii) the principal balance of the term loans of the Domestic Facility Lenders under the Domestic Credit Agreement as in effect from time to time, and (iii) the Revolving Credit Commitments (or similar terms) as defined in the Mexican Credit Agreement as in effect from time to time of all of the Mexican Facility Lenders under the Mexican Credit Agreement.
Bank Credit Agreements shall mean collectively, and Bank Credit Agreement shall mean separately, the Domestic Credit Agreement and the Mexican Credit Agreement , and shall include each such agreement as amended, supplemented, replaced, restated or otherwise modified in accordance with its terms.
Bank Loan Documents shall mean the Bank Credit Agreements, the Bank Notes, the Lender Guaranty Agreements and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments relating to, arising out of, or in any way connected therewith or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, as each may be amended, supplemented, replaced, restated, increased, extended or otherwise modified from time to time.
Bank Loans shall mean collectively, and Bank Loan shall mean separately, the Domestic Bank Loans and the Mexican Bank Loans.
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Bank Notes shall mean collectively, and Bank Note shall mean separately, the Domestic Bank Notes and the Mexican Bank Notes.
Bank Obligations shall mean and include (a) all Obligations (or other similar terms) as defined in the Domestic Credit Agreement, including all L/C Exposure, (b) all Obligations (or other similar terms) as defined in the Mexican Credit Agreement, including all L/C Exposure, (c) all Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge Obligations owed to a Lender or a Lender Affiliate, and (d) all Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product Obligations owed to a Lender or a Lender Affiliate.
Bankruptcy Code shall mean Title 11, U.S.C., as amended from time to time.
Bankruptcy Event of Default shall mean the commencement of a Bankruptcy Proceeding with respect to the Borrower or any Guarantor.
Bankruptcy Proceeding shall mean, with respect to any Person, a general assignment by such Person for the benefit of its creditors, or the institution by or against such Person of any proceeding seeking relief as debtor, or seeking to adjudicate such Person as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of such Person or its debts, under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property.
Borrower shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof, and its successors and permitted assigns.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Collateral Agents office is located.
Cash Equivalent Investments shall mean: (a) direct obligations of the United States government or any agencies thereof and obligations guaranteed by the United States government, in each case having remaining terms to maturity of not more than 30 days; and (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits and acceptances, having remaining terms to maturity of not more than 30 days issued by United States banks which have a combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000 and having an A rating or better assigned thereto by Standard & Poors Ratings Group, a Division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. or Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Collateral shall mean (a) all collateral under, and cash received in respect of, the Security Documents, (b) all collateral held by the Collateral Agent or any other Creditor under the Bank Loan Documents or the Senior Note Documents, in each case as security for the Senior Secured Obligations and (c) all cash received in payment of the Senior Secured Obligations as a result of the exercise of any setoff rights of any Creditor.
Collateral Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.
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Commitment shall mean the commitment of the Lenders to fund borrowing requests by the Borrower or the Mexican Borrower, participate in L/C Exposure and otherwise extend credit, in each case, in accordance with the Bank Credit Agreements.
Creditor shall mean any one of the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Facility Agent, the Lenders, the Noteholders, and any successors and assigns to the interests in the Senior Secured Obligations owing to any such Persons.
Debtor shall mean (i) any Debtor as defined in the Security Agreement, and (ii) any Pledgor as defined in the Pledge Agreement.
Equity Interest means shares of capital stock (whether denominated as common stock or preferred stock), beneficial, partnership or membership interests, participations or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or equivalent entity, whether voting or non-voting.
Event of Default shall mean any event or occurrence which would constitute an Event of Default (or similar terms) under the terms of the either Bank Credit Agreement or under either Note Agreement, or an event of default under the terms of any Security Document or any Guaranty Agreement.
Financial Covenant Default shall mean (i) a default by the Borrower under Section 8.2.16 or Section 8.2.17 of the Domestic Credit Agreement (or any section with similar provisions), or (ii) a default by the Borrower under Section 6A(1) or 6A(2) of the Note Agreement (or any section with similar provisions).
Governmental Authority shall mean the government of the United States 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).
Guarantors shall mean the Bank Guarantors and the Noteholder Guarantors and their successors and permitted assigns.
Guaranty Agreements shall mean the Lender Guaranty Agreements and the Noteholder Guaranty Agreements, as each may be amended, supplemented, replaced, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an interest rate hedge, collar, cap, swap, adjustable strike cap, adjustable strike corridor or similar agreements entered into the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to provide protection to, or minimize the impact upon, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of increasing floating rates of interest applicable to indebtedness of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.
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L/C Exposure shall mean, as of any date of determination and without duplication, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit under either of the Bank Credit Agreements on such date (if any Letter of Credit shall increase in amount automatically in the future, such aggregate amount available to be drawn shall currently give effect to any such future increase) plus the aggregate Reimbursement Obligations (as such term is defined in each of the Bank Credit Agreements) and Letter of Credit Borrowings (as such term is defined in each of the Bank Credit Agreements) on such date.
L/C Issuer shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and its successors and permitted assigns, and any other Lender which is designated as an Issuing Lender of the Letters of Credit under either Bank Credit Agreement.
Lender Affiliate shall mean any Affiliate of any Lender that is a party to any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge or any Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product.
Lender Exposure shall mean, as of any date of determination, for any Lender, the sum, without duplication, of such Lenders pro rata portion of the Aggregate Commitments; provided that if a Liquidity Event shall exist or the Commitments under the Bank Credit Agreements shall have expired or been terminated or, as of such date, the Lenders are currently refusing to make any advance requested under the Bank Loan Documents (or any notice has been given and has not been withdrawn or revoked by the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Agent, the Domestic Lenders or the Mexican Facility Lenders that any request for such an advance will not be honored), then Lender Exposure shall mean for any Lender such Lenders pro rata portion of the outstanding Bank Obligations (including L/C Exposure) under the Bank Credit Agreements.
Lender Guaranty Agreements shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Recitals hereof, and shall include each additional guaranty and joinder thereof.
Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an Interest Rate Hedge which is provided by any Lender or its Affiliate (provided that such Affiliate has become a party to this Agreement or its Affiliated Lender has agreed to cause such Affiliate to comply with the obligations of a Lender hereunder) in accordance with the Domestic Credit Agreement.
Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge Obligations shall mean, with respect to any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender, any and all obligations under or in connection with or otherwise owed by the Borrower in respect of any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge.
Lenders shall mean collectively, and Lender shall mean separately, the Domestic Facility Lenders, the Mexican Facility Lenders, and their successors and permitted assigns, provided that such Domestic Facility Lender, Mexican Facility Lender or successor or assign has become a party to this Agreement or agreed to be bound by this Agreement, including authorizations provided to such Lenders for the Administrative Agent or Mexican Facility Agent to bind such Lenders.
Letters of Credit shall mean all letters of credit issued under or pursuant to either of the Bank Credit Agreements.
Letters of Credit Collateral Account shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.10 hereof.
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Lien means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
Liquidity Event shall mean (a) the occurrence of a Financial Covenant Default or of any default in the payment of any Senior Secured Obligations, (b) the acceleration of (i) the Senior Notes by the Required Holders or (ii) the Bank Notes and/or Bank Loans by the Administrative Agent or the Mexican Facility Agent in its discretion or upon the request of the Required Lenders under the Domestic Credit Agreement or the Mexican Credit Agreement, (c) the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments under either of the Bank Credit Agreements for any reason (other than as a voluntary reduction or termination effected by the Borrower or the Mexican Borrower in accordance with the terms of the Bank Credit Agreements), (d) a Bankruptcy Event of Default, (e) the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Facility Agent or any Creditor commences the judicial enforcement of any rights or remedies under or with respect to either Bank Credit Agreement, any Bank Note, the Note Agreement, any Senior Note or any Senior Secured Obligations, or to setoff, freeze or otherwise appropriate any balances held by it for the account of any Loan Party or any other property at any time held or owing by it to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party, or (f) the Collateral Agent commences the judicial enforcement of any rights or remedies under any Collateral Document (other than an action solely for the purpose of establishing or defending the security interest or other Lien intended to be created by any Collateral Document upon or in any Collateral as against or from claims of third parties on or in such Collateral), to setoff, freeze or otherwise appropriate any balances held by it for the account of any Loan Party or any other property at any time held or owing by it to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party or to otherwise take any action (whether judicial or non-judicial) to realize upon the Collateral, or (g) the exercise of any right under any Guaranty Agreement or the exercise of any right of setoff, recoupment or similar right by any Creditor; in each case as to which written notice shall have been provided to the Collateral Agent.
Loan Parties shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors.
Majority Creditors means, each of (a) the Required Lenders, and (b) the Required Holders, each voting as a separate class.
Make-Whole Amount shall mean the Yield Maintenance Amount as such term is defined in the Note Agreement, or any similar term defined in a Note Agreement.
Noteholder Guaranty Agreements shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Recitals hereof, and shall include each additional guaranty and joinder thereof.
Noteholder Guarantors shall mean those parties identified as such in the Recitals hereof, each other Person that shall become obligated under the Noteholder Guaranty Agreements, and their successors and assigns.
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Noteholders shall mean the holders of the Senior Notes, and their successors and assigns.
Noteholders Obligations shall mean all advances to, and debt, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of the Borrower and any Noteholder Guarantor under the Senior Note Documents, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, and including interest pursuant to the Senior Note Documents that accrues after the commencement by or against the Borrower, any Noteholder Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Proceeding naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, and any and all Make-Whole Amounts.
Notice of Default shall mean a notice pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof from the Collateral Agent to the Creditors of the occurrence of an Event of Default.
Notice of Special Default shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.11(a) .
Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product shall mean agreements or other arrangements under which any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender (provided that such Affiliate has become a party to this Agreement or its Affiliated Lender has agreed to cause such Affiliate to comply with the obligations of a Lender hereunder) provides any of the following products or services to any of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions, (f) cash management, including overdrafts, controlled disbursement, accounts or services, (g) foreign currency exchange transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions, and (h) commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts and other similar transactions.
Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product Obligations shall mean, with respect to any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender, any and all obligations under or in connection with or otherwise owed by the Borrower in respect of an Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product.
Person shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Pledge Agreement shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Recitals hereof.
Refinance means, for any Indebtedness, to refinance, replace, refund or repay, or to issue other indebtedness, in exchange or replacement for, such indebtedness in whole or in part, whether with the same or different lenders, agents, or arrangers provided the following conditions have been satisfied:
(a) Each Creditor with respect to such Indebtedness shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent and each other Creditor a joinder agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Majority Creditors, under which such Creditor becomes a party to this Agreement and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions hereof with respect to such Indebtedness;
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(b) Such Indebtedness shall comply with the restrictions in Section 2.7 hereof; and
(c) If there will be a change in the Collateral Agent in connection with the issuance of such Indebtedness, the new Collateral Agent shall be satisfactory to the Majority Creditors and the Collateral Agent being replaced and such new Collateral Agent shall have executed and delivered investments transferring to such new Collateral Agent all the Collateral, properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties, authority and title of such replaced Collateral Agent.
Refinanced and Refinancing have correlative meanings.
Required Creditors shall mean Lenders and Noteholders whose outstanding principal balances of the Bank Loans (including L/C Exposure) under the Bank Credit Agreements plus the outstanding principal balances under the Senior Notes exceed 50% of the aggregate of outstanding principal balances of the Bank Loans (including L/C Exposure) under the Bank Credit Agreements and outstanding principal balances under the Senior Notes; provided however , that any Bank Loan or any Senior Note held by a Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall be disregarded in any determination of Required Creditors.
Required Holders shall mean Noteholders whose outstanding principal balances under the Senior Notes exceed 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal balances under the Senior Notes; provided, however, that any Senior Notes held by a Loan Party and any Affiliate of a Loan Party shall be disregarded in any determination of Required Holders.
Required Lenders shall mean Lenders whose Revolving Credit Commitments plus the outstanding principal balances of the Term Loans under the Bank Credit Agreements exceed 50% of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and outstanding principal balances of the Term Loans under the Bank Credit Agreements; provided however, that if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the computation in this clause shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments; provided, further , however, that any Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan held by a Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall be disregarded in any determination of Required Lenders.
Security Agreement shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Recitals hereof.
Security Documents shall mean the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and all other agreements, documents and instruments relating to or arising out of any of the foregoing or granting to the Collateral Agent Liens to secure the Senior Secured Obligations, whether now or hereafter executed, as may be amended, supplemented, replaced, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
Senior Note Documents shall mean the Note Agreement, the Senior Notes, the Noteholder Guaranty Agreements and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments relating to, arising out of, or in any way connected therewith or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, as each may be amended, supplemented, replaced, restated, increased, extended or otherwise modified from time to time.
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Senior Preferential Payment shall mean any payments, property constituting Collateral, or proceeds of the Collateral, from any Loan Party with respect to the Senior Secured Obligations (including, without limitation, any payments from the exercise of any setoff, recoupment or similar right) which are received by a Creditor after the occurrence of a Liquidity Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that Revolving Credit Loans or Shelf Notes not in excess of $10,000,000 are advanced by the Lenders under the Bank Credit Agreements or purchased under the Note Agreement after the occurrence of a Liquidity Event caused by a Financial Covenant Default but before any other Liquidity Event, payments or proceeds of Collateral received by such Lenders or the purchasers of such Shelf Notes, as the case may be, in repayment of such Revolving Credit Loans or Senior Notes shall not constitute a Senior Preferential Payment to the extent the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Credit Loans or Senior Notes remains greater than the outstanding principal balance of Revolving Credit Loans or Senior Notes as of the date of the occurrence of such Liquidity Event.
Senior Secured Documents shall mean the Senior Note Documents and the Bank Loan Documents.
Senior Secured Obligations shall mean collectively (a) the Bank Obligations, (b) the Noteholders Obligations, (c) the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under the Bank Loan Documents or the Senior Note Documents, and (d) the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party to the Collateral Agent under the Security Documents, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, joint or several, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise.
Special Collateral Account shall mean that certain interest bearing restricted account maintained by the Collateral Agent for the purpose of receiving and holding Senior Preferential Payments.
Subsidiary of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Voting Equity Interests (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Subsidiary or to Subsidiaries shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
Voting Equity Interests of any Person means any Equity Interests of any class or classes having ordinary voting power for the election of at least a majority of the members of the board of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent governing body of such Person, irrespective of whether, at the time, any Equity Interests of any other class or classes or such entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency.
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Section 1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions . With reference to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified herein:
(a) 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, (i) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns, (ii) the words herein, hereof and hereunder, and words of similar import when used in this Agreement, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, and (iii) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including; the words to and until each mean to but excluding; and the word through means to and including.
(c) Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 1.3 Effectiveness of this Agreement . The effectiveness of this Agreement is conditioned upon (a) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Domestic Lenders), the Mexican Facility Agent (on behalf of the Mexican Facility Lenders) and the Noteholders, the Borrower and the Guarantors, (b) the execution and delivery by the Borrower and the Guarantors of the Domestic Credit Agreement, (c) the execution and delivery by the Mexican Borrower and the Guarantors of the Mexican Credit Agreement, and (d) the execution and delivery by the Borrower and the initial Noteholders of said Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Private Shelf Agreement.
SECTION 2. Relationships Among Secured Parties.
Section 2.1 Restrictions on Actions . Each Creditor agrees that, so long as any Senior Secured Obligations are outstanding, the provisions of this Agreement shall provide the exclusive method by which any Creditor may exercise rights and remedies under the Security Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement shall have no effect whatsoever on the rights or remedies of any Creditor under any credit document relating to the Senior Secured Obligations to which it is party other than a Security Document. Therefore, each Creditor shall, for the mutual benefit of all Creditors, except as permitted under this Agreement:
(a) Refrain from taking or filing any action, judicial or otherwise, to enforce any rights or pursue any remedy under the Security Documents, except for delivering notices hereunder;
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(b) Refrain from accepting any guaranty of, or any other security for, the Senior Secured Obligations from the Borrower, any Guarantor or any of their Affiliates, except for (A) the Guaranty Agreements, (B) any cash collateral received by the Administrative Agent or any other Creditor pursuant to the requirements of the Bank Loan Documents or the Senior Note Documents (which cash collateral shall constitute Collateral for purposes of this Agreement) and (C) any security granted to the Collateral Agent to secure the Senior Secured Obligations for the equal and ratable benefit of all Creditors;
(c) Refrain from exercising any rights or remedies with respect to the Senior Secured Obligations under the Security Documents which have or may have arisen or which may arise as a result of an Event of Default; and
(d) Refrain from accepting any collateral granted under the Collateral Documents as security for obligations owed to such Creditor for obligations other than the Senior Secured Obligations unless the Lien on such collateral is permitted under the terms of the Bank Credit Agreements and the Note Agreement.
provided , however , that nothing contained in subsections (a) through (d) above, shall prevent any Creditor from (1) imposing a default rate of interest in accordance with either Bank Credit Agreement or either Note Agreement, as applicable, (2) raising any defenses in any action in which it has been made a party defendant or has been joined as a third party, except that the Collateral Agent may direct and control any defense directly relating solely to the Collateral or any one or more of the Security Documents but not relating to any Creditor, which shall be governed by the provisions of this Agreement, or (3) exercising any right under the Guaranty Agreements or, subject to receiving a direction from the requisite parties required to give directions to the Collateral Agent to realize upon the Collateral pursuant to Section 5.3, any right of setoff, recoupment or similar right; provided that the amounts received pursuant to enforcement of the Guaranty Agreements, or so setoff or recouped shall constitute Collateral for purposes of this Agreement and such Creditor shall promptly cause such amounts to be delivered to the Collateral Agent to be distributed pursuant to Section 5.10 .
Section 2.2 Representations and Warranties . Each of the Creditors represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that:
(a) the execution, delivery and performance by such Creditor of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar proceedings and does not and will not contravene any provision of law, its charter or by-laws or any amendment thereof, or of any indenture, agreement, instrument or undertaking binding upon such Creditor; and
(b) the execution, delivery and performance by such Creditor of this Agreement will result in a valid and legally binding obligation of such Creditor enforceable in accordance with its terms.
Section 2.3 Cooperation; Accountings . Each of the Creditors will, upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, from time to time execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such further instruments, and do and cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the provisions of this Agreement. Each Creditor agrees to provide the Collateral Agent upon reasonable request a statement of all payments received by it in respect of Senior Secured Obligations.
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Section 2.4 Termination of Bank Credit Agreement or the Note Agreement . Upon (a) the indefeasible payment in full of all Senior Secured Obligations owing to any Creditor in accordance with the terms hereof (other than as a result of payments constituting Senior Preferential Payments), and (b) in the case of any Lender, the termination of such Lenders Commitment and the cancellation or expiration of all Letters of Credit, this Agreement shall terminate as to such Creditor except for those provisions hereof that by their express terms shall survive the termination of this Agreement; provided , however , if all or any part of any payments to such Creditor are thereafter invalidated or set aside or required to be repaid to any Person in any Bankruptcy Proceeding, then this Agreement in respect of such Creditor shall be renewed as of such date and shall thereafter continue in full force and effect to the extent of the Senior Secured Obligations so invalidated, set aside or repaid.
Section 2.5 Priority of Liens . Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in any Security Document or in the Uniform Commercial Code, any applicable law or judicial decision, or whether any Creditor has possession of all or any part of the Collateral, as among the Creditors the respective rights of each Creditor in respect of the Collateral shall at all times remain on a parity with one another without preference, priority or distinction and shall be shared as provided herein.
Section 2.6 Prohibition on Contesting Liens . Each Creditor agrees that it will not (and hereby waives any right to) at any time institute, encourage or join in as a party in the institution of, or assist in the prosecution of, any action, suit or proceeding (including any Bankruptcy Proceeding) (a) contesting or challenging the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Senior Secured Obligation, any Security Document, any Guaranty Agreement, or any Lien held by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and the Noteholders to secure the Senior Secured Obligations, or otherwise seeking a determination that any such Senior Secured Obligations or Liens securing such Senior Secured Obligations are invalid, unperfected or avoidable or are or should be subordinated to the interests of any Person, (b) contesting or challenging any collection, enforcement, disposition or acceptance of, or other remedial action with respect to, the Collateral by the Collateral Agent to the extent related to satisfying Senior Secured Obligations and permitted by this Agreement, or (c) contesting or challenging the validity or enforceability of this Agreement.
Section 2.7 Restrictions on Material Amendments . Each of the Bank Loan Documents and the Senior Note Documents may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with their respective terms or Refinanced; provided , however , no such amendment, supplement, Refinancing or modification shall (i) provide for an increase in the principal amount owing in respect of the Note Documents in excess of $25,000,000, and (iii) provide for an increase in the Aggregate Commitments in an amount in excess of $437,000,000, less principal payments made on the term loans advanced under the Domestic Credit Agreement.
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SECTION 3. Appointment and Authorization of Collateral Agent; Appointment of Co-Agents.
Section 3.1 Appointment and Authorization of Collateral Agent .
(a) Each Creditor hereby designates and appoints PNC Bank, National Association, as the Collateral Agent of such Creditor under this Agreement and the Security Documents and PNC Bank, National Association hereby accepts such designation and appointment. The appointment made by this Section 3.1(a) is given for valuable consideration and coupled with an interest and, subject to Section 4.8(a) hereof, is irrevocable so long as (i) the Senior Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, shall remain unpaid or (ii) any Lender is obligated to fund any borrowing under the Bank Loan Documents.
(b) Each Creditor has reviewed the Security Documents in effect on the effective date of this Agreement and hereby irrevocably authorizes PNC Bank, National Association, as the Collateral Agent for such Creditor, to (1) execute and enter into each of the Security Documents and all other instruments relating to said Security Documents, (2) take action on its behalf expressly permitted to perfect, maintain and preserve the Liens granted thereby, (3) execute instruments of release or to take such other action necessary to release Liens upon the Collateral to the extent authorized by this Agreement, the relevant Security Documents or the requisite Creditors, and (4) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as are, in each case, expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms hereof.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement or the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth herein or therein or any trust or fiduciary relationship with any Creditor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any Security Document or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent.
Section 3.2 Appointment of Co-Agents . At any time or times, in order to comply with any legal requirement in any jurisdiction, the Collateral Agent may appoint a bank or trust company or one or more other Persons reasonably acceptable to the Majority Creditors, either to act as co-agent or co-agents, jointly with the Collateral Agent, or to act as separate agent or agents on behalf of the Creditors with such power and authority as may be necessary for the effectual operation of the provisions hereof and of the Security Documents and as may be specified in the instrument of appointment.
Section 3.3 Collateral Agents Expenses . The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent for reasonable costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to the Collateral Agent) incurred by the Collateral Agent including, but not limited to, those costs and expenses incurred in connection with: (i) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Security Documents, and (ii) the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement and all other documents, instruments and certificates executed in connection therewith.
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Section 3.4 Indemnification by Borrower . By its execution of this Agreement, the Borrower and each other Loan Party agrees to indemnify the Collateral Agent and its affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors (each such person being called an Indemnitee) against and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Indemnitees, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of the execution, performance or delivery of this Agreement, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder and any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating specifically to the foregoing; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
SECTION 4. Agency Provisions.
Section 4.1 Delegation of Duties . The Collateral Agent may exercise its powers and execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the Security Documents jointly with any co-trustee or co-trustees appointed pursuant to Section 3.2 or by or through employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or separate trustees appointed pursuant to Section 3.2 and shall be entitled to take and to rely on advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such powers and duties. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, attorneys-in-fact, co-trustees or separate trustees selected by it with reasonable care. Subject to Section 3.2 , the Collateral Agent may utilize the services of such Persons as the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion may determine, and all reasonable fees and expenses of such Persons shall be borne by the Borrower.
Section 4.2 Exculpatory Provisions . No Agent-Related Person shall be (a) liable for any action reasonably believed by it to be lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection with this Agreement or any Security Document (except for its or such Persons own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (b) responsible in any manner to any of the Creditors for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by the Borrower, any Guarantor, any other Debtor or any Creditor or any officer of any thereof contained in any Security Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by, the Collateral Agent under or in connection with this Agreement, any Security Document or any other document in any way connected therewith, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of the Security Documents or any Lien under the Security Documents or the perfection or priority of any such Lien or for any failure of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Debtor to perform its obligations thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to the Creditors to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, the Security Documents.
Section 4.3 Reliance by Collateral Agent . The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation reasonably believed by it to be genuine and correct and
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to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take action under the Security Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Majority Creditors, or to the extent permitted under Section 5.3 , the Required Creditors as is contemplated by Section 5 hereof and it shall first be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the Creditors against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking, continuing to take or refraining from taking any such action. The Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under the Security Documents in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.5 hereof and in accordance with written instructions of the Majority Creditors or, to the extent permitted under Section 5.3 , the Required Creditors pursuant to Section 5.3 hereof, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Creditors and all future holders of the Senior Secured Obligations.
Section 4.4 Knowledge or Notice of Event of Default, Bankruptcy Event of Default or Acceleration . The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default, Bankruptcy Event of Default or the acceleration of any of the Senior Secured Obligations unless the Collateral Agent has received written notice thereof from a Creditor, the Borrower or a Guarantor.
Section 4.5 Non-Reliance on Collateral Agent and Other Creditors . Each Creditor expressly acknowledges that except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of the Collateral Agents officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact, co-trustees, separate trustees or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Collateral Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Debtor, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Collateral Agent to any Creditor. Each Creditor represents that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Collateral Agent or any other Creditor, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties. Each Creditor also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Collateral Agent or any other Creditor, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under the Security Documents and this Agreement and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Creditors by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any Security Document, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide the Creditors with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Loan Parties which may come into the possession of the Collateral Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact co-trustees, separate trustees or Affiliates.
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Section 4.6 INDEMNIFICATION . EACH CREDITOR SHALL INDEMNIFY EACH AGENT-RELATED PERSON (TO THE EXTENT NOT REIMBURSED BY THE BORROWER AND WITHOUT LIMITING THE OBLIGATION OF ANY LOAN PARTY TO DO SO), RATABLY ACCORDING TO ITS RESPECTIVE SHARE, IF ANY, AS OF THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH ALLEGED ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS AS DESCRIBED BELOW IN THIS SECTION 4.6 OCCUR OR ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE OCCURRED, OF THE SUM OF (A) THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF LENDER EXPOSURE AND (B) THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THE SENIOR NOTES, 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 AN EVENT OF DEFAULT OR THE PAYMENT OF THE SENIOR SECURED OBLIGATIONS) BE IMPOSED ON, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY AGENT-RELATED PERSON ARISING OUT OF ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS OF ANY AGENT-RELATED PERSON SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED OR PERMITTED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR BY THE EXERCISE OF REMEDIES PURSUANT TO WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS OF THE MAJORITY CREDITORS OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER SECTION 5.3 HEREOF, THE REQUIRED CREDITORS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.3 HEREOF (INCLUDING WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF ANY AGENT-RELATED PERSON); PROVIDED THAT NO CREDITOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY PORTION OF SUCH LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES OR DISBURSEMENTS RESULTING SOLELY FROM ANY AGENT-RELATED PERSONS GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT. THE AGREEMENTS IN THIS SECTION 4.6 SHALL SURVIVE THE PAYMENT OF THE SENIOR SECURED OBLIGATIONS.
Section 4.7 Collateral Agent in Its Individual Capacity . PNC Bank, National Association and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with the Loan Parties and their Affiliates as though such Person was not the Collateral Agent hereunder. With respect to any obligations owed to it under the Bank Credit Agreements, PNC Bank, National Association shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any Creditor and may exercise the same as though it were not the Collateral Agent, and the terms Creditor and Creditors shall include PNC Bank, National Association in its individual capacity.
Section 4.8 Successor Collateral Agent .
(a) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time upon 60 days written notice to the Creditors and the Borrower, and may be removed, with or without cause, by the Majority Creditors, by written notice to the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and the Creditors. After any resignation or removal hereunder of the Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Section 4 shall continue to inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it in its capacity as the Collateral Agent hereunder while it was the Collateral Agent under this Agreement.
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(b) Upon receiving written notice of any such resignation or removal, a successor Collateral Agent shall be appointed by the Majority Creditors; provided , however , that such successor Collateral Agent shall be (1) a bank or trust company having a combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by a Federal or state lending authority and (2) authorized under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization to assume the functions of the Collateral Agent, and provided that such successor shall not be a Defaulting Lender (as defined in the Domestic Credit Agreement). If a successor Collateral Agent shall not have been appointed pursuant to this Section 4.8(b) within such 60 day period after the Collateral Agents resignation or upon removal of the Collateral Agent, then any Creditor or the Collateral Agent (unless the Collateral Agent is being removed) may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Collateral Agent. Such court shall, after such notice as it may deem proper, appoint a successor Collateral Agent meeting the qualifications specified in this Section 4.8(b) . The Creditors hereby consent to such petition and appointment so long as such criteria are met. If a successor Collateral Agent shall not have been appointed by the Majority Creditors pursuant to this Section 4.8(b) within 60 days after the Collateral Agents resignation or upon removal of the Collateral Agent, then the Collateral Agent may designate a successor Collateral Agent which meets the requirements set forth above, and the resignation or removal shall nonetheless become effective. Such successor Collateral Agent shall serve until a successor Collateral Agent has been appointed by the Majority Creditors or a court of competent jurisdiction and has accepted such appointment. The appointment of a successor Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 4.8(b) shall become effective upon the acceptance of the appointment as Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor Collateral Agent. Upon such effective appointment, the successor Collateral Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent.
(c) The resignation or removal of a Collateral Agent shall take effect on the date when a successor Collateral Agent shall have been appointed pursuant to Section 4.8(b) hereof and shall have accepted such appointment.
(d) Upon the effective appointment of a successor Collateral Agent, the successor Collateral Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent and the predecessor Collateral Agent hereby appoints the successor Collateral Agent the attorney-in-fact of such predecessor Collateral Agent to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment is coupled with an interest. Such appointment and designation shall be full evidence of the right and authority to act as Collateral Agent hereunder and all Collateral, power, trusts, duties, documents, rights and authority of the previous Collateral Agent shall rest in the successor, without any further deed or conveyance. The predecessor Collateral Agent shall, nevertheless, on the written request of the Majority Creditors or successor Collateral Agent, execute and deliver any other such instrument transferring to such successor Collateral Agent all the Collateral, properties, rights, power, trust, duties, authority and title of such predecessor. The Loan Parties, to the extent requested by the Majority Creditors or the Collateral Agent shall procure any and all documents, conveyances or instruments and execute same, to the extent required, in order to reflect the transfer to the successor Collateral Agent.
Section 4.9 Determination of Amounts of Senior Secured Obligations . Whenever the Collateral Agent is required to determine the existence or amount of any of the Senior Secured Obligations or any portion thereof, it shall be entitled, absent manifest error, to make such determination on the basis of one or more certificates of the Creditor holding such Senior
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Secured Obligations (or of an authorized agent of the same); provided, however, that if, notwithstanding the written request of the Collateral Agent, any Creditor shall fail or refuse within ten (10) Business Days of such written request to certify as to the existence or amount of any Senior Secured Obligations or any portion thereof owed to it, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to determine such existence or amount by such method as the Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of the Borrower; provided, further, that, promptly following determination of any such amount, the Collateral Agent shall notify such Creditor, in writing, of such determination and thereafter shall correct any error that such Creditor brings to the attention of the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Creditor or any other person as a result of any action taken by the Collateral Agent based upon such determination prior to receipt of notice of any error in such determination.
SECTION 5. Actions by the Collateral Agent.
Section 5.1 Duties and Obligations . The duties and obligations of the Collateral Agent are only those expressly set forth in this Agreement and in the Security Documents.
Section 5.2 Notification of Event of Default or Acceleration . If the Collateral Agent has been notified in writing as provided in Section 4.4 that an Event of Default has occurred or that any of the Senior Secured Obligations have been accelerated, the Collateral Agent shall notify the Creditors and may notify the Borrower of such determination. Any Creditor that has actual knowledge of an Event of Default or that any of the Senior Secured Obligations have been accelerated, or facts which indicate that an Event of Default has occurred or that any of the Senior Secured Obligations have been accelerated, shall deliver to the Collateral Agent a written statement to such effect. Failure to do so, however, does not constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default by any Creditor or create a cause of action against such Creditor. Upon receipt of a notice described herein or in Section 4.4 from a Creditor of the occurrence of an Event of Default or that any of the Senior Secured Obligations have been accelerated, the Collateral Agent shall promptly (and in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such notice in the manner provided in Section 7.9 hereof) issue its Notice of Default to all Creditors. The Notice of Default may contain a recommendation of actions by the Creditors and/or request instructions from the Creditors as to specific matters and shall specify the date on which responses are due in order to be timely within Section 5.4 hereof.
Section 5.3 Actions of Collateral Agent; Exercise of Remedies . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, then (a) upon the request of the Majority Creditors, or (b) upon the request of the Required Creditors so long as each Creditor has received notice of the taking of such action at least five (5) Business Days prior to the time such action is taken, the Collateral Agent shall promptly initiate and prosecute proceedings to foreclose or otherwise realize upon the Collateral, the proceeds of which shall be distributed as provided herein. Except as described in the preceding sentence and for actions taken pursuant to Section 5.8 , the Collateral Agent shall take only such actions and exercise only such remedies under the Security Documents as are approved in a written notice delivered to the Collateral Agent and signed by the Majority Creditors. The Creditors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide instructions to the Collateral Agent in a prompt manner.
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Section 5.4 [Intentionally Omitted] .
Section 5.5 Protective Advances . If the Collateral Agent has asked the Creditors for instruction to make a payment with regard to an Event of Default which the Collateral Agent, in good faith, believes to be required to maintain and protect the Collateral and if the Majority Creditors have not yet responded to such request, the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to make such payment, but shall not be required to make such payment and shall in no event have any liability for failure to make such payment.
Section 5.6 Changes to Security Documents . Any term of the Security Documents may be amended, and the performance or observance by the parties to a Security Document of any term of such Security Document may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) by the Collateral Agent only upon the written consent of the Majority Creditors; provided that no amendment to the Security Documents which changes the obligations being secured thereby, releases all or substantially all of the Collateral, changes any payment (whether by altering the amount, priority, timing or other thereof) to any Creditor shall be effective without the written consent of the Majority Creditors, and that no such amendment which materially and adversely affects the rights of any Creditor relative to the rights of the other Creditors may be made without the written consent of all of the Creditors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent may, without the consent of the Majority Creditors, amend the Security Documents (a) to add property hereafter acquired by the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Debtor intended to be subjected to the Security Documents or to correct or amplify the description of any property subject to the Security Documents and (b) to cure any ambiguity or cure, correct or supplement any defective provisions of the Security Documents (so long as the same shall in no respect be adverse to the interest of any Creditor).
Section 5.7 Release of Collateral . The Collateral Agent may, without the approval of the Majority Creditors as required by Section 5.6 hereof, release any Collateral under the Security Documents which is expressly permitted to be sold or disposed of by the Borrower and its Affiliates, including, without limitation, the Guarantors, pursuant to all Senior Secured Documents and execute and deliver such releases as may be necessary to terminate of record the Collateral Agents security interest in such Collateral. In determining whether any such release is permitted, the Collateral Agent in its discretion shall rely upon instructions from the Required Lenders in respect of the Bank Loan Documents and the Required Holders in respect of the Note Agreement.
Section 5.8 Other Actions . The Collateral Agent shall have the right to take such actions, or omit to take such actions, hereunder and under the Security Documents not inconsistent with the written instructions of the Majority Creditors or the Required Creditors delivered pursuant to Section 5.3 hereof or the terms of this Agreement as the Collateral Agent deems necessary or appropriate to perfect or continue the perfection of the Liens on the Collateral, or protect the Collateral, for the benefit of the Creditors. Except as otherwise
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provided by applicable law, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to the collection or protection of the Collateral or any income thereon, nor as to the preservation of rights against prior parties, nor as to the preservation of rights pertaining to the Collateral beyond the safe custody of any Collateral in the Collateral Agents actual possession.
Section 5.9 Cooperation . To the extent that the exercise of the rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement requires that any action be taken by any Creditor, such Creditor shall take such action and cooperate with the Collateral Agent to ensure that the rights, powers and remedies of all Creditors are exercised in full.
Section 5.10 Distribution of Proceeds . All amounts owing with respect to the Senior Secured Obligations shall be secured pro rata by the Collateral without distinction as to whether some Senior Secured Obligations are then due and payable and other Senior Secured Obligations are not then due and payable. Upon the occurrence of and following a Liquidity Event with respect to any amounts received by the Collateral Agent from any Creditor under Section 5.11 hereof, or upon any realization upon the Collateral and/or the receipt of any payments under any Security Document, enforcement of any Guaranty Agreement or exercise of any right of setoff or recoupment by any Creditor, the Creditors agree that the proceeds thereof shall be applied as follows: (a) first , to the amounts owing to the Collateral Agent (solely in its capacity as such) by the Loan Parties or the Creditors pursuant to this Agreement or the Security Documents, including, without limitation, payment of expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent with respect to maintenance and protection of the Collateral and of expenses incurred with respect to the sale of or realization upon any of the Collateral or the perfection, enforcement or protection of the rights of the Creditors (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses of every kind); (b) second , to the payment of all unreimbursed amounts paid by the Creditors to each Agent-Related Person pursuant to Section 4.6 hereof, pro rata in proportion to the respective unreimbursed amounts thereof paid by each such Creditor; (c) third , equally and ratably to the payment of all amounts of accrued interest outstanding which constitute the Senior Secured Obligations according to the aggregate amounts of such interest then owing to each Creditor; (d) fourth , equally and ratably to all other amounts then due to the Creditors under the Bank Credit Agreements and the Note Agreement, including without limitation, principal, L/C Exposure outstanding with respect to the Senior Secured Obligations, Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product Obligations, Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge Obligations, breakage costs, Make-Whole Amounts, letter of credit fees, commitment fees and fees and expenses not theretofore paid above according to the aggregate amounts of the foregoing then owing to each Creditor; provided that such equal and ratable distribution shall be undertaken in a manner which does not apply Collateral of any Guarantor to Excluded Swap Obligations (as defined in the Bank Credit Agreement; and (e) fifth, the balance, if any, shall be returned to the Borrower, the applicable Guarantor, or such other Persons as are entitled thereto.
Any payment required to be made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 5.10 with respect to the outstanding amount of any undrawn Letters of Credit shall be held by the Collateral Agent on deposit in an account (the Letters of Credit Collateral Account) to be held as collateral for the Senior Secured Obligations and disposed of as provided herein. On each date on which a payment is made to a beneficiary pursuant to a draw on a Letter of Credit, the Collateral Agent shall distribute from the Letters of Credit Collateral Account for application to the payment of the reimbursement obligation due to the Lenders with respect to such draw an
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amount equal to the product of (1) the amount then on deposit in the Letters of Credit Collateral Account, and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of such draw and the denominator of which is the outstanding amount of all undrawn Letters of Credit immediately prior to such draw. On each date on which a reduction in the outstanding amount of undrawn Letters of Credit occurs other than on account of a payment made to a beneficiary pursuant to a draw on a Letter of Credit, then the Collateral Agent shall distribute from the Letters of Credit Collateral Account an amount equal to the product of (1) the amount then on deposit in the Letters of Credit Collateral Account, and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of such reduction in the outstanding amount of undrawn Letters of Credit and the denominator of which is the outstanding amount of all undrawn Letters of Credit immediately prior to such reduction, which amount shall be distributed as provided in the first paragraph of this Section 5.10 . At such time as the outstanding amount of all undrawn Letters of Credit is reduced to zero, any amount remaining in the Letters of Credit Collateral Account, after the distribution therefrom as provided above, shall be distributed as provided in the first paragraph of this Section 5.10 .
Section 5.11 Senior Preferential Payments and Special Collateral Account .
(a) The Collateral Agent shall give each Creditor a written notice (a Notice of Special Default) promptly, but no later than, ten (10) Business Days after being notified in writing by a Creditor that a Liquidity Event has occurred.
(b) Each Creditor agrees that upon the occurrence of a Liquidity Event it shall (1) promptly notify the Collateral Agent of the receipt of any Senior Preferential Payments, (2) hold such amounts in trust for the Creditors and act as agent of the Creditors during the time any such amounts are held by it and (3) deliver to the Collateral Agent such amounts for deposit into the Special Collateral Account.
(c) If (i) a Liquidity Event shall have occurred and shall be continuing, or (ii) the Majority Creditors or the Required Creditors have instructed the Collateral Agent to foreclose on the Collateral, seek the appointment of a receiver, commence litigation against any Borrower or any Guarantor, liquidate or seize the Collateral, or exercise other remedies of similar character, then all funds, together with interest earned thereon, held in the Special Collateral Account and all subsequent Senior Preferential Payments shall be applied promptly in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.10 above.
Section 5.12 Authorized Investments . Any and all funds held by the Collateral Agent in its capacity as Collateral Agent, whether pursuant to any provision of any of the Security Documents or otherwise, may to the extent feasible within a reasonable time be invested by the Collateral Agent in Cash Equivalent Investments. Any interest earned on such funds shall be disbursed to the Creditors in accordance with Section 5.10 or Section 5.11 , as applicable. The Collateral Agent may hold any such funds in a common interest bearing account. To the extent that the interest rate payable with respect to any such account varies over time, the Collateral Agent may use an average interest rate in making the interest allocations among the respective Creditors. The Collateral Agent shall have no duty to place funds held pursuant to this Section 5.12 in investments which provide a maximum return; provided , however , that the Collateral Agent may to the extent feasible invest funds in Cash Equivalent Investments with reasonable promptness. In the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for any loss of any funds invested in accordance with this Section 5.12 .
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Section 5.13 Restoration of Obligations . For the purposes of determining the amount of outstanding Senior Secured Obligations, if any Creditor is required to deposit any Senior Preferential Payment in the Special Collateral Account, then the obligations intended to be satisfied by such Senior Preferential Payment shall be revived, as of the date of the deposit of such amount with the Collateral Agent, in the amount of such Senior Preferential Payment and such obligation shall continue in full force and effect (and bear interest from such deposit date at the non-default rate provided in the underlying document) as if such Creditor had not received such payment. All such revived obligations shall be included as Senior Secured Obligations for purposes of allocating any payments under Section 5.10 and for applying the definition of Required Lenders, Required Holders, Required Creditors and Majority Creditors. If any such revived obligation shall not be allowed as a claim under the Bankruptcy Code due to the fact that the Senior Preferential Payment has in fact been made by the Borrower, the Creditors shall make such other equitable arrangements for the purchase and sale of participations in the Senior Secured Obligations and shall execute and deliver such agreements as are necessary to evidence such arrangements, in each case in order to effectuate the intent of this Section 5.13 .
Section 5.14 Bankruptcy Preferences . If any payment on account of a Senior Secured Obligation to a Creditor is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential or set aside and is required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, and such Creditor has previously made a deposit in respect of such payment into the Special Collateral Account pursuant to Section 5.11 , then the Collateral Agent shall distribute to such Creditor proceeds from the Special Collateral Account in an amount equal to such deposit or so much thereof as is affected by such events together with any interest earned thereon (which amount of interest shall not exceed the amount of interest, if any, such Creditor is then required to repay) and if, due to previous disbursements to the Creditors pursuant to Section 5.11(c) , the proceeds in the Special Collateral Account are insufficient for such purpose, then each other Creditor shall pay to such Creditor upon demand an amount equal to a ratable portion of such disbursements of the deposit and interest thereon which was distributed to each such Creditor according to the aggregate amounts so distributed to each such Creditor.
SECTION 6. Bankruptcy Proceedings.
The following provisions shall apply during any Bankruptcy Proceeding of the Borrower or any Guarantor:
(a) The Collateral Agent shall represent all Creditors in connection with all matters directly relating solely to the Collateral, including, without limitation, use, sale or lease of Collateral, use of cash collateral, relief from the automatic stay and adequate protection. The Collateral Agent shall act on the instructions of the Majority Creditors; provided that no such vote by the Majority Creditors shall treat the Lenders and the Noteholders differently with respect to rights in the Collateral.
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(b) Each Creditor shall be free to act independently on any issue not directly relating solely to the Collateral.
(c) Any proceeds of the Collateral received by any Creditor as a result of, or during, any Bankruptcy Proceeding will be delivered promptly to the Collateral Agent for distribution in accordance with Section 5.10 .
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Creditor shall be free to act independently on any issue not directly relating to the Collateral, and nothing herein shall be interpreted to preclude any Creditor from filing a proof of claim with respect to its Senior Secured Obligations or from casting its vote, or abstaining from voting, for or against confirmation of a plan of reorganization in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Majority Creditors have not agreed upon the directions to be given to the Collateral Agent in connection with a particular issue in a Bankruptcy Proceeding, each Creditor (if such Creditor has reasonably determined that the Majority Creditors have not agreed upon the directions to be given to the Collateral Agent in connection with a particular issue, and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to determine if the Majority Creditors have not agreed on a particular issue) shall have the independent right to initiate an action or actions in such Bankruptcy Proceeding in its individual capacity and to appear and be heard on such issue before the bankruptcy or other applicable court in such Bankruptcy Proceeding with respect to such disputed issue, and such disputed issue may include, without limitation, issues with respect to any question concerning relief from the automatic stay, the post-petition usage of Collateral and post-petition financing arrangements.
SECTION 7. Miscellaneous.
Section 7.1 Creditors; Other Collateral . The Creditors agree that all of the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to any and all assets and rights of the Loan Parties in which the Collateral Agent or any Creditor at any time acquires a security interest or Lien pursuant to the Security Documents, the Bank Loan Documents or the Senior Note Documents as security for the Senior Secured Obligations, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any document purporting to grant or perfect any Lien in favor of the Creditors or any of them or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Creditors as security for the Senior Secured Obligations. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not constitute an amendment, waiver, novation or other modification of any other credit document related to the Senior Secured Obligations.
Section 7.2 Marshalling . The Collateral Agent shall not be required to marshal any present or future security for (including, without limitation, the Collateral), or guaranties of (including, without limitation, the Guaranty Agreements), the Senior Secured Obligations or any of them, or to resort to such security or guaranties in any particular order; and all of each of such Persons rights in respect of such security and guaranties shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights, however existing or arising. To the extent that they lawfully may, the Creditors hereby agree that they will not invoke any law relating to the marshalling of collateral which might cause delay in or impede the enforcement of the Creditors rights under the Security Documents or under any other instrument evidencing any of the Senior Secured Obligations or under which any of the Senior Secured Obligations is outstanding or by which any of the Senior Secured Obligations is secured or guaranteed.
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Section 7.3 Consents, Amendments, Waivers . All amendments, waivers or consents of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only if the same shall be in writing and signed by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Domestic Facility Lenders) the Mexican Facility Agent (on behalf of the Mexican Facility Lenders) and the Required Holders.
Section 7.4 Governing Law: Jurisdiction, etc .
(a) GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF OHIO APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE; PROVIDED THAT THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND EACH CREDITOR SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND EACH CREDITOR, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF OHIO SITTING IN FRANKLIN COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH OHIO STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE . THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND EACH CREDITOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 7.9. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
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Section 7.5 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section 7.6 Parties in Interest .
(a) All terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, any future holder of the Senior Secured Obligations; provided that no Creditor may assign or transfer its rights hereunder or under the Security Documents or Guaranty Agreements without such assignees or transferees agreeing, by executing an instrument in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement as though named herein. Prior to the issuance of any new Senior Notes after June 12, 2013, in accordance with Section 2.7, each new Noteholder shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent a Joinder Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A pursuant to which such new Noteholder becomes a party to this agreement and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions hereof with respect to such new Senior Notes and the related Senior Secured Obligations.
(b) In the event that the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower shall at any time become a Creditor as a result of the purchase or other acquisition of any Senior Secured Obligations, the Borrower or any such Affiliates shall have no right whatsoever: (i) to consent to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other such action with respect to any of the terms of this Agreement and shall not be included in the determination of Required Lenders, Required Holders or Majority Creditors, as the case may be, (ii) to require the Collateral Agent to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to this Agreement, (iii) to attend (or receive any notice of) any meeting, conference call or correspondence with the Collateral Agent or any other Creditors or to receive any information (including, without limitation, any notices delivered to or by the Creditors hereunder), or (iv) to make or bring any claim, in its capacity as a Creditor, against the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Facility Agent or any Creditor with respect to the duties and obligations of such Persons hereunder or under the Bank Loan Documents, the Senior Note Documents, or the Security Documents.
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(c) The Collateral Agent has no duty to acknowledge, and shall be deemed to not have any knowledge of, any notice from or for the benefit of any Creditor or Person claiming to be a Creditor, or to provide any notice or other communication to any Creditor, unless such Creditor or Person claiming to be a Creditor has complied with Section 7.6(a) .
Section 7.7 Counterparts . This Agreement and any amendment hereof may be executed in several counterparts and by each party on a separate counterpart, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original (including electronic copies thereof), but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. In proving this Agreement it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.
Section 7.8 Termination . Upon indefeasible payment in full of any Creditors Senior Secured Obligation in accordance with its terms (other than as a result of payments constituting Senior Preferential Payments) and in the case of any Lender, the termination of such Lenders Commitment and the cancellation or expiration of all Letters of Credit, this Agreement shall terminate as to such Creditor except for those provisions hereof that by their express terms shall survive the termination of this Agreement. Upon payment in full of the Senior Secured Obligations in accordance with their respective terms and the termination of the Commitment and expiration or cancellation of all Letters of Credit, this Agreement shall terminate except for those provisions hereof that by their express terms shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Section 7.9 Notices . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices, consents and waivers and other communications made or required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand, mailed by registered or certified mail or prepaid overnight air courier, or by facsimile communications, addressed as follows:
If to the Collateral Agent, at: | PNC Bank, National Association | |
155 East Broad Street | ||
Columbus, OH 43215 | ||
Attention: George M. Gevas | ||
Telephone: 614-463-7346 | ||
Telecopy: 614-463-6770 | ||
with a copy to: | PNC Bank, National Association | |
Mail Stop: P7 PFSC-04-I | ||
500 First Avenue | ||
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | ||
Phone: 412-762-6442 | ||
Facsimile: 412-762-8672 | ||
Attn.: Agency Services | ||
If to any Creditor, at: | Such address as set forth on Exhibit B hereto |
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or at such other address for notice as the Collateral Agent or such Creditor shall last have furnished in writing to the Person giving the notice, provided that a notice by overnight air courier shall only be effective if delivered at a street address designated for such purpose and a notice by facsimile communication shall only be effective if made by confirmed transmission at a telephone number designated for such purpose.
Section 7.10 Amendment and Restatement . This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement dated as of September 24, 2010 (the Prior Intercreditor Agreement) among, inter alia , the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Mexican Facility Agent, the Noteholders, the Borrower and the Mexican Borrower. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the amendment and restatement of this Agreement and the Security Documents is not intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, a novation, interruption, suspension of continuity, satisfaction, discharge or termination of the obligations, loans, liabilities, or indebtedness of the Borrower, the Mexican Borrower, or any Bank Guarantor or any Note Guarantor, other than those Bank Guarantors and Note Guarantors which are expressly released under the Domestic Credit Agreement, the Mexican Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement. By their execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Noteholders hereby consent and agree to the changes effected in the Security Documents from the collateral documents addressed in the Prior Intercreditor Agreement.
[Remainder of the Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature Pages to Follow.]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT]
I N WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused these presents to be duly executed as an instrument under seal by their authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent | ||
By: | /s/ George M. Gevas | |
Name: | George M. Gevas | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent on behalf of the Domestic Facility Lenders | ||
By: |
/s/ George M. Gevas |
|
Name: |
George M. Gevas |
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent on behalf of the Mexican Facility Lenders | ||
By: | /s/ George M. Gevas | |
Name: | George M. Gevas | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT]
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT]
The undersigned hereby acknowledge (a) the terms of the foregoing Agreement and agree to abide by any of the terms applicable to it, (b) that the foregoing Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Creditors and that it has no rights or benefits under such Agreement, (c) that the foregoing Agreement is for the purpose of defining the rights, duties authority and responsibilities of the Collateral Agent and the relationship among the Creditors regarding their pari passu interest in the Collateral and that nothing therein shall impair, as between the Borrower or any Guarantor and any Creditor, the obligations of such Borrower or such Guarantor under the Bank Loan Documents or the Senior Note Documents and (d) that the provisions of the foregoing Agreement may be waived, amended or modified without its consent.
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Name: Mark B. Sturgeon | ||
Title: Secretary, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
ADS MEXICANA S.A. de C.V. | ||
By: | /s/ Sergio Anguiano Lugo | |
Name: Sergio Anguiano Lugo | ||
Title: General Manager |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT]
STORMTECH LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mark B. Sturgeon | |
Name: Mark B. Sturgeon | ||
Title: Secretary and Treasurer |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
Joinder Agreement
Reference is made to the Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated June 12, 2013, by and among PNC Bank, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as collateral agent (the Collateral Agent), PNC Bank, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as Administrative Agent (as therein defined) on behalf of each of the Domestic Facility Lenders (as therein defined), PNC Bank, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as Mexican Facility Agent (as therein defined) on behalf of each of the Mexican Facility Lenders (as therein defined) and each of the Noteholders (as therein defined) (Intercreditor Agreement). Terms used in this Joinder Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given in the Intercreditor Agreement.
The undersigned hereby advises the Collateral Agent that as of the date set forth below the undersigned became a holder of new Senior Notes and, pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.6(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement and be bound by the terms and conditions thereof with respect to such new Senior Notes and the related Senior Secured Obligations.
Please be advised that for the purposes of Section 7.9 of the Intercreditor Agreement the address for notices to the undersigned is as follows:
Name: | ||
Address: | ||
Attention: | ||
Facsimile: |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Joinder Agreement to be duly executed as of , .
By: |
||||
Title: |
EXHIBIT B
ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
With respect to the Domestic Facility Lenders :
c/o PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent
155 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Attention: George M. Gevas
Telephone: (614) 463-7346
Telecopy: (614) 463-6770
With a Copy To:
Agency Services, PNC Bank, National Association
Mail Stop: P7-PFSC-04-I
500 First Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Attention: Agency Services
With respect to the Mexican Facility Lenders :
c/o PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent
155 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Attention: George M. Gevas
Telecopy: (614) 463-6770
With a Copy To:
Agency Services, PNC Bank, National Association
Mail Stop: P7-PFSC-04-I
500 First Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Attention: Agency Services
With respect to the Noteholders :
c/o Prudential Capital Group
Two Prudential Plaza
180 North Stetson, Suite 5600
Chicago, IL 60601-6716
Exhibit 10.17
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
(Directors and Officers)
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is entered into as of , by and between ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation ( ADS ), and , an individual ( Indemnitee ).
Background
WHEREAS, it is essential to ADS to retain and attract the most capable persons available to serve as directors and senior officers; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director and/or senior officer of ADS; and
WHEREAS, both ADS and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and senior officers of corporations in todays environment; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitees need for substantial protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitees continued service to ADS in an effective manner, ADS wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to the full extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under ADS directors and officers liability insurance policies.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee continuing to serve ADS directly or, at its request, with another enterprise, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Indemnify . ADS hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law. In furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:
(a) Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of ADS . Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section l(a) if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as defined in Section 12 ), the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (as defined in Section 12 ) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of ADS. Pursuant to this Section 1(a) , Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as defined in Section 12 ), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him, or on his behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of ADS, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitees conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of ADS . Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by reason of his Corporate Status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of ADS. Pursuant to this Section 1(b) , Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitees behalf, in connection with such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of ADS; provided, however, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to ADS unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the court in which such Proceeding was brought, shall determine that such indemnification may be made.
(c) Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, ADS shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
2. Additional Indemnity . In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1 of this Agreement, ADS shall and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of ADS), including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee.
3. Contribution .
(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 hereof is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which ADS is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), ADS shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action, suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment and ADS hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. ADS shall not enter into any settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which ADS is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
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(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of ADS set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which ADS is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), ADS shall contribute to the amount of expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by ADS and all officers, directors or employees of ADS, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of ADS and all officers, directors or employees of ADS other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the Law may require to be considered. The relative fault of ADS and all officers, directors or employees of ADS, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to which their conduct is active or passive.
(c) ADS hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of ADS, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.
(d) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, ADS, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by ADS and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of ADS (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
5. Advancement of Expenses . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, ADS shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in
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connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status within five (5) business days after the receipt by ADS of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. ADS acknowledges and agrees that an undertaking in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A shall be sufficient for purposes of this Section 5 . Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be unsecured and interest free. The right to advancement of expenses provided for in this Section 5 is a separate and distinct right and is not dependent upon a determination that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise.
6. Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification . It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law and public policy of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to ADS a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of ADS shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitees entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following three methods which, provided there has not been a Change in Control since the effective date of this Agreement, shall be at the election of the board: (1) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as defined in Section 12 ), even though less than a quorum, by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, (2) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee, or (3) if so directed by the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of ADS. If there has been a Change in Control since the effective date of this Agreement, the determination shall be made by independent legal counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee.
(c) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c) . The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors. Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to ADS, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the
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ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of Independent Counsel as defined in Section 12 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either ADS or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee to ADS selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. ADS shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and ADS shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c) , regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.
(d) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure of ADS (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by ADS (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(e) Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitees action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise (as defined in Section 12 ) in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of ADS. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
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(f) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by ADS of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitees statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(f) shall not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by ADS of the request for such determination, the Board of Directors or the Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat.
(g) Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors or stockholder of ADS shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding the Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by ADS (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification) and ADS hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(h) ADS acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
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(i) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of ADS or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
7. Remedies of Indemnitee .
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement within 90 days after receipt by ADS of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by ADS of a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitees entitlement to such indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 7(a) . ADS shall not oppose Indemnitees right to seek any such adjudication.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination under Section 6(b) .
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, ADS shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 , absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitees misstatement not materially misleading in connection with the application for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7 , seeks a judicial adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors and officers liability insurance policies maintained by ADS, ADS shall pay on his behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 12 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery.
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(e) ADS shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that ADS is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. ADS shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by ADS of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from ADS under this Agreement or under any directors and officers liability insurance policies maintained by ADS, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.
8. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation .
(a) The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of ADS, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the Delaware General Corporation Law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) To the extent that ADS maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries of ADS or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person serves at the request of ADS, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies for so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 7 hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, ADS has director and officer liability insurance in effect, ADS shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance
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with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. ADS shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(c) ADS hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by Indemnitees employer and/or ADS stockholder that designated or otherwise caused Indemnitee to serve in his Corporate Status (collectively, the Other Indemnitors ). ADS hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of ADS (or any other agreement between ADS and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Other Indemnitors, and (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Other Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Other Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. ADS further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from ADS shall affect the foregoing and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against ADS. ADS and Indemnitee agree that the Other Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 8(c) .
(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, ADS shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable ADS to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(e) ADS shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
(f) ADS obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of ADS as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
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9. Exceptions to Right of Indemnification . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, ADS shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) where it is finally determined that indemnification (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Sections 6 and 7 hereof) is unlawful;
(b) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or
(c) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of ADS within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
(d) in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against ADS or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board of Directors of ADS authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) ADS provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in ADS under applicable law or (iii) the Proceeding is brought by Indemnitee for the purpose of enforcing his or her rights under this Agreement or Indemnitees rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses under the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of ADS, applicable law or otherwise.
10. Duration of Agreement . All agreements and obligations of ADS contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer or director of ADS (or is or was serving at the request of ADS as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 7 hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of ADS), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.
11. Enforcement .
(a) ADS expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to serve as an officer or director of ADS, and ADS acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as an officer or director of ADS.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
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12. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) Change in Control means the occurrence of a transaction or series of transactions following which less than a majority of the voting power of ADS or a Successor Entity is held by the Persons who hold the same with respect to ADS immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions.
(b) Corporate Status describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of ADS or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving at the request of ADS.
(c) Disinterested Director means a director of ADS who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(d) Enterprise shall mean ADS and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of ADS as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.
(e) Expenses shall include all reasonable attorneys fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersede as bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(f) Independent Counsel means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) ADS or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Independent Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either ADS or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitees rights under this Agreement. ADS agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
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(g) Person means any individual, legal entity, partnership, estate, trust, association, organization or governmental body.
(h) Proceeding includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of ADS or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer or director of ADS, by reason of any action taken by him or of any inaction on his part while acting as an officer or director of ADS, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of ADS as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement.
(i) Successor Entity means any successor entity to ADS in a merger of ADS, in a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of ADS or in any other such transaction involving ADS.
13. Severability . The invalidity of unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.
14. Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
15. Notice By Indemnitee . Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify ADS in writing upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so notify ADS shall not relieve ADS of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices ADS.
16. Notices . All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent:
(a) | To Indemnitee at the address set forth below Indemnitee signature hereto. |
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(b) | To ADS at: |
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. |
4640 Trueman Boulevard |
Hilliard, Ohio 43026 |
Attention: Chief Financial Officer |
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by ADS or to ADS by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
17. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
18. Headings . The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
19. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.
SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written.
ADS:
ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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INDEMNITEE:
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Name: |
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF UNDERTAKING TO REPAY ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
[DATE]
[OFFICER(S) TO WHOM NOTICE IS DELIVERED]
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
4640 Trueman Boulevard
Hilliard, OH 43026-2438
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Re: Undertaking to Repay Advancement of Expenses
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement, dated [DATE], by and between Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), and the undersigned as Indemnitee (the Indemnification Agreement ). Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indemnification Agreement. Pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement, among other things, I am entitled to the advancement of Expenses paid or incurred in connection with claims relating to indemnifiable events.
I have become subject to [DESCRIPTION OF PROCEEDING] (the Proceeding ) based on [my status as [an officer/[TITLE OF OFFICER]/a director] of the Company/alleged actions or failures to act in my capacity as [an officer/[TITLE OF OFFICER]/a director] of the Company]. This undertaking also constitutes notice to the Company of the Proceeding and a request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6 of the Indemnification Agreement. The following is a brief description of the [current status of the] Proceeding:
[DESCRIPTION OF PROCEEDING]
Pursuant to Section 5 of the Indemnification Agreement, the Company is required to advance all Expenses incurred by me or on my behalf in connection with any Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status within five (5) business days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advance or advances from time to time. I hereby request an Expense advance in connection with the Proceeding. [The Expenses for which advances are requested are as follows:
[DESCRIPTION OF EXPENSES]]
In connection with the request for Expense advancement, I hereby undertake to repay any amounts paid, advanced or reimbursed by the Company for such Expense advances to the extent that it is ultimately determined that I am not entitled to indemnification under the Indemnification Agreement or otherwise.
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This undertaking shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
Very truly yours,
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Name: | ||
[Title:] |
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Exhibit 10.22
ADS Worldwide, Inc.
Grupo Altima, S.A de C.V.
and
Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V.
Participation Agreement
July 17 , 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE 1 |
DEFINITIONS | 2 | ||||
ARTICLE 2 |
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS | 7 | ||||
2.1 |
Amended Bylaws | 7 | ||||
2.2 |
Sublicense Agreement | 7 | ||||
2.3 |
Name | 7 | ||||
2.4 |
Corporate Domicile; Registered Office; Legal Representatives; Principal Office; Other | 7 | ||||
2.5 |
Purposes | 7 | ||||
2.6 |
Term | 8 | ||||
2.7 |
No Power to Bind Company or Other Shareholders; No Partnership | 8 | ||||
2.8 |
Distribution Agreement | 8 | ||||
ARTICLE 3 |
MATTERS RELATING TO SHAREHOLDERS | 8 | ||||
3.1 |
Shareholders; Capital | 8 | ||||
3.2 |
Issuance of Additional Securities; Preemptive Rights | 10 | ||||
3.3 |
Information; Confidentiality | 10 | ||||
3.4 |
Liability to Third Parties | 11 | ||||
ARTICLE 4 |
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND STOCKHOLDER LOANS | 12 | ||||
4.1 |
No Capital Contributions | 12 | ||||
4.2 |
Shareholder Loans | 12 | ||||
4.3 |
Company Loan Guaranties | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE 5 |
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | 12 | ||||
5.1 |
Distributions of Dividends | 12 | ||||
5.2 |
Distributions on Dissolution and Winding Up | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE 6 |
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | 13 | ||||
6.1 |
Shareholders Actions; Board of Directors | 13 | ||||
6.2 |
Nature of the Relationship | 16 | ||||
6.3 |
Deadlock Resolution | 17 | ||||
6.4 |
ADS Intellectual Property | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE 7 |
TAXES | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE 8 |
DISPOSITION OF SHARES | 20 | ||||
8.1 |
General Restrictions | 20 | ||||
8.2 |
Dispositions of Shares | 20 | ||||
8.3 |
Preferential Purchase Right | 21 |
8.4 |
Requirements Applicable to All Dispositions and Admissions | 22 | ||||
8.5 |
Encumbrances of Shares | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE 9 |
BUYOUT OPTION | 23 | ||||
9.1 |
Buyout Events | 23 | ||||
9.2 |
Procedure for Shareholder-Related Buyout Events | 23 | ||||
9.3 |
Purchase Price | 24 | ||||
9.4 |
Buyout Closing | 24 | ||||
ARTICLE 10 |
ARBITRATION | 25 | ||||
10.1 |
Submission of Disputes to Arbitration | 25 | ||||
10.2 |
Conduct of Arbitration | 25 | ||||
10.3 |
Exclusivity | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE 11 |
DISSOLUTION, WINDING UP, AND TERMINATION | 27 | ||||
11.1 |
Dissolution | 27 | ||||
11.2 |
Winding Up and Termination | 27 | ||||
ARTICLE 12 |
BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS | 28 | ||||
12.1 |
Maintenance of Books | 28 | ||||
ARTICLE 13 |
GENERAL PROVISIONS | 28 | ||||
13.1 |
Representations and Warranties of ADS Worldwide, ADSI and ADS/P | 28 | ||||
13.2 |
Representatives and Warranties of Altima and the Altima Shareholders | 29 | ||||
13.3 |
Representations and Warranties of the Company, Altima, and the Altima Shareholders | 29 | ||||
13.4 |
Covenants of ADS Worldwide, Altima and the Company Respecting Ethical Business Practices | 37 | ||||
13.5 |
Offset | 37 | ||||
13.6 |
Notices | 37 | ||||
13.7 |
Entire Agreement; Supersedure | 37 | ||||
13.8 |
Effect of Waiver or Consent | 38 | ||||
13.9 |
Amendment or Restatement | 38 | ||||
13.10 |
Binding Effect; No Third-Party Beneficiaries; Remedies Not Exclusive | 38 | ||||
13.11 |
Governing Law; Severability | 38 | ||||
13.12 |
Further Assurances | 38 | ||||
13.13 |
Language | 38 | ||||
13.14 |
Indemnification | 39 | ||||
13.15 |
Directly or Indirectly; Without Limitation | 39 | ||||
13.16 |
References | 39 | ||||
13.17 |
Survival | 39 | ||||
EXHIBIT A-1 |
Altima Services Agreement | A-1 | ||||
EXHIBIT A-2 |
Newco Services Agreement | A-2 | ||||
EXHIBIT B |
Amended Bylaws | B-1 | ||||
EXHIBIT C |
Sublicense Agreement | C-1 |
EXHIBIT D |
Distribution Agreement | D-1 | ||||
EXHIBIT E |
Legal Opinions | E-1 | ||||
EXHIBIT F |
Indemnification Provisions | F-1 | ||||
EXHIBIT G |
Budget and Business Plan | G-1 | ||||
EXHIBIT I |
U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act | H-1 |
ADS Worldwide, Inc.
Grupo Altima, S.A de C.V.
and
Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V.
Participation Agreement
July 17, 2000
THIS PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is made and entered into as of July 17, 2000, by and between ADS Worldwide, Inc. ( ADS Worldwide ), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. ( Altima ), a corporation organized under the laws of the United Mexican States ( Mexico ), and Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V. (the Company ), a corporation organized under the laws of Mexico. ADS Worldwide, Altima, and the Company are hereinafter collectively referred to as the Parties .
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company was incorporated on March 11, 1999, under the laws of Mexico and is in its start-up process;
WHEREAS , the Company has fixed capital of $1,000,000 Mexican Pesos, currency of legal tender in Mexico ( Mexican Pesos ), represented by 1,000 Series A common shares with a $1,000 Mexican Pesos par-value, and variable capital of $43,500,000 Mexican Pesos, represented by 43,500 Series B common shares with a $1,000 Mexican Pesos par- value;
WHEREAS , Altima owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, except for one share of capital stock owned by Inmuebles Industriales de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V. (hereinafter referred to as IIM ), who has joined this Agreement for the limited purposes set forth in Schedule 3.1(a);
WHEREAS, IIM, Polidrain Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (hereinafter referred to as PM ), Juan Raigosa Valadez, and Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo, collectively referred to as the Altima Shareholders , have joined this Agreement for the limited purposes set forth in Sections 2.7, 3.3, 6.2, 10.1, 10.2, 13.2 and 13.3 and Article 8;
WHEREAS , Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. ( ADS/P ), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, the parent corporation of ADS Worldwide and ADS/I, has joined this Agreement for the limited purposes set forth in Sections 2.7, 3.3, 6.2, 13.1 and Article 8;
WHEREAS, IIM will sell his one share to Altima and the Company shall increase its capital stock and issue to ADS WORLDWIDE, the necessary number of shares of common stock so ADS Worldwide and Altima will each own 50% of the common stock of the Company, voting and non-voting;
WHEREAS, at the Closing, Altima will invite ADS Worldwide to subscribe 22,000 shares of capital stock of the Company, 1,000 series A shares and 21,000 series B shares and will sell to ADS Worldwide 11,250 Series B shares. At the Closing, ADS Worldwide will pay for 19,000 shares and within the 120 days following the Closing Date, ADS Worldwide will pay for the remaining 3,000 Series B common shares and the price for the 11,250 series B shares against delivery thereof.
WHEREAS , ADS Worldwide and Altima shall create a new service corporation that will assume all employees of Altima and render services to the Company pursuant to a services agreement to be entered into by and between Newco and the Company (the Newco Services Agreement) in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 which will be attached hereto and made a part hereof;
WHEREAS, the Parties wish to establish their relative rights and obligations.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
AAA has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1 (b).
ADS Intellectual Property has the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.
ADS/I has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
ADS/P has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
ADS Worldwide has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Affected Shareholder has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
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Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that (a) owns or controls the first Person, (b) is owned or controlled by the first Person or (c) is under common ownership or control with first Person, where own means direct or indirect ownership of more than 50% of the equity interest or rights to distributions on account of equity of the Person and control means the direct or indirect power to direct the management or policies of the Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise: provided, however , that the Company shall not be considered to be an Affiliate of a Shareholder or of an Affiliate of a Shareholder.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Altima has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Altima Shareholders has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Amended Bylaws has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
Arbitration Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(b).
Bankrupt Shareholder means any Shareholder: (a) that (i) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (ii) files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, (iii) is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or has entered against the Shareholder an order for relief in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for the Shareholder a reorganization, arrangement, composition, conciliation, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, suspension of payments, or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation, (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the Shareholder in a proceeding of the type described in Subsections (i) through (iv) of this Section (a), or (vi) seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, Sindico, conciliator or liquidator of the Shareholder or of all or any substantial part of the Shareholders properties; or (b) against which a proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, suspension of payments, or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation has been commenced and one hundred twenty (120) days have expired without dismissal or stay thereof or with respect to which, without the Shareholders consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, Sindico, conciliator or liquidator of the Shareholder or of all or any substantial part of the Shareholders properties has been appointed and one hundred twenty (120) days have expired without the decree or order making such appointment having been vacated or stayed, or one hundred twenty (120) days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated.
Budget and Business Plan and Proposed Budget and Business Plan have the meanings set forth in Section 6.1(g).
Business has the meaning set forth in section 2.5.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a holiday on which banks in Mexico are required or permitted by law to be closed.
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Buyer has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.
Buyout Closing has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.
Buyout Event has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
Cash means U.S. dollars.
Closing has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
Change of Control means, with respect to any Shareholder, that any of the following events shall have occurred: (i) a Shareholder enters into an agreement to merge, consolidate or reorganize into or with another Person, and as a result less than 51% of the combined voting equity interest of the then outstanding equity interest of such Person immediately after such transaction will be held in the aggregate by holders of voting equity interests of the Shareholder immediately prior to such transaction; (ii) a Shareholder enters into an agreement to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to another Person, and as a result of such sale or transfer less than 51% of the combined voting equity interest of the then outstanding equity interests of such Person immediately after such sale or transfer is held in the aggregate by holders of voting equity interests of the Shareholder immediately prior to such sale or transfer; or (iii) during any continuous 12-month period, holders of equity interests of a Shareholder sell or enter into agreements to sell to anyone other than the Shareholder equity interests of the Shareholder representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Shareholder at the beginning of such 12-month period.
Company has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Company Agreements refers to this Agreement, the Distribution Agreement, the Sublicense Agreement, and Newco Services Agreement.
Company Financial Statements have the meaning set forth in Section 13.3.4.
Confidential Information has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(b).
Contracts has the meaning set forth in Section 13.3.12.
Day means a calendar day; provided, however , that, if any period of Days referred to in this Agreement shall end on a Day that is not a Business Day, then the expiration of such period shall be automatically extended until the first succeeding Business Day.
Deadlock has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.
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Dispose, Disposing, or Disposition means, with respect to any asset (including Shares), a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, gift, exchange, or other disposition of such asset, whether such disposition be voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, including the following: (a) in the case of an asset owned by an Entity, (i) a merger or consolidation of such Entity, (ii) a conversion of such Entity into another type of Entity, or (iii) a distribution of such asset in connection with the dissolution, liquidation, winding-up, or termination of such Entity (unless, in the case of dissolution, such Entitys business is continued without the commencement of liquidation or winding-up); and (b) a disposition in connection with, or in lieu of, a foreclosure of an Encumbrance; but such terms shall not include the creation of an Encumbrance.
Disposing Shareholder has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a).
Dispute and Disputing Party have the meanings set forth in Section 10.1(a).
Dissolution Event has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(a).
Distribution Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
Encumber, Encumbering, or Encumbrance means the creation of a security interest, lien, pledge, mortgage, or other encumbrance, whether such encumbrance be voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law.
Entity means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, venture, trust, estate, governmental entity, or other entity.
Exercise Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a).
Fair Market Value has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.
Fiscal Year means the calendar year.
Indemnification Provisions has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(k).
Individual Shareholder has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Initiating Shareholder has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b)(i).
Intellectual Property Rights has the meaning set forth in Section 13.3.16.
Major Matters has the meanings set forth in Section 6.1(b).
Mexican Corporations Law means the Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles of Mexico, as in effect from time to time.
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Mexican Tax Laws means the Mexican fiscal code, the income tax laws, and other tax laws and regulations, as in effect from time to time.
Mexico means the United Mexican States.
Newco Services Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Outstanding means, with respect to shares of the Companys capital stock, all shares that are issued by the Company and reflected as outstanding on the Companys books and records as of the date of determination.
Parties has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Person means any natural person or Entity.
Pro Rata , with respect to the Shareholders means in accordance with their relative number of shares of the Companys capital stock.
Profit and Loss , for each calendar year of the Company (or other period for which Profit or Loss must be computed), means the Companys taxable income or loss determined in accordance with the principles of the Mexican Tax Laws.
Purchasing Shareholder has the meanings set forth in Section 8.3(a).
Representative has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a) and (f).
Responding Shareholder has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b)(i) and 8.3(a) and 9.2.
Returns has the meaning set forth in Section 13.3.10.
Purchase and Sale Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b)(i).
Representatives Meeting has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1
Second Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b)(ii).
Seller has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.
Shares means the Series A and B issued and outstanding representing the Companys capital stock.
Shareholder and Shareholders means the holder or holders, as the case may be, of record of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company.
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Sublicense Agreement means the agreement between ADS Worldwide and the Company referred to in Section 2.2.
Taxes has the meaning set forth in Section 13.3.10.
Territory means México except for the States of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan.
Transfer Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a).
ARTICLE 2
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
2.1 Amended Bylaws. On or before the Closing Date, the Amended Bylaws of the Company, in the form set forth in Exhibit B , which will be attached hereto and made a part hereof, shall be adopted by the Shareholders to supersede any and all prior bylaws of the Company.
2.2 Sublicense Agreement. At the Closing , ADS Worldwide shall enter into a sublicense with the Company (the Sublicense Agreement ) in the form set forth in Exhibit C which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, licensing the Company to use ADS Intellectual Property detailed in the Sublicense Agreement and in Section 6.4 hereof, including the registered trademark ADS, in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of corrugated plastic pipe, in the Territory
2.3 Name. On or before the Closing Date, the name of the Company shall be changed to ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. or such other name as is selected by the Shareholders and authorized by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and all Company business shall be conducted in such name or such other name or names that comply with applicable law and as the Shareholders may designate from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions of the Sublicense Agreement and the limitations contained in Section 6.3(b)(vii).
2.4 Corporate Domicile; Registered Office; Legal Representatives; Principal Office; Other. The corporate domicile of the Company shall be Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, Mexico, or such other place as the Shareholders may designate. The registered office of the Company in Mexico shall be as the Shareholders may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law. The legal representatives of the Company will be persons designated by the Shareholders to act on behalf of the Company. The principal office of the Company shall be located in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, or at such other location within Mexico as the Shareholders may designate from time to time.
2.5 Purposes. The purpose and nature of the business shall be as set forth in the Bylaws and this Agreement (the Business ). The Company shall not engage in any activities that would cause it to be treated as engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United States within the meaning of Section 864 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
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2.6 Term. The Company was incorporated on March 11, 1999, and shall continue in existence (i) as established in the Bylaws, or (ii) until such earlier date as the Company may terminate in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon termination, the Company shall be resolved and liquidated in accordance with Article 11 hereof and the Mexican Corporations Law.
2.7 No Power to Bind Company or Other Shareholders; No Partnership.
(a) A Shareholder or Affiliate of a Shareholder may not take any action purporting to bind the Company, any other Shareholder, or its Affiliates, except as provided in this Agreement. By virtue of its execution of this Agreement and participation as the owner of a Company Security, none of the Shareholders is an agent, employee, contractor, vendor, representative, or partner of any other Shareholder or its Affiliates, and a Shareholder may not hold itself out as such.
(b) By virtue of its execution of this Agreement and ownership of a Company Security, no Shareholder shall be a partner or joint venturer of any other Shareholder for any purposes, and this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to suggest otherwise.
2.8 Distribution Agreement. At the Closing, ADS Worldwide shall cause its wholly- owned subsidiary ADS International, Inc. (ADS/I) to enter into a distribution agreement with the Company (the Distribution Agreement) in the form set forth in Exhibit D which is attached hereto and made a part hereof pursuant to which the Company will become the exclusive distributor of ADS/I, ADS Worldwide, and ADS/P in the Territory, except for the States of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan, all subject to the terms and conditions of the Distribution Agreement.
2.9 Formation of a Services Corporation. On or before the Closing Date, ADS Worldwide and Altima shall form a new corporation under the laws of Mexico (Newco) in which both parties shall have an equal interest. At the Closing, Newco and the Company shall enter into the Newco Services Agreement.
2.10 Opinions of Counsel. At the Closing, Asesores Corporativos, S.C., a Mexican law firm, as counsel to Altima and the Company, shall deliver to ADS Worldwide the opinions set forth in Exhibit E (I), and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., a United States of American law firm, as counsel to ADS Worldwide, ADSI and ADSP shall deliver to Altima the opinions set forth in Exhibit E (II).
ARTICLE 3
MATTERS RELATING TO SHAREHOLDERS
3.1 Shareholders; Capital.
(a) On or before the Closing, the Company shall have fixed capital of $1,000,000 Mexican Pesos, represented by 1,000 Series A common shares, and variable capital in the amount of $43,500,000.00 Mexican Pesos, represented by 43,500 Series B common shares, all owned by Altima, except for one share of Series A common share owned by IIM which will be transferred to
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Altima upon Closing. Altima and IIM, shall have celebrated a shareholders meeting where they will have authorized an increase in the fixed capital of the Company in the amount of $1,000,000 Mexican Pesos, represented by 1,000 Series A common shares and an increase in the variable capital of the Company in the amount of $21,000,000 Mexican Pesos, represented by 21,000 Series B common shares. Altima and IIM shall invite ADS Worldwide to subscribe and pay at Closing for said capital increase as provided herein below. Altima and IIM shall have waived their corresponding preemptive right in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company.
(b) At the Closing, ADS Worldwide will subscribe for and pay in the manner hereinafter set forth 22,000 shares in the aggregate for Mexican Pesos $22000,000.00 for 1,000 common Series A shares for Mexican Pesos $1,000,000 and 21,000 Series B common shares in exchange for $21,000,000 Mexican Pesos. Furthermore, Altima shall sell to ADS Worldwide 11,250 Series B common shares representing the capital stock of the Company in exchange for $11250,000.00 Mexican Pesos . In consideration for the subscription and purchase of the shares of the Company pursuant to this section, ADS Worldwide shall pay to Altima and the Company accordingly, as follows:
(i) | $19,000,000.00 Mexican Pesos at the Closing in exchange for 1,000 Series A shares and 18,000 Series B shares; and |
(ii) | $1,500,000.00 U.S. dollars (the Final Contribution ), 120 days following the Closing Date , or at such earlier dates as ADS Worldwide in its discretion selects; in exchange for 11,250 Series B common shares to be sold by Altima to ADS Worldwide at par value pursuant to a Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement in the form set forth in Exhibit I, which will be attached hereto and made a part hereof , and 3,000 Series B common shares at $1,000.00 Mexican Pesos par-value as additional capital increase. Should the Mexican Peso-Dollar exchange rate at the time of payment be less than 9.5 Mexican Pesos per $1.00US Dollar, the shortfall shall be covered by ADS Worldwide. Furthermore, should the Peso-Dollar exchange rate at the time of payment exceed $9.5 Mexican Pesos per $1.00US Dollar, the excess thereof shall be credited to the account of the Company denominated premium on the subscription of shares on the capital increase of the outstanding 3,000 shares. |
(c) To accomplish the Companys capital structure set forth in (a) and (b) above, on or before the Closing Date, the Company shall have taken all corporate action in compliance with its Bylaws and Mexican law for the amendment of the Bylaws as provided in this Agreement.
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3.2 Issuance of Additional Securities; Preemptive Rights .
(a) The Shareholders shall have the authority to cause the Company to issue additional shares or options, rights, warrants, or any other type of equity security that the Company may lawfully issue, any unsecured or secured debt obligations of the Company convertible into any class or series of equity securities of the Company (collectively, Company Securities ), for any Company purpose at any time or from time to time, to the Shareholders or to other Persons, in each case for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as shall be established by the Shareholders. The Shareholders may reflect the creation of any new class or group in an amendment to this Agreement indicating the different rights, powers, and duties; and if such amendment is approved by the Shareholders in accordance with Section 6.1(b), then each Party hereto shall cause such amendment to be executed.
(b) If the Shareholders elect to cause the Company to issue additional Shares or other Company Securities, each Shareholder shall have the preemptive right to purchase any such Shares or Company Securities on the same terms and conditions as those on which they are to be issued by the Company to the extent necessary to maintain its Pro Rata position in effect immediately prior to such issuance; provide, however , that if any Shareholder elects not to exercise it preemptive rights to the fullest extent available, the other Shareholders shall have the Pro Rata right to purchase any Shares or Company Securities not being purchased by such Shareholder. If the Shareholders elect to cause the Company to issue Shares or other Company Securities for non-cash consideration, the Shareholders shall establish a cash equivalent price for purposes of such preemptive right, which cash equivalent price shall be based on the Shareholders determination of the fair market value of the non-cash consideration to be received for such Shares or Company Securities.
3.3 Information; Confidentiality
(a) In addition to the other rights specifically set forth in this Agreement, each Shareholder is entitled to all information to which that Shareholder is entitled to have access pursuant to the Mexican Corporations Law under the circumstances and subject to the conditions therein stated.
(b) With respect to any and all data, plans, proposals, or other material related to the design, construction, configuration, operation, or financing of the Business that has been or is hereafter developed by or provided to a Shareholder or any of its Affiliates by or on behalf of the Company or another Shareholder or Affiliate of a Shareholder in connection with the Business, whether provided before or after the date of execution this Agreement, including, without limitation, any evaluation material exchanged by the Shareholders for the purpose of accessing the feasibility and advisability of entering into this Agreement and forming the Company, Confidential Information each Shareholder shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, use any such Confidential Information only with regard to the Business and not for any other purpose, and to hold such Confidential Information in strict confidence and not disclose same to any third party without the prior written consent of the Shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation to hold such Confidential Information in strict confidence and not disclose same to any third party (as opposed to the obligation to use such Confidential Information only with regard to the Business and not for any other purpose) shall not apply to any disclosure:
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(i) | of information that is in or enters the public domain through no fault of the receiving Person; |
(ii) | of information that was in the possession of the receiving Person prior to its receipt of similar information from the Company or another Shareholder or an Affiliate of a Shareholder in connection with the Business; |
(iii) | required by law, regulation, legal process, or order of any court or governmental body having jurisdiction; |
(iv) | to a lender, provided that such Person has agreed in writing to be bound by use and confidentiality restrictions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 3.3(b); |
(v) | to directors, officers, employees or representatives of such Shareholder or an Affiliate of a Shareholder if each such Person has been informed of the obligations set forth in this Section 3.3(b) and such Person has agreed in writing to be bound by the confidentiality restrictions as those are set forth in this Section 3.3(b); or |
(vi) | to governmental authorities in connection with obtaining permits, licenses or authorizations for the Business, provided that prior to any such disclosure the recipient is informed in writing that such information is Confidential Information and should be treated as such. |
The Shareholders acknowledge that the harm that would be caused by a breach of this Section 3.3(b) would be difficult to calculate and would cause irreparable harm, and accordingly the Company, each Shareholder and its Affiliates shall be entitled to injunctive relief to compel compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.3(b). The provisions of this Section 3.3(b) are intended to benefit, and to be enforceable by, the Company, each Shareholder and its Affiliates. If a Shareholder ceases to be a Shareholder, the provisions of this Section 3.3(b) shall continue to be binding upon such Shareholder for a period of two (2) years following the date on which such Shareholder ceased to be a Shareholder.
3.4 Liability to Third Parties. No Shareholder shall be liable for the debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company beyond the limit of its capital commitment contained in Section 3.1 solely by reason of being a Shareholder.
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3.5 Closing . The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the Closing ) shall take place at the offices of Santamarina y Steta, S.C., at Batallon de San Patricio 111-1102, Col. Valle Oriente, 66269 Garza Garcia, N.L., commencing at 9:00 am. local time on the second Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (other than conditions with respect to actions the respective Parties will take at the Closing itself) or such other date as the Parties may mutually determine (the Closing Date ); provided, however , that the Closing Date shall be no later than August 7, 2000 (the Termination Date ), and if the Closing has not occurred on or prior to the Termination Date, any Party may terminate this Agreement without any liability or obligation to any other Party except for such obligations set forth in Section 3.3(b) and 6.4 of this Agreement.
At the Closing, (i) Altima and the Company will deliver to ADS Worldwide the various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in Section 13.19.1 below, (ii) ADS Worldwide will deliver to Altima and the Company the various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in Section 13.19.2 below, (iii) the Company will deliver to ADS Worldwide stock certificates representing all of the shares subscribed and paid at the Closing, and (iv) ADS Worldwide will deliver to the Company or Altima, as applicable the consideration specified in Section 3.1(b)(i) above against delivery of the corresponding share certificates. Furthermore, as provided in Section 3.1 (b), the Company will deliver the remaining 3,000 Series B shares to ADS Worldwide against payment of its subscription value and Altima will deliver the 11,250 Series B shares to ADS Worldwide against payment of the purchase price thereof.
ARTICLE 4
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
AND STOCKHOLDER LOANS
4.1 No Capital Contributions. Except as authorized by the Shareholders pursuant to Section 6.1(b), no Shareholder shall be required to make any capital contributions to the Company.
4.2 Shareholder Loans . If a Shareholder shall loan any funds to the Company the amount of such loan shall be an obligation of the Company to such Shareholder payable in accordance with the terms of such loan and, in the event distributions are made in accordance with Section 11.2, shall be payable as provided in Section 11.2(c) along with other debts of the Company.
4.3 Company Loan Guaranties . If ADS Worldwide and Altima agree, third party loans to the Company shall be guaranteed by them in accordance with their interest in the Company.
ARTICLE 5
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
5.1 Distributions of Dividends.
(a) During 2000 and 2001 no dividends shall be distributed to Shareholders unless the Shareholders determine otherwise. Thereafter, except as provided in Section 5.1(b), at least 50% of net income (as such term is calculated in accordance with Mexican Generally Accepted
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Accounting Principles (Mexican GAAP) after payment of income taxes and the mandatory 10% profit sharing distribution to employees, if any) with respect to each year during the term hereof shall be distributed as a dividend to the Shareholders on a Pro Rata basis on or before the 120th Day following the end of such year unless otherwise agreed by the Shareholders.
(b) No provision of this Article 5 shall require any distribution of cash if and to the extent such distribution would be prohibited by applicable law or by any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or to which its assets are subject.
5.2 Distributions on Dissolution and Winding Up. Upon the dissolution and winding up of the Company, all available proceeds distributable to the Shareholders as determined under Section 11.2 shall be distributed to all Shareholders on a Pro Rata basis.
ARTICLE 6
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
6.1 Shareholders Actions; Board of Directors.
(a) Powers and Authority. All power and authority with respect to the management of the business and affairs of the Company shall be vested in the Board of Directors, subject to the approval of all Major Matters, as provided in Section 6.1(b).
(b) Major Matters. The granting by the Board of Directors or the Shareholders Meeting, as the case may be or, of any approval or the taking by the Board of Directors or the Shareholders Meeting, as the case may be, of any action, or the failure to take action, as the case may be, in connection with or relating to the following matters ( Major Matters and separately Major Matter ), shall require approval of all of the Shareholders or of the Board of Directors, as the case may be:
(i) | the approval of the annual Budget and Business Plan and amendments to the annual Budget and Business Plan and any change in the distribution of dividends; |
(ii) | the issuance of bonds, debentures, negotiable obligations or other similar instruments of debt, or the obtaining of any loan from any Person including loans from a Shareholder, other than current loans (less than 90 days) and the decision to draw on any line of credit; |
(iii) | the issuance of Company Securities or acceptance of any capital contribution; |
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(iv) | the selection or removal of the controller, general manager, legal counsel and independent auditor of the Company, with respect to the later of which would be selected from among the top five leading accounting firms of internationally recognized standards and having offices in Monterrey; |
(v) | the approval of any acquisition, merger, consolidation, joint venture or other business combination of the Company within the context of the foregoing or partnership arrangement between the Company and any third party; |
(vi) | the approval of any transaction (including any lease or amendment thereto) between the Company and any of the parties hereto or their respective Affiliates; |
(vii) | the guarantee by the Company of any obligations of any third parties; |
(viii) | the approval of the sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition, directly or indirectly, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of substantially all of the assets of the Company; |
(ix) | the approval of any material transaction (meaning a transaction involving more than $100,000.00 U.S.), including any lease or amendment thereto between the Company and any third party, other than the purchase of materials and supplies and the sale of corrugated plastic pipe in the ordinary cause of business; |
(x) | the determination of the number of members of the Board of Directors; |
(xi) | any amendment of this Agreement, the Companys Bylaws or of the Indemnification Provisions and the cancellation of any directors and officers liability insurance policy; |
(xii) | the conduct by the Company of any business other than that contemplated by the Recitals and Section 2.5; |
(xiii) | the increase, reduction and/or redemption of stock or capital of the Company. |
(c) Action in Writing. All actions of the Shareholders shall be taken in writing. An action of the Shareholders shall be effective when signed by all Shareholders. No meeting shall be required, except as required by the Mexican Corporations Law.
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(d) Board of Directors. On the Closing Date the Shareholders shall appoint a Board of Directors as provided in the Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall consist of an even number of persons, not less than six (6) and not more than ten (10), the actual number to be as agreed by the Shareholders. In the absence of such agreement the number shall be six (6). Each Shareholder shall designate the persons serving on the Board of Directors, with each Shareholder designating an equal number of persons. On the Closing Date, each Shareholder shall appoint an equal number of alternates and shall notify each other of their respective appointments. The Board of Directors shall act by a majority vote of all members or their respective alternates, without a tie- breaking vote (sin voto de calidad). The Board of Directors shall hold at least four (4) meetings per year, two (2) in Monterrey, Mexico, including its metropolitan area and two (2) in Dallas, Texas, including its metropolitan area, unless otherwise decided by the Board of Directors (which meetings may take place by means of a conference telephone or video conference or other similar communications equipment as provided in Section 6.1(h), or such other number of meetings as the Board of Directors shall deem advisable, to discuss and make decisions with respect to strategic issues, financial results, performance evaluation, the Proposed Budget and Business Plan, and prepare and deliver reports to the Shareholders, in such format and with such information as is determined by the Shareholders.
(e) Authority of Board of Directors . In connection with the management of the business and affairs of the Company, the Board of Directors may (except for the matters reserved for decision by the Shareholders as provided in Section 6.1(b)) or applicable law, have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it, the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may deem necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Company.
(f) Officers. A majority of all members of the Board of Directors shall appoint and may remove a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a Secretary of the Board of Directors may or may not be selected from among the board members. Unless a majority of all members of the Board of Directors determines otherwise: (i) all members shall elect as Chairman of the Board of Directors for 2000 and each even year thereafter a member nominated by Altima from among the members appointed by Altima and as Secretary of the Board of Directors for 2000 and each even year thereafter a member nominated by ADS Worldwide from among the members appointed by ADS Worldwide, and (ii) all members shall elect as Chairman of the Board of Directors for 2001 and each odd year thereafter a member nominated by ADS Worldwide from among the members appointed by ADS Worldwide and as Secretary of the Board of Directors for 2001 and each odd year thereafter a member nominated by Altima from among the members appointed by Altima. In addition to the Controller and General Manager, who shall be appointed by the Shareholders, there shall be such other officers, if any, of the Company as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.
(g) Budget and Business Plan. On or before the Closing Date, the Shareholders shall adopt the Budget and Business Plan for the Company for the year 2000 in the form set forth in Exhibit G which will be attached hereto and made a part hereof. Not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the start of each Fiscal Year thereafter, the Board of Directors shall deliver to the Shareholders a proposed annual operating, investment and capital expenditure budget setting forth in reasonable detail the anticipated revenues and expenses of the Company for the ensuing Fiscal Year, including revenues, fixed expenses, variable expenses and capital expenditures and proposed cash distributions (the Proposed Budget and Business Plan ). Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the
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start of the Fiscal Year, the Shareholders shall propose such changes, modifications, additions or deletions to the Proposed Budget and Business Plan as they deem appropriate. After making such changes the final form of annual budget and business plan (the Budget and Business Plan ) shall, prior to the start of the Fiscal Year, be adopted by the Shareholders as provided in Section 6(b)(i). The officers of the Company shall be authorized to conduct the operations of the Company in accordance with the Budget and Business Plan then in effect.
(h) Action Without a Meeting; Telephone or Video Conference Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Shareholders or Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, and without prior notice, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all Shareholders or Directors, as the case may be. Subject to the requirement for notice of such meetings, Shareholders or Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or video conference or other similar communications equipment, by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such meetings shall constitute presence in person at the meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not properly called or convened.
(i) Proxies. Each Shareholder may grant a proxy to vote to another member appointed by the same Shareholder.
(j) No Compensation. Unless otherwise approved by the Shareholders Meeting, the members of the Board of Directors shall not be compensated by the Company for their services in such capacity on the Board of Directors, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses in attending meetings of the Board of Directors.
(k) Indemnification and Insurance. The Company shall indemnify the Chairman, Secretary, and each Director pursuant to the indemnification provisions in the form (the Indemnification Provisions ) set forth in Exhibit F which is attached hereto and made a part hereof and which shall, contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, be adopted by all of the Shareholders. As promptly as possible following the Closing, the Company shall purchase and thereafter maintain directors and officers liability insurance with an insurance company qualified to do business in Mexico, in such amounts and with such insurance company as the Shareholders Meeting shall determine from time to time.
6.2 Nature of the Relationship .
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.2(c), nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as restricting in any way the right and ability of the Shareholders or Affiliates of the Shareholders at any time and from time to time to engage in and possess interest in other business ventures of any and every type and description, independently or with others.
(b) Each Shareholder expressly acknowledges and agrees that its relationship to the Company and to each other Shareholder to the extent established by virtue of its execution of this Agreement and participation in the Company as the owner of Shares, is strictly contractual in nature and is not that of partners or joint venturers, except as expressly contemplated in this Agreement or the Bylaws.
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(c) As long as Altima is a Shareholder of the Company it shall not compete with the Company in connection with the manufacturing or sale of high-density polyethylene pipe in the Territory.
(d) As long as an Altima Shareholder is a shareholder of Altima or an officer or director of Altima or the Company it shall not compete with the Company in connection with the manufacturing or sale of high-density polyethylene pipe in the Territory.
(e) As long as ADS Worldwide is a shareholder of the Company and the License Agreement and the Distribution Agreement are in full force and effect, neither ADS Worldwide nor ADS/P nor ADS/I nor any of their Affiliates (which for purposes of this Agreement shall not include ADS Centroamerica, Ltda de C.V.) shall compete with the Company in connection with the manufacturing or sale of corrugated plastic pipe in the Territory.
(f) As used in Section 6.2(c), (d), and (e), above, compete with means owning an interest in, or being a shareholder or partner of, a business enterprise which competes with the Company in connection with the manufacturing or sale of corrugated plastic pipe in the Territory, and with respect to an individual, also include serving as an officer, director, employee or consultant to a business enterprise which compete with the Company in connection with the manufacturing or sale of corrugated plastic pipe in the Territory. The provisions of Section 6.2 (e) shall not apply to ADS Worldwide, ADS/P, ADS/I or any of their Affiliates with respect to its interest in ADS Centroamerica, Ltda de C.V. and to Adolfo Galán Romo and his companies Polidrain Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., Fabricación de Piezas Especiales, S.A. de C.V and Tubería y Conexiones, S.A. de C.V., except with respect to the manufacturing or sale of corrugated plastic pipe in the Territory.
6.3 Deadlock Resolution. In the event the Shareholders or the Board of Directors as the case may be, cannot agree on, including but not limited to a Major Matter (as provided in Section 6.1(b)) or if any of the parties breach any provision of the Distribution, Sublicense and Non-competition provisions set forth in section 6.2 above or any such agreements or provisions are terminated; or fail, after requirement of a Shareholder or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, to take action on a Major Matter or any such agreement or provision (each such situation being herein referred to as a Deadlock ), then any Shareholder or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, shall have the right to invoke the following procedures:
(a) any Shareholder may, by notice to the other Shareholders, request that the Deadlock be resolved, and the Shareholders shall negotiate in good faith to resolve such Deadlock.
(b) if the Shareholders shall not have resolved such Deadlock within thirty (30) days after the notice referred to in Section 6.3(a), then
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(i) | Any Shareholder (the Initiating Shareholder ) shall have the right to initiate the procedure described in this Section 6.3(b) by delivering to the other Shareholder (the Responding Shareholder ) a notice (the Purchase and Sale Notice ) designating the per-share price at which such Initiating Shareholder would be willing to sell all, but not less than all, of its Shares or to buy all, but not less than all, of the Responding Shareholders Shares. |
(ii) | The Responding Shareholder shall, by delivery of notice ( the Second Notice ) given to the Initiating Shareholder within forty-five (45) Days after the giving of the Purchase and Sale Notice, elect to buy all, but not a part, of the Shares of the Initiating Shareholder or sell all, but not a part, of the Shares of the Responding Shareholder, for the designated per-share price. If the Responding Shareholder fails to deliver the Second Notice prior to the expiration of such fifteen (45) Day period, the Responding Shareholder shall be deemed to have elected to sell all, but not a part, of the Shares of the Responding Shareholder, for the designated per-share price. |
(iii) | On the purchase date (which date shall be selected by the purchasing party but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the Purchase and Sale Notice or, if later, the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the receipt of all applicable regulatory and governmental approvals to the purchase, if any) at the offices of Arthur Andersen & Co., LLP, in Dallas, Texas (or such other location or date as may be agreed upon by the selling Shareholder and the purchasing Shareholder), the selling Shareholder shall sell, and the purchasing Shareholder shall purchase, the selling Shareholders Shares for the designated price, which shall be payable in cash. On the purchase date (A) the selling Shareholder shall execute and deliver to the purchasing Shareholder and if applicable the purchaser Shareholder assignee (i) an assignment of the Shares by endorsement thereof, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the purchasing Shareholder and (ii) any other installments reasonably requested by the purchasing Shareholder to give effect to the purchase, and (B) the purchasing Shareholder shall deliver to the selling Shareholder the purchase price specified in the Purchase and Sale Notice in immediately available funds, subject to the offset referenced to in Section 6.3(b)(vii). |
(iv) | The purchasing and selling Shareholders shall cooperate with each other with respect to any purchase and sale pursuant to this Section 6.3, and shall act in a manner so as to effect an efficient continuation of the business and affairs of the Company. |
(v) | The purchasing Shareholder may assign to one of its Affiliates the right to purchase all or part of the Shares being sold pursuant to this Section 6.3. |
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(vi) | If the purchasing party shall fail to complete its acquisition of the applicable Shares pursuant to this Section 6.3 for any reason other than the breach by the selling Shareholder of any of its obligations hereunder, the selling Shareholder may elect (A) to purchase the purchasing Shareholders Shares for a purchase price equal to 90% of the designated purchase price, with the closing of the purchase and sale of such Shares to take place within fifteen (15) Days after notice is given by the selling Shareholder to the purchasing Shareholder of its election to apply this provision, which notice must be given within ten (10) Days of such failure by the purchasing Shareholder or (B) to cancel the Purchase and Sale Notice or the Second Notice, as the case may be, or (C) notify the other Shareholder of the selling Shareholders decision to liquidate the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1(a)(iii). |
(vii) | If the selling Shareholder is ADS Worldwide (or its successor), the Company and the purchasing Shareholder and, if applicable, its assignee, shall negotiate and enter into a royalty licensing agreement with ADS Worldwide for the use of all ADS Intellectual Property necessary to fulfill any written agreements contracted by the Company in the ordinary course of business existing as of the effective date of ADS Worldwide sale of its interest in the Company and if there were any excess inventory after giving effect to the foregoing provision, ADS Worldwide (or its successor) shall immediately purchase from the Company and the Company shall sell to ADS Worldwide all pipe containing any marks constituting ADS Intellectual Property, at a cash price equal to the Companys cost (less book depreciation) to be offset at the closing referred to above against any amount payable to ADS Worldwide (or its successor) under Section 6.3(b)(iii), and the name of the Company, if authorized to include the word ADS, shall be changed effective as of the date of the sale of ADS Worldwide interest in the Company pursuant to Section 6.3 to eliminate any direct or indirect reference to ADS or Advanced Drainage Systems. |
6.4 ADS Intellectual Property. The parties agree that all name, tradename, logo, trademark and/or service mark rights with respect to the name, mark and/or words ADS, Advanced Drainage Systems, N-12, The Green Stripe in Mexico or any other country ( ADS Intellectual Property ) shall be the property of ADS/P. Accordingly, any usage by the Company thereof either prior hereto or hereafter shall accrue to the benefit of ADS/P and any registration applications or registrations or other rights thereto (except in the case of technology that is not related to ADS Intellectual Property) in Mexico of the Company shall be assigned to ADS/P promptly following the execution of this Agreement, subject to usage by ADS Worldwide and the Company only in Mexico pursuant to certain licensing agreements entered into between ADS/P and ADS Worldwide and the
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Sublicense to be entered into between ADS Worldwide and the Sublicense to be entered into between ADS Worldwide and the Company. All rights hereafter to register or otherwise assert rights to and/or protect the same shall be possessed ADS/P and ADS Worldwide and both Altima and the Company shall apply their best efforts to assist ADS/P and ADS Worldwide in exercising such rights.
ARTICLE 7
TAXES
The Company shall prepare and timely file all tax returns required to be filed by the Company. The Company shall deliver a copy of each such Company return to the Shareholder on or before ten (10) Days following the due date of any such return. The Company shall bear the cost of the preparation and filing of its returns.
ARTICLE 8
DISPOSITION OF SHARES
8.1 General Restrictions . A Shareholder may not Dispose of or Encumber all or any portion of its shares in the Company (the Company Shares); ADS/P may not Dispose of or Encumber all or any portion of its shares in ADS Worldwide (the ADSW Shares); and an Altima Shareholder may not Dispose of or Encumber all or any portion of its shares in Altima (the Altima Shares); except in strict accordance with this Article 8, subject to the Deadlock provisions set forth in Section 6.3(b) hereof. Any attempted Disposition or Encumbrance of all or any portion of the Company Shares or Altima Shares, other than in strict accordance with this Article 8, shall be, and is hereby declared, null and void ab initio . The Shareholders, ADS/P and the Altima Shareholders agree that breach of the provisions of this Article 8 may cause irreparable injury to the Company or the other Shareholders for which monetary damages (or other remedy at law) are inadequate in view of (i) the complexities and uncertainties in measuring the actual damages that would be sustained by reason of the failure of a Shareholder to comply with such provisions, and (ii) the uniqueness of the Company business and the relationship among the Shareholders. Accordingly, the Shareholders, ADS/P and the Altima Shareholders agree that the provisions of this Article 8 may be enforced by specific performance.
8.2 Dispositions of Shares . A Shareholder may only Dispose of or Encumber all or any portion of the Company Shares, ADS/P may only Dispose of or Encumber all or any portion of its ADSW Shares and an Altima Shareholder may only Dispose of or Encumber all or any portion of its Altima Shares, with the approval of all the members of the Board of Directors (which approval may be withheld or granted in the sole discretion of each such member of the Board of Directors). A Shareholder may not make any disposition of less than all of its Company Shares and such disposition may only be for cash and only to a single Assignee. Notwithstanding the foregoing in Section 8.1 and this Section 8.2, the approval of all of the members of the Board of Directors is not necessary in order for a Shareholder, ADS/P or an Altima Shareholder to Dispose of or Encumber any or all of its Company Shares, ADSW shares or Altima Shares, as applicable, so long as such Disposition or Encumbrance is made to another Shareholder, an Affiliate of ADS/P or an Altima Shareholder, as applicable, provided, however, the other provisions of this Article 8 remain applicable to any such Disposition or Encumbrance.
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8.3 Preferential Purchase Right.
(a) Procedure . In addition to the requirements of Section 8.2, should any Shareholder at any time desire to Dispose of all of its shares, then such Shareholder (the Disposing Shareholder ) shall promptly give notice thereof (the Transfer Notice ) to the Board of Directors of the Company and the other Shareholder (the Responding Shareholder ). The Transfer Notice shall set forth all relevant information with respect to the proposed Disposition, including the name and address of the prospective acquirer and the purchase price in cash, and any other terms and conditions of the proposed Disposition. The Responding Shareholders shall have the preferential right to acquire such shares for the same purchase price, and on the same terms and conditions, as are set forth in the Transfer Notice. The Responding Shareholder shall have thirty (30) Days following its receipt of the Transfer Notice in which to notify the Disposing Shareholder whether the Responding Shareholder desires to exercise its preferential right or to designate its Assignee. (A notice in which a Shareholder exercises such right to purchase is referred to herein as an Exercise Notice and a Shareholder that delivers an Exercise Notice is referred to herein as a Purchasing Shareholder ). A Shareholder that does not respond during the applicable period shall be deemed to have waived such right to purchase or designate its Assignee with respect to the Transfer Notice. A Shareholder waiver of its preferential right to purchase the shares shall be invalid, and the procedure set forth in this Section shall commence anew, if the Disposing Shareholder modifies any of the terms and conditions of the Transfer Notice that was the basis for the Responding Shareholders waiver.
(b) Assignment to Affiliate . The Purchasing Shareholder may assign to one of its Affiliates the right to purchase all or part of the shares being sold pursuant to this Article 8.
(c) Disposition Closing. If the preferential right to purchase is exercised in accordance with Section 8.3(a), the closing of such purchase (the Disposition Closing) shall occur at the offices of Arthur Andersen & Co., LLP, in Dallas, Texas, on the thirtieth (30th) Day after the expiration of the preferential right period (or, if later, the fifth (5th) Business Day after the receipt of all applicable regulatory and governmental approvals to the purchase, if any), unless the Disposing Shareholder and the Purchasing Shareholder agree upon a different place or date. At the Disposition Closing, (A) the Disposing Shareholder shall execute and deliver to the Purchasing Shareholder and if applicable the Purchasing Shareholders assignee (i) an assignment of the shares described in the Transfer Notice, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Purchasing Shareholder and (ii) any other instruments reasonably requested by the Purchasing Shareholder to give effect to the purchase, and (B) the Purchasing Shareholder shall deliver to the Disposing Shareholder the purchase price specified in the Disposition Notice in immediately available funds, subject to the offset referred to in Section 8.3(d), if applicable.
(d) ADS Worldwide as Disposing Shareholder. If the Disposing Shareholder is ADS Worldwide (or its successor) and an Exercise Notice is delivered, the provisions of Section 6.3(b)(vii) shall be applicable.
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(e) Waiver of Preferential Right. If the Responding Shareholder does not deliver an Exercise Notice or the appointment of its Assignee prior to the deadline therefor set forth in Section 8.3(a), then the Disposing Shareholder shall have the right, subject to compliance with the provisions of this Article 8, to Dispose of the shares described in the Transfer Notice to the proposed Assignee strictly in accordance with the terms of the Transfer Notice for a period of (60) Days after the expiration of the preferential right period. If, however, the Disposing Shareholder fails so to Dispose of the interest within such sixty (60) Day period, the proposed Disposition shall again become subject to the preferential right set forth in this Section 8.3.
8.4 Requirements Applicable to All Dispositions and Admissions. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 8.2 or 8.3, any Disposition of shares shall also be subject to the following requirements, and such Disposition (and admission, if applicable) shall not be effective unless such requirements are complied with:
(a) Disposition Documents. The following documents must be delivered to the Responding Shareholder and must be satisfactory, in form and substance, to the Responding Shareholder:
(i) | A copy of the instrument pursuant to which the Disposition is effected. |
(ii) | An instrument, executed by the Disposing Shareholder and its Assignee, containing the following information and agreements, to the extent they are not contained in the instrument described in Section 8.4(a)(i): |
(A) | the notice address of the Assignee; |
(B) | the Assignees ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it; |
(C) | its confirmation that representations and warranties similar, in the reasonable judgment of the Responding Shareholder, to those contained in Section 13.2 are true and correct with respect to it; and |
(D) | representations and warranties by the Disposing Shareholder and its Assignee (1) that the Disposition, is being made in accordance with all applicable law, and (2) that the matters set forth in Sections 8.4(a)(i) and (ii) are true and correct. |
(E) | The endorsed share certificates. |
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(b) Payment of Expenses. The Disposing Shareholder and its Assignee, and/or the Responding Shareholder, as the case may be shall each promptly pay, or reimburse the Company for, all costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Disposition, on or before the tenth (10th) Day after the receipt by that Person of the Companys invoice for the amount due.
(c) Effective Date. Each Disposition complying with the provisions of this Article 8 is effective as of the Day in which all of the requirements of this Section 8.4 have been met.
8.5 Encumbrances of Shares. A Shareholder may not Encumber all or any portion of its shares without the consent of all of the Shareholders, except in connection with an increase of capital of the Company previously agreed by the Shareholders in connection with Section 6.1 (b) (iii). If the Shareholders consent to the creation by a Shareholder of an Encumbrance on its shares or in connection with a capital increase of the Company in connection with Section 6.1 (b) (iii), the Shareholder effecting such Encumbrance shall ensure that the applicable secured party (i) acknowledges the rights of the Shareholders under Section 8.3 and Article 9 and (ii) agrees to allow the exercise of such rights prior to any foreclosure by such secured party or its assignees on the shares subject to such Encumbrance.
ARTICLE 9
BUYOUT OPTION
9.1 Buyout Events . This Article 9 shall apply to any of the following events (each a Buyout Event ):
(a) | a Shareholder shall dissolve or become Bankrupt; |
(b) | a Shareholder, ADS Worldwide or the Altima Shareholders, their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns; shall be the subject of a Change of Control; |
In each case, the Shareholder with respect to whom a Buyout Event has occurred is referred to herein as the Affected Shareholder .
9.2 Procedure for Shareholder-Related Buyout Events . If a Shareholder shall suffer a Buyout Event, the Affected Shareholder (or its representative) shall promptly give notice thereof to the Board of Directors of the Company and the other Shareholder (the Responding Shareholder ). Upon the occurrence of a Buyout Event with respect to a Shareholder, the Responding Shareholder shall have the option to acquire the Shares of the Affected Shareholder or to cause the liquidation of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1(a)(iii). The Responding Shareholder may exercise such rights by notifying the Affected Shareholder (or its representative) and the Board of Directors of the Company of the exercise of such option or to cause such liquidation, within thirty (30) Days following the later of the occurrence of such Buyout Event and the receipt by the Responding Shareholder of the Affected Shareholders notice as required by the first sentence of this Section 9.2, (the Option Period ).
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9.3 Purchase Price. The Person that is required to sell its Shares pursuant to this Article 9 is referred to herein as the Seller , and the Person that exercise a right to purchase Shares pursuant to this Article 9 is referred to herein as the Buyer The purchase price for Shares being purchased pursuant to this Article 9 shall be determined as provided in this Section 9.3. The Seller and the Buyer shall attempt to agree upon the fair market value of the applicable Shares If those Persons do not reach such agreement on or before the thirtieth (30th) Day following the expiration of the Company Option Period (or the thirtieth (30th) Day following the date on which the Buyer exercised or waived its Option, if applicable), any such Person, by notice to the other, may require the determination of fair market value to be made by any of the top five leading accounting firms of internationally recognized standards and having offices in Monterrey. Following the determination of fair market value (the Fair Market Value ), the Purchase Price shall be determined and paid in accordance with the following procedures:
(a) the Purchase Price shall be the Fair Market Value;
(b) the Buyer may assign to one of its Affiliates the right to purchase part or all of the Shares being sold pursuant to this Article 9;
(c) at the closing, as defined in section 9.4 below, the Buyer shall pay the Seller the Purchase Price in cash. The payment to the Seller pursuant to this Article 9 shall be in complete liquidation and satisfaction of all the rights and interest of the Seller (and of all Persons claiming by, through, or under the Seller) in and in respect of the Company, including any rights against the Company and (insofar as the affairs of the Company are concerned) against the other Shareholder.
(d) if the Seller is ADS Worldwide (or its successor) the provisions of Section 6.3(b)(vii) shall be applicable.
9.4 Buyout Closing. If an option to purchase is exercised in accordance with the other provisions of this Article 9, the closing of such purchase (the Buyout Closing) shall occur at the offices of Arthur Andersen & Co., LLP in Dallas, Texas, on the thirtieth (30th) Day after the determination of the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 9.3 (or, if later, the fifth (5th) Business Day after the receipt of all applicable regulatory and governmental approvals to the purchase, if any), unless the parties to such closing agree upon a different place or date. At the Buyout Closing, (a) the Seller shall execute and deliver to the Buyer and, if applicable, the Buyers assignee (i) an assignment of the Sellers Shares, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Buyer, and (ii) any other instruments reasonably requested by the Buyer to give effect to the purchase, including the share certificates duly endorsed; and (b) the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller the Purchase Price in immediately available funds, subject to the offset referred to in Section 6.3(b)(vii) if the Seller is ADS Worldwide (or its successor).
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ARTICLE 10
ARBITRATION
10.1 Submission of Disputes to Arbitration.
(a) Any dispute, deadlock, controversy or claim arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement or the Companys Bylaws, including any question regarding the existence, validity or termination, or a breach of this Agreement (hereafter, each such dispute, deadlock or controversy or claim a D ispute ) shall be submitted to a senior management representative of ADS Worldwide and a senior management representative of Altima to attempt to reach an amicable resolution. With respect to a particular Dispute, each Person that is a party to such Dispute is referred to herein as a Disputing Party . A Disputing Party shall give written notice to the other parties hereto of the existence of such Dispute and of the Disputing Partys desire to have such senior management representatives meet to resolve the Dispute (the Representatives Meeting). Such notice shall set forth (in English and Spanish) a brief description of the nature of the Dispute to be considered. The parties hereby agree to schedule the Representatives Meeting within thirty (30) Days after the date of the request. The Representatives Meeting shall be held in Dallas, Texas U.S.A., or any other location that the parties may agree upon. Each party may be accompanied to the Representatives Meeting by one other individual and also by a translator (who may also be an advisor or representative). No later than five (5) Business Days before the date scheduled for the Representatives Meeting, each party shall submit to the other a statement (in English and Spanish) of such partys position, together with an acceptable proposed resolution.
(b) If the parties fail to hold the Representatives Meeting within thirty (30) Days of the date of the request for such meeting, or a Dispute is not resolved within fifteen (15) Days following such meeting, then the Dispute shall be finally settled (without appeal or review) by international arbitration under and in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association ( AAA ) in effect on the date of this Agreement (the Rules ). A party wishing to submit a dispute to arbitration shall give written notice to such effect to the other parties hereto and to the AAA within twenty (20) Days of the date on which the Representative Meeting was held (or if no meeting was held, within thirty-five (35) Days of the date of the request for a Representative Meeting). Any party who fails to commence an arbitration within the foregoing periods shall be deemed to have waived any of its affirmative rights and claims in connection with the Dispute and shall be barred from asserting such rights and claims in connection with the Dispute and shall be barred from asserting such rights and claims at any time thereafter. The parties intend for speedy dispute resolution. The parties shall have thirty (30) Days from another partys notice of such a request for arbitration to designate the arbitrators for the dispute.
10.2 Conduct of Arbitration .
(a) The arbitration shall be conducted at the offices of Arthur Andersen & Co., LLP in Dallas, Texas, or at any other place the Parties may agree upon in writing. Each of the parties shall designate one arbitrator, and the two designated arbitrators shall in turn choose a third arbitrator, who shall also be the chairman of the panel. The AAA shall confirm the appointment of the third arbitrator. If one of the parties appoints an arbitrator but the other party fails to nominate its
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arbitrator within the thirty (30) day period specified above, then the appointment of the second arbitrator shall be made by the AAA upon the request of the other party; and if the appointed arbitrators shall fail to appoint the third arbitrator within thirty (30) days after the date of appointment of the most recently appointed arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA upon the request of either party. In connection with any such arbitration, the arbitrators shall construe this Agreement in a manner consistent with the choice of law provisions set forth in Section 13.11. The arbitrators shall endeavor to notify any Disputing Party not present of any adjournment to other dates or places; however, the proceedings may continue in the absence of any Disputing Party that has received notice of the date, the time, and the place of the initial session of the hearing. All hearings shall be conducted in English, unless the parties agree to use a different language, but at all times the Parties agree to provide simultaneous translation to the Parties language of origin.
(b) The parties to the arbitration agree to pay on an equal share basis the fees and expenses of the arbitration proceeding, including the arbitrators and AAA.
(c) The arbitrators shall be bilingual, having good command of both Spanish and English. The arbitration shall be conducted under and in accordance with the Rules, which Rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference to this Section . To the extent any inconsistency between this Section and the Rules exists, the provisions of this Section shall govern. The arbitrators shall have the authority to grant prejudgment injunctive or interim relief. Direct testimony may be submitted by sworn affidavit, written question and answer or oral testimony. Reasonable discovery shall be permitted. The decision of the arbitrators shall be rendered as expeditiously as possible from the appointment of the last arbitrator. Any award shall be in writing in the English language (and shall be accompanied by a Spanish translation for information purposes) and shall state the reasons and contain reference to the legal grounds upon which it is based. The award may be made public only with the written consent of all parties to the arbitration, provided, however that any ruling or award, final or otherwise, may be cited in any subsequent dispute. The arbitrators shall neither have nor exercise any power to act as amicable compositeur or decide ex aequo et bono ; or to award special, exemplary, indirect, consequential or punitive damages.
(d) The decisions of the arbitrators are final and binding on all Disputing Parties and are not subject to appeal. The decisions of the arbitrators may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction, and the Disputing Parties authorize any such court to enter judgment on the arbitrators decisions.
(e) Pending the outcome of any arbitration conducted pursuant to this Article 10 the Shareholders shall be obligated to continue to perform their respective obligations hereunder.
(f) Each of the Disputing Parties hereby undertakes to carry out without delay the provisions of any arbitration award or decision.
10.3 Exclusivity. Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, each party agrees that arbitration under this Article 10 is the exclusive method for resolving any Dispute and that it will not commence an action or proceeding based on a Dispute, except to enforce arbitrators decisions as provided in this Article 10 or to compel the other Shareholders to participate in arbitration under this Article 10.
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ARTICLE 11
DISSOLUTION, WINDING UP, AND TERMINATION
11.1 Dissolution .
(a) Subject to Section 11.1(b) the Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each a Dissolution Event ):
(i) | the unanimous consent of the Shareholders; |
(ii) | a Shareholder becomes a Bankrupt Shareholder or the dissolution of any Shareholder; or |
(iii) | the decision of a Shareholder to cause a liquidation pursuant to the provisions of Sections 6.3(b)(vi) or 9.2. |
(iv) | As set forth in the Bylaws. |
11.2 Winding Up and Termination. On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, unless a Continuation Election is made in the case of Dissolution Events of the type described in Section 11.1(a)(ii), the Shareholders (excluding the vote of the Shareholder who has suffered a Dissolution Event) shall select one or more representative to act as liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided in this Agreement, the Escritura Constitutiva , the Bylaws, and the Mexican Corporations Law and the Mexican Tax Laws. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Shareholders. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:
(a) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by one of the top five leading firms of certified public accountants of the Companys assets, liabilities, and operations through the last calendar day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding up is completed, as applicable;
(b) subject to the provisions of 6.3(b)(vii), the liquidation shall cause the Company to immediately cease using all ADS Intellectual Property, sell to ADS Worldwide (or its successor) and ADS Worldwide (or its successor) shall purchase from the Company all pipe containing any marks constituting ADS Intellectual Property at a cash price equal to the Companys cost (less book depreciation), to be offset against any amount payable to ADS Worldwide (or its successor) under Section 11.2(d), and to change the name of the Company to eliminate any direct or indirect reference to ADS or Advanced Drainage Systems.
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(c) the liquidator shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in winding up and any Shareholder loans or any other debt described in Section 4.2) or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and
(d) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Shareholders Pro Rata.
ARTICLE 12
BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
12.1 Maintenance of Books. The Company shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company complete and accurate books and records of the Company, supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of the Companys business and minutes of the proceedings of its Shareholders and Board of Directors. The records shall include, but not be limited to, complete and accurate information regarding the state of the business and financial condition of the Company; a copy of this Agreement and all amendments thereto; a current list of the names and last known business, residence, or mailing addresses of all Shareholders; and the Companys tax returns as required by any applicable law.
ARTICLE 13
GENERAL PROVISIONS
13.1 Representations and Warranties of ADS/P, ADS/I, ADS Worldwide. ADS Worldwide and ADS/P and ADS/I hereby jointly and severally represents and warrants to the Company, Altima and the Altima Shareholders as follows:
13.1.1 ADS Worldwide Corporate Existence and Power . ADS Worldwide is a United States of America corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the Company Agreements and to perform all of its obligations thereunder, and no consent or approval of any other person or governmental authority is required therefor. The execution, delivery and performance of the Company Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action of ADS Worldwide. The Company Agreements are valid and binding obligations of ADS Worldwide, and are enforceable against it in accordance with their terms and conditions, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
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13.1.2 Non-contravention . The execution and delivery of the Company Agreements and the consummation by ADS Worldwide of the transactions contemplated thereby do not, and with the giving of notice or lapse of time will not, violate, constitute a default under or cause the termination of (i) the certificate of corporation or bylaws of ADS Worldwide, (ii) any agreement, mortgage, license, permit or other instrument or obligation to which ADS Worldwide is bound or (iii) any statute or law or any judgment, decree, order, regulation or rule of any court or governmental authority.
13.1.3 No Contract to Transfer Shares . ADS Worldwide is not a party to any contract or agreement whereby any of the Shares to be acquired by ADS Worldwide are to be Transferred and ADS Worldwide does not have any present intention to Transfer any Shares.
13.1.4 No Exclusive or Preferential Rights . Except for the Distributor Agreement, ADS-I and ADS Centroamerica, Ltda de C.V. are not parties to any contract or agreement granting to any person any exclusive or preferential rights with regard to the sale and distribution within the Territory of any products manufactured, sold or distributed by ADS Worldwide or any of its Affiliates. Except for the Sublicense Agreement, ADS Worldwide and ADS Centroamerica, Ltda de C.V., are not parties to any contract or agreement granting to any person any exclusive or preferential rights with regard to the use of the AES Intellectual Property within the Territory.
13.2 Representations and Warranties of Altima and the Altima Shareholders. Altima and the Altima Shareholders hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to ADS Worldwide as follows:
13.2.1 Altima Escritura Constitutiva; Power . Altima is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Mexico. Altima has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all of its obligations hereunder, and no consent or approval of any other person or governmental authority is required therefor. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action of Altima. This Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of Altima and is enforceable against Altima in accordance with its terms and conditions, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
13.2.2 Non-contravention . The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by Altima of the transactions contemplated hereby do not, and with the giving of notice or lapse of time will not, violate, constitute a default under or cause the termination of (i) the Escritura Constitutiva or the bylaws of Altima, (ii) any agreement, mortgage, license, permit or other instrument or obligation to which Altima, is bound or (iii) any statute or law or any judgment, decree, order, regulation or rule of any court or governmental authority.
13.3 Representations and Warranties of the Company, Altima and the Altima Shareholders. . Altima, the Altima Shareholders and the Company, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to ADS Worldwide as follows:
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13.3.1 Company Corporate Existence and Power; No Subsidiaries . The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Mexico and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the Company Agreements and to perform all of its obligations thereunder, and no consent or approval of any other person or governmental authority is required thereunder. Except as disclosed in Schedule 13.3.1 , the Company has all corporate powers and has or is in the process of procuring all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on the Business. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in Mexico where the character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary. The Company has heretofore delivered to ADS Worldwide true and complete copies of the Escritura Constitutiva and bylaws of the Company and made available for ADS Worldwides inspection the Companys minute books, which minute books contain a true and complete record of all meetings, and consents in lieu of a meeting, of the Companys board of directors and of the Companys shareholders held or executed since the Companys incorporation, and such records accurately reflect all transactions referred to therein. The Company does not have any Subsidiaries or any equity interests in any other Entity.
13.3.2 Non-Contravention The execution and delivery of the Company Agreements and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby will not, and with the giving of notice or lapse of time will not, violate, constitute a default under or cause the termination of (i) the certificate of corporation or bylaws of the Company, (ii) any agreement, mortgage, license, permit or other instrument or obligation to which the Company is bound or (iii) any statute or law or any judgment, decree, order, regulation or rule of any court or governmental authority.
13.3.3 Capitalization . On the Closing Date the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of fixed capital of $1,000,000.00 Mexican Pesos, currency of the legal tender in Mexico, represented by 1,000 Series A common shares and the variable capital in the amount of $43,500,000 Mexican Pesos, currency of legal tender in Mexico, represented by 43,500 Series B common shares. The Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and there are no outstanding rights, subscriptions, warrants, calls, options or other agreements or commitments of any kind or character to purchase or otherwise acquire from the Company any of its unissued shares of capital stock or any other securities of the Company.
13.3.4 Financial Statements . The Company has delivered to ADS Worldwide the unaudited annual balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 1999, and the related statements of income, shareholders equity and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended (the Company Financial Statements ). Such financial statements, with accompanying footnotes (if any), fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods referred to and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principals in Mexico consistently applied by the Company throughout the periods involved.
The books and records of the Company are in all material respects complete and correct, have been maintained in accordance with good business practices, and accurately reflect the basis for the financial condition of the Company as set forth in the aforementioned Company Financial Statements.
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13.3.5 Absence of Certain Changes . Except as set forth in the Schedule 13.3.5 , since December 31, 1999, the Company has conducted its business in the ordinary course and there has not been any event or any change in the business or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company that has had or may have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect; any creation, assumption or incurrence by the Company of any lien on any material asset, other than in the ordinary course of business; any assumption, guarantee, endorsement or other action by the Company to become liable for the obligations of any Person except endorsements of negotiable instruments and chattel paper subject to recourse in the ordinary course of business; any making of any loan, advance or capital contribution to or investment in any Person, any issue or sale of Shares, or redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of shares of capital stock or other equity interests in or other securities of the Company, or any dividend or other distribution with respect thereto; any damage, destruction or other casualty loss (whether or not covered by insurance) affecting the business or assets of the Company which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or may have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect; any transaction or commitment made, or any contract or agreement entered into, by the Company relating to its assets or business (including the acquisition or disposition of any substantial assets) or any relinquishment by the Company of any contract or other right, in either case, material to the Company, other than transactions and commitments in the ordinary course of business or contemplated by this Agreement; any grant of any severance or termination pay to any officer, consultant or employee of the Company, any entering into of any employment or consulting agreement with any officer, consultant or employee of the Company or any increase in compensation or benefits payable under any existing severance or termination pay policies or employment agreements other than grants, agreements, merit increases or cost-of-living increases in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; any tax election made by the Company or any settlement or compromise of any material tax liability of the Company; any payment, discharge or satisfaction of any claim, liability or obligation (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise) of or against the Company, other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, of liabilities reflected or reserved against in the Company Financial Statements or subsequently incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; or any action taken with respect to the Companys accounting policies, other than reasonable and usual actions in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice.
13.3.6 Properties; Assets; Liens .
(a) Schedule 13.3.6 contains a list of all personal property (or groups of personal property), machinery and equipment (or groups of machinery and equipment) of the Company as of December 31, 1999; all inventory of the Company as of December 31, 1999; and all real property owned or leased by the Company (together with a legal description thereof).
(b) The Company has, or prior to the Closing will have, good title to, or valid and subsisting leasehold interests in, all properties and assets listed in Schedule 13.3.6 . None of such properties or assets is subject to any liens except liens disclosed in Schedule 13.3.6 .
(c) There is no violation of any law regulation or ordinance relating to the properties and assets of the Company.
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(d) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and Altima, , after due inquiry, threatened, condemnation proceedings, lawsuits, or administrative actions relating to the property or other matters affecting materially and adversely the current use, occupancy, or value thereof.
(e) The buildings, machinery, equipment, and other tangible assets that the Company owns and leases and which are used in the Business as presently conducted are free from material defects, have been consistently maintained in accordance with normal industry practice and are in good operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear) and the Company has not deferred any maintenance of the foregoing items or the accrual of any expenses associated with such maintenance.
(f) Schedule 13.3.6 sets forth the address of the principal executive office of the Company and the location of all property owned or leased by the Company.
13.3.7 No Undisclosed Material Liabilities . There are no liabilities of the Company of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute or conditional, and whether or not the amount thereof is determinable, that are in the aggregate material to the Company, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances which could reasonably be expected to result in such a liability, other than liabilities disclosed or provided for in the Company Financial Statements; liabilities listed in Schedule 13.3.7 .
13.3.8 Litigation . Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.8 , there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to knowledge of the Company, Altima, and the Altima Shareholders, after due inquiry, threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of the Companys properties before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official and there is no unsatisfied judgment, order, stipulation, injunction, decree or award to which the Company or any of its properties is subject. Except as set forth on Schedule 13.3.8 , the Company has not received notice or information of any claim or allegation of personal death or material personal injury, property or economic damage, any claim for punitive or exemplary damages, any material claim for contribution or indemnification, or any claim for injunctive relief in connection with any product sold or distributed or any service provided by it.
13.3.9 Business Activities . There is no agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Company which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting any business practice of the Company, any acquisition of property by the Company or the conduct of the Business by the Company either before or after the date hereof.
13.3.10 Tax Matters . The Company has timely filed all tax returns, estimates and reports (collectively, Returns ) required to be filed by it through the date hereof, copies of which have been made available to ADS Worldwide for its inspection and review, which Returns are true, correct, and complete and accurately reflect the taxes due for the periods indicated; and the Company has timely paid in full all taxes of any kind whatsoever (collectively, Taxes ) shown to be due by such Returns. The liabilities, if any, for Taxes accrued for operations of the Company since January 1, 2000 through the date hereof are reflected on the Company Financial Statements. There is no unassessed deficiency for Taxes proposed or, to the best knowledge of the Company, Altima, or the Altima
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Shareholders, threatened against the Company, and no taxing authority has raised any issue with respect to the Company, nor has any taxing authority claimed that the Company should file a tax return in a jurisdiction in which it does not currently file a tax return. There are not in force any extensions with respect to the dates on which any Return was or is due to be filed by the Company or any waivers or agreements by the Company for the extension of time for the assessment or payment of any Taxes. The Company has not been, and currently is not being, audited by any tax authority.
13.3.11 Employee Benefits . For purposes of this section and 13.3.18 related to labor matters, the benefits and labor and employment terms and conditions of Altimas employees shall be assigned in the same manner to the Service Company to be incorporated as described in the Recitals of this Agreement
13.3.12 Contracts . Schedule 13.3.12 lists each of the contracts and agreements to which the Company is a party (collectively, the Contracts ). Except as disclosed in Schedule 13.3.12 , each Contract: (i) is valid and binding on the Company and (ii) is in full force and effect. The Company is not in breach of, or default under, any Contract. To the knowledge of the Company, Altima, and the Altima Shareholders, no other party to any Contract is in breach thereof or default thereunder.
13.3.13 Licenses . No license, franchise, permit or other similar authorization held by the Company will be terminated or impaired as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
13.3.14 Insurance . Schedule 13.3.14 lists all insurance policies and fidelity bonds covering the assets, business, equipment, properties, operations, employees, officers and directors of the Company (including workers compensation policies). There is no claim by the Company pending under any of such policies or bonds as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or bonds. All premiums payable under all such policies and bonds are current and the Company is otherwise in compliance in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all such policies and bonds. Such policies of insurance and bonds (or other policies and bonds providing substantially similar insurance coverage) are in full force and effect Policies of insurance and bonds are of the type and in amounts customarily carried by persons conducting businesses similar to those of the Company. The Company and Altima do not know of any threatened termination of or premium increase with respect to any of such policies or bonds.
13.3.15 Compliance with Laws . Except for violations, which do not have and will not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect, the Company is not in violation of any applicable provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations.
13.3.16 Patents, Trademarks, etc.
(a) Schedule 13.3.16 lists all Intellectual Property which is owned and is used or held for use by the Company (the Intellectual Property Rights ) specifying as to each as applicable: (i) the nature of such Intellectual Property Right; (ii) the owner of such Intellectual Property Right; (iii) the jurisdictions by or in which such Intellectual Property Right has been issued or registered or in
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which an application for such issuance or registration has been filed, including the respective registration or application numbers; and (iv) material licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which the Company or any of its Affiliates is a party and pursuant to which any Person is authorized to use such Intellectual Property Right including the identity of all parties thereto, a description of the nature and subject matter thereof, the royalty provided and the term thereof. Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.16 , the Company is the sole and exclusive owner of with all right, title and interest in and to, free and clear of any lien, the Intellectual Property Rights described therein and has sole and exclusive right (without being contractually obligated to pay in the future compensation to any third party in respect thereof) to the use thereof or the material covered thereby in connection with the services or products in respect of which they are being used. The Intellectual Property Rights constitute all of the Intellectual Property used by the Company in the conduct of the Business and there are no other items of Intellectual Property that are material to the Company or the Business.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.16 , the Company has no writings for which a claim for copyright has been recorded or is pending.
(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.16 , the Company (i) has not been sued or charged in writing with or been a defendant in any claim, suit, action or proceeding relating to the Company not finally terminated prior to the date hereof involving a claim of infringement of any patents, trademarks, service marks or copyrights, (ii) has no knowledge of any such charge or claim, or (iii) has no knowledge of any infringement since such date by any other person on any of the Intellectual Property Rights. No Intellectual Property Right is subject to any outstanding order, judgment, decree, stipulation or agreement restricting the use thereof by the Company or restricting the licensing thereof by the Company to any Person. The Company has not entered into any agreement to indemnify any other person against any charge of infringement of any patent, trademark, service mark or copyright.
(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not contravene or constitute a default under, require the consent of any person pursuant to or otherwise result in the termination or impairment of (or permit any Person to terminate or otherwise impair) any Intellectual Property Right.
13.3.17 Environmental Matters .
(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.17 , the Company is in the process of compliance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws, standards and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances hazardous substances, or conditions, petroleum and petroleum products ( Materials of Environmental Concern ), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (collectively, Environmental Laws ), which compliance includes, but is not limited to, the possession- by the Company of all permits and other governmental authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws, and compliance with the terms and conditions thereof. Except as set forth in
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Schedule 13.3.17 , the Company has not received any communication (written or oral), whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company is not in such full compliance, and, to the Company and Altimas knowledge after due inquiry, there are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with such full compliance in the future. All permits and other governmental authorizations currently held by the Company pursuant to the Environmental Laws are identified in Schedule 13.3.17 .
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.17 , there is no claim, action, cause of action, investigation or notice (written or oral) by any person or entity alleging potential liability (including, without limitation, potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, natural resource damages, property damages, personal injuries, or penalties) arising out of, based on or resulting from (a) the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location, whether or not owned or operated by the Company or (b) circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law (collectively, Environmental Claims ), pending or threatened against the Company or, to Company or Altimas knowledge after due inquiry, against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.
(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.17 , there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that could form the basis of any Environmental Claim against the Company or, to Company or Altimas knowledge after due inquiry, against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.
13.3.18 Employment and Labor Matters .
(a) Schedule 13.3.18(a) sets forth the names, current annual rates of salary, bonus, profit-sharing, incentive compensation, employee benefits, accrued vacation time and sick pay, and other compensation of all present officers, directors, employees, agents and independent contractors of the Company and Altima. Schedule 13.3.18(a) also sets forth all loans and advances (other than routine travel advances to be repaid or formally accounted for within thirty (30) days and reflected on the books of the Company) made by the Company since December 31, 1999.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.18(b), the Company and Altima is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement and there is no election or proceeding pending to recognize a union for any employees of the Company, in each case as of the date hereof. There are no unfair labor practice or other administrative or court proceedings pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, between the Company and its employees and there has not occurred within any material work stoppage or strike or any significant labor troubles at any facility of the Company.
(c) The Company has paid in full to all its employees or adequately accrued for, in accordance with GAAP, all wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, benefits and other compensation due to or on behalf of such employees and no present or former employee of the Company has a pending claim against the Company (whether under federal or state law) under any employment
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agreement, or otherwise, on account of or for (i) overtime pay, other than overtime pay for the current payroll period, (ii) wages or salary for any period other than the current payroll period, (iii) vacation or time off (or pay in lieu thereof), other than that earned in respect of the previous twelve months, or (iv) any violation of any statute, ordinance or regulation relating to minimum wages or maximum hours of work.
13.3.19 Banking Information . Schedule 13.3.19 contains a list of all bank accounts and credit facilities and authorized signatories on bank accounts and credit facilities of the Company. No other persons other than as listed on the Schedule 13.3.19 are authorized to withdraw any funds on the bank account or to draw down on such credit facilities.
13.3.20 Outstanding Commitments . The Company is not bound by any commitments for the performance of services or delivery of products in excess of its ability to provide such services or deliver such products during the time available to satisfy such commitments. All outstanding commitments for the performance of services or delivery of products were made on a basis calculated to produce a profit under the circumstances prevailing when such commitments were made.
13.3.21 Disclosure . The Company has disclosed to ADS Worldwide any and all facts which could have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect. No representation or warranty by Company or Altima in Section 13.3.1 through Section 13.3.23 of this Agreement or any Schedule or Exhibit hereto or other document previously disclosed to ADS Worldwide, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
13.3.22 Certain Interests . Except as set forth in Schedule 13.3.22 , neither Altima nor any of Altimas Shareholders or Affiliates (other than the Company) (i) is a party to or has an interest in any material contracts or other arrangements relating to the business of the Company to which the Company is a party or to which the Company or any assets used by the Company may be subject or (ii) has any interest in any material property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, including Intellectual Property Rights used in or pertaining to the Company. Schedule 13.3.22 sets forth a list or description of each material arrangement through which the Company acquires from, or provides to, Altimas relatives or Affiliates any goods, properties or services.
13.3.23 Finders Fees . Neither the Company nor Altima nor the Altima Shareholders have employed any investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary who might be entitled to any fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
13.3.24 The representations and warranties of the Parties shall survive for eighteen months following the Closing Date (the Survival Period). Furthermore, the expiration of the Survival Period shall not affect any claims for indemnification made by any Party under Section 13.14 of this Agreement prior to expiration of the Survival Period, but only precludes any Party from making a claim for indemnification under Section 13.14 of this Agreement based on the breach of a Representation and Warranty after expiration of the Survival Period.
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13.4 Covenants of ADS Worldwide, Altima and the Company Respecting Ethical Business Practices . ADS Worldwide, Altima, the Altima Shareholders and the Company each declares and affirms that they have not paid nor have they undertaken to pay and that they shall in the future not pay any bribe, pay-off, kick-backs, or unlawful commission, and that they have not in any other way or manner paid any sums, whether in Mexican currency or foreign currency and whether in Mexico or abroad, or in any other manner given or offered to give, any gifts, presents, or anything of value whether in Mexico or abroad, to any person or entity to procure this Agreement, or to accomplish the Companys business, and ADS Worldwide, Altima, the Altima Shareholders and the Company undertake not to engage in any of the said or similar acts during the term of and relative to this Agreement. In no event shall ADS Worldwide, Altima, the Altima Shareholders or the Company be obligated under this Agreement to take any action or omit to take any action that the ADS Worldwide, Altima, the Altima Shareholders or the Company, as the case may be, believes, in good faith, would cause it, or its participants, directors, officers, employees, agents, or representatives, to be in violation of any applicable laws or regulations including, without limitation, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as amended, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit H .
13.5 Offset. Whenever the Company is to pay any sum to any Shareholder, any amounts that Shareholder or any of its Affiliates owes the Company which are then due and payable may be deducted from that sum before payment.
13.6 Notices. Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all notices, requests or consents provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing in the English language (accompanied by a Spanish translation thereof) and must be delivered to the recipient in person, by courier or mail or by facsimile, telegram, telex, cablegram or similar transmission; and a notice, request or consent given under this Agreement is effective (a) upon receipt if sent by personal delivery, mail, courier, telegram or cablegram or (b) upon the senders receipt of electronic confirmation of transmission, if sent by telex or facsimile during regular business hours on a Business Day or (if not sent during regular business hours or on a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day). All notices, requests and consents to be sent to a Shareholder must be sent to or made at the addresses given for that Shareholder on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as that Shareholder may specify by notice to the other Shareholder. Any notice, request or consent to the Company must be given to all of the Shareholders. Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
13.7 Entire Agreement; Supersedure. This Agreement, including the Exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the formation and organization of the Company and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements among such Persons with respect to such matters, whether oral or written, by and between the Parties.
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13.8 Effect of Waiver or Consent. A waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person with respect to the Company. Failure on the part of a Person to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Person of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.
13.9 Amendment or Restatement. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument adopted, executed and agreed to by the Parties.
13.10 Binding Effect; No Third-Party Beneficiaries; Remedies Not Exclusive. Subject to the restrictions on Dispositions set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement is binding on and inures to the benefit of the Parties and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns and to the extent of the limited purposes stated in this Agreement, the other signatories to this Agreement and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and to the extent of the limited purposes stated in this Agreement, the other signatories to this Agreement and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns, and this Agreement shall not otherwise be deemed to confer upon or give to any other third party any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, cause of action or other right. Except as otherwise expressly stated in this Agreement, the rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party hereto shall not preclude or constitute a waiver of its right to use any or all other remedies. Such rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights and remedies a party may have by law, statute or otherwise.
13.11 Governing Law; Severability. This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the law of Mexico, excluding any conflict-of-laws rule or principle that might refer the governance or the construction of this Agreement to the law of another jurisdiction. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude any Party from bringing enforcement proceedings in any jurisdiction in order to enforce any judgment obtained in any other proceeding or to compel arbitration or enforce an order or judgment of the arbitrator, nor shall the bringing of such enforcement proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the bringing of enforcement proceedings in any other jurisdiction.
13.12 Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions.
13.13. Language. This Agreement has been drafted and executed in English. A Spanish translation for information purposes will be provided, but the English version shall prevail over any version.
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13.14 Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each Party shall indemnify the Company and each other Party and hold them harmless from and against all losses, costs, liabilities, damages, and expenses (including costs of suit and attorneys fees) they may incur on account of any breach by the indemnifying Party of any of its representations, warranties or obligations under this Agreement.
13.15 Directly or Indirectly; Without Limitation. Where any provision in this Agreement refers to action to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person, including actions taken by or on behalf of any Affiliate of such Person. Throughout this Agreement, the term including and words to the same or similar effect shall be interpreted and construed to mean including without limitation .
13.16 References. All references herein to one gender shall include the others and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa as appropriate. All references to an entity shall be deemed to include its successors and assigns, to the extent succession or assignment is not restricted by this Agreement. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references to Articles or Sections are to Articles or Sections of this Agreement.
13.17 Survival. The representations, obligations and warranties of the Parties, including the obligations contained in Section 3.4, contained in this Agreement, shall survive the dissolution of the Company, subject to the applicable statutes of limitations thereon.
13.18 Pre-Closing Covenants. Each of the Parties will use his or its reasonable best efforts to take all action and to do all things necessary, proper, or advisable in order to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set forth in Section 13.19 below). Furthermore, Altima and the Altima Shareholders will not cause or permit the Company to engage in any practice, take any action, or enter into any transaction outside the ordinary course of business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, Altima and the Altima Shareholders will not cause or permit the Company to declare, set aside, or pay any dividend or make any distribution with respect to its capital stock.
13.19 Closing Conditions . The obligations of certain of the Parties shall be contingent on the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth below.
13.19.1 Conditions to Obligations of ADS Worldwide . The obligation of ADS Worldwide to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 13.2 and 13.3 above shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date;
(ii) Altima, the Company and the Altima Shareholders shall have performed and complied with all of their respective covenants hereunder to be performed prior to the Closing in all material respects through the Closing;
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(iii) no action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction (whether the United States of America, Mexico or otherwise), or before any arbitrator wherein an unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (A) prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following consummation, (C) affect adversely the rights of ADS Worldwide or the Company hereunder, or (D) affect adversely the right of the Company to own its assets and to operate its businesses (and no such injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge shall be in effect);
(iv) Altima and the Company shall have delivered to ADS Worldwide a certificate to the effect that each of the conditions specified above in Section 13.19.1(i)-(iii) is satisfied in all respects;
(v) the relevant parties shall have entered into the agreements in form and substance as set forth in Exhibits A-1, A-2, C and D attached hereto and the same shall be in full force and effect;
(vi) ADS Worldwide shall have received from counsel to Altima and the Company an opinion in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit E(I) attached hereto, addressed to ADS Worldwide, and dated as of the Closing Date;
(vii) ADS Worldwide shall have received the resignations, effective as of the Closing, of each director and the authority of any and all officers of the Company shall have been revoked as of the Closing, other than those persons who ADS Worldwide has agreed shall remain directors and/or officers after the Closing;
(viii) ADS shall have received to the full satisfaction of ADS Worldwide (a) Certified copy of the Public deed formalizing the capital increase of the Company to $44,500,000 Mexican Pesos, (b) Certified copy of the Public deed formalizing the Amended Bylaws including change of name to ADS Mexicana, (c) Certified copy of the Public deed formalizing the formation of the service company ADS Corporativo, (d) Copy certified by the Secretary of the Company, of the minutes of the Ordinary Shareholders Meeting approving the resolutions whereby the Capital is Increased in $22,000,000.00 Mexican Pesos providing for subscription and payment thereof in accordance with this Agreement, (e) An executed counterpart of Newco Services Agreement, (f) agreed forms of the Sublicense and Distribution Agreements that are to be attached to this Agreement not later than July 25 th , 2000, including Legal Opinions and all other pending Schedules and Exhibits, (g) All parties hereto shall have signed the Participation Agreement, (h) Entries on Stock Registry Book (for the transfers from individuals to Altima and later to ADSW) showing the current capital structure, (i) Entries on Capital variations book (reflecting increases) (j) Share certificates representing new share certificates representing 1,000 Series A shares, 18,000 Series B shares, (k) a Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement whereby Altima sells and ADS Worldwide buys 11,250 Series B shares, with the certificates duly endorsed in the name of ADS Worldwide; and
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(ix) all actions to be taken by all signatories to this Agreement, other than ADS Worldwide, ADS/P and ADS/I, in connection with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and all certificates, opinions, instruments, and other documents required to effect the transactions contemplated hereby will be satisfactory in form and substance to ADS Worldwide.
ADS Worldwide may waive any condition specified in this Section 13.19.1 if it executes a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
13.19.2 Conditions to Obligation of Altima . The obligation of Altima to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 13.1.1 above shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date;
(ii) ADS Worldwide shall have performed and complied with all of its covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing;
(iii) no action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction (whether the United States of America, Mexico or otherwise), or before any arbitrator wherein an unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (A) prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following consummation, or (C) affect adversely the rights of Altima hereunder (and no such injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge shall be in effect);
(iv) ADS Worldwide shall have delivered to the Sellers a certificate to the effect that each of the conditions specified above in Section 13.19.2(i)-(iii) is satisfied in all respects;
(vi) the relevant parties shall have entered into the agreements in form and substance as set forth in Exhibits A-1, A-2, C and D attached hereto and the same shall be in full force and effect; and
(vii) Altima shall have received from counsel to the Buyer an opinion in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit E(1) attached hereto, addressed to Altima, and dated as of the Closing Date.
(viii) Altima shall have received the forms of Confidentiality Agreements that ADS Worldwide would have approved for use by the Company within its organization and third parties.
(ix) Copies of Trademarks and patents certificates, if applicable, subject of the Sublicense Agreement.
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Altima may waive any condition specified in this Section 13.19.2 if it executes a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Shareholders have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | Grupo Anima S.A. de C.V. | |||||
By: |
/s/ J.A. Chlapaty, President (Name) (Office) |
By: |
/s/ Pablo Villarreal (Name) Pablo Villarreal (Office) President |
|||
Altima Shareholders The undersigned have joined this Agreement for the limited purposes stated in the Agreement |
Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V. |
|||||
/s/ Juan Raigosa Valadez | By: | /s/ Pablo Villarreal | ||||
Juan Raigosa Valadez | (Name) Pablo Villarreal (Office) President | |||||
/s/ Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo | ||||||
Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo | ||||||
Inmuebles Industriales de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Pablo Villarreal | |||||
(Name) Pablo Villarreal (Office) President | ||||||
Polidrain Mexican, S.A. de C.V. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Adolfo Golan Romo | |||||
(Name) (Office) |
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Individual Shareholders
The undersigned has joined this Agreement for the limited purposes stated in the Agreement.
/s/ Pablo Villarreal Guajardo |
Pablo Villarreal Guajardo |
ADS
The undersigned has joined this Agreement for
the limited purposes stated in the Agreement.
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
By: |
/s/ J.A. Chlapaty President |
|||
(Name) (Office) |
ADS-I
The undersigned has joined this Agreement for
the limited purposes stated in the Agreement.
ADS-I, Inc.
By: |
/s/ J.A. Chlapaty, President |
|||
(Name) (Office) |
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FIRST AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this Amendment ) is made and entered into as of April 19, 2010 by and among ADS Worldwide, Inc. ( ADS Worldwide ), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. ( Altima ), a corporation organized under the laws of the United Mexican States ( Mexico ), and ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (the Company ), formerly known as Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Mexico. ADS Worldwide and Altima are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Shareholders . ADS Worldwide, Altima and the Company are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Parties .
RECITALS
WHEREAS , the Parties entered into that certain Participation Agreement dated as of July 17, 2000 (the Participation Agreement ); and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend the Participation Agreement as set forth herein to, among other things, (a) permit the Company to own membership interests in, and serve as the managing member of, ADS Latina, LLC ( ADS Latina ), a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, and (b) expand the Companys territory to include all of Mexico and all of Central America.
AGREEMENT
NOW , THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Participation Agreement.
2. Meaning of Agreement . The term Agreement, as used in the Participation Agreement, shall, unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, mean the Participation Agreement and this Amendment, together, it being the intent of the Parties that the Participation Agreement and this Amendment be applied and construed as a single instrument.
3. ADS Latina Ratification and Approval . Each of the Shareholders hereby ratifies and approves (a) the filing of the Certificate of Formation of ADS Latina, (b) the execution and delivery by the Company and ADS Worldwide of that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of September 4, 2009 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the ADS Latina LLC Agreement ), and (c) subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the ADS Latina LLC Agreement, the performance by the Company, ADS/P and ADS Worldwide of the transactions contemplated by the ADS Latina LLC Agreement (including the respective obligations of the Company and ADS Worldwide set forth therein and the transactions with ADS/P contemplated by Section 2.1 thereof).
4. Amendments . The Participation Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a) Throughout the Participation Agreement, each occurrence of Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V. is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V..
(b) Article 1 is hereby amended by inserting the following definitions in alphabetical order:
ADS Latina means ADS Latina, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America.
ADS Latina LLC Agreement means that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of September 4, 2009 by and between the Company and ADS Worldwide.
Central America means Belize, the Republic of Costa Rica, the Republic of El Salvador, the Republic of Guatemala, the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Panama.
Durman Distributor Agreement means that certain Distributor Agreement dated as of May 31, 2008 by and between ADS/I and Durman Esquivel S.A.
Shareholders Meeting means a meeting of the Shareholders held in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company and the applicable laws of Mexico.
(c) Article 1 is hereby further amended by amending and restating the definition of Territory to read in its entirety as follows: Territory means Mexico and Central America..
(d) Article 2, Section 2.2 and Article 2, Section 2.8 are hereby amended by deleting the Territory and replacing it in its entirety with Mexico.
(e) Article 2, Section 2.5 is hereby amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of such Section 2.5: Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 2.5 to the contrary, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the ADS Latina LLC Agreement, the Company shall be permitted to own membership interests in, and serve as the managing member of, ADS Latina and to otherwise act pursuant to and in accordance with the ADS Latina LLC Agreement.
(f) Article 6, Section 6.1(d) and Article 10, Section 10.1(a) are hereby amended by deleting Dallas and replacing it in its entirety with San Antonio.
(g) Article 6, Section 6.2(c) and Article 6, Section 6.2(d) are hereby amended by inserting and/or polypropylene immediately following polyethylene.
(h) Article 6, Section 6.2(e) and the last sentence of Article 6, Section 6.2(f) are hereby amended by inserting the following at the end of such Article 6, Section 6.2(e) and such last sentence of Article 6, Section 6.2(f): ; provided, however, that, subject to the terms and
2
conditions set forth in the Durman Distributor Agreement, ADS Worldwide, ADS/P, ADS/I and any of their Affiliates shall be permitted to sell products pursuant to, and to otherwise act pursuant to and in accordance with, the Durman Distributor Agreement in Central America.
(i) Throughout the Participation Agreement, each occurrence of Arthur Andersen & Co., LLP, in Dallas is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, in San Antonio.
5. Durman Distributor Agreement . Each of ADS Worldwide and the Company hereby agrees that it shall exercise reasonable best efforts to work together with the other and with Durman Esquivel S.A. ( Durman ) to effect one of the following outcomes on terms reasonably satisfactory to ADS Worldwide and the Company: (a) the Company and Durman enter into an arrangement that replaces and supersedes in its entirety the distributor arrangement under that certain Distributor Agreement dated as of May 31, 2008 by and between ADS International, Inc. ( ADS/I ) and Durman (the Durman Distributor Agreement ) with a distributor arrangement between the Company and Durman; or (b) ADS/I assigns all of its rights in, to and under the Durman Distributor Agreement to the Company with the Company accepting such assignment and assuming ADS/Is obligations under the Durman Distributor Agreement arising on or after the assignment date. In the event neither of the foregoing outcomes are realized, ADS Worldwide, ADS/P, ADS/I and any of their Affiliates shall be permitted to sell products pursuant to, and to otherwise act pursuant to and in accordance with, the Durman Distributor Agreement in Central America.
ADS Worldwide and ADS/I agree, within the twenty (20) business days following the execution of this Amendment, to notify Durman that it has lost its exclusive distribution rights under the Durman Distributor Agreement, and that Company will commence, either directly or indirectly, to sell, distribute and offer products within Durmans territory prior to the expiration of the original term of the Durman Distributor Agreement.
6. Ratification and Reaffirmation of the Participation Agreement . The Parties hereby ratify and reaffirm all of the other terms and conditions of the Participation Agreement, which, as amended and supplemented by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect.
7. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by means of facsimile), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have adopted, executed and agreed to this Amendment as of the date first set forth above.
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. | |||||||
By: | /s/ Thomas M. Fussner | By: | /s/ Juan Raigosa Valadez | |||||
Name: | Thomas M. Fussner | Name: | Juan Raigosa Valadez | |||||
Title: | Executive Vice President | Title: | Legal Represent |
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Juan Raigosa Valadez | |||||||
Name: | Ing. Juan Raigosa Valadez | |||||||
Title: | General Manager |
The undersigned, being all of the shareholders of Altima, hereby join this Amendment:
/s/ Juan Raigosa Valadez | /s/ Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo | |||||||
Juan Raigosa Valadez | Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo |
Inmuebles Industriales de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V. | Polidrain Mexican, S.A. de C.V. | |||||||
By: | /s/ Pablo Villarreal Guajardo | By: | /s/ Adolfo Galan Romo | |||||
Name: | Pablo Villarreal Guajardo | Name: | Adolfo Galan Romo | |||||
Title: | Legal Represent | Title: | Legal Represent |
4
SECOND AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this Amendment ) is made and entered into as of May , 2011 by and among ADS Worldwide, Inc. ( ADS Worldwide ), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. ( Altima ), a corporation organized under the laws of the United Mexican States ( Mexico ), and ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (the Company ), formerly known as Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Mexico. ADS Worldwide, Altima and the Company are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Parties .
RECITALS
WHEREAS , the Parties entered into that certain Participation Agreement dated as of July 17, 2000 (the 2000 Participation Agreement ), which 2000 Participation Agreement was amended by the First Amendment to Participation Agreement dated as of April 29, 2010 (the First Amendment and together with the 2000 Participation Agreement, the Participation Agreement ); and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend the Participation Agreement as set forth herein to include provisions related to subsidiaries of the Company.
AGREEMENT
NOW , THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Participation Agreement.
2. Meaning of Agreement . The term Agreement, as used in the Participation Agreement, shall, unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, mean the 2000 Participation Agreement, the First Amendment and this Amendment, together, it being the intent of the Parties that the 2000 Participation Agreement, the First Amendment and this Amendment be applied and construed as a single instrument.
3. Subsidiary Definition. The Participation Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following definition in alphabetical order in Article 1 of the Participation Agreement:
Subsidiary means any Entity with respect to which the Company (or any Subsidiary thereof) owns a majority of the equity interests or has the power to vote or direct the voting of sufficient equity interests to elect a majority of the directors, trustees, managers or other equivalent positions.
4. New Article 14. Additionally, the Participation Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following new Article 14 after the end of Article 13 of the Participation Agreement:
ARTICLE 14
SUBSIDIARIES
14.1 Subsidiary Formation. The Company shall have the authority to establish one or more Subsidiaries from time to time, as the Board of Directors in its discretion deems advisable and in the best interests of the Company. The ownership structure and organizational documents of each Subsidiary, and any modifications thereto, shall require approval by the Board of Directors. The Company shall not own minority interests in any Entity unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors.
14.2 Subsidiary Activities. The Company shall cause any and all Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, engage in any conduct (a) in which the Company is not permitted to engage pursuant to this Agreement and/or the Bylaws of the Company and/or (b) the Subsidiary is not permitted to engage pursuant to its organizational documents. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall cause any and all Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, engage in any conduct that if engaged in by the Company would require prior approval by the Shareholders or the Board of Directors, unless such approval is obtained.
14.3 Budget. The Company shall include the budget and business plan information relating to any and all Subsidiaries within the proposed and final Budgets and Business Plans of the Company.
14.4 Disputes. Disputes involving at least one of the Shareholders (or an Affiliate of a Shareholder) and the Company or any Subsidiaries shall be subject to and exclusively resolved in accordance with Article 10.
14.5 Subsidiary Ownership. The Company shall cause no securities or other equity interests of any Subsidiary to be issued, Disposed of or Encumbered without the approval of the Board of Directors, except as provided in the following sentence. If a Shareholder holds (or has an Affiliate that holds) a direct interest in the ownership of any Subsidiary and such Shareholder Disposes of its Company Shares in a Disposition permitted by and made in accordance with this Agreement, then such Shareholder shall (or, as applicable, shall cause its Affiliate to) Dispose of all of its direct interests in the ownership of any and all Subsidiaries in a manner that results in the owner of such Disposed Company Shares also holding all of the direct interests in the ownership of each Subsidiary previously held by such Shareholder and its Affiliates. Any attempted Disposition or Encumbrance of all or any portion of the direct interests in the ownership of any Subsidiary, other than in strict accordance with this Section 14.5, shall be, and is hereby declared, null and void ab initio.
5. Ratification and Reaffirmation of the Participation Agreement . The Parties hereby ratify and reaffirm all of the other terms and conditions of the Participation Agreement, which, as amended and supplemented by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect.
6. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by means of facsimile), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have adopted, executed and agreed to this Amendment as of the date first set forth above.
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. | |||||||
By: | /s/ Mark B. Sturgeon | By: | /s/ Juan Raigusa Valadez | |||||
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | Name: | Juan Raigusa Valadez | |||||
Title: | Secretary | Title: | Legal Representative |
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Juan Raigusa Valadez | |||||||
Name: | Juan Raigusa Valadez | |||||||
Title: | Legal Representative |
The undersigned, being all of the shareholders of Altima, hereby join this Amendment:
/s/ Juan Raigusa Valadez | /s/ Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo | |||||||
Juan Raigosa Valadez | Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo |
Inmuebles Industriales de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V. | Polidrain Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | |||||||
By: | /s/ Pablo Villarreal Guajardo | By: | /s/ Adolfo Golan Romo | |||||
Name: | Pablo Villarreal Guajardo | Name: | Adolfo Golan Romo | |||||
Title: | Legal Representative | Title: | Legal Representative |
3
THIRD AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS THIRD AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this Amendment ) is made and entered into as of May 24, 2011 by and among ADS Worldwide, Inc. ( ADS Worldwide ), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. ( Altima ), a corporation organized under the laws of the United Mexican States ( Mexico ), and ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (the Company ), formerly known as Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Mexico. ADS Worldwide and Altima are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Shareholders . ADS Worldwide, Altima and the Company are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Parties .
RECITALS
WHEREAS , the Parties entered into that certain Participation Agreement dated as of July 17, 2000 (as amended, the Participation Agreement ); and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend the Participation Agreement as set forth herein to, among other things, change the composition of the board of directors of the Company (the Board of Directors ).
AGREEMENT
NOW , THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Participation Agreement.
2. Meaning of Agreement . The term Agreement, as used in the Participation Agreement, shall, unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, mean the Participation Agreement and this Amendment, together, it being the intent of the Parties that the Participation Agreement and this Amendment be applied and construed as a single instrument.
3. Amendments . The Participation Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a) Article 6, Section 6.1(d) is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
(d) Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of an even number of persons, not less than four (4) and not more than ten (10), the actual number to be as agreed by the Shareholders. In the absence of such agreement the number shall be four (4). Each Shareholder shall designate the persons serving on the Board of Directors, with each Shareholder designating an equal number of persons. Each Shareholder may also designate up to two (2) alternate members of the Board of Directors. The Shareholders shall notify each
other of any changes to their respective appointments. The Board of Directors shall act by a majority vote of all members or their respective alternates, without a tie-breaking vote (sin voto de calidad). Unless a majority of all members of the Board of Directors determines otherwise, (i) the Board of Directors shall hold at least four (4) meetings per year to discuss and make decisions with respect to strategic issues, financial results, performance evaluation, the Proposed Budget and Business Plan, and prepare and deliver reports to the Shareholders, in such format and with such information as is determined by the Shareholders, and (ii) any such meeting shall be held by means of a conference telephone or video conference or other similar communications equipment as provided in Section 6.1(h). As determined by a majority of all members of the Board of Directors, meetings of the Board of Directors may be held in any location, by means of a conference telephone or video conference or other similar communications equipment or concurrently at any physical location and through the use of conference telephone or video conference or other similar communications equipment.
(b) Article 6, Section 6.1(f) is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
(f) Officers. In the event that the Shareholders Meeting does not appoint the individual who shall act as Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors, in its first meeting held immediately after such Shareholders Meeting, will appoint between its members a Chairman. Unless a majority of all members of the Board of Directors determines otherwise: (i) all members shall elect as Chairman of the Board of Directors for each even year a member nominated by Altima from among the members appointed by Altima and as Secretary of the Board of Directors for each even year a member nominated by ADS Worldwide from among the members appointed by ADS Worldwide, and (ii) all members shall elect as Chairman of the Board of Directors for each odd year a member nominated by ADS Worldwide from among the members appointed by ADS Worldwide and as Secretary of the Board of Directors for each odd year a member nominated by Altima from among the members appointed by Altima. In addition to the Controller and General Manager, who shall be appointed by the Shareholders, there shall be such other officers, if any, of the Company as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.
4. Acknowledgement of Members/Alternate Members of the Board of Directors . The Parties hereby acknowledge that, as of the date hereof, the following persons are their respective designated members and alternate members of the Board of Directors:
ADS Worldwide : |
Altima : | |||
Thomas M. Fussner |
Juan Raigosa Valadez | |||
Mark B. Sturgeon |
Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo | |||
Ewout Leeuwenburg (Alternate) |
Gerardo Humberto Maldonado Garza (Alternate) | |||
Jaime Contró Yllanes (Alternate) |
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5. Ratification and Reaffirmation of the Participation Agreement . The Parties hereby ratify and reaffirm all of the other terms and conditions of the Participation Agreement, which, as amended and supplemented by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect.
6. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by means of PDF and/or facsimile), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have adopted, executed and agreed to this Amendment as of the date first set forth above.
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
By: |
/s/ Pablo Villarreal |
|||||
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | Name: |
|
|||||
Title: | Secretary | Title: |
|
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | ||||||||
By: |
/s/ Juan Ralgosa Valadez |
|||||||
Name: |
|
|||||||
Title: |
|
4
FOURTH AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this Amendment ) is made and entered into as of April 26, 2013 by and among ADS Worldwide, Inc. ( ADS Worldwide ), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. ( Altima ), a corporation organized under the laws of the United Mexican States ( Mexico ), ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (the Company ), formerly known as Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Mexico, and ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. ( ADS Corporativo ), a corporation organized under the laws of Mexico. ADS Worldwide, Altima, the Company and ADS Corporativo are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Parties .
RECITALS
WHEREAS , certain of the Parties entered into that certain Participation Agreement dated as of July 17, 2000 (as amended, the Participation Agreement );
WHEREAS , in accordance with Article 2, Section 2.9 of the Participation Agreement, ADS Worldwide and Altima incorporated under the laws of Mexico ADS Corporativo; and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend the Participation Agreement as set forth herein to, among other things, change the composition of the board of directors of the Company (the Board of Directors ) and reflect the ownership by ADS Worldwide of 51%, and the ownership by Altima of 49%, of the aggregate outstanding common shares of the Company and of ADS Corporativo.
AGREEMENT
NOW , THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Participation Agreement.
2. Meaning of Agreement . The term Agreement, as used in the Participation Agreement, shall, unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, mean the Participation Agreement and this Amendment, together, it being the intent of the Parties that the Participation Agreement and this Amendment be applied and construed as a single instrument.
3. Amendments .
(a) Article 2, Section 2.9 of the Participation Agreement is hereby amended by inserting as of the Closing after in which both parties shall have an equal interest.
(b) Article 6, Section 6.1(d) of the Participation Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
(d) Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of an even number of persons, not less than six (6) and not more than ten (10), the actual number to be as agreed by the Shareholders. In the absence of such agreement the number shall be six (6). Each Shareholder shall designate the persons serving on the Board of Directors, with each Shareholder designating an equal number of persons. Each Shareholder may also designate three (3) alternate members of the Board of Directors. The Shareholders shall notify each other of any changes to their respective appointments. The Board of Directors shall act by a majority vote of all members or their respective alternates, without a tie-breaking vote (sin voto de calidad). Unless a majority of all members of the Board of Directors determines otherwise, (i) the Board of Directors shall hold at least four (4) meetings per year to discuss and make decisions with respect to strategic issues, financial results, performance evaluation, the Proposed Budget and Business Plan, and prepare and deliver reports to the Shareholders, in such format and with such information as is determined by the Shareholders, and (ii) any such meeting shall be held by means of a conference telephone or a video conference or other similar communications equipment as provided in Section 6.1(h). As determined by a majority of all members of the Board of Directors, meetings of the Board of Directors may be held in any location, by means of a conference telephone or video conference or other similar communications equipment or concurrently at any physical location and through the use of conference telephone or video conference or other similar communications equipment.
4. Acknowledgement of Members/Alternate Members of the Board of Directors . The Parties hereby acknowledge that, as of the date hereof, the following persons are their respective designated members and alternate members of the Board of Directors:
ADS Worldwide: | Altima: | |||
Joseph A. Chlapaty | Pablo Villarreal Guajardo | |||
Mark B. Sturgeon | Juan Pablo Alderete Marrufo | |||
Ewout Leeuwenburg | Juan Raigosa Valadez | |||
Thomas M. Fussner (Alternate) | Gerardo Humberto Maldonado Garza (Alternate) | |||
Ronald R. Vitarelli (Alternate) | Adolfo Galán Torres (Alternate) |
5. Acknowledgement of Ownership Change . The Parties hereby acknowledge that, as of the date hereof, the Parties have entered into two separate Transaction Agreements, pursuant to which the Parties have agreed to consummate several transactions. As a result of such transactions, (a) ADS Worldwide shall own (i) 1,000 Series A common shares and 33,358 Series B common shares of the Company (collectively being 51% of the aggregate outstanding common shares of the Company) and (ii) 50 Series A common shares and 1 Series B common share of ADS Corporativo (collectively being 51% of the aggregate outstanding common shares of ADS Corporativo), and (b) Altima shall own (i) 1,000 Series A common shares and 32,010 Series B common shares of the Company (collectively being 49% of the aggregate outstanding common shares of the Company) and (ii) 49 Series A common shares of ADS Corporativo (collectively being 49% of the aggregate outstanding common shares of ADS Corporativo).
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6. Ratification and Reaffirmation of the Participation Agreement . The Parties hereby ratify and reaffirm all of the other terms and conditions of the Participation Agreement, which, as amended and supplemented by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect.
7. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by means of PDF and/or facsimile), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have adopted, executed and agreed to this Amendment as of the date first set forth above.
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
By: |
/s/ Pablo Villarreal |
|||||
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | Name: | Pablo Villarreal G. | |||||
Title: | Director | Title: | Apoderado | |||||
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | ADS Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Juan Raigosa Valadez |
By: |
/s/ Juan Raigosa Valadez |
|||||
Name: | Juan Raigosa Valadez | Name: | Juan Raigosa Valadez | |||||
Title: |
|
Title: |
|
4
FIFTH AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this Amendment ) is made and entered into as of January , 2014 by and among ADS Worldwide, Inc. ( ADS Worldwide ), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. ( Altima ), a corporation organized under the laws of the United Mexican States ( Mexico ), and ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. (the Company ), formerly known as Sistemas Ecologicos de Drenaje, S.A. de C.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Mexico. ADS Worldwide, Altima and the Company are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Parties .
RECITALS
WHEREAS , the Parties entered into that certain Participation Agreement dated as of July 17, 2000 (as amended, the Participation Agreement ); and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend the Participation Agreement as set forth herein to, among other things, further clarify the required approval of certain matters pertaining to the Company.
AGREEMENT
NOW , THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Participation Agreement.
2. Meaning of Agreement . The term Agreement, as used in the Participation Agreement, shall, unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, mean the Participation Agreement and this Amendment, together, it being the intent of the Parties that the Participation Agreement and this Amendment be applied and construed as a single instrument.
3. Amendments to Section 6.1(b) . Section 6.1(b) of the Participation Agreement is hereby amended by:
(a) amending and restating Section 6.1(b)(i) in its entirety to read any change in the distribution of dividends;
(b) inserting the following at the end of Section 6.1(b) therein:
Further, the granting by the Board of Directors or the Shareholders Meeting, as the case may be or, of any approval or the taking by the Board of Directors or the Shareholders Meeting, as the case may be, of any action, or the failure to take action, as the case may be, in connection with or relating to the following matters ( Majority Shareholder Matters and separately Majority Shareholder Matter ), shall require approval of the Shareholder(s) holding a majority of the aggregate
outstanding common shares of the Company (or the members of the Board of Directors designated by the Shareholder(s) holding a majority of the aggregate outstanding common shares of the Company):
(A) | the approval of the annual Budget and Business Plan and amendments to the annual Budget and Business Plan; |
(B) | the approval of any credit agreement, credit facility or other similar agreement or any amendments thereto; and |
(C) | any material change to any of the Companys information technology and/or computer systems or processes. |
4. Related Amendments .
(a) Article 1 of the Participation Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following definition immediately following the definition of Major Matters:
Majority | Shareholder Matters has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b). |
(b) Article 6, Section 6.1(a) of the Participation Agreement is hereby amended by inserting and all Majority Shareholder Matters immediately following all Major Matters therein.
(c) Article 6, Section 6.1(b) of the Participation Agreement is hereby amended by inserting , and those items set forth in Section 6.1(b)(B), immediately following business in Section 6.1(b)(ix).
(d) Article 6, Section 6.1(g) is hereby amended by deleting Section 6.1(b)(i) therein and inserting Section 6.1(b)(A) in its place.
(e) Section 6.3 of the Participation Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following at the end of such section:
For avoidance of doubt, in the event that the Shareholders cannot agree on a Majority Shareholder Matter, such inability to agree shall not constitute a Deadlock.
(f) Section 10.1(a) of the Participation Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following at the end of such section:
For avoidance of doubt, in the event that the Shareholders cannot agree on a Majority Shareholder Matter, such inability to agree shall not constitute a Dispute.
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5. Ratification and Reaffirmation of the Participation Agreement . The Parties hereby ratify and reaffirm all of the other terms and conditions of the Participation Agreement, which, as amended and supplemented by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect.
6. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by means of PDF and/or facsimile), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have adopted, executed and agreed to this Amendment as of the date first set forth above.
ADS Worldwide, Inc. | Grupo Altima S.A. de C.V. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Mark B. Sturgeon |
By: |
/s/ Pablo Villarreal |
|||||
Name: | Mark B. Sturgeon | Name: | Pablo Villarreal | |||||
Title: | Exec. VP & CFO | Title: |
Board Member |
ADS Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. | ||||||||
By: |
/s/ Gerardo H. Maldonado |
|||||||
Name: | Gerardo H. Maldonado | |||||||
Title: |
Administrative Director |
4
Exhibit 10.24
BaySaver Technologies, LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
Organized Under the Delaware Limited
Liability Company Act
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS; DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||||
1.1 |
Name | 1 | ||||
1.2 |
Effective Date: Term | 1 | ||||
1.3 |
Registered Office: Place of Business: Agent | 1 | ||||
1.4 |
Intent to Govern Activities of Company | 1 | ||||
1.5 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
PURPOSE | 2 | ||||
2.1 |
Purpose | 2 | ||||
2.2 |
Contributions, Consideration and Assumed Liabilities | 2 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
MEMBERS; RIGHTS OF AND LIMITATIONS ON MEMBERS | 3 | ||||
3.1 |
Members | 3 | ||||
3.2 |
Major Matters | 3 | ||||
3.3 |
Actions in Writing | 4 | ||||
3.4 |
Limitations on Members | 4 | ||||
3.5 |
Title to Property | 5 | ||||
3.6 |
Payments of Individual Obligations | 5 | ||||
3.7 |
Competition by Members | 5 | ||||
3.8 |
Execution of Initial Documents | 5 | ||||
3.9 |
Opening Balance Sheet and Transfer of Inventory | 5 | ||||
ARTICLE IV |
BOARD OF MANAGERS; RIGHTS, POWERS AND DUTIES; VOTING; OTHER MATTERS CONCERNING MEMBERS | 6 | ||||
4.1 |
Board of Managers | 6 | ||||
4.2 |
Meetings | 6 | ||||
4.3 |
Proxies | 7 | ||||
4.4 |
Appointment of Officers: Delegation of Authority | 8 | ||||
4.5 |
Exculpation of Members, Representatives and Officers | 8 | ||||
4.6 |
Resignation and Removal of Representative | 8 | ||||
4.7 |
Tax Elections: Tax Matters Member | 9 | ||||
4.8 |
Voting | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
RIGHTS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS | 9 | ||||
5.1 |
Officers | 9 | ||||
5.2 |
Rights and Responsibilities of Officers | 9 | ||||
5.3 |
Salaries | 10 | ||||
5.4 |
Resignation | 10 | ||||
5.5 |
Removal | 10 | ||||
5.6 |
Vacancies | 11 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE VI |
PUT-CALL RIGHTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS | 11 | ||||
6.1 |
Put-Call Rights | 11 | ||||
6.2 |
Change in Control | 12 | ||||
6.3 |
Effect of Exercise of Put or Call Rights | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
COMPANY CAPITAL; ADVANCES BY MEMBERS; LOANS BY MEMBERS | 13 | ||||
7.1 |
Capital Contributions | 13 | ||||
7.2 |
Loans by Members | 13 | ||||
7.3 |
Additional Capital Contributions | 14 | ||||
7.4 |
No Return of Contributions | 14 | ||||
7.5 |
No Partition of Company Property | 14 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII |
FISCAL YEAR; ACCOUNTING; ALLOCATION OF PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS; TAX PROVISIONS | 14 | ||||
8.1 |
Fiscal Year | 14 | ||||
8.2 |
Method of Accounting | 14 | ||||
8.3 |
Maintenance of Capital Accounts | 15 | ||||
8.4 |
Allocation of Profits and Losses | 15 | ||||
8.5 |
Distribution of Net Income | 16 | ||||
8.6 |
Liability of Member for Return of Distribution | 16 | ||||
8.7 |
Tax Provisions | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE IX |
TRANSFER OF COMPANY INTERESTS | 17 | ||||
9.1 |
No Transfer of Company Interest | 17 | ||||
9.2 |
Compliance with Securities Act of 1933 | 17 | ||||
9.3 |
Transfer of Interest to Affiliates | 17 | ||||
9.4 |
Admission of Transferee as Substituted Member | 17 | ||||
9.5 |
Allocations and Distributions with Respect to Transferred Interests | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE X |
WITHDRAWAL, BANKRUPTCY OR LIQUIDATION OF MEMBERS | 18 | ||||
10.1 |
Withdrawal of Member | 18 | ||||
10.2 |
Bankruptcy, Liquidation, Etc., of a Member | 18 | ||||
10.3 |
Bankruptcy of Member | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE XI |
TERMINATION, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY | 18 | ||||
11.1 |
Events of Dissolution | 18 | ||||
11.2 |
Liquidation | 18 | ||||
11.3 |
Election of Liquidating Trustee | 19 | ||||
11.4 |
Statements | 19 |
-ii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE XII |
AMENDMENT OF THE AGREEMENT | 19 | ||||
12.1 |
Ordinary Course Amendments | 19 | ||||
12.2 |
Other Amendments | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE XIII |
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS; OTHER AGREEMENTS | 20 | ||||
13.1 |
Offers of Employment | 20 | ||||
13.2 |
Noncompete Agreement | 20 | ||||
13.3 |
License Agreement | 20 | ||||
13.4 |
Assignment Agreement | 20 | ||||
13.5 |
AccuBid Right to Purchase | 20 | ||||
13.6 |
Lease of Manufacturing Facility | 20 | ||||
13.7 |
Company Sales Channels | 21 | ||||
13.8 |
BTI Name Change | 21 | ||||
13.9 |
Commissions | 21 | ||||
13.10 |
Services | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE XIV |
GENERAL PROVISIONS | 21 | ||||
14.1 |
Representations and Warranties of ADS/V | 21 | ||||
14.2 |
Representations and Warranties of BTI and Mid-Atlantic | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE XV |
INDEMNIFICATION | 26 | ||||
15.1 |
Indemnification as to Actions or Omissions in Companys Business | 26 | ||||
15.2 |
Procedure for Indemnification | 27 | ||||
15.3 |
Survival | 27 | ||||
ARTICLE XVI |
MISCELLANEOUS | 27 | ||||
16.1 |
Notices | 27 | ||||
16.2 |
Governing Law; Arbitration | 28 | ||||
16.3 |
Business Practices | 29 | ||||
16.4 |
Counterparts | 29 | ||||
16.5 |
Language Conventions; Captions | 29 | ||||
16.6 |
Entire Agreement | 30 | ||||
16.7 |
Provisions Severable | 30 | ||||
16.8 |
Binding Agreement | 30 | ||||
16.9 |
Further Action | 30 | ||||
16.10 |
Waivers | 30 | ||||
16.11 |
Facsimile/Scanned PDF Execution | 30 |
-iii-
Signature Page |
||
Exhibit A - |
List of Members, Addresses, Agent, Etc. | |
Exhibit B - |
List of Initial Contributions and Initial Assets | |
Exhibit C - |
List of Assumed Liabilities | |
Exhibit D - |
Non-Compete Agreement | |
Exhibit E - |
License Agreement | |
Exhibit F1 and Exhibit F2 - Assignment Agreements |
||
Exhibit G - |
Disclosure Schedule | |
Exhibit H - |
Form of Promissory Note | |
Appendix I - |
Definitions | |
Appendix II - |
Tax Provisions |
- iv -
BaySaver Technologies, LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
This Limited Liability Company Agreement (this Agreement ) evidences the mutual agreement of the Members (as hereinafter defined) in consideration of their contributions and promises each to the others, for the purpose of forming a limited liability company pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, Del. Code Ann. title 6, §§18-l01 et. seq., as the same may be amended from time to time (the Act ).
ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS; DEFINITIONS
1.1 Name . The name of the limited liability company governed hereby (the Company ) is BaySaver Technologies, LLC. The Company may operate its business under one or more fictitious names.
1.2 Effective Date: Term . This Agreement shall become effective on July 15, 2013 or such date that both Members have executed this Agreement ( Effective Date ). The term of the Company began on June 24, 2013, the date that an executed copy of the certificate of formation required by §18-201 of the Act ( Certificate ) was filed in the office of the secretary of state of Delaware, and shall continue until terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
1.3 Registered Office: Place of Business: Agent . The address of the registered office of the Company as required by §18-104 of the Act and the principal place of business of the Company (which need not be the same as the registered office) shall be as indicated on Exhibit A attached hereto. The Company may change the location of the registered office, establish additional offices or places of business or enter into such contracts or hire such agents in such other locations, inside and outside of Delaware, as it deems necessary or desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company. The agent of the Company for service of process, as required by §18-104 of the Act, shall be as indicated on Exhibit A , as may be amended from time to time.
1.4 Intent to Govern Activities of Company . The Members intend that the terms of this Agreement shall control all of the activities of the Company.
1.5 Definitions . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings as defined throughout the text of this Agreement or in Appendix I . A list of defined terms, including the section of this Agreement in which the term is defined, is contained in Appendix I .
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
2.1 Purpose . The sole purpose of the Company is to design, engineer, manufacture, market and sell water quality filters and separators used in the removal of sediment and pollution from storm water (the Business ) anywhere in the world except in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa and to exercise all powers and engage in all activities incident to the Business. Without limiting the foregoing, but subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the License Agreement, the Company may enter into such arrangements, including the formation of subsidiaries and other legal entities, in such form and manner as may be prudent and appropriate to acquire and conduct the Business.
2.2 Contributions, Consideration and Assumed Liabilities .
(a) To commence the Business, the following occurred: (i) Thomas Pank ( Pank ) caused BaySaver Technologies, Inc. ( BTI ), a corporation that he wholly owns and which is a Member, to contribute certain assets to the Company as reflected on Exhibit B hereto, (ii) Pank caused Mid Atlantic Storm Water Research Center, Inc. ( Mid-Atlantic ), a corporation that he wholly owns and which is a Member, to contribute certain assets to the Company as reflected on Exhibit B hereto, (iii) the Company has granted BTI a perpetual, fully paid, royalty free license to use certain intellectual property for the specific purposes specified in the License Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit E ; (iv) all Mid-Atlantic employees, all BTI manufacturing employees, all BTI current, existing applications and engineering and technical service staff and Meghan Witte have become employees of the Company and (v) Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( ADS ), or ADS Ventures, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADS ( ADS/V ), have contributed to the Company (A) $3,500,000 cash, (B) the ADS Water Quality Separator Business (excluding ADS StormTech, FlexStorm, Nyloplast and geotextiles businesses), (C) its Hydro International (HIL) Business, (D) its inventory of BaySaver products and (E) ADS has agreed to provide at no cost to the Company back office support, systems IT, storage, engineering, technical services, sales and marketing support. Collectively, the items described in this Section 2.2(a) shall be referred to herein as the Initial Assets .
(b) The Company will assume only those liabilities expressly set forth on Exhibit C hereto (the Assumed Liabilities ).
(c) In return for the contributions of the Initial Assets and the other consideration reflected in this Agreement, ADS/V shall receive 55% of the outstanding equity interests of the Company and BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall receive (i) an aggregate of 45% of the outstanding equity interests of the Company, subject to BTIs and Mid-Atlantics apportionment, based upon valuation of assets contributed to the Company, and (ii) an aggregate of $3,500,000 cash, subject to BTIs and Mid-Atlantics apportionment (the Cash Payments ), which will be paid by the Company to BTI and Mid-Atlantic on the Closing Date.
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ARTICLE III
MEMBERS; RIGHTS OF AND LIMITATIONS ON MEMBERS
3.1 Members . The Members are ADS/V, BTI and Mid-Atlantic. The names and addresses of the members of the Company (the Members ), will be set forth on Exhibit A , as amended from time to time. Exhibit A also identifies the number of Units credited to each Member, and each Members Percentage Interest.
3.2 Major Matters . Notwithstanding the authority granted to the Board of Managers set forth in section 4.1(b), the following actions ( Major Matters ) require the approval of Members owning more than 60% of the Units:
(a) The sale, transfer, exchange, grant of perpetual licenses or other disposal of all or substantially all of the Companys assets, including goodwill, in a single or series of related transactions, or the merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or reorganization of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(b) The sale, transfer, exchange, grant of perpetual licenses or other disposal of any patents of the Company;
(c) The admittance of any additional Members to the Company;
(d) The acquisition of substantially all of the assets of, or any equity interest in, any Person;
(e) The taking of any action outside the ordinary course of business of the Company, or the changing of the nature or character (including without limitation through expansion or contraction) of the Business;
(f) The issuance of bonds, debentures, negotiable obligations or other similar instruments of debt, the obtaining of any loan from any Person (as defined in Appendix I ) (except for trade payables) including loans from a Member, the issuance of any securities or debt convertible into securities of the Company, the guarantee of any obligations of any third parties or the assignment of the assets of the Company in trust for creditors or on the assignees promise to pay the debts of the Company;
(g) The entering into or approving of any transaction between the Company and any of the Members or their respective Affiliates, other than the Transaction Documents, as defined in section 14.1(a) below;
(h) Subject to section 15.1, the authorization or requirement to make contributions to capital in excess of those made prior to or on the Effective Date, or the approval of the terms of any loan from a Member or its Affiliate;
(i) The appointment or changing of the auditors or attorneys for the Company;
(j) The admittance of any assignee of a Members interest in the Company (other than an Affiliate) as a substituted Member pursuant to section 9.4;
- 3 -
(k) The making of any determination concerning the liquidation of the Company pursuant to section 11.1;
(l) The engagement of the Company in any research, engineering or development project involving any product other than products relating to the Business;
(m) The amendment of the Certificate;
(n) Approval of annual Budgets and product pricing; and
(o) The location or relocation of the Companys offices and/or manufacturing facilities.
3.3 Actions in Writing . All actions of the Members shall be taken in writing. An action of the Members shall be effective when signed by all Members. No meeting shall be required, except as required by the Act.
3.4 Limitations on Members . No Member may:
(a) Sign for or bind the Company by virtue of being a Member (except as permitted by this Agreement) or hold itself out as an agent of another Member;
(b) Have such Members Capital Contribution repaid except to the extent provided in this Agreement
(c) Except as permitted by this Agreement, withdraw from the Company;
(d) Sell or assign such Members interest in the Company or constitute the vendee or assignee thereunder a substituted Member, except as provided in Articles VI and IX hereof;
(e) Have priority over any other Member, either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to the allocation of Profits, Losses or the distribution of Net Income, provided that this limitation shall not apply to the repayment by the Company of loans (as distinguished from Capital Contributions) which a Member was permitted to make under this Agreement and has made to the Company; or
(f) Have any preemptive or preferential right, including any such right with respect to (i) additional Capital Contributions; (ii) issuance or sale of Units, whether unissued or hereafter created; (iii) issuance of any obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for, or carrying or accompanied by any rights to receive, purchase or subscribe to, any such unissued Units; (iv) issuance of any right of, subscription to or right to receive, or any warrant or option for the purchase of, any of the foregoing securities; or (v) issuance or sale of any other securities that may be issued or sold by the Company.
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3.5 Title to Property . All property owned by the Company shall be owned by the Company or a subsidiary as an entity and no Member shall have any ownership interest in such property in its individual name or right, and each Members interest in the Company shall be personal property for all purposes. The Company shall hold all of its property in the name of the Company or a subsidiary and not in the name of any Member.
3.6 Payments of Individual Obligations . The Companys credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for or in payment of any individual obligation of a Member.
3.7 Competition by Members . Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Members, the Company, ADS and Pank have executed and delivered a Noncompetition and Confidentiality Agreement (the Noncompete Agreement ) in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto. Except as provided in the Noncompete Agreement, the Members and their respective Affiliates shall not in any way be prohibited from or restricted in engaging or owning an interest in any other business venture of any nature. In furtherance of the foregoing, it is expressly permitted that ADS/V and its Affiliates are free to manufacture, market and sell pipes and related products for any and all uses anywhere in the world, including without limitation, pipe and related products used in storm water systems. In addition, BTI and Mid-Atlantic hereby agree that ADS operation of its StormTech, FlexStorm, Nyloplast and geotextiles businesses and the related manufacturing and sale of products relating to these businesses and the sale of the Envirohood product line shall not be deemed a violation of this Agreement or the Noncompete Agreement; provided, however, that such existing ADS businesses shall not be permitted to develop new products that compete with the products sold by the Business; provided, further, that improvements to existing products shall not be deemed new products for this section 3.7.
3.8 Execution of Initial Documents . The Members, acting individually, shall each have the authority to execute on behalf of the Company the documents and agreements to be executed and delivered by the Company contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement including the License Agreement, the Noncompete Agreement and the remaining Transaction Documents described in Article 13.
3.9 Opening Balance Sheet and Transfer of Inventory .
(a) On the Effective Date, the Members shall have approved the unaudited opening balance sheet of the Company as of the Effective Date (the Company Balance Sheet ). The Company Balance Sheet will reflect the Initial Assets and the Assumed Liabilities (if any) as of the Effective Date.
(b) Within fifteen (15) days following the Effective Date, BTI will transfer to the Company all of BTIs existing inventory, including work-in-process and finished goods, at cost, with payment to be made by the Company to BTI at the time that the Company sells the applicable inventory and BTI shall provide the Company with all necessary information and documentation relating to the same.
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ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF MANAGERS;
RIGHTS, POWERS AND DUTIES; VOTING;
OTHER MATTERS CONCERNING MEMBERS
4.1 Board of Managers .
(a) Except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement or any mandatory provisions of the Act, the Members shall cause the affairs of the Company to be managed through a Board of Managers (the Board of Managers ). The Board of Managers shall be comprised of four representatives (each, a Representative and together the Representatives ), two appointed by ADS/V (the ADS/V Representatives ), and two appointed jointly by BTI and Mid-Atlantic (the BTI/Mid-Atlantic Representatives ). Each Member shall designate its Representatives, and shall have the authority to remove and replace its Representatives at any time and from time to time upon written notice thereof to the other Members. The initial ADS/V Representatives will be Mark B. Sturgeon and Ronald R. Vitarelli, and the initial BTI/Mid-Atlantic Representatives will be Thomas Pank and Steve Gaines. No Representative shall be entitled to compensation for serving in such capacity. The Representative will be elected every two years and the same Representatives may serve consecutive terms.
(b) The Board of Managers will have an executive committee comprised of two Representatives and ADS/V shall select one member of the executive committee and BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall jointly select one member of the executive committee.
(c) Except for the Major Matters, the Board of Managers shall have full and complete authority, power and discretion to manage and control the Business, affairs and property of the Company, to make all decisions regarding those matters and to perform any and all other acts or activities customary or incident to the management of the Companys business and objectives, within the terms of and limitations set forth by this Agreement. No one Representative may take or effect any action on behalf of the Company or otherwise bind the Company in the absence of a formal delegation of authority by the Board of Managers to such Representative, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement. Unless authorized to do so by this Agreement or by the Board of Managers, no Member, Officer, attorney-in-fact, employee or other agent of the Company shall have any power or authority to bind the Company.
4.2 Meetings .
(a) The approval of the Board of Managers of any action on behalf of the Company shall be evidenced by minutes of a meeting of the Board of Managers properly noticed and held as provided in section 4.2(b) or by an action in writing signed by all of the Representatives. For this purpose, an email received by the Company from a Representative confirming such Representatives approval of an action in writing shall be treated as the signature of such Representative.
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(b) The Board of Managers shall hold at least three (3) meetings per Fiscal Year (as defined in section 8.1), which meetings shall be held on such dates as are determined by the Board of Managers. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Managers, the meeting location for each regular meeting shall be the principal office of the Company. All other meetings shall be held at a location to be agreed upon by the Board of Managers. Except as provided in this section 4.2, the secretary of the Board of Managers shall give notice of all meetings and the place, date and time for holding such meetings to each Representative in person, by mail, by email or by facsimile, at least three (3) business days prior to the time fixed for the meeting. Any Member may call additional meetings of the Board of Managers at any time upon at least seven (7) days written notice to the other Members and all Representatives. Four Representatives must be present to constitute a quorum at any such meeting. The transaction of any meeting of the Board of Managers, however called or noticed or wherever held, is as valid as though such meeting had been duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present, or if, either before or after the meeting, each of the Representatives not present signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to holding such meeting, or an approval of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents or approvals must be filed with the Companys records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Any Representative may participate in a meeting of the Board of Managers by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in the meeting by means of such equipment will constitute presence in person at such meeting. A BTI/Mid-Atlantic Representative shall serve as chairman of each meeting of the Board of Managers during the two-year period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the First Two-Year Period ), and an ADS/V Representative shall serve as chairman of each meeting of the Board of Managers during the two-year period commencing on the second anniversary of the Effective Date and ending on the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date (the Second Two-Year Period ). Thereafter, the chairmanship shall rotate between the BTI/Mid-Atlantic Representatives and the ADS/V Representatives every two (2) years. The chairman shall be responsible for the organization and conduct of the meeting in accordance with rules and procedures prescribed by this Agreement and any By-laws of the Company. An ADS/V Representative shall serve as secretary of each meeting of the Board of Managers during the First Two-Year Period and a BTI/Mid-Atlantic Representative shall serve as secretary of each meeting of the Board of Managers during the Second Two-Year Period. Thereafter, the secretary of the Board of Managers shall rotate between the ADS/V Representative and the BTI/Mid-Atlantic Representative every two (2) years. The secretary shall promptly prepare minutes of actions taken at each meeting of the Board of Managers, and once such minutes are certified by the Board of Managers, shall file such minutes with the Companys records.
(c) At any meeting at which a quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total authorized number of Representatives, unless the vote of a greater or lesser proportion or number is otherwise required by the Act or this Agreement.
4.3 Proxies . Each Representative may grant a proxy to vote to another Representative appointed by the same Member.
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4.4 Appointment of Officers: Delegation of Authority . In connection with the management of the Business and affairs of the Company, the Board of Managers shall have the responsibility and authority to hire and fire Officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, and delegate to Officers limited power and authority, including the authority to hire and fire employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (except with respect to the matters reserved for decision by the Members or the Board of Managers under section 3.2 or elsewhere in this Agreement), to do all things and on such terms as they, in their reasonable discretion and subject to the terms of this Agreement, deem necessary or appropriate to conduct the Business and to exercise all powers and to effectuate the purpose set forth in section 2.1. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Managers has delegated to the Officers responsibility for, and hereby mandate that the Officers shall cause the Company to take, the actions set forth in section 5.2.
4.5 Exculpation of Members, Representatives and Officers . In carrying out their duties hereunder, the Members, Representatives, Officers, the chairman of the Board of Managers and the secretary of the Board of Managers shall not be liable to the Company or to any other Member for their good faith actions, or failure to act, or for any errors of judgment, or for any act or omission believed in good faith to be within the scope of authority conferred by this Agreement, but only for their own fraud, bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of their obligations under this Agreement. A Member, Representative, Officer, the chairman of the Board of Managers or the secretary of the Board of Managers shall not be liable when relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and on the information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by its other Representatives, Members, Officers, agents or employees, or any other Person concerning matters which the Member, Representative, Officers, chairman of the Board of Managers or secretary of the Board of Managers reasonably believes are within such other Persons professional or expert competence, and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, including information, opinions, reports or statements concerning the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Company or other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which distributions to Members might properly be paid.
4.6 Resignation and Removal of Representative
(a) Any Representative of the Company may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Member(s) who appointed him. The resignation of any Representative shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later date specified in such notice; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
(b) No Representative may be removed except by the Member(s) that appointed him. Upon any resignation or removal of a Representative, the Member(s) that appointed such Representative shall be entitled to appoint such Representatives successor.
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4.7 Tax Elections: Tax Matters Member . ADS/V will be the Tax Matters Member and shall make and determine all elections with respect to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the Code ) and Treasury Regulations ( Treasury Regulations or Treas. Reg. ) issued thereunder. Further provisions concerning the Tax Matters Member are set forth in Appendix II and shall apply for all purposes of this Agreement.
4.8 Voting . Except as otherwise herein specified, all determinations affecting the conduct of the affairs of the Company shall be the vote of the Board of Managers. Each representative shall be entitled to vote one (1) vote, which shall be of equal weight to each other Voting Partners vote.
ARTICLE V
RIGHTS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
5.1 Officers . The Company will have a general manager and such other officers as the Board of Managers may from time to time appoint (the Officers), who will be responsible for the daily operations of the Company, subject to the Budget, the strategic direction established by the Board of Managers and the authority maintained by the Members and the Board of Managers in this Agreement. The general manager shall not be a member of the Board of Managers. The initial general manager shall be Dan Hurdis.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Officers .
(a) The Board of Managers shall determine the duties and responsibilities of each of the Officers which may include the following actions, which actions are not exhaustive and are merely provided below by way of illustration and not by way of limitation:
(i) Maintain at the principal place of business of the Company all of the records required to be maintained by §18-305 of the Act, which shall be subject to inspection and copying at the reasonable request and expense of any Member (or its duly authorized representative) during ordinary business hours;
(ii) On the Effective Date with respect to the current Fiscal Year, and by no later than sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of each Fiscal Year thereafter, prepare and submit to the Board of Managers a proposed annual Budget;
(iii) By the tenth (10th) business day of each month provide to the Representatives a written report concerning operations for the previous calendar month, in a format to be agreed upon by the Board of Managers;
(iv) Cause to be filed such certificates and do such other acts as may be required by law to qualify and maintain the Company as a limited liability company under the Act and under the laws of the jurisdictions in which the Company transacts business;
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(v) Cause Exhibit A to be amended from time to time as required by this Agreement, and upon each such amendment designate at the top of such Exhibit that it is an Amended Exhibit A , and indicate immediately under such designation the effective date of such amendment; and
(vi) Make any expenditures or other payments (including the execution of checks) within the terms and as permitted by this Agreement.
(b) Budget means the separate operating budget and capital budget of the Company for any Fiscal Year which is, or is deemed to be as provided in this section 5.2(b), in effect, which Budget shall be in such format and include such detail as specified by the Board of Managers and will include (i) an income statement which will show in reasonable detail the revenues, and expenses projected for the Business for such Fiscal Year (specifically and without limitation including the projected sales of the Business for the Fiscal Year), (ii) a cash flow statement which will show in reasonable detail the receipts and disbursements projected for the Business for such Fiscal Year, (iii) a balance sheet projected for the Business as of the end of such Fiscal Year, (iv) a capital improvements budget projected for the Business for such Fiscal Year, and (v) any contemplated borrowings for the Business for such Fiscal Year. The Members shall approve the Budget for the current Fiscal Year as of the Effective Date, and the Board of Managers shall use their best efforts to approve the proposed annual Budget each Fiscal Year thereafter within thirty (30) days after it is prepared and submitted by the Officers pursuant to section 5.2(a)(v). If the Board of Managers does not approve a proposed Budget prior to the start of the Fiscal Year to which the Budget relates, until such Budget is approved and substituted therefor, the Company shall be operated pursuant to the current Budget approved, with only such increases in operating expenses as are required under contractual arrangements or beyond the control of the Company, and shall make capital expenditures only with respect to projects approved in a previously approved Budget or which are required by law or necessary to assure the health and safety of the employees.
(c) No Member, Representative or Officer shall take any action contrary to section 3.2 or any policies established thereunder.
5.3 Salaries . The salaries and other compensation and other terms and conditions of employment of the Officers of the Company, including the initial general manager, shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Managers, subject to the terms of any written employment agreement between an Officer and the Company.
5.4 Resignation . Subject to the terms of any written employment agreement between an Officer and the Company, any Officer may resign at any time by delivering notice to the Board of Managers, or the Secretary of the Board of Managers, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
5.5 Removal . Subject to the terms of any written employment agreement between an Officer and the Company, any Officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Managers.
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5.6 Vacancies . Any vacancy in any office because of the death, resignation, removal, increase in the number of offices of the Company or otherwise shall be filled by the Board of Managers, and the Officer so elected shall hold office until his successor is chosen and qualified, or until his death, resignation or removal.
ARTICLE VI
PUT-CALL RIGHTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS
6.1 Put-Call Rights .
(a) Except as provided in section 6.2 hereof, from the Effective Date through March 31, 2016, no Member shall have any put-call rights.
(b) At any time during Fiscal Year 2017 (April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017), BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall have the right to put all of their Units to ADS/V at a per Unit price equal to the Companys Fiscal Year 2016 EBITDA (based upon the final audited EBITDA of the Company) multiplied by 7 and then divided by the total number of outstanding Units of the Company to determine the per Unit price.
(c) At any time after the end of Fiscal Year 2017, BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall have the right to put all of their Units to ADS/V at a per Unit price equal to EBITDA for the Companys most recent completed Fiscal Year (based upon the final audited EBITDA of the Company for such Fiscal Year) multiplied by 6 and then divided by the total number of outstanding Units of the Company to determine the per Unit price.
(d) At any time after the end of Fiscal Year 2016 (April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016), ADS/V shall have a call right requiring BTI and Mid-Atlantic to sell all of their Units to ADS/V upon the earlier to occur of the following: (i) the Company generating $5,000,000 EBITDA during any completed Fiscal Year (based upon the final audited EBITDA of the Company for such Fiscal Year) or (ii) the completion of Fiscal Year 2018. The per Unit purchase price for this call right shall be (i) if the call right is exercised prior to April 1, 2017, EBITDA for the Companys most recent completed Fiscal Year (based upon the final audited EBITDA of the Company for such Fiscal Year) multiplied by 7 and then divided by the total number of outstanding Units of the Company to determine the per Unit price or (ii) if the call right is exercised on or after April 1, 2017, EBITDA for the Companys most recent completed Fiscal Year (based upon the final audited EBITDA of the Company for such Fiscal Year) multiplied by 6 and then divided by the total number of outstanding Units of the Company to determine the per Unit price. For purposes of Calculating EBITDA, annual research and development expenses of the Company in excess of $100,000 will be added back to EBITDA.
(e) At the closing of any of the transactions contemplated in section 6.1 hereof, BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall sell, transfer and assign to ADS/V all right, title and interest in and to BTIs and Mid-Atlantics Units and all of their respective interests with respect to the Company, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances, with customary fundamental representations addressing authority to transfer the Units and interests and
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lack of knowledge of any adverse claims not known by ADS/V. BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall execute all documents and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to effectuate the transfer of the Units and to carry out the purposes of this provision. ADS/V shall pay for such Units in cash or immediately available Federal funds, at the direction of BTI and Mid-Atlantic. The closing of such transactions shall occur as soon as practicable but in no event more than thirty (30) days after the put or call rights are initiated by written notice.
6.2 Change in Control .
(a) Except for a transaction which is permitted under Section 9.3 hereof, if BTI or Mid-Atlantic experiences a Change in Control (as defined in Appendix I ) at any time during the term of this Agreement, such Member shall promptly provide written notice to the other Members of such Change in Control and provide reasonable details of such Change in Control. If a Change in Control of BTI or Mid-Atlantic occurs at any time following the Effective Date, BTI or Mid-Atlantic (as the case may be) shall send written notice as soon as possible to ADS/V, and ADS/V shall have the right, but not the obligation, at any time, by delivering written notice (the ADS/V Notice of Election ) thereof to BTI and Mid-Atlantic, to purchase all of BTIs and Mid-Atlantics Units then owned for a per Unit purchase price equal to: (i) if the Change in Control occurs prior to April 1, 2017, EBITDA for the Companys most recent completed Fiscal Year (based upon the final audited EBITDA of the Company for such Fiscal Year) multiplied by 7 and then divided by the total number of outstanding Units of the Company to determine the per Unit price (ii) if the Change of Control occurs on or after April 1, 2017, EBITDA for the Companys most recent completed Fiscal Year (based upon the final audited EBITDA of the Company for such Fiscal Year) multiplied by 6 and then divided by the total number of outstanding Units of the Company to determine the per Unit price. The closing of the purchase and sale of Units pursuant to the above procedures shall occur as soon as possible but in no event later than thirty (30) days after the date of the ADS/V Notice of Election.
(b) if ADS experiences a Change in Control (as defined in Appendix I ) at any time prior to April 1, 2016, then ADS shall promptly provide written notice to BTI and Mid-Atlantic of such Change in Control. In such case, BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall have the right, but not the obligation, for a period to extend for thirty (30) days after the date of the ADS notice of Change of Control to put all of their Units to ADS/V (the BTI/Mid-Atlantic Notice of Election ) at a per Unit price equal to (i) the greater of (A) EBITDA for the immediately trailing twelve (12) month period prior to the date of the Change of Control or (B) EBITDA for the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Company multiplied by 4, (ii) multiplied by 8, and then (iii) divided by the total number of outstanding Units of the Company to determine the per Unit price. The closing of the purchase and sale of Units pursuant to the above procedures shall occur as soon as possible but in no event later than thirty (30) days after the date of the BTI/Mid-Atlantic Notice of Election.
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(c) At the closing of any of the transactions contemplated in section 6.2 hereof, BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall sell, transfer and assign to ADS/V all right, title and interest in and to BTIs and Mid-Atlantics Units and all of their respective interests with respect to the Company, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances, with customary fundamental representations addressing authority to transfer the Units and interests and lack of knowledge of any adverse claims not known by ADS/V. BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall execute all documents and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to effectuate the transfer of the Units and to carry out the purposes of this provision. ADS/V shall pay for such Units in cash or immediately available Federal funds, at the direction of BTI and Mid-Atlantic.
6.3 Effect of Exercise of Put or Call Rights .
(a) Following the consummation of the closing of the sale of BTIs and Mid-Atlantics Units and interest in the Company to ADS/V under section 6.1 or section 6.2 hereof, with respect to BTI, Mid-Atlantic and Pank, the noncompetition and non-solicitation covenants and confidentiality obligations contained in the Noncompete Agreement shall be effective for the periods therein provided.
(b) In the event that ADS/V, or BTI and Mid-Atlantic, exercise their call rights or put rights under section 6.1 or Section 6.2 hereof, respectively, then prior to effecting the sale of membership interests pursuant to such exercise, the Company shall distribute to the Members pursuant to section 8.5 all of the Net Income of the Company received in the months of the Fiscal Year of exercise that end prior to the month of the exercise.
ARTICLE VII
COMPANY CAPITAL; ADVANCES BY MEMBERS; LOANS BY MEMBERS
7.1 Capital Contributions . The initial capital contributions of the Members are specified in Section 2.2 and Exhibit B hereto. The capital contributions made by the Members, together with any additional permitted contributions to the capital of the Company (the Capital Contributions ) shall be credited to the Members Capital Accounts maintained by the Company in accordance with section 8.3.
7.2 Loans by Members .
(a) Within ten (10) days after the Effective Date, ADS shall loan the Company the sum of $100,000 to be used for general working capital purposes. Such loan and any additional loans shall be evidenced by a Promissory Note dated as of the date of the loan in the form set forth at Exhibit H .
(b) The Members agree that it is generally intended that ADS will supply the reasonable operating capital needs of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Section 7.2(b) upon terms and conditions and in amounts approved by the Board of Managers. Any such loan shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to the prime rate published in The Wall Street Journal (or, in the event The Wall Street Journal discontinues publication, the rate announced as the prime rate in another financial publication of national circulation mutually agreeable to the Members) as the base rate on corporate loans at large U.S. money center commercial banks, as in effect as of the first business day of each month ,
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and shall be repaid prior to any cash distribution as set forth in section 8.5 and, in the case of liquidation in accordance with the provisions of section 11.2. Any Member making any loan to the Company pursuant to this section 7.2(b) shall be, with respect to the Companys obligation to repay such loan, considered for purposes of such loan as a general creditor of the Company and not as a Member. Any loan made by a Member to the Company is for the benefit of the Company only and not for the benefit of any creditor of the Company or other third party and may not be enforced by any creditor or other third party.
7.3 Additional Capital Contributions . Subject to section 15.1, a Member shall be required to contribute additional capital to the Company equal to its Percentage Interest of any amounts approved by Members, as provided in section 3.2(g). Except as provided in the preceding sentence, no Member is permitted or required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company. The obligation of the Members to make additional Capital Contributions is for the benefit of the Company only and not for the benefit of any creditor of the Company or other third party and may not be enforced by any creditor or other third party.
7.4 No Return of Contributions . Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Members will not be personally liable for the return of the Capital Contribution of a Member, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets. A Member may not demand or receive property other than cash in return for its contribution, except as permitted by section 11.2(c) of this Agreement. No Member shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution.
7.5 No Partition of Company Property . Each of the Members hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights, duties, obligations and benefits with respect to any action for partition of Company property or to compel any sale thereof. Further, all rights, duties, benefits and obligations, including inventory and appraisement of the Company assets or sale of a Members interest therein, provision for which is made in the Act, or on account of the operation of any other rule or law of any other jurisdiction to compel any sale or appraisement of Company assets or sale of a Members interest therein, are hereby waived and dispensed with.
ARTICLE VIII
FISCAL YEAR; ACCOUNTING; ALLOCATION OF PROFITS AND
LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS; TAX PROVISIONS
8.1 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year ( Fiscal Year ) of the Company will be the year ending March 31, unless a different year is required for income tax purposes.
8.2 Method of Accounting . The Company books will be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, subject only to this limitation, as the Board of Managers determines in accordance with section 4.1(a).
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8.3 Maintenance of Capital Accounts . The Company shall maintain a capital account ( Capital Account ) for each Member in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.704-l(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account of each Member will also be (a) credited with the amount of any additional Capital Contributions made by such Member (including any deemed contributions pursuant to Treas. Reg. §l.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(c)), (b) credited with the amount of any Profits and any other items of income or gain allocated to such Member, (c) debited by the amount of any Losses and any other items of loss or deduction allocated to such Member, and (d) debited with the amount of all actual and deemed distributions made to such Member. Any contribution or distribution of property in kind will be credited or debited, respectively, in an amount equal to the Carrying Value of such property, net of liabilities secured by such property or that the Company or a Member, respectively, is considered to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752. Upon adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of Company property pursuant to Code Sections 732, 734 or 743, the Capital Accounts of the Members will be adjusted as provided in Treas. Reg. §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m). The manner in which Capital Accounts are to be maintained pursuant to this section is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 704(b) and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and the provisions herein regarding maintenance of Capital Accounts shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. If the Tax Matters Member reasonably determines that the manner in which Capital Accounts are to be maintained pursuant to the preceding provisions of this section should be modified in order to comply with Code Section 704(b) and the Treasury Regulations, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the preceding provisions of this section, the method in which Capital Accounts are maintained shall be so modified; provided, however , that any change in the manner of maintaining Capital Accounts shall not alter the economic agreement between or among the Members as set forth in this Agreement.
8.4 Allocation of Profits and Losses .
(a) Profits and Losses for each Fiscal Year shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with the Members Percentage Interests. The term Percentage Interests means the percentage interest of any Member in the Company determined by dividing the number of Units held by such Member by all outstanding Units of Company interest. Units is a term used in this Agreement for purposes of making allocations and determining certain votes; the number of Units allocated to each Member is indicated on Exhibit A . Units do not represent a Members interest in the capital of the Company, which is determined solely by a Members Capital Account.
(b) The special allocations set forth in Appendix II shall be made prior to the allocations under this section.
(c) Profits and Losses mean an amount equal to the Companys taxable income or loss, respectively, for any period from all sources, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a), adjusted in the following manner: (i) the income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax or not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition will be added to such taxable income or loss; (ii) any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as described in such Section pursuant to Treas. Reg. §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) or not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition will be subtracted from such taxable income or loss; (iii) in the event the Carrying Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to Appendix II ,
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section 3.0(b), (c) or (d) hereof, the amount of such adjustment will be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses; (iv) gain or loss resulting from the disposition of an asset will be computed by reference to the Carrying Value of such asset; (v) a deduction for Depreciation will be taken in lieu of a deduction for depreciation, amortization or cost recovery allowable for federal income tax purposes for such Fiscal Year; (vi) to the extent an adjustment under Code Section 734(b) is required by Treas. Reg. §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Members interest, the amount of such item will be treated as an item of gain or loss from the disposition of the asset and will be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and (vii) any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Appendix II will not be taken into account in computing Profits and Losses. Depreciation means, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes for such Fiscal Year, unless the Carrying Value for an asset differs from the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes, in which case Depreciation means an amount that bears the same ratio to the beginning Carrying Value as the depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deduction bears to the beginning adjusted tax basis, provided, however that if the adjusted basis of an asset is zero at the beginning of a Fiscal Year, Depreciation will be determined by the Board of Managers by using any reasonable method.
8.5 Distribution of Net Income . Subject to the approval of the Board of Managers, the Company shall distribute 80% of the Companys Net Income to the Members no later than May 15 of each year or earlier if possible in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. Thereafter, the balance of the Companys Net Income, less any amount that the Board of Managers determines the Company needs to retain for investment in its Business, shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. Amounts withheld pursuant to Code Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 or 1446 with respect to any Member shall be treated as amounts distributed to such Member on the date each such withholding is made for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be credited against amounts otherwise distributable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement.
8.6 Liability of Member for Return of Distribution . Each Member understands that it may be liable to the Company for the return of any cash or other property it receives in violation of §18-607 of the Act. A Member shall not otherwise be personally liable to creditors of the Company for any debts, obligations, liabilities or losses of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise.
8.7 Tax Provisions . The provisions set forth in Appendix II shall apply for all purposes of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE IX
TRANSFER OF COMPANY INTERESTS
9.1 No Transfer of Company Interest . Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no Member may offer to sell, sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer or otherwise dispose of (together, a Transfer ) all or any portion of its Units. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer by any Member in violation of the preceding sentence shall be null and void ab initio and of no force or effect whatever. Each Member hereby acknowledges the reasonableness of the restrictions on Transfer imposed by this Agreement in view of the purposes of this Agreement and the relationship of the Members. Accordingly, the restrictions on Transfer contained herein shall be specifically enforceable. Each Member hereby further agrees to hold the Company and each other Member (and each other Members successors and permitted assigns) wholly and completely harmless from any cost, liability, or damage (including, without limitation, liabilities for income taxes and costs of enforcing this indemnity) incurred by any of such indemnified Persons as a result of a Transfer or an attempted Transfer in violation of this Agreement
9.2 Compliance with Securities Act of 1933 . No Members Units have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(2) of such act. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement, a Member may not Transfer its Units unless, at the expense of the transferring Member, the Company has received an opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel acceptable to its counsel, to the effect that such Transfer is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 and is in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations. The Board of Managers may, in its sole discretion, waive the requirements of this section with respect to the Transfer of any Units, but any such waiver will not constitute a waiver of any subsequent Transfer of such interest or the Transfer of any other Units.
9.3 Transfer of Interest to Affiliates . Notwithstanding sections 6.2, 9.1 and 9.4 hereof, any Member may Transfer all or any portion of its Units to an Affiliate, provided that such Affiliate agrees in writing to be bound by all terms of this Agreement and the Noncompete Agreement and in such case such Affiliate shall become a Member.
9.4 Admission of Transferee as Substituted Member . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any assignment of a Members Units shall require the prior written consent of all Members. Any permitted assignee of a Members Units shall not become a substituted Member unless and until the Board of Managers consents in writing to such substitution, which consent may be arbitrarily withheld. If a Member assigns all or any part of its Units in the Company in violation of this section (including an assignment of the Members economic interest therein), the transferor Member will have no rights of a Member under the Act with respect to the Units so transferred, and the Members transferee may not: (a) require any accounting of the Companys transactions; (b) inspect the Companys books and records; (c) require any information from the Company; or (d) exercise any privilege or right of a Member which is not specifically granted to a non-substituted transferee of a limited liability company interest under the Act
9.5 Allocations and Distributions with Respect to Transferred Interests . If any Transfer of any Units in the Company permitted by this Agreement occurs during a Fiscal Year (whether or not the assignee is admitted as a substituted Member), then all allocations of Profits and Losses attributable to the Units subject to the Transfer for such year will be divided and allocated between the transferor and the transferee by taking into account their varying interests during such fiscal period, using any convention or method of allocation selected by
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the Board of Managers which is then permitted under Code Section 706 and the regulations promulgated thereunder. All distributions of Net Income made prior to the effective date of any such Transfer will be made to the transferor and any such distributions made after the effective date of such Transfer will be made to the transferee.
ARTICLE X
WITHDRAWAL, BANKRUPTCY OR LIQUIDATION
OF MEMBERS
10.1 Withdrawal of Member . A Member may not withdraw from the Company.
10.2 Bankruptcy, Liquidation, Etc., of a Member . A Member will not cease to be a Member by reason of the items listed in § 1 8-304(a)(1) through (6) of the Act. The happening of any such event will not operate to cause the dissolution of the Company.
10.3 Bankruptcy of Member . Upon the bankruptcy of a Member and after such time as the Company has received written notice thereof, the authorized representative of such Member will have all of the rights of a Member for the purposes of effecting the orderly winding up and disposition of the affairs of such Member.
ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION OF THE
COMPANY
11.1 Events of Dissolution . Upon the occurrence of any event described herein which causes dissolution of the Company and the failure of the Members to elect to continue the Company, or upon the unanimous determination by the Members that it is no longer profitable, feasible or advantageous to operate the business of the Company, provided that a Member has not exercised its right to purchase the other Members Units and interest with respect to the Company pursuant to section 6.1, the Company shall be dissolved and liquidated in accordance with the provisions of this Article XI. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Members covenants and agrees with the other that neither Member shall apply to any court for dissolution of the Company within the first twenty-four (24) months following the Effective Date.
11.2 Liquidation .
(a) Upon the dissolution of the Company, the Members (the Liquidating Members ), or the Liquidating Trustee appointed in accordance with section 11.3, shall cause to be made an accounting of the Companys assets, liabilities and operations, from the date of the last previous accounting until the date of dissolution, and shall take any necessary action to liquidate the Company. The liquidation proceeds will be applied in the following order:
(i) To creditors in order of priority as provided by law, except for any indebtedness owing to any Member.
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(ii) To the establishment of any reserves that may be deemed by the Liquidating Members or the Liquidation Trustee to be reasonably necessary for any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company;
(iii) To the Members in satisfaction of any indebtedness owing to them; and
(iv) To the Members in accordance with their positive Capital Account balances.
(b) Upon liquidation of the Company, no Member will be required to contribute any amount to the Company solely because of a deficit balance in its Capital Account and any such deficit balance will not for any purpose be considered an asset of the Company.
(c) For purposes of the liquidation of the Company assets, the discharge of its liabilities and the distributions of the remaining funds among the Members as above described, the Liquidating Members or Liquidating Trustee may on behalf of the Company sell, convey, exchange or otherwise transfer the assets of the Company for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate. The Liquidating Members or the Liquidating Trustee, in its sole discretion, may make distributions in kind to Members. A reasonable time will be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Company and the discharge of liabilities of the Company to creditors to enable the Company to minimize normal losses during a liquidation period.
11.3 Election of Liquidating Trustee . The Liquidating Members may elect, by a unanimous vote, one of the Representatives or any other person, firm or corporation of their choice to act as liquidating trustee (the Liquidating Trustee ) in the liquidation of the Company business in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
11.4 Statements . The Companys auditor shall furnish each of the Members with a statement setting forth the assets and liabilities of the Company as of the date of complete liquidation. When the Liquidating Members or the Liquidating Trustee has complied with the distribution plan set forth in this Article XI, the Liquidating Members or the Liquidating Trustee, as the case may be, shall execute and cause to be filed a certificate of dissolution of the Company.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENT OF THE AGREEMENT
12.1 Ordinary Course Amendments . This Agreement may be amended by the Board of Managers provided that such amendment is:
(a) For the purpose of amending Exhibit A in order to recognize the substitution or deletion of a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;
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(b) For the purpose of reflecting a change in the amount or character of the Capital Contribution of any Member; or
(c) In the opinion of counsel for the Company, necessary or appropriate to satisfy current requirements of the Code with respect to partnerships or any federal or state securities laws or regulations.
Any amendment made pursuant to subsection (c) may be made effective as of the date of this Agreement. All Members must be notified as to the substance of any amendment to this Agreement and upon request will be furnished a copy thereof.
12.2 Other Amendments . All other amendments to this Agreement require the unanimous written consent of the Members.
ARTICLE XIII
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS; OTHER AGREEMENTS
13.1 Offers of Employment . The Company may offer employment and employee benefits to employees upon terms and conditions approved by the Board of Managers from time to time.
13.2 Noncompete Agreement . Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Company and Pank shall enter into an Noncompete Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit D .
13.3 License Agreement . Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Company and BTI shall enter into an intellectual property license agreement in the form attached as Exhibit E (the License Agreement ).
13.4 Assignment Agreements . Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Company and BTI shall enter into the Assignment Agreements in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit F1 and Exhibit F2 (the Assignment Agreements ).
13.5 AccuBid Right to Purchase . For as long as AccuBid Civil Construction, Inc., located at 1010 Deer Hollow Road, Mt. Airy, Maryland 21771, is under the control of Pank (as Control is defined in Appendix I hereto), AccuBid shall have the right to purchase products manufactured by the Company from the Company at cost (including reasonable allocations for overhead) for the sole purpose of direct installation on AccuBids construction projects but for no other purposes.
13.6 Lease of Manufacturing Facility . The Company will either assume BTIs current lease of its manufacturing facility or the Company and the current landlord of BTIs manufacturing facility will enter into a new lease on market terms. BTI and Mid-Atlantic will use reasonable commercial efforts to assist the Company in these matters.
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13.7 Company Sales Channels . The Members hereby agree that the Company may sell its products to any customers and may sell the products directly to customers (primarily through distribution except that unless all of the Members otherwise agree in writing, the Company will not sell any products to Contech Engineering Solutions, LLC, 9025 Centre Pointe, Westchester, Ohio 45069.
13.8 BTI Name Change . Within fifteen (15) days after the Closing, BTI shall change its name and thereafter none of BTI, Mid-Atlantic, Pank or any of their Affiliates shall use the BaySaver name, trade name, brand and/or marks or any confusingly similar name in any manner whatsoever.
13.9 Commissions . The Company shall pay ADS commissions equal to: (i) 4% of all sales by the Company made during the first 12 months of the term of this Agreement, and (ii) 3% of all sales by the Company made on any date after the first 12 months of the term of this Agreement. The commissions shall be paid on a monthly basis in a manner approved by the Board of Managers. One hundred percent (100%) of the commission payments received by ADS will be paid by ADS to members of ADS sales force and ADS independent sales agents who actually made the sales that resulted in the commission; provided that ADS will withhold amounts from any such payment as required by applicable law.
13.10 Services . From time to time, the Board of Managers may approve the provision of services from a Member to the Company on terms and conditions approved by the Board of Managers.
ARTICLE XIV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
14.1 Representations and Warranties of ADS/V . ADS/V hereby represents and warrants to BTI and Mid-Atlantic as follows as of the Effective Date:
(a) ADS/V Corporate Existence and Power . ADS/V is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the agreements contemplated herein (collectively, the Transaction Documents ) and to perform all of its obligations thereunder, and no consent or approval of any other person or governmental authority is required therefor. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action of ADS/V. This Agreement and the Transaction Documents are valid and binding obligations of ADS/V, and are enforceable against it in accordance with their terms and conditions, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) Non-contravention . The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation by ADS/V of the transactions contemplated thereby do not, and with the giving of notice or lapse of time will not, violate, constitute a default under or cause the termination of (i) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of ADS/V, (ii) any agreement, mortgage, license, permit or other instrument or obligation to which ADS/V is bound or (iii) any statute or law or any judgment, decree, order, regulation or rule of any court or governmental authority.
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(c) Properties; Assets; Liens .
(i) All of the assets contributed by ADS and ADS/V to the Company are free and clear of any and all liens, claims or encumbrances or restrictions on transfer except as disclosed in section 14.1(c) of Exhibit G .
(ii) There is no violation of any law, regulation or ordinance relating to the any of the assets contributed by ADS or ADS/V.
(iii) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of ADS or ADS/V, after due inquiry, threatened, proceedings, lawsuits, or administrative actions relating to the assets contributed by ADS or ADS/V, except as set forth in section 14.1(c) of Exhibit G .
(iv) The assets contributed by ADS or ADS/V are free from material defects, have been consistently maintained in accordance with normal industry practice and are in good operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear).
(d) Assumed Liabilities . The Company shall have no responsibility for, any liabilities or obligations of ADS or ADS/V or any of their Affiliates of any nature whatsoever which are not specifically included in the Assumed Liabilities.
(e) Business Activities . There is no agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon ADS or ADS/V that has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting any business practice of the Company, any acquisition of property by the Company or the operations of the Company either before or after the Effective Date.
(f) Compliance with Laws . Except for violations which will not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company, neither ADS nor ADS/V is in violation of any applicable provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations.
(g) Disclosure . To the knowledge of ADS/V, no representation or warranty in this section 14.1 or any Exhibit hereto or other Transaction Document contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(h) Finders Fees . ADS/V has not employed any investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary who might be entitled to any fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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14.2 Representations and Warranties of BTI and Mid-Atlantic . BTI and Mid-Atlantic each hereby severally represent and warrant to ADS/V as follows as of the Effective Date, except as disclosed in Exhibit G :
(a) BTI and Mid-Atlantic Corporate Existence and Power . BTI and Mid-Atlantic are corporations duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and each has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and to perform all of its respective obligations thereunder, and no consent or approval of any other person or governmental authority is required therefor. Pank is the sole shareholder of BTI and Mid-Atlantic. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action of BTI and Mid-Atlantic. This Agreement and the Transaction Documents are valid and binding obligations of BTI and Mid-Atlantic, and are enforceable against each of them in accordance with their terms and conditions, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) Non-Contravention . The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation by BTI and Mid-Atlantic of the transactions contemplated hereby do not, and with the giving of notice or lapse of time will not, violate, constitute a default under or cause the termination of (A) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of BTI or Mid-Atlantic, (B) any agreement, mortgage, license, permit or other instrument or obligation to which BTI or Mid-Atlantic or any of their Affiliates is bound or (C) any statute or law or any judgment, decree, order, regulation or rule of any court or governmental authority.
(c) Certain Interests . Neither BTI nor Mid-Atlantic nor any of their Affiliates (i) is a party to or has an interest in any material contracts or other arrangements relating to the Business or the Company, except as set forth in Article 13 or in section 14.2(c) of Exhibit G , or (ii) has any interest in any material property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, including Intellectual Property Rights, used in or pertaining to the Company, other than the Initial Assets and the assets being licensed to the Company pursuant to the License Agreement. Section 14.2(c) of Exhibit G sets forth a list or description of each material arrangement through which the Company acquires from BTI or Mid-Atlantic or any Affiliates of BTI or Mid-Atlantic any goods, properties or services.
(d) Properties; Assets; Liens .
(i) All of the assets contributed by BTI and Mid-Atlantic to the Company are free and clear of any and all liens, claims or encumbrances or restrictions on transfer except as disclosed in section 14.2(d) of Exhibit G .
(ii) There is no violation of any law, regulation or ordinance relating to the any of the assets contributed by BTI or Mid-Atlantic.
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(iii) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of BTI or Mid-Atlantic, after due inquiry, threatened, proceedings, lawsuits, or administrative actions relating to the assets contributed by BTI or Mid-Atlantic, except as set forth in section 14.2(d) of Exhibit G .
(iv) The assets contributed by BTI and Mid-Atlantic are free from material defects, have been consistently maintained in accordance with normal industry practice and are in good operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear).
(e) Assumed Liabilities . The Company shall have no responsibility for, any liabilities or obligations of BTI or Mid-Atlantic or any of their Affiliates of any nature whatsoever which are not specifically included in the Assumed Liabilities.
(f) Business Activities . There is no agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon BTI or Mid-Atlantic or any of their Affiliates that has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting any business practice of the Company, any acquisition of property by the Company or the operations of the Company either before or after the Effective Date.
(g) Contracts . Section 14.2(g) of Exhibit G lists each of the contracts and agreements that comprises part of the Initial Assets (collectively, the Contracts ). To the knowledge of BTI and Mid-Atlantic, except as disclosed in section 14.2(g) of Exhibit G , each Contract: (i) is valid and binding on the Company and (ii) is in full force and effect. Neither BTI nor Mid-Atlantic is in material breach of, or material default under, any Contract. To the knowledge of the BTI and Mid-Atlantic, no other party to any Contract is in breach thereof or default thereunder.
(h) Licenses . BTI and Mid-Atlantic have transferred to the Company all licenses necessary to conduct the Companys operations as presently contemplated. No such license transferred to the Company will be terminated or impaired as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(i) Compliance with Laws . Except for violations which will not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company, neither BTI nor Mid-Atlantic nor any of their Affiliates is in violation of any applicable provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations.
(j) Intellectual Property .
(i) BTI and Mid-Atlantic have transferred to the Company, all of the Intellectual Property (as defined in Appendix I ) owned or controlled by BTI and Mid-Atlantic and their respective Affiliates that is needed by the Company in the conduct of the operations of the Company and there are no other items of Intellectual Property owned or controlled by BTI or Mid-Atlantic or its Affiliates that are material to the Company or the operations of the Company. Section 14.2(j) of Exhibit G lists each item of Intellectual Property which has been contributed to the Company by BTI or Mid-Atlantic (the Intellectual Property
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Rights ) specifying as to each (if applicable): (A) the nature of such Intellectual Property Right; (B) the owner of such Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Right; (C) the jurisdictions by or in which such Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Right has been issued or registered or in which an application for such issuance or registration has been filed, including the respective registration or application numbers; (D) material licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which BTI or Mid-Atlantic is a party and pursuant to which any Person is authorized to use such Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Right including the identity of all parties thereto, a description of the nature and subject matter thereof, the royalty provided and the term thereof; and (E) a list of all licenses or other agreements that relate in any way to the Intellectual Property Rights. Except as set forth in section 14.2(j) of Exhibit G , BTI and Mid-Atlantic represent that the Company is the sole and exclusive owner of, with all right, title and interest in and to, free and clear of any lien or security interest, the Intellectual Property Rights described therein and has sole and exclusive right (without being contractually obligated to pay any consideration to or otherwise account to any third party with respect thereof) to use the subject matter of such Intellectual Property Rights in connection with the Business.
(ii) Except as set forth in section 14.2(j) of Exhibit G , neither BTI nor Mid-Atlantic nor any of their Affiliates has any writings relating to the Business for which a claim for copyright has been recorded or is pending which has not been transferred or otherwise assigned to the Company.
(iii) Except as set forth in section 14.2(j) of Exhibit G , neither BTI nor Mid-Atlantic nor any of their respective Affiliates (A) has been sued or charged in writing with or been a defendant in any claim, suit, action or proceeding not finally terminated prior to the Effective Date involving a claim of infringement of any Intellectual Property which has been transferred, assigned or otherwise licensed to the Company, (B) has any knowledge of any such charge or claim, (C) has any knowledge of any infringement by any other Person on any of the Intellectual Property Rights, or (D) has any knowledge and has received any notice, claim, threat or suit alleging, that any product, composition, method, or process (or any component of any of the foregoing) that is made, used, sold, offered for sale, or imported by BTI or Mid-Atlantic with respect to any Intellectual Property Right infringes on or conflicts with the Intellectual Property of any third party. No Intellectual Property Right is subject to any outstanding order, judgment, decree, stipulation or agreement restricting the use thereof by BTI or Mid-Atlantic or any of their respective Affiliates or restricting the licensing thereof to the Company. Neither BTI nor Mid-Atlantic nor any of their respective Affiliates have entered into any agreement to indemnify any other Person against any charge of infringement of any of the Intellectual Property.
(iv) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not contravene or constitute a default under, require the consent of any person pursuant to or otherwise result in the termination or impairment of (or permit any Person to terminate or otherwise impair) any Intellectual Property Right.
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(k) Disclosure . To the knowledge of BTI and Mid-Atlantic, no representation or warranty in this section 14.2 or any Exhibit hereto or other Transaction Document contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Finders Fees . BTI and/or Mid-Atlantic have disclosed that they have a financial obligation to Highbank Advisors, LLC (Highbank) with respect to the establishment of the Company, and it is acknowledged that the Company shall have no obligation to make any payment to Highbank or any other investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary who might be entitled to any fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(m) Tax Treatment . Each Cash Payment shall be treated as a payment in exchange for property of the Member receiving the payment under Treas. Reg. § 1.707-3.
ARTICLE XV
INDEMNIFICATION
15.1 Indemnification as to Actions or Omissions in Companys Business . Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Company shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless, and will advance expenses to, the Members, the chairman of the Board of Managers and the secretary to the Board of Managers, the Representatives and the Officers (collectively, Indemnitees ), from any loss, claim, liability, damage, expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (together, Claims ) incurred or suffered by any such Indemnitee with respect to any third party claim by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed, or alleged to have been performed or omitted by such Indemnitees pursuant to this Agreement in connection with the Business of the Company after the Effective Date; provided that, such Indemnitee may not receive indemnification hereunder with respect to any Claim as to which the Indemnitee is adjudged by a final nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have acted in or with fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. Any such indemnification will be made promptly following the fixing of the loss, liability or damage incurred or suffered by final nonappealable decision, settlement, contract or otherwise (except that any attorneys fees and the expenses of defense may be paid as incurred). In no event will any Member be required to make an additional Capital Contribution to carry out this indemnification. Any such indemnity shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only, and no Member shall have any personal liability on account thereof.
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15.2 Procedure for Indemnification .
(a) Each Indemnitee pursuant to section 15.1 shall give prompt written notice to the Company of any potential Claim or event known to it which does or may give rise to indemnification hereunder, stating the nature and basis of said potential Claim or events and the amounts thereof, to the extent known. Notwithstanding the foregoing, failure to give prompt written notice pursuant to this section shall not cause an Indemnitee or Member to lose its rights to indemnification hereunder except to the extent that the Company or other Member can establish that it has been harmed by such delay.
(b) In the event of any Claim under section 15.1, the Indemnitee shall give the Company written notice of such Claim, with a copy of the Claim, process and legal pleadings with respect thereto.
(c) As a condition to the receipt of any indemnification payment hereunder, the Indemnitee shall provide a complete and absolute release with respect to the subject matter of the indemnification to the Company and the other Members.
(d) Attorneys fees for Claims shall be allocated as follows: (i) for matters required to be settled by arbitration under this Agreement, all costs, expenses, fees and attorneys fees shall be allocated pursuant to section 16.2(d); and (ii) for matters not subject to arbitration under this Agreement, the prevailing party (or parties) in any Claim, which is adjudged by a final nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be entitled to full and prompt reimbursement of its (or their) costs, expenses, fees, and attorneys fees from the nonprevailing party (or if there are multiple nonprevailing parties, the aggregate amount of the reimbursement payable to the prevailing party or parties, shall be made proportionately based on each nonprevailing partys liability on the Claim to the total liability of the Claim.
15.3 Survival . The provisions of this Article shall survive dissolution and liquidation of the Company and shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason. The representations and warranties of the parties contained in Article XIV or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant to Article XIV shall survive the Effective Date and continue in full force and effect for a period of eighteen (18) months thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing and without limiting any of the provisions of the previous sentence, the respective representations and warranties of BTI, Mid-Atlantic and ADS/V contained in section 14.1 (b), (c), (d) and (h) and section 14.2 (b), (d), (e), (j) and (l) shall survive without limitation. All covenants and other agreements of the parties included in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Date except as indicated herein.
ARTICLE XVI
MISCELLANEOUS
16.1 Notices . Any and all notices or other communications shall be sent to any Member at the address listed in Exhibit A , unless the Company and the other Member is notified in writing of any change of address. Notices or other communications will be deemed to have been given only when hand delivered, sent by facsimile or e-mail with receipt confirmed by telephone, or sent by recognized overnight delivery service.
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16.2 Governing Law; Arbitration .
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) Except for defaults relating to payments as provided for in any of the Transaction Documents or in connection with pursuit of any equitable remedy, any dispute, deadlock, controversy or claim arising out of, relating to or in connection with any of the Transaction Documents, including any question regarding the existence, validity or termination, or a breach thereof but excluding any breaches for payments under such agreements (hereafter, each such dispute, deadlock, controversy, claim or breach, a Dispute ), shall be settled by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ( AAA ) in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules in effect on the date of this Agreement. A Member desiring to submit a Dispute arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement to arbitration shall give written notice to such effect to the other Member(s) and to the AAA.
(c) Any and all arbitrations shall take place in Baltimore, Maryland, or at such other place as the parties may mutually agree, before a single arbitrator. The AAA shall designate the arbitrator for each arbitration proceeding.
(d) As part of the award, the arbitrator shall have the authority to allocate to either party all or a portion of the costs, fees and expenses incurred by the other party in connection with the arbitration and in the preparation for the arbitration, including (a) reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, (b) the AAAs administrative fees and expenses, and (c) the fees and expenses of the arbitrators. Except as provided above, each party to the arbitration shall equally bear the fees and expenses of the arbitration proceeding, including those of the arbitrator and the AAA, and each party shall be responsible for any legal fees incurred by it in connection with any arbitration.
(e) The parties agree to facilitate the arbitration by (i) conducting arbitration hearings to the greatest extent possible on successive days, and (ii) observing strictly the time periods established by the Rules or by the arbitrator for submission of evidence or briefs.
(f) The arbitrator shall have the authority to grant prejudgment injunctive or interim relief. Direct testimony may be submitted by sworn affidavit, written question and answer or oral testimony. Reasonable discovery shall be permitted. The decision of the arbitrator shall be rendered as expeditiously as possible. Any award shall set forth the factual and legal grounds upon which it is based. The arbitrator shall not have any authority to award special, exemplary, indirect, consequential or punitive damages.
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(g) The award may be made public only with the written consent of all parties to the arbitration; provided, however, that any ruling or award may be cited in any subsequent dispute. The factual findings of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties to the arbitration and shall not be subject to judicial review. In any proceeding to vacate or confirm the award, the reviewing court shall have full jurisdiction to review and correct errors of law as if sitting in review of the decision of a lower court. Subject to the review permitted by the preceding sentence, judgment on any award or determination rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any a court having jurisdiction thereof, and the parties to the arbitration authorize any such court to enter judgment on the award or determination.
(h) Each of the Members hereby undertakes to carry out without delay the provisions of any arbitration award or decision, if applicable to it.
(i) Except as expressly provided above to the contrary or in connection with pursuit of an equitable remedy, each Member agrees that arbitration under this section 16.2 is the exclusive method for resolving any Dispute with respect to this Agreement and that it will not commence any action or proceeding based on a Dispute, except to enforce an arbitrators decisions as provided in this section 16.2 or to compel the other Member to participate in arbitration under this section 16.2 or to vacate or confirm the award as provided in this section 16.2.
16.3 Business Practices . Each Member, Representative, Officer and the Company (for itself and any subsidiaries) in the performance of their obligations and in the conduct of the Business shall comply in all material respects with all relevant laws and regulations (including licensing requirements and requirements for government approvals) of the United States of America, and of any country in which the Company or a subsidiary does business. Each of the Members shall cooperate with the other and with the Company in meeting this obligation. In no event shall any Member, Representative, Officer or the Company or its subsidiaries be obligated under this Agreement to take any action or omit to take any action that any such person believes, in good faith, would cause him or it, or its stockholders, members, partners, managers, directors, officers, employees, agents or Representative to be in violation of any applicable laws or regulations including, without limitation, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as amended.
16.4 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which constitute one agreement, notwithstanding that all of the parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart, or that signature pages from different counterparts are combined, and the signature of any party to any counterpart shall be deemed to be a signature to and may be appended to any other counterpart.
16.5 Language Conventions; Captions . Words of any gender used in this Agreement include any other gender, and words of the singular number include the plural (and vice-versa), when the sense requires. The captions to each Article and section are inserted only as a matter of convenience and for reference only and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of this Agreement or in any way affect it.
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16.6 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the remaining Transaction Documents together contain the entire understanding between the parties and supersedes any prior understanding and agreements between them respecting the subject matter hereof. There are no representations, agreements, arrangements or understandings, oral or written, between and among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not described herein or therein.
16.7 Provisions Severable . This Agreement is intended to be performed in accordance with and only to the extent permitted by, all applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which the Company does business. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or entity or circumstance, are for any reason and to any extent invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law in the applicable jurisdiction or circumstance and the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not be affected thereby, but rather shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
16.8 Binding Agreement . This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of all Members and their respective legal representatives, heirs, permitted successors and permitted assigns.
16.9 Further Action . Each Member agrees to perform all further acts and execute, acknowledge, and deliver any documents which may be reasonably necessary, appropriate, or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.
16.10 Waivers . The failure of any party to seek redress for violation of or to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant or condition of this Agreement shall not prevent a subsequent act, which would have originally constituted a violation, from having the effect of an original violation.
16.11 Facsimile/Scanned PDF Execution . For purposes of this Agreement, a document (or signature page thereto) signed and transmitted by facsimile machine or telecopier or by scanned PDF is to be treated as an original document. The signature of any party on such document, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature on an original document. At the request of any party, any facsimile or telecopy document is to be re-executed in original form by the parties who executed the facsimile or telecopy document. No party may raise the use of a facsimile machine or telecopier or the fact that any signature was transmitted through the use of a facsimile or telecopier machine as a defense to the enforcement of this Agreement or any amendment or other document executed in compliance with this section 16.11.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Agreement and have hereunto set their hands to multiple copies hereof to be effective as provided in section 1.2.
ADS VENTURES, INC. | BAYSAVER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | |||||||
By: | /s/ Joseph A. Chlapaty | By: | /s/ Thomas E. Pank | |||||
Name and Title: Joseph A. Chlapaty, President | Name and Title: Thomas E. Pank, President | |||||||
Date: 7/15/13 | Date: 7/15/13 |
MID ATLANTIC STORM WATER RESEARCH CENTER, INC. | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Thomas E. Pank | |||||||
Name and Title: Thomas E. Pank, President | ||||||||
Date: 7/15/13 |
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EXHIBIT A
Address of Principal Place of Business |
Name and Address of Registered Agent of the Company for Service of Process |
|||||||
BaySaver Technologies, LLC 1010 Deer Hollow Drive Mount Airy, Maryland 21771 Attn: Dan Hurdis and Ron Vitarelli |
Corporation Trust Company 1209 Orange Street Wilmington, DE 19801 |
|||||||
Name and Business Address of ADS/V |
Percentage Interest |
Number of Units | ||||||
ADS Ventures, Inc. Attn: Joseph A. Chlapaty, President 4640 Trueman Blvd. Hilliard, OH 43026 |
55% | 55 | ||||||
Name and Business Address of BTI |
Percentage Interest |
Number of Units |
||||||
BaySaver Technologies, Inc. Attn: Thomas Pank, President |
tbd% | tbd | ||||||
Name and Business Address of Mid-Atlantic |
Percentage Interest |
Number of Units |
||||||
Mid-Atlantic Storm Water Research Center, Inc. Attn: Thomas Pank, President |
tbd% | tbd | ||||||
A-1
EXHIBIT B
List of Initial Contributions and Initial Assets
Description of Initial Assets and Initial Contributions
[To be completed prior to the first Board Meeting of the Company]
B-1
EXHIBIT C
List of Assumed Liabilities
None
C-1
APPENDIX I
The capitalized terms used in the body of this Agreement have the meanings set forth below or in the provision referenced below, where such term appears in boldface print. Defined terms used in only one section of the Agreement may not be listed below.
AAA is defined in section 16.2(b).
Act is defined in the preamble.
ADS is defined in section 2.2.
ADS/V is defined in section 2.2.
ADS/V Notice of Election is defined in section 6.2(b).
ADS/V Representatives is defined in section 4.1(a).
ADS Water Quality Separator Business means ADS business relating to the marketing and sale of water quality filters and separators used in the removal of sediment and pollution from storm water but shall specifically exclude ADS StormTech, FlexStorm, Nyloplast and geotextiles businesses and products and services related to these excluded businesses.
Adjusted Capital Account Balance is defined in Appendix II .
Affiliate means (i) any Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, any Member, directly or indirectly; and (ii) any Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, any Person identified by clause (i). For purposes of this definition, control shall be defined as in the Securities Act of 1933, and no Member shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any other Member except that BTI and Mid-Atlantic shall be deemed affiliates hereunder.
Agreement is defined in the preamble.
Assignment Agreement is defined in section 13.4.
Assumed Liabilities is defined in section 2.2(b).
Board of Managers is defined in section 4.1(a).
BTI/Mid-Atlantic Notice of Election is defined in section 6.2(b).
BTI/Mid-Atlantic Representatives is defined in section 4.1(a).
Budget is defined in section 5.2(b).
Business is defined in section 2.1.
App. I-1
Capital Account is defined in section 8.3.
Capital Contributions is defined in section 7.1.
Carrying Value is defined in Appendix II .
Certificate is defined in section 1.2.
Change in Control means any of the following events: (a) a Member or ADS enters into an agreement to merge, consolidate or reorganize into or with a Person, and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding ownership interests of such Person immediately after such transaction will be held in the aggregate by Persons other than those who were the holders of 50% or more of the beneficial interest in voting securities of such Member or ADS, as the case may be, immediately prior to such transaction; (b) a Member or ADS enters into an agreement to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, and after such sale or transfer, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such Person immediately after such transaction will be held in the aggregate by Persons other than those who were the holders of 50% or more of the beneficial interests in the voting securities of such Member or ADS, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or transfer; (c) during any continuous 12-month period, stockholders of a Member or ADS sell or enter into an agreement or agreements to sell to a Person, interests of such Member or ADS, representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of such Member or ADS, as applicable, at the beginning of such 12-month period; (d) a Member or ADS makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; (e) a Member or ADS applies to any tribunal for the appointment of a trustee or receiver of such Member or ADS or of any substantial part of the assets of such Member or ADS, or a Member or ADS commences any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect; or (1) any petition or application is filed, or any proceedings are commenced against a Member or ADS seeking the adjudication of such Member or ADS as bankrupt and such Member or ADS by any act indicates its admission or consent thereto, or acquiescence therein, or any order is entered appointing a trustee or receiver, or adjudicating a Member or ADS bankrupt or insolvent, or approving the petition in any such proceedings and such order remains unstayed or undischarged for more than 90 days. For purposes of this Agreement, the death or disability of Thomas Pank shall constitute a Change of Control of any Member under control of Pank at the time of his death or disability.
Claims is defined in section 15.1.
Code is defined in section 4.7.
Company is defined in section 1.1. References to the Company will be deemed to include its subsidiaries unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
App. I-2
References to the Company and its subsidiaries in some places is not intended to exclude subsidiaries from references to the Company alone.
Company Balance Sheet is defined in section 3.9.
Contracts is defined in section 14.2(g).
Control as used in section 13.5 of this Agreement means the retention of at least 50% or more of the total outstanding voting interests by Pank (or any immediate family member of Pank in the case of Panks disability or death) of AccuBid, or any successor or parent of AccuBid.
Depreciation is defined in section 8.4(c).
Dispute is defined in section 16.2(b).
EBITDA means the Companys earnings before the deduction of interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses and other non-recurring or non-operating expenses or charges . For purposes of this Agreement, annual research and development expenses of the Company in excess of $100,000 will be added back to EBITDA.
Effective Date is defined in section 1.2.
First Two-Year Period is defined in section 4.2(b).
Fiscal Year is defined in section 8.1, and, where the context requires, shall include a portion of a Fiscal Year.
HIL Business means ADS Hydro International (HIL) Business.
Indemnitees is defined in section 15.1.
Initial Assets is defined in section 2.2.
Intellectual Property means all patents and patent applications; registered and common law trademarks and service marks (and all registrations or applications for such marks), trade names, service names, brand names, and trade dress (and the goodwill associated with all of the foregoing, if any); registered and unregistered copyrights; trade secrets, formulas, designs, know-how, unpatented inventions, mask works, and any other similar type of proprietary intellectual property rights.
Intellectual Property Rights is defined in section 14.2(m).
IRS is defined in Appendix II .
License Agreement is defined in section 13.3.
Liquidating Members is defined in section 11.2(a).
App. I-3
Liquidating Trustee is defined in section 11.3.
Losses is defined in section 8.4(c).
Major Matters is defined in section 3.2.
Member Nonrecourse Debt is defined in Appendix II .
Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain is defined in Appendix II .
Member Nonrecourse Deductions is defined in Appendix II .
Members is defined in section 3.1.
Minimum Gain is defined in Appendix II .
Net Income means the Companys earnings after any taxes paid by the Company and less any interest expense paid by the Company.
Noncompete Agreement is defined in section 3.7.
Nonrecourse Deductions is defined in Appendix II .
Nonrecourse Liability is defined in Appendix II .
Officers is defined in section 5.1.
Percentage Interests is defined in section 8.4(a).
Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, or any similar entity organized under foreign law.
Profits is defined in section 8.4(c).
Purchasing Member is defined in section 6.1.
Representative and Representatives are defined in section 4.1(a).
Second Two-Year Period is defined in section 4.2(b).
Selling Members is defined in section 6.1.
Tax Matters Member is defined in section 4.7.
Transaction Documents is defined in section 14.1(a).
Transfer is defined in section 9.1.
Treasury Regulations and Treas. Reg. are defined in section 4.7.
Units is defined in section 8.4(a).
App. I-4
APPENDIX II
TAX PROVISIONS
The following provisions apply for all purposes of this Agreement.
1.0 Allocations Required by Treasury Regulations .
(a) Subject to the exceptions set forth in Treas. Reg. §§1.704-2(f)(2)(5), if there is a net decrease in Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Members share of the net decrease in Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.704-2(g)(2). Minimum Gain shall have the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. §§1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d). This paragraph is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treas. Reg. §§1.704-2(b)(2) and (f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(b) Subject to the exceptions set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year of the Company, each Member who has a share of the Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(3), shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Members share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704 2(i)(5). This paragraph is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain means an amount, with respect to each Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i) with respect to partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain. Member Nonrecourse Debt shall have the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(b)(4) for partner nonrecourse debt.
(c) In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1 (b)(2)(ii)( d )( 4 ), ( 5 ) or ( 6 ), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficits in its Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this section 1.0(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Agreement have been tentatively made as if this section 1.0(c) were not in the Agreement. This paragraph is intended to constitute a qualified income offset within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1 (b)(2)(ii)( d ), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. Adjusted Capital Account Balance means the balance in the Capital Account of a Member as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year of the Company, after giving effect to the following: (i) credit to such Capital Account any amounts the Member is obligated to restore, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, or is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treas. Reg. § l.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), and (ii) debit to such capital account the
App. II-1
items described in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1 (b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6). The allocations set forth in this section 1.0 are intended to comply with certain requirements of Treasury Regulations promulgated under Code Section 704. Such allocations shall be taken into account in allocating other Profits, Losses, and items of income, gain, loss, and deduction to each Member so that, to the extent possible, and to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulations, the net amount of such allocations of other Profits, Losses, and other items and such allocations to each Member shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Member if such allocations had not been made.
(d) Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other period shall be specially allocated to the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests. Nonrecourse Deductions shall have the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704 2(b)(1). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a Fiscal Year of the Company equals the excess, if any, of the net increase, if any, in the amount of Minimum Gain during that Fiscal Year over the aggregate amount of any distributions during that Fiscal Year of proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability that are allocable to an increase in Minimum Gain, determined according to the provisions of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(c). Nonrecourse Liability shall have the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(b)(3).
(e) Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other period shall be specially allocated to the Member who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(1). Member Nonrecourse Deductions shall have the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(2) for partner nonrecourse deductions. For any Company taxable year, the amount of Member Nonrecourse Deductions with respect to a Member Nonrecourse Debt equals the net increase during the year, if any, in the amount of Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain reduced (but not below zero) by proceeds of the liability that are both attributable to the liability and allocable to an increase in the Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain.
2.0 Rules of Application .
(a) Profits and Losses and other items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with the portion of the year during which the Members have held their respective interests. All items of income, loss and deduction shall be considered to have been earned ratably over the period of the Fiscal Year of the Company, except that (i) gains and losses arising from the disposition of assets shall be taken into account as of the date thereof, and (ii) with the consent of the Board of Managers and all affected parties, the preceding items may be allocated by using an interim closing of the books method.
(b) To the extent any payments in the nature of fees paid to a Member are finally determined to be distributions to a Member for federal income tax purposes, there will be a gross income allocation to such Member in the amount of such distribution.
App. II-2
(c) Losses may not be allocated to any Member to the extent that such allocation would result in a deficit in its Adjusted Capital Account Balance while any other Member continues to have a positive Adjusted Capital Account Balance; in such event Losses will first be allocated to Members with positive Adjusted Capital Account Balances in proportion to such balances, until their positive Adjusted Capital Account Balances have been reduced to zero. To the extent that any Losses are allocated pursuant to this paragraph, Profits will thereafter be allocated in reverse order of such allocations of Losses to the extent of such Losses.
(d) The allocation of Profits and Losses to any Member shall be deemed to be an allocation to that Member of the same proportionate part of each separate item of taxable income, gain, loss, deduction or credit that comprises such Profits and Losses.
(e) To the extent that a Member is imputed income for federal income tax purposes, the Board of Managers may specially allocate to such Member any Company deduction resulting from such deemed payment, as the Board of Managers determines to be appropriate and consistent with the requirements of Code Section 704(b) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
3.0 Rules Concerning Calculations of Profits and Losses and Code Section 704(c) Tax Allocations .
(f) For purposes of computing Profits and Losses, Carrying Value means (i) with respect to contributed property, the agreed value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by Depreciation, (ii) with respect to property the book value of which is adjusted pursuant to Treas. Reg. §§1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( d ), ( e ) or ( f ), the amount determined pursuant to sections 3.0 or (e) and (iii) with respect to any other property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes as of the time of determination.
(g) Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, the Carrying Value of Company property will be adjusted to its fair market value, as determined by the Board of Managers:
(i) The acquisition of an interest in the Company by a new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis contribution of money or property;
(ii) The distribution by the Company to a continuing or retiring Member of more than a de minimis amount of property or money in consideration for an interest in the Company; or
(iii) The liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treas. Reg. §1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(g).
The revaluation of the Company property referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall be made in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(f).
(h) Upon an issuance of additional interests in the Company for cash or contributed property, the Carrying Value of all Company properties will, immediately prior to issuance, be adjusted (consistent with the provisions hereof) upward or downward to reflect any unrealized gain or unrealized loss attributable to each Company property (as if such unrealized gain or unrealized loss had been recognized upon an actual sale of such
App. II-3
property at the fair market value thereof immediately prior to such issuance, and had been allocated to the Members, at such time, pursuant to section 8.4 of the Agreement). In determining such unrealized gain or unrealized loss attributable to the properties, the fair market value of Company properties will be determined by the Board of Managers using such reasonable methods of valuation as it may adopt.
(i) Immediately prior to the distribution of any Company property in liquidation of the Company or in redemption of all or part of any Members interest in the Company, the Carrying Values of all Company properties will be adjusted (consistent with the provisions hereof) upward or downward to reflect any unrealized gain or unrealized loss attributable to each Company property (as if such unrealized gain or unrealized loss had been recognized upon an actual sale of each such property, immediately prior to such distribution, and had been allocated to the Members, at such time, pursuant to section 8.4 of the Agreement). In determining such unrealized gain or unrealized loss attributable to the properties, the fair market value of Company properties will be determined by the Board of Managers using such reasonable methods of valuation as it may adopt.
(j) In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any contributed property will, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its agreed value, pursuant to any method permitted by the regulations and chosen by the Board of Managers.
(k) In the event the Carrying Value of any Company asset is adjusted as described in paragraph (c) or (d) above, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset will take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Carrying Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) and the regulations thereunder.
(l) A transferee of a Company interest will succeed to the Capital Account relating to the Company interest transferred.
4.0 Tax Matters Member
(m) The Tax Matters Member shall be the tax matters partner (as defined in Code Section 6231) and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Companys expense) in connection with all examinations of the Companys affairs by tax authorities and to take all necessary actions in connection therewith, including granting powers of attorney, and to expend Company funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. The Tax Matters Member shall provide all notices and perform all acts required of a tax matters partner under Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code. The Tax Matters Member shall cause the Company to prepare all income and other tax returns of the Company and all subsidiaries, in accordance with this Agreement, and shall cause the same to be filed in a timely manner. The Tax Matters Member shall cause Schedule K-1 to be delivered no later than 90 days after the end of the Fiscal Year. The Tax Matters Member is authorized to take any action that it determines to be necessary to comply with the requirements of Code Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 or 1446 with respect to
App. II-4
withholding certain amounts with respect to payments or distributions to a Member who is not a U.S. person (as defined in Code Section 7701) or withholding of certain amounts with respect to the sale of a United States real property interest (as defined in Code Section 897) or with respect to any withholding requirements of foreign law applicable to income or distributions from any subsidiary of the Company. The Tax Matters Member shall not be liable to the Company or the other Members for any action it takes or fails to take in connection with any such judicial or administrative proceeding, including, without limitation, the agreement to or failure to agree to a settlement or the extension of, or failure to extend the relevant statutes of limitations, unless such action or failure constitutes willful misconduct, fraud, or gross negligence.
(n) The Tax Matters Member shall keep the Members and Representatives advised of any dispute the Company may have with any federal, state or local taxing authority and shall afford the Members the right to participate directly in negotiations with any such taxing authority, at such Members own expense, in an effort to resolve any such dispute.
(o) In the case of a Transfer by ADS/V or BTI or Mid-Atlantic of any or all of its respective Units to an Affiliate, ADS/V or BTI or Mid-Atlantic, as the case may be, shall have the right to cause the Company to make an election under Code Section 754.
App. II-5
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the use in this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 333-194980 of our report dated May 19, 2014, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries, appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement, and of our report dated May 19, 2014, relating to the financial statement schedule appearing elsewhere in this Registration Statement.
We also consent to the reference to us under the heading Experts in such Prospectus.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Columbus, Ohio
June 6, 2014