UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 8-K

 

 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 5, 2016

Commission File Number

001-34581

 

 

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   20-0411521

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

15710 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 300

Houston, TX 77032

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

281-504-4700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

As previously reported, on September 27, 2015, Kraton Polymers LLC (the “ Company ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (the “ Parent ” and, together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, “ Kraton ”), entered into a definitive agreement (the “ Stock Purchase Agreement ”) with AZC Holding Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Arizona Chemical ”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of Arizona Chemical for a cash purchase price of $1.37 billion (the “ Arizona Chemical Acquisition ”).

On January 6, 2016 (the “ Closing Date ”), the $1.37 billion cash purchase price for the Arizona Chemical Acquisition, which is subject to adjustment for cash, indebtedness, working capital, and other items, as well as the Company’s previously announced cash tender offer and redemption of all of its outstanding 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019, and the related acquisition and financing expenses were funded through the following transactions:

 

    A private offering of $440 million in aggregate principal amount of 10.500% Senior Notes, which were issued at a price of 96.225% and mature on April 15, 2023,

 

    A $1,350 million six-year senior secured first lien term loan facility, which was issued at a price of 97.000% and will bear interest at LIBOR plus 500 basis points, subject to a LIBOR floor of 100 basis points, and

 

    A new $250 million five-year asset-based revolving credit facility, $37 million of which was drawn on the Closing Date, which replaced the Company’s former senior secured credit facilities.

Set forth below is a summary of the material terms of each of the transactions mentioned above.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

Term Loan Facility

Overview

On the Closing Date, the Company (referred to herein as the “ Borrower ”), the Parent, Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC (“ KPLLC ”), Elastomers Holdings LLC (“ Elastomers ”), Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation (“ KPCC ”), Arizona Chemical, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc. (“ AZ Intermediate ”), AZ Chem US Holdings Inc. (“ AZ Holdings ”), AZ Chem US Inc. (“ AZ US ”) and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC (“ ACC ” and, together with KPLLC, Elastomers, KPCC, Arizona Chemical, AZ Intermediate, AZ Holdings and AZ US, the “ Guarantors ”), entered into a credit and guarantee agreement (the “ Term Loan Agreement ”) and related pledge and security agreement (the “ Pledge Agreement ”) with certain lenders and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch (“ Credit Suisse AG ”), as administrative agent and collateral agent, to establish a new term loan facility (“ Term Loan Facility ”) consisting of a U.S. senior secured term loan credit facility in an aggregate principal amount equal to $1.35 billion (the “ Initial Term Loan ”). Subject to compliance with certain covenants and other conditions described in the Term Loan Agreement, the Borrower has an option to raise up to $350 million of incremental term loans plus an additional amount subject to a Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement).

Maturity

The principal amount outstanding under the Initial Term Loan is due and payable in full on the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date. The Borrower is required to make scheduled quarterly principal payments beginning on March 31, 2016 in the amount of approximately $8.4 million until December 31, 2016, and then in the amount of approximately $16.9 million until September 30, 2021.

Interest Rates and Fees

Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to an applicable margin, plus, at the Borrower’s option, (a) an adjusted LIBOR rate (subject to a 1% floor) determined by reference to the costs of funds for U.S. dollar deposits for the interest period relevant to such borrowing adjusted for statutory reserve requirements or (b) an alternate base rate (subject to a 2% floor) determined by reference to the highest of (1) the prime rate of Credit Suisse AG, (2) the federal funds rate effective rate plus 0.50% and (3) the one month adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1% per annum. The applicable margin is 5.00% for the Initial Term Loans that are LIBOR loans and 4.00% for the Initial Term Loans that are base rate loans.

 

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In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the Term Loan Facility, the Borrower must pay customary agency fees, an arrangement fee and an upfront fee based on a percentage of the aggregate principal amount.

Mandatory Prepayments

Subject to certain restrictions on repatriation, the Borrower is required to prepay (a) 100% of the net cash proceeds of all non-ordinary course asset sales or other dispositions of property in excess of $25.0 million, to the extent that such proceeds are not reinvested or committed to be reinvested within 12 months and actually so reinvested within 18 months; provided that the net cash proceeds from the sale of ABL Priority Collateral (as defined below) that are required to prepay loans under the Asset Backed Loan Agreement (as defined below) are not required to prepay the loans under the Term Loan Facility, (b) 50% of excess cash flow, declining to 25% and 0% based on the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, and (c) 100% of net cash proceeds from debt issuances except for certain debt issuances relating to refinancing the loans under the Term Loan Facility. The mandatory prepayments shall be applied ratably to each class of loans then outstanding under the Term Loan Facility, without premium or penalty, and as further directed by the Borrower.

Voluntary Prepayments

The Borrower may voluntarily prepay outstanding loans at any time. Voluntary prepayments of the loans may be made without premium or penalty other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to LIBOR loans and other than a 1% premium in connection with certain repricing transactions consummated within 12 months after the Closing Date. Voluntary prepayments will be applied as the Borrower may direct (and absent such direction, pro rata).

Guarantees and Security

All obligations under the Term Loan Facility are guaranteed by the Parent and each of the Guarantors, as further described under the section entitled “Pledge Agreement” below.

Certain Covenants

The Term Loan Agreement contains a number of affirmative covenants including, among other things:

 

    Delivery of financial statements and other reports, compliance certificates and other information, notices of default and notices of other material matters (including environmental disclosures);

 

    Compliance with material laws and regulations;

 

    Commercially reasonable efforts to maintain public corporate credit family ratings of the Borrower and ratings of the Term Loan Facility from Moody’s and S&P (but not to maintain a specific rating);

 

    Maintenance of customary insurance;

 

    Preservation of existence; and

 

    Maintenance of material properties.

The Term Loan Agreement contains a number of negative covenants including, among other things:

 

    Limitations on liens;

 

    Limitations on mergers and consolidations;

 

    Limitations on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business;

 

    Limitations on sale and leaseback transactions;

 

    Limitations on the incurrence and existence of debt;

 

    Limitations on restricted payments;

 

    Limitations on conduct of business;

 

    Limitations on investments, loans, advances and acquisitions; and

 

    Limitations on transactions with affiliates.

 

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The Term Loan Agreement also contains a financial covenant such that the Parent and its restricted subsidiaries must maintain a Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio subject to specified stepdowns at the last day for each fiscal quarter starting from the fiscal quarter ending as of March 31, 2016, and until the fiscal quarter ending as of September 30, 2021.

Events of Default

The Term Loan Agreement contains events of default, including with respect to a failure to make payments under the Term Loan Facility, cross-default and cross-judgment default, breaches by the Borrower and the Guarantors under the Term Loan Agreement, certain bankruptcy events, certain change of control events and the invalidity or enforceability of the guaranty provisions, the collateral documents or the other credit documents.

The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety, by the full text of the Term Loan Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Pledge Agreement

On the Closing Date, the Borrower, the Parent, and the Guarantors (collectively, the “ Pledgors ”) entered into the Pledge Agreement in favor of Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent, to secure the payment of the secured obligations under the Term Loan Agreement. Under the Pledge Agreement, the Pledgors granted a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Pledgor’s right, title and interest in the collateral described therein, including (i) a perfected first-lien pledge of 100% of the equity interests held by the Pledgors in their respective first-tier domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the equity interests directly held by the Pledgors in their first-tier foreign subsidiaries, (ii) a perfected first-priority security interest in substantially all tangible and intangible assets of the Borrower and the Guarantors, other than the ABL Priority Collateral (as defined below) and (iii) a perfected second-priority security interest in all of the ABL Priority Collateral.

The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Pledge Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

Asset Backed Loan Facilities

Overview

On the Closing Date, (i) the Company (referred to herein as the “ Initial U.S. Borrower ”), along with ACC (referred to herein as the “ Added U.S. Borrower ”), and Kraton Polymers Nederland B.V. (the “ Initial Dutch Borrower ” and together with the Initial U.S. Borrower and the Added U.S. Borrower, the “ ABL Borrowers ” and each an “ ABL Borrower ”), (ii) KP International C.V. (“ KPI ”), K.P. Global Holdings C.V. (“ KPG CV ”), and Kraton Polymers Holdings B.V. (“ KPH BV ” and, together with KPI, KPG CV and KPH BV, the “ Dutch Guarantors ”), and (iii) the Parent and the Guarantors (collectively, the “ U.S. Guarantors ” and, the U.S. Guarantors and the Dutch Guarantors collectively, the “ ABL Guarantors ”), entered into an amended and restated loan, security and guarantee agreement (the “ Asset Backed Loan Agreement ”) with certain lenders and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, to establish a new asset based revolving credit facility consisting of a U.S. senior secured revolving credit facility and a Dutch senior secured revolving credit facility (the “ Asset Backed Loan Facilities ”) to replace the existing secured revolving credit facility established pursuant to the credit agreement dated as of March 27, 2013 as amended, among the Parent, as a guarantor, the Company, as borrower, the other guarantors named therein, the lenders named therein and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (the “ Existing Asset Backed Loan Facilities ”).

The Asset Backed Loan Agreement provides for senior secured financing of up to $250 million consisting of:

 

  (1) a $150 million U.S. senior secured revolving credit facility, of up to which $30 million may be utilized for the issuance of letters of credit, and of up to which the lesser of (a) $15 million and (b) 10% of the U.S. revolver commitments may be made available as short-term borrowings upon same-day notice, referred to as swingline loans, provided the amount of such swingline loans does not exceed U.S. borrowing availability at the time of funding; and

 

  (2) a $100 million Dutch senior secured revolving credit facility, of up to which $20 million may be utilized for the issuance of letters of credit, and of up to which the lesser of (a) $10 million and (b) 10% of the Dutch revolver commitments may be made available as short-term borrowings upon same-day notice, referred to as swingline loans.

 

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The ABL Borrowers may request up to an aggregate of $100 million of additional revolving facility commitments, subject to additional conditions described in the Asset Backed Loan Agreement, and provided that the U.S. revolver commitment is at least 50% of the aggregate commitments after giving effect to such increase.

Interest Rates and Fees

U.S. borrowings under the U.S. senior secured revolving credit facility (other than swingline loans) bear interest at a rate equal to, at the applicable ABL Borrower’s option, either (a) a base rate determined by reference to the prime rate of Bank of America, N.A. plus an applicable margin. U.S. swingline loans shall bear interest at a base rate determined by reference to the greatest of (1) the prime rate of Bank of America, N.A., (2) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% or (3) LIBOR plus 1.0%, in each case plus an applicable margin.

Dutch borrowings under the Dutch senior secured revolving credit facility bear interest at a rate equal to, at the applicable ABL Borrower’s option, either (a) a fluctuating rate, with respect to Euros, Pounds Sterling and Dollars outside of the U.S. and Canada, equal to the base rate by the local branch of Bank of America, N.A. in the jurisdiction in which such currency is funded, or (b) a rate based on LIBOR, in each case plus an applicable margin.

The applicable margin is subject to a minimum of 0.5% and a maximum of 1.0% with respect to U.S. base rate loans, and a minimum of 1.5% and maximum of 2.0% for foreign base rate borrowings and LIBOR loans. The applicable margin is subject to adjustment based on the ABL Borrowers’ excess availability for the most recent fiscal quarter.

In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the Asset Backed Loan Facilities, the ABL Borrowers will be required to pay a commitment fee in respect of the unutilized commitments at an annual rate of 0.375% times the average daily amount by which the Dutch revolver commitments exceed the Dutch revolver exposure and 0.375% times the average daily amount by which the U.S. revolver commitments exceed the U.S. revolver exposure, as well as pay letter of credit fees and agency fees.

Guarantees and Security

All secured obligations under the Asset Backed Loan Facilities are unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Guarantors. The secured obligations under the Dutch senior secured revolving credit facility are also unconditionally guaranteed by the Initial Dutch Borrower and the Dutch Guarantors.

All secured obligations under the Asset Backed Loan Facilities are secured, subject to certain exceptions, by (i) a perfected first-priority security interest in, among other things, accounts, inventory and cash of the U.S. Guarantors (“ ABL Priority Collateral ”), and (ii) a perfected second-priority security interest in substantially all tangible and intangible assets of the U.S. Guarantors that are not ABL Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, 100% of the equity interests directly held by the Parent and the other U.S. Guarantors in their respective first-tier domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the equity interests directly held by the Parent and the other U.S. Guarantors in their first-tier foreign subsidiaries ((i) and (ii) collectively, the “ ABL U.S. Collateral ”). The Dutch senior secured revolving credit facility, in addition to being secured by the ABL U.S. Collateral, are secured, subject to certain exceptions, by a perfected first priority security interest in, among other things, accounts, inventory and cash of Initial Dutch Borrower and the Dutch Guarantors.

In connection with entry into the Asset Backed Loan Facilities, the Pledge Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2013, by and among the Initial U.S. Borrower, the Parent, KPLLC, Elastomers, KPCC and Bank of America, N.A., as collateral agent, was terminated (the “ Existing Pledge Agreement ”).

Payments and Voluntary Prepayments

The ABL Borrowers are permitted to voluntarily prepay outstanding revolver loans from time to time, without penalty or premium, other than customary breakage costs with respect to LIBOR loans. If a disposition of U.S. facility collateral not in the ordinary course of business results in cash consideration in excess of $5 million, all net proceeds from such disposition must be applied to the U.S. revolver loans or used to cash collateralize U.S. letters of credit, but only if, after giving the proposed disposition pro forma effect, the U.S. availability would be less than 15% of the U.S. line cap (the lesser of the U.S. revolver commitments and the U.S. borrowing base). If a disposition of Dutch facility collateral occurs not in the ordinary course of business, then all net proceeds from such disposition must be either applied to the Dutch revolver loans or used to cash collateralize the Dutch letters of credit. The Asset Backed Loan Facilities are scheduled to terminate on March 27, 2018 unless earlier termination is required or later termination is agreed upon under the terms of the Asset Backed Loan Agreement.

 

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Certain Covenants and Events of Default

The Asset Backed Loan Agreement contains a number of negative covenants that restrict the operations and business of the ABL Borrowers and the ABL Guarantors and their restricted subsidiaries, including, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions, limitations on: (i) liens; (ii) mergers and consolidations; (iii) sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business; (iv) the incurrence and existence of debt; (v) restricted payments; (vi) investments, loans, advances and acquisitions; and (vii) transactions with affiliates.

The covenants limiting distributions, acquisitions, investments, and payments of debt each permit the restricted actions in an unlimited amount, subject to the satisfaction of certain payment conditions, principally that (i) pro forma excess availability must be at least 25% of the lesser of the Asset Backed Loan Facilities commitments and the borrowing base for 30 days preceding and 30 days after such otherwise restricted action or (ii) both (a) the pro forma fixed charge coverage ratio for the Parent and its restricted subsidiaries must be greater than 1.10 to 1.0 and (b) excess availability must be at least 17.5% of the lesser of the Asset Backed Loan Facilities commitments and the borrowing base for 30 days preceding and 30 days after such otherwise restricted action.

The Asset Backed Loan Agreement also contains a financial covenant that if either (a) excess availability is less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the lesser of the commitments and the borrowing base and (ii) $31,250,000 or (b) U.S. availability is less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the lesser of the U.S. commitments and U.S. borrowing base and (ii) $18,750,000, then following such event, Parent and its restricted subsidiaries must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0 for four fiscal quarters (or for a shorter duration if certain financial conditions are met). Additionally, the Asset Backed Loan Agreement contains a number of affirmative covenants, including, among other things: (i) permission for certain inspections, field examinations and appraisals of properties; (ii) the delivery of financial statements and other reports; (iii) the delivery of compliance certificates and other information; (iv) the delivery of notices, including notices of default and other material matters; (v) compliance with laws and material contractual obligations; (vi) payment of obligations, including taxes and indebtedness; (vii) the maintenance of insurance; (viii) the preservation of existence; (ix) the maintenance of properties; and (x) delivery upon request of landlord and storage agreements.

The Asset Backed Loan Agreement contains certain customary events of default, including, without limitation, a failure to make payments under the facility, cross-default and cross-judgment default, certain bankruptcy events and certain change of control events.

The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Asset Backed Loan Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.

Certain Relationships

The administrative and collateral agent and certain lenders under the Term Loan Facility and the Asset Backed Loan Facilities have in the past engaged, and may in the future engage, in transactions with and perform services, including commercial banking, financial advisory and investment banking services, for Parent, the Borrower and the Guarantors and their affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they have received or will receive customary fees and expenses. Affiliates of one or more of the lenders acted as lenders and/or agents under, and as consideration therefore received customary fees and expenses in connection with the Term Loan Facility and the Asset Backed Loan Facilities.

Issuance of Senior Notes

Purchase Agreement and Joinder Agreement

On January 5, 2016, the Company and KPCC (collectively, the “ Issuers ”), together with the Parent and certain of its wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries, as guarantors (the “ Kraton Guarantors ”), entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Nomura Securities International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as representatives of the several initial purchasers named therein (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), to issue and sell $440 million in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “ Notes ”) for resale in the United States to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Act.

On the Closing Date, the Issuers issued the Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Immediately following the consummation of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition (as described in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K), Arizona Chemical, AZ Intermediate, AZ Holdings, AZ US and ACC joined as parties to the Purchase Agreement pursuant to a joinder agreement and thereby became additional guarantors of the Notes (together with the Kraton Guarantors, the “ Note Guarantors ”). The gross proceeds from the Notes were used to pay a portion of the cash purchase price for the Arizona Chemical Acquisition, to fund the Issuers’ previously announced Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation (as defined below), including prepayment premiums, and to pay all other acquisition and financing related fees and expenses.

 

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The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Issuers and the Note Guarantors and customary closing conditions. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Issuers and Note Guarantors have agreed to indemnify the Initial Purchasers against certain liabilities.

Indenture

The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date (the “ Indenture ”), among the Issuers, the Note Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2016. The Notes will mature on April 15, 2023. The Issuers may redeem some or all of the Notes on or after October 15, 2018 at the redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, as set forth in the Indenture. The Notes are the Company’s general unsecured indebtedness and rank equally with all of the Issuers’ existing and future senior indebtedness, including the new Senior Secured Credit Facilities. The Notes will effectively rank junior to the Issuers’ existing and future secured indebtedness, including the new Senior Secured Credit Facilities, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The guarantees are the Note Guarantors’ general unsecured obligations and rank junior to all existing and future liabilities of each of Kraton’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes and rank senior to all of the Issuers’ existing and future subordinated indebtedness.

The foregoing summaries do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entireties, by the full text of the Purchase Agreement, the form of Joinder Agreement, the Indenture and the form of Global Note, attached hereto as Exhibits 10.4, 10.5, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation

Supplemental Indenture

On December 14, 2015, the Issuers entered into a second supplemental indenture (the “ Second Supplemental Indenture ”), by and among the Issuers, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee for the indenture (as amended and supplemented, the “ 2019 Indenture ”) governing the Issuers’ 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “ 6.75% Notes ”), and certain guarantors party to the 2019 Indenture.

The Second Supplemental Indenture was entered into in connection with the Issuers’ previously announced tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of the 6.75% Notes and a concurrent solicitation of consents from the holders of the 6.75% Notes to amend the 2019 Indenture (collectively, the “ Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation ”), which commenced on December 1, 2015. The Second Supplemental Indenture amends the 2019 Indenture to, among other things, eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants as well as certain events of default (other than, among other events of default, the failure to make payment with respect to the 6.75% Notes and the failure of a guarantee of the 6.75% Notes) and related provisions contained in the 2019 Indenture.

The Second Supplemental Indenture became operative on the Closing Date, when the Company accepted for payment and purchased its 6.75% Notes that were tendered on or before the previously announced expiration date of 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on January 5, 2016 pursuant to the terms of the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement.

The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Second Supplemental Indenture, attached hereto as Exhibit 4.3 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1.02 – Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above regarding the termination of the Existing Pledge Agreement is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above regarding the termination of the Existing Asset Backed Loan Facilities and the summary of the Existing Asset Backed Loan Facilities included in the Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.

 

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Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On the Closing Date, the Company completed the Arizona Chemical Acquisition for a cash purchase price of $1.37 billion. The purchase price, which remains subject to adjustment for certain items as provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement, was funded in part by a portion of the proceeds of the offering of the Notes and in part by the Initial Term Loan and initial borrowings under the Asset Backed Loan Facilities. Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, Arizona Chemical became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company on the Closing Date.

The foregoing summary of the Stock Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Stock Purchase Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Parent’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2015, and is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.

 

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

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above regarding the Term Loan Facility, the Asset Backed Loan Facilities and the Indenture is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to the Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above regarding the Second Supplemental Indenture is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Final Settlement Pursuant to Offer to Purchase

On the Closing Date, the Company purchased $249,394,000 principal amount of its outstanding 6.75% Notes (CUSIP No. 50077D AB0) pursuant to the provisions of its Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, which was delivered to the holders of the 6.75% Notes on December 1, 2015. The tender offer expired at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on January 5, 2016 (the “ Expiration Date ”).

On the Closing Date, the Company issued a press release announcing the expiration and final results of the tender offer. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

Call for Redemption of Remaining 6.75% Notes

On January 6, 2016, the Company called for redemption, in accordance with the terms of the 2019 Indenture, all 6.75% Notes that remained outstanding after the Expiration Date, at the redemption price of 101.688% of the principal amount redeemed thereby, plus interest accrued to the redemption date of March 1, 2016.

Consummation of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition

On the Closing Date, the Company issued a press release announcing the consummation of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition, entry into the Term Loan Facility and the Asset Backed Loan Facilities and the closing of the issuance of the Notes. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

Appointment of Officers

Effective as of the Closing Date, the Company appointed Suzanne Pesgens and Mark Santangelo to serve as Vice President – Chief Procurement Officer and Vice President – Operations & Supply Chain Treasurer, respectively, of the Company. Prior to such appointments, Ms. Pesgens and Mr. Santangelo each served as officers of Arizona Chemical and its subsidiaries until the consummation of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition. Ms. Pesgens and Mr. Santangelo will also continue to serve as Vice President – Chief Procurement Officer and Vice President – Operations & Supply Chain Treasurer, respectively, of AZ Intermediate, AZ Holdings, AZ US and ACC.

 

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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

The audited historical financial statements of Arizona Chemical as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, attached as Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the unaudited financial statements of Arizona Chemical as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, attached as Exhibit 99.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K are incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(a).

 

(b) Pro forma financial information.

The following unaudited condensed combined pro forma financial statements of Kraton reflecting (i) the offering of the Notes, (ii) the consummation of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition, (iii) the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation (iv) the repayment in full of all borrowings outstanding under the Existing Asset Backed Loan Facilities, and (v) our entry into the Asset Backed Loan Facilities and the Term Loan Facility, and the initial borrowings thereunder, have been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, are filed as Exhibit 99.5 hereto and are incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(b):

 

    unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2015;

 

    unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and the year ended December 31, 2014; and

 

    notes to unaudited condensed combined pro forma financial statements.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.    Description
Exhibit 4.1    Indenture dated as of January 6, 2016 among Kraton Polymers LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, as Issuers, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem US Holdings Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, as Guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
Exhibit 4.2    Form of Global Note for the 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
Exhibit 4.3    Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 14, 2015 among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
Exhibit 10.1    Credit and Guarantee Agreement dated as of January 6, 2016 among Kraton Polymers LLC, as the Borrower, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem US Holdings Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, as Guarantors, and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
Exhibit 10.2    Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of January 6, 2016 among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem US Holdings Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, as Grantors, and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Collateral Agent.

 

9


Exhibit 10.3    Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guarantee Agreement dated as of January 6, 2016 among Kraton Polymers LLC, as the Borrower, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem US Holdings Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, as Guarantors, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
Exhibit 10.4    Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2016, by and among Kraton Polymers LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, as Issuers, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Nomura Securities International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as representatives of the several initial purchasers named therein, and the Guarantors named therein.
Exhibit 10.5    Form of Joinder Agreement to Purchase Agreement (included in Exhibit 10.4).
Exhibit 99.1    Press Release dated January 6, 2016 titled “Kraton Polymers LLC Announces Expiration and Final Results for the Previously Announced Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation for the 6.75% Senior Notes Due 2019.”
Exhibit 99.2    Press Release dated January 6, 2016 titled “Kraton Polymers LLC Announces Closing of its Acquisition of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation.”
Exhibit 99.3    Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 7, 2015).
Exhibit 99.4    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 7, 2015).
Exhibit 99.5    Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. and Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation as of the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

10


SIGNATURES

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

 

  Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
Date: January 7, 2016   By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

    Stephen E. Tremblay
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

11


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.    Description
Exhibit 4.1    Indenture dated as of January 6, 2016 among Kraton Polymers LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, as Issuers, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem US Holdings Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, as Guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
Exhibit 4.2    Form of Global Note for the 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
Exhibit 4.3    Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 14, 2015 among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
Exhibit 10.1    Credit and Guarantee Agreement dated as of January 6, 2016 among Kraton Polymers LLC, as the Borrower, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem US Holdings Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, as Guarantors, and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
Exhibit 10.2    Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of January 6, 2016 among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem US Holdings Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, as Grantors, and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Collateral Agent.
Exhibit 10.3    Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guarantee Agreement dated as of January 6, 2016 among Kraton Polymers LLC, as the Borrower, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem US Holdings Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, as Guarantors, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
Exhibit 10.4    Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2016, by and among Kraton Polymers LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, as Issuers, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Nomura Securities International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as representatives of the several initial purchasers named therein, and the Guarantors named therein.
Exhibit 10.5    Form of Joinder Agreement to Purchase Agreement (included in Exhibit 10.4).
Exhibit 99.1    Press Release dated January 6, 2016 titled “Kraton Polymers LLC Announces Expiration and Final Results for the Previously Announced Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation for the 6.75% Senior Notes Due 2019.”
Exhibit 99.2    Press Release dated January 6, 2016 titled “Kraton Polymers LLC Announces Closing of its Acquisition of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation.”
Exhibit 99.3    Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 7, 2015).
Exhibit 99.4    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Arizona Chemical Holdings

 

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   Corporation as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 7, 2015).
Exhibit 99.5    Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. and Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation as of the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

INDENTURE

Dated as of January 6, 2016

Among

KRATON POLYMERS LLC,

KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION,

the Guarantors listed herein

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

10.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2023


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

   Indenture Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   N.A.

(a)(4)

   N.A.

(a)(5)

   7.10

(b)

   7.10

(c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

(c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

(b)

   12.03

(c)

   12.03

313(a)

   7.06

(b)(1)

   N.A.

(b)(2)

   7.06; 7.07

(c)

   7.06; 12.02

(d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.04

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   12.04

(c)(2)

   12.04

(c)(3)

   8.04

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   12.05

(f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01

(b)

   7.05

(c)

   7.01

(d)

   7.07

(e)

   6.14

316(a)(last sentence)

   2.09

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

(c)

   1.05

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.12

(b)

   N.A.

318(a)

   12.01

(b)

   N.A.

(c)

   12.01

 

N.A. means not applicable.

* This Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

          PAGE  
Section 1.01    Definitions      1   
Section 1.02    Other Definitions      40   
Section 1.03    Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      41   
Section 1.04    Rules of Construction      41   
Section 1.05    Acts of Holders      42   

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01    Form and Dating; Terms      43   
Section 2.02    Execution and Authentication      45   
Section 2.03    Registrar and Paying Agent      45   
Section 2.04    Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      46   
Section 2.05    Holder Lists      46   
Section 2.06    Transfer and Exchange      46   
Section 2.07    Replacement Notes      58   
Section 2.08    Outstanding Notes      58   
Section 2.09    Treasury Notes      59   
Section 2.10    Temporary Notes      59   
Section 2.11    Cancellation      60   
Section 2.12    Defaulted Interest      60   
Section 2.13    CUSIP/ISIN Numbers      60   

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.01    Notices to Trustee      61   
Section 3.02    Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed      61   
Section 3.03    Notice of Redemption      61   
Section 3.04    Effect of Notice of Redemption      62   
Section 3.05    Deposit of Redemption Price      62   
Section 3.06    Notes Redeemed in Part      63   
Section 3.07    Optional Redemption      63   
Section 3.08    Mandatory Redemption      64   
Section 3.09    Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      64   

 

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ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01    Payment of Notes      66   
Section 4.02    Maintenance of Office or Agency      67   
Section 4.03    Reports and Other Information      67   
Section 4.04    Compliance Certificate      68   
Section 4.05    Taxes      69   
Section 4.06    Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      69   
Section 4.07    Limitation on Restricted Payments      69   
Section 4.08    Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      76   
Section 4.09    Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      78   
Section 4.10    Asset Sales      86   
Section 4.11    Transactions with Affiliates      90   
Section 4.12    Liens      92   
Section 4.13    Company Existence      93   
Section 4.14    Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      93   
Section 4.15    Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries      95   
Section 4.16    Existence of Corporate Co-Issuer      95   

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01    Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      96   
Section 5.02    Successor Person Substituted      99   

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01    Events of Default      99   
Section 6.02    Acceleration      102   
Section 6.03    Other Remedies      102   
Section 6.04    Waiver of Past Defaults      103   
Section 6.05    Control by Majority      103   
Section 6.06    Limitation on Suits      103   
Section 6.07    Rights of Holders to Receive Payment      104   
Section 6.08    Collection Suit by Trustee      104   
Section 6.09    Restoration of Rights and Remedies      104   
Section 6.10    Rights and Remedies Cumulative      104   
Section 6.11    Delay or Omission Not Waiver      104   
Section 6.12    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      105   
Section 6.13    Priorities      105   
Section 6.14    Undertaking for Costs      106   


ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01    Duties of Trustee      106   
Section 7.02    Rights of Trustee      107   
Section 7.03    Individual Rights of Trustee      109   
Section 7.04    Trustee’s Disclaimer      109   
Section 7.05    Notice of Defaults      109   
Section 7.06    Reports by Trustee to Holders      109   
Section 7.07    Compensation and Indemnity      110   
Section 7.08    Replacement of Trustee      111   
Section 7.09    Successor Trustee by Merger, etc      112   
Section 7.10    Eligibility; Disqualification      112   
Section 7.11    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers      112   

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01    Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      112   
Section 8.02    Legal Defeasance and Discharge      112   
Section 8.03    Covenant Defeasance      113   
Section 8.04    Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      113   
Section 8.05    Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      115   
Section 8.06    Repayment to Issuers      116   
Section 8.07    Reinstatement      116   

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01    Without Consent of Holders      116   
Section 9.02    With Consent of Holders      117   
Section 9.03    Compliance with Trust Indenture Act      119   
Section 9.04    Revocation and Effect of Consents      119   
Section 9.05    Notation on or Exchange of Notes      119   
Section 9.06    Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc      120   

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.01    Guarantee      120   
Section 10.02    Limitation on Guarantor Liability      122   
Section 10.03    Execution and Delivery      122   
Section 10.04    Subrogation      123   
Section 10.05    Benefits Acknowledged      123   
Section 10.06    Release of Guarantees      123   

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01    Satisfaction and Discharge      124   
Section 11.02    Application of Trust Money      125   


ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01    Trust Indenture Act Controls      125   
Section 12.02    Notices      125   
Section 12.03    Communication by Holders with Other Holders      127   
Section 12.04    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      127   
Section 12.05    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      127   
Section 12.06    Rules by Trustee and Agents      128   
Section 12.07    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      128   
Section 12.08    Governing Law      128   
Section 12.09    Waiver of Jury Trial      128   
Section 12.10    Force Majeure      128   
Section 12.11    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      128   
Section 12.12    Successors      128   
Section 12.13    Severability      128   
Section 12.14    Counterpart Originals      129   
Section 12.15    Table of Contents, Headings, etc      129   
Section 12.16    U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.      129   


INDENTURE, dated as of January 6, 2016, among Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors (as defined herein) listed on the signature pages hereto, including Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., the direct parent of the Issuers (the “ Company ”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association., a New York banking corporation, as Trustee.

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuers (as defined herein) has duly authorized the creation of an issue of $440,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 10.500% senior notes due 2023 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Issuers and each of the Guarantors has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture (as defined herein);

NOW, THEREFORE, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined herein).

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions .

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

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person,

(a) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging or consolidating with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

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

Acquisition ” means the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement as described in the Offering Circular under “The Transactions.”

Acquisition Agreement ” means that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, dated as of September 27, 2015, by and among AZC Holding Company LLC, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation and Kraton Polymers LLC, as amended up to and including the Issue Date.


Additional Notes ” means any additional Notes issued under this Indenture (other than the Initial Notes) having the same terms in all respects as the Initial Notes except that interest may accrue on the Additional Notes from their date of issuance. Additional Notes and Initial Notes will be part of the same class for all purposes of this Indenture.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

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

Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:

(a) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note, and

(b) the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) the redemption price of such Notes at October 15, 2018 (such redemption price being set forth in the table set forth in Section 3.07(b) hereof), plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through October 15, 2018, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (ii) the principal amount of such Note.

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

Asset Sale ” means:

(a) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction), of property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each referred to in this definition as a “ disposition ”); or

(b) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions; in each case, other than:

(i) any disposition of Cash Equivalents or obsolete or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used in the ordinary course of business;

 

2


(ii) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described under Section 5.01 hereof or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

(iii) the making of any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.07 hereof or the making of any Permitted Investment;

(iv) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than $15.0 million;

(v) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary;

(vi) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

(vii) the lease, assignment, sub-lease, license or sub-license of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(viii) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(ix) foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation or any similar action with respect to assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

(x) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets (other than royalties or other revenues (except accounts receivable)) or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

(xi) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and asset securitizations permitted by this Indenture;

(xii) the sale or discount of inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable;

(xiii) the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business, other than the licensing of intellectual property on a long-term basis;

(xiv) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract rights or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;

(xv) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

 

3


(xvi) sales, transfers and other dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(xvii) the abandonment of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business, which in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company are not material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(xviii) the issuance by a Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock that is permitted by the covenant described under Section 4.09 hereof; and

(xix) the issuance of directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law.

Bank Products ” means any facilities or services related to cash management, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Borrowing Base ” means, as of the date of determination, an amount equal to:

(1) 85% of the face amount of all accounts receivable owed by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date; plus

(2) 65% of the book value of all inventory owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date,

based on the most recent internal month-end financial statements available to the Company, determined on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the pro forma basis contained in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Business Day ” means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

Capital Stock ” means:

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

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

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

 

4


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

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, as applied to any Person, the amount of liability in respect of any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is, or is required to be, accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person; provided that any lease that would be characterized as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP on the Closing Date or for any lease incurred after the Closing Date, the date of incurrence thereof (whether or not such operating leases was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a capitalized lease) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any subsequent change in GAAP that would otherwise require such lease to be re-characterized (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) as a capitalized lease.

Capitalized Software Expenditures ” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of licensed or purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(a) United States dollars;

(b) (i) Canadian dollars, pounds sterling, euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU; or

(ii) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(c) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(d) certificates of deposit, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(e) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (c), (d) and (h) entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d) above;

 

5


(f) commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(g) marketable short-term money market and similar funds having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency);

(h) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(i) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(j) Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency); and

(k) investment funds investing at least 90.0% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (j) above.

In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents shall also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (a) through (h) and clauses (j) and (k) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses (a) through (k) and in this paragraph.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clauses (a) and (b) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

 

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Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following after the Issue Date:

(a) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder;

(b) the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of 50.0% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(c) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (i) the Permitted Holders beneficially own 50.0% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or (ii) the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitutes or is converted into or exchanged for a majority of the outstanding shares of the Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such transaction); or

(4) the Issuer ceases to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company.

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme and its successors.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA ” means with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period:

(a) increased (without duplication) and to the extent deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) the amount of depreciation and amortization, as determined in accordance with GAAP; plus

(ii) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, the sum of (A) premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses incurred in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets plus (B) the portion of rent

 

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expense with respect to such period under capitalized leases that is treated as interest expense in accordance with GAAP plus (C) the implied interest component of synthetic leases with respect to such period plus (D) any losses on hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such hedging obligations or such derivative instruments plus (E) bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus (F) any commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges; plus

(iii) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, provincial, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including any future taxes or other levies which replace or are intended to be in lieu of such taxes and any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations); plus

(iv) negative effects of purchase accounting; plus

(v) all extraordinary, nonrecurring or one-time charges; plus

(vi) the sum of: (A) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies related to any acquisition or similar transaction (including the Acquisition) projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized as a result of actions (taken, committed to be taken or planned to be taken, in each case on or prior to the date that is 24 months after such acquisition or similar transaction (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable), (B) cost savings to be realized for actions already taken in connection with the Issuer’s cost reset initiative announced prior to the Closing Date (such strategic cost reset initiative as described under “Summary—Our Company—General” in the Offering Circular, the “ Cost Reset Initiative ”) and achieved prior to the date which is 12 months after the Closing Date, which shall not exceed $12,000,000 and (C) cost savings in connection with actions taken after the Closing Date (excluding any cost savings related to the Cost Reset Initiative regardless of when the actions giving rise to such cost savings are taken or when such cost savings are realized) projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized on or prior to the date that is 12 months after such action is taken (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable) and provided , further , that such cost savings shall not exceed $15,000,000 for any period; and provided that the aggregate amount of such cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies in clauses (A), (B) and (C) hereof shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, prior to giving effect to such additions; plus

 

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(vii) all non-cash charges that did not increase Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in a prior period; provided that for any such non-cash charges resulting in a cash payment or cash outlay in a subsequent period, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA will be reduced by the amount of the cash payment or cash outlay in the period made; plus

(viii) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of hedging agreements pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 — “Derivatives and Hedging”; plus

(ix)(A) the amount of any restructuring provisions, restructuring charges, restructuring accruals or restructuring reserves, (B) cost initiative charges embedded in cost of goods sold (cash and non-cash charges) and (C) cost initiative charges embedded in selling, general and administrative expenses (cash and non-cash charges); plus

(x) non-recurring operating location exit charges; provided no amounts pursuant to this clause (x) may be added if such amount was added in a prior period; plus

(xi) actual plant turnaround costs and expenses to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7,500,000 in such period; plus

(xii) losses on sales of assets, disposals or abandonments other than in the ordinary course of business (cash and non-cash); plus

(xiii) Transaction Costs and any fees, costs and expenses payable by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any offering of Equity Interests of Parent, Permitted Acquisitions, joint ventures or other Investments permitted hereunder (whether consummated or unsuccessful and other than Investments made in the ordinary course of business and other than Investments in Subsidiaries) expensed or amortized in such period; plus

(xiv) Pro Forma EBITDA; plus

(xv) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the KFPC Percentage times the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the joint venture Kraton Formosa Polymers Corporation, a corporation formed under the laws of the Republic of China (“ Kraton Formosa ”), calculated in a manner consistent with the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA otherwise applicable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and provided that prior to the commission of the production facility owned by Kraton Formosa, such amount shall be excluded if a negative number;

(b) decreased (without duplication) and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) gains on sales of assets other than in the ordinary course of business (cash and non-cash); minus

 

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(ii) any non-cash gains attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of hedging agreements pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 — “Derivatives and Hedging”;

(c) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any effects of Inventory Revaluation; and

(d) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency re-measurements of assets or liabilities (including the net loss or gain resulting from hedging agreements for currency exchange risk and revaluations of intercompany balances).

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:

(a) consolidated interest expense in respect of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income ((i) including (A) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (B) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (C) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (D) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (E) net payments, if any, made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and (ii) excluding (A) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (B) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (C) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and discounted liabilities, (D) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees or expenses in connection with the Refinancing, (E) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Facility and (F) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities); plus

(b) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; less

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

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication,

 

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(a) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period shall be excluded;

(b) any net after-tax effect of gains or losses attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments (including any disposal of abandoned or discontinued operations) or the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business as determined in good faith by the Issuer shall be excluded;

(c) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into Cash Equivalents) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(d) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(1) hereof, the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(e) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, debt line items and other noncash charges in such Person’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting in relation to any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

(f) any net after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or conversion of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) Hedging Obligations or (iii) other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(g) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down, including impairment charges or asset write-offs or write-downs related to intangible assets, long-lived assets, investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation, in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded;

 

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(h) any non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights or equity incentive programs shall be excluded;

(i) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, Investment, Asset Sale, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Notes and the Senior Credit Facilities), issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of the Notes and the Senior Credit Facilities) and including, in each case, any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful, shall be excluded;

(j) any expenses, charges or losses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment, acquisition or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture, to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement and only to the extent that such amount is (i) not denied by the applicable carrier (without any right of appeal thereof) within 180 days and (ii) in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days), shall be excluded,

(k) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 day period), expenses, charges or losses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded;

(l) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods and any other non-cash items of a similar nature, shall be excluded,

(m) the following items shall be excluded:

(i) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such from Hedging Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification 815;

(ii) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation and transaction gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk) and any other monetary assets and liabilities;

 

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(iii) payments to third parties in respect of research and development, including amounts paid upon signing, success, completion and other milestones and other progress payments, to the extent expensed; and

(iv) effects of adjustments to accruals and reserves during a prior period relating to any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks (including government program rebates).

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Permitted Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.07 hereof only (other than Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(4) hereof), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any sale of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such covenant pursuant to Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(4) hereof.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of indebtedness of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of indebtedness for borrowed money, unreimbursed obligations under letters of credit, obligations in respect of capitalized leases and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments; provided that the maximum amount of the guarantee of indebtedness of Kraton Formosa shall be included in calculating Consolidated Total Indebtedness, with such indebtedness calculated net of the KFPC Percentage times the unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of Kraton Formosa and its subsidiaries.

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

(b) to advance or supply funds

 

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(i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

(ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Controlled Investment Affiliate ” means, as to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity or debt investments in the Company and/or other companies.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the principal office of the Trustee at which any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, 750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attention: Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Services, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

Credit Facilities ” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities, or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

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

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

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

 

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

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal financial officer of the Company, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale, redemption or repurchase of or collection or payment on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock ” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company thereof (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Company or the applicable parent company thereof, as the case may be, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C) hereof.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided that any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the board of directors of the Company (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or shareholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries or in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

EMU ” means economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock.

 

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Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies to the extent contributed to the Company (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

(a) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or any direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(b) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company; and

(c) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

euro ” means the single currency of participating member states of the EMU.

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

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Excluded Contribution ” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Company from

(a) contributions to its common equity capital (other than from the proceeds of Designated Preferred Stock); and

(b) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company;

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Company on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C) hereof.

Excluded Subsidiary means (a) any Subsidiary whose provision of a guarantee would constitute an investment in “United States property” by a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of sections 956 and 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury regulations thereunder (or any similar law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction) (a “ CFC ”) or otherwise result in a material adverse tax consequence to the Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Issuers, (b) any Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by a CFC and (c) any Subsidiary that is a disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes and substantially all of whose assets consist (directly or indirectly through disregarded entities) of the capital stock or debt of CFCs (a “ Disregarded Holdco ”).

Existing Revolving Credit Agreement ” means the loan, security and guaranty agreement with respect to the senior secured revolving credit facilities entered into as of March 27, 2013 by and among the Company, Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Kraton Polymers Nederland

 

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B.V., the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, guarantees, credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund, exchange or refinance any part of the loans, notes, guarantees, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof).

Existing Revolving Credit Facilities ” means the senior secured revolving credit facilities governed by the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement.

fair market value ” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Company in good faith.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

 

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For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions resulting from such Investment, acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation which is being given pro forma effect that have been or are expected to be realized). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period except as set forth in the first paragraph of this definition. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a Eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

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

(a) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

(b) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock (including any dividends paid to any direct or indirect parent company of such Person in order to permit the payment of dividends by such parent company on its Designated Preferred Stock) during such period; and

(c) all dividends or other distributions paid or accrued (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock during such period.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof and any Restricted Subsidiary of such Foreign Subsidiary.

Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets ” means the total assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors, as determined in accordance with GAAP in good faith by the Company, without intercompany eliminations between such Foreign Subsidiaries and the Company and its other Subsidiaries.

 

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GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America that are in effect on the Issue Date.

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

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

Government Securities ” means securities that are:

(a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

(b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

Guarantee ” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Issuers’ Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Guarantor ” means the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company, if any, that Guarantees the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor hereunder. On the Issue Date, each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Senior Credit Facilities will be a Guarantor, other than any Excluded Subsidiary.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate, currency or commodity risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

 

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Holder ” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

HSBC Asian Production Facility ” means the production facility owned by Kraton Formosa, or any other Asian production facility the Issuer may choose to pursue.

Immediate Family Members ” means with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor- advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

(a) any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(i) in respect of borrowed money;

(ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(iii) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) due more than twelve months after such property is acquired, except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid after becoming due and payable and (iii) any lease other than a capital lease; or

(iv) representing the net obligations under any Hedging Obligations;

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(b) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of a third Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of the such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(c) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (i) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or (ii) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities.

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

Independent Financial Advisor ” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in Similar Businesses of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

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

Initial Purchasers ” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Nomura Securities International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Initial Notes ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Interest Payment Date ” means April 15 and October 15 of each year or, if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, in each case to stated maturity.

Inventory Revaluation ” means an adjustment (positive or negative) to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA equal to the difference of (a) Consolidated EBITDA as determined in accordance with the “first-in-first-out” method of accounting minus (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as determined in accordance with the “replacement cost” method of accounting, computed by adjusting cost of sales to reflect the cost of raw material prices during the applicable period.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or if the applicable securities are not then rated by Moody’s or S&P, an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

(a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

(b) debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(c) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution; and

 

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(d) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers and distributors, commission, travel and similar advances to employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors and consultants in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.07 hereof:

(a) “ Investments ” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to:

(i) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

(ii) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(b) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Issue Date ” means January 6, 2016.

Issuer ” means Kraton Polymers LLC.

Issuers ” means Kraton Polymers LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and their successors.

Issuers’ Order ” means a written request or order signed on behalf of each of the Issuers by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Accounting Officer of each such Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

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KFPC Percentage ” means, at any date of measurement, the percentage of indebtedness of Kraton Formosa directly or indirectly guaranteed by the Company.

Legal Holiday ” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York or place of payment. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place of payment on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Management Stockholders ” means the members of management (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer (or its direct parent) who are holders of Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent companies of the Issuer on the Issue Date.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash or Cash Equivalents proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non- cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, other fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and required (other than required by Section 4.10(b)(i) hereof) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

 

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New ABL Credit Agreement ” means the credit agreement governing the New ABL Credit Facility.

New ABL Credit Facility ” means the asset-based revolving credit facility to be entered into as of the Issue Date by and among the Issuer, the Company, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, guarantees, credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund, exchange or refinance any part of the loans, notes, guarantees, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof).

New Term Loan Credit Agreement ” means the credit agreement governing the New Term Loan Credit Facility.

New Term Loan Credit Facility ” means the term loan credit facility to be entered into as of the Issue Date by and among the Issuer, the Company, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, guarantees, credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund, exchange or refinance any part of the loans, notes, guarantees, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof).

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

Notes ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Obligations ” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing on or subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

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Offering Circular ” means the confidential offering circular, dated January 5, 2016, relating to the sale of the Initial Notes.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the board of directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of a Person by an Officer of such Person, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Person, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture. Unless otherwise indicated, Officer’s Certificate shall refer to a certificate of an Officer of the Company.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

Permitted Acquisition ” means any acquisition by the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of, all of the Equity Interests of, or a business line or unit or a division of, any Person; provided that

(a) at the time of the execution of the definitive documentation for such Permitted Acquisition, both immediately prior thereto and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (and any incurred or assumed Indebtedness and related transactions in connection therewith) on a Pro Forma Basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; and

(b) any Person or assets or division as acquired in accordance herewith shall (A) become a Restricted Subsidiary (unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary) and (B) be in the same or a similar business or line of business as that in which Parent and any of its Subsidiaries are engaged as of the Closing Date or shall be engaged in businesses and activities that are similar, complementary, ancillary, reasonably related or incidental thereto.

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

Permitted Asset Swap ” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and Cash Equivalents between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof.

Permitted Holders ” means each of the Management Stockholders and any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such Management Stockholders, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50.0% of the

 

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total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(a) any Investment in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(c) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person (including, to the extent constituting an Investment, in assets of a Person that represent substantially all of its assets or a division, business unit or product line, including research and development and related assets in respect of any product) that is engaged directly or through entities that will be Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment:

(i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(ii) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is amalgamated, merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets (or a division, business unit or product line, including any research and development and related assets in respect of any product), or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,

and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or transfer;

(d) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 4.10(a) hereof or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(e) any Investment existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any such Investment or binding commitment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased in such extension, modification or renewal only (i) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Issue Date (including as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities) or (ii) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

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(f) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:

(i) consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business; or

(ii) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable (including any trade creditor or customer); or

(iii) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons; or

(iv) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(g) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.09(b)(x) hereof;

(h) any Investment in a Similar Business taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (h) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $75.0 million and (ii) 2.50% of Total Assets;

(i) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C) hereof;

(j) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b) hereof;

(k) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) hereof (except transactions described in Sections 4.11(b)(ii) and 4.11(b)(iv) hereof);

(l) Investments consisting of purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(m) additional Investments, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (m) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or have not been subsequently sold or transferred for cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (i) $150.0 million and (ii) 5.00% of Total Assets;

(n) Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good faith determination of the Company are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Facility or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

(o) advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees not in excess of $15.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

 

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(p) loans and advances to employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses or payroll advances, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company thereof;

(q) advances, loans or extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(r) any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;

(s) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of assets or services in the ordinary course of business;

(t) Investments made in the ordinary course of business in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contacts and loans or advances made to distributors in the ordinary course of business;

(u) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers compensation, performance and similar deposits entered into as a result of the operations of the business in the ordinary course of business;

(v) repurchases of Notes;

(w) any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any joint venture, provided that the aggregate amount of such Investment, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (w) that are at the time outstanding, does not exceed $150.0 million; provided that immediately after giving effect to such Investment on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test;

(x) investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection of deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(y) Investments in the HSBC Asian Production Facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25.0 million; and

(z) the payment of unlimited Restricted Investments to the extent the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the date of such Restricted Investment would not exceed 3.50:1.00.

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(a) pledges, deposits or security by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security laws or similar legislation or other insurance related obligations (including, but not limited to, in respect of

 

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deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(c) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or not yet payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) Liens in favor of issuers of performance, surety, bid, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit or bankers acceptances issued, and completion guarantees provided for, in each case, issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business or consistent with past practice prior to the Issue Date;

(e) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, servitudes, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph, telephone and cable television lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including minor defects and irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental, to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(f) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 4.09(b)(iv), 4.09(b)(xii)(B), 4.09(b)(xiii), 4.09(b)(xxiii) or 4.09(b)(xxiv) hereof; provided that (a) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xiv) hereof relate only to Obligations relating to Refinancing Indebtedness that (x) is secured by Liens on the same assets as the assets securing the Refinancing Indebtedness or (y) extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued under Sections 4.09(b)(iv) or 4.09(b)(xii)(B) hereof, (b) Liens securing Obligations relating to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xxiii) hereof extend

 

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only to the assets of Foreign Subsidiaries, (c) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xxiv) extend only to acquired property or the assets of the acquired entity, and (d) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(iv) hereof extend only to the assets so purchased, leased or improved;

(g) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(h) Liens on property or shares of stock or other assets of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided , further , that such Liens may not extend to any other property or other assets owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(i) Liens on property or other assets at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property or such other assets, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, amalgamation, merger or consolidation; provided , further , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(j) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(k) Liens securing Hedging Obligations; provided that, with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

(l) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s accounts payable or similar trade obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or trade 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;

(m) leases, sub-leases, licenses or sub-licenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

(n) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute) financing statement filings regarding operating leases or consignments entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens in favor of the Company, or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(p) Liens on equipment of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s clients;

 

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(q) Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility;

(r) Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (g), (h) and (i); provided that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (g), (h) and (i) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and accrued and unpaid interest, related to such modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(s) deposits made or other security provided in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(t) other Liens securing obligations in an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $75.0 million and (ii) 2.50% of Total Assets determined as of the date of incurrence;

(u) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 6.01(e) hereof so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

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

(w) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(x) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.09 hereof; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

(y) Liens encumbering reasonable customary deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(z) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii)

 

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relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(aa) Liens securing obligations owed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under the Senior Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds;

(bb) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to capital stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(cc) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(dd) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted;

(ee) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

(ff) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(gg) Liens on Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(hh) Liens on the assets of non-guarantor Subsidiaries (other than the Issuers) securing Indebtedness of such Subsidiaries that were permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred; and

(ii) Liens arising solely from precautionary UCC financing statements or similar filings.

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

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

Preferred Stock ” means any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

 

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Pro Forma Basis ” means with respect to any determination of the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets (including, in each case, component definitions thereof), for any period during which one or more Subject Transactions occurs, such Subject Transaction (and all other Subject Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the most recent four Fiscal Quarter period of measurement and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person disposed of in a Subject Transaction shall be excluded and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person acquired in a Subject Transaction shall be included; provided that the foregoing pro forma adjustments may include anticipated cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies solely to the extent set forth in the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

Pro Forma EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Specified Transaction for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Specified Transaction.

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

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

Qualified Proceeds ” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Qualified Securitization Facility ” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (a) the board of directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Company and the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, (b) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) and (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company).

Rating Agencies ” means Moody’s and S&P or if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make a rating on the applicable securities publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.

Record Date ” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the April 1 and October 1 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Refinancing ” means the issue and sale of the Notes, the prepayment in full of the Company’s Existing Revolving Credit Facilities, the execution, delivery and performance of the New Term Loan Credit Agreement and the New ABL Credit Agreement, the tender offer for and prepayment of the Issuers’ existing 6.75% senior notes due 2019 and the redemption of any of the Issuers’ existing 6.75% senior notes due 2019 not tendered pursuant to such tender offer.

 

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

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

Related Business Assets ” means assets (other than Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary.

Responsible Officer ” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Definitive Note ” means a Definitive Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note ” means a Global Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

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

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (including any Foreign Subsidiary and the Issuers) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.”

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

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

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

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

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

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Sale and Lease-Back Transaction ” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Securitization Assets ” means the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue and other rights to payment and any other assets related thereto subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof.

Securitization Facility ” means any of one or more receivables securitization financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the Obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in its accounts receivable or assets related thereto to either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

Securitization Fees ” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Facility.

Securitization Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary formed for the purpose of, and that solely engages only in one or more Qualified Securitization Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto.

Senior Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, the New Term Loan Credit Facility and the New ABL Credit Facility.

Senior Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any related Guarantee.

Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness for borrowed money other than Indebtedness owed to an Issuer or any Guarantor that is secured by a lien (x) minus the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents not listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date (y) minus, without duplication, the aggregate amount of

 

35


cash and cash equivalents restricted in favor of the Term Loan Facility (which may also secure other indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior lien on the term collateral along with the New Term Loan Credit Facility to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Secured Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date ”), then the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred immediately prior to the end of such most recent fiscal quarter end.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (and the change in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger or consolidation, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions resulting from such Investment, acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation which is being given pro forma effect that have been or are expected to be realized).

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

Similar Business ” means (a) any business engaged in by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, and (b) any business or other activities that are

 

36


reasonably similar, ancillary, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the Issue Date.

Specified Disposition ” means any disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any division, business unit, product line or line of business of such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company.

Specified Transaction ” means (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition and (c) the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness.

Subject Transaction ” means, with respect to any four fiscal quarter period, any of the following that shall have occurred during such period: (a) the Transactions, (b) any Permitted Acquisition or the making of other acquisitions and Investments not prohibited by this Indenture (including any Investment in a Subsidiary which serves to increase the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s respective equity ownership in such Subsidiary or any acquisition or Investment in any joint venture for the purpose of purchasing any or all of the interests of any joint venture partner), (c) any disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of a Subsidiary (or any business unit, line of business or division of the Company or a Subsidiary) not prohibited by this Indenture or (d) any other event that by the terms of this Indenture requires pro forma compliance with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means, with respect to the Notes,

(a) any Indebtedness of the Issuers which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and

(b) any Indebtedness of any Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such entity of the Notes.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person:

(a) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof or is consolidated under GAAP with such Person at such time; and

(b) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which

(i) more than 50.0% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and

 

37


(ii) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Guarantor other than the Company.

Total Assets ” means the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company or such other Person as may be expressly stated.

Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness minus the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents not listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date minus the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted in favor of the New Term Loan Facility (which may also secure other indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior lien on the term collateral along with the New Term Loan Credit Facility) to (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

Transactions ” means the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and as described in the Offering Circular under “The Transactions,” including borrowings under the New Term Loan Credit Facility, the issuance of the Notes, the Refinancing and the payment of related fees and expenses.

Transaction Costs ” means the fees, costs and expenses payable by the Company, any Affiliate of the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions.

Treasury Rate ” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to October 15, 2018; provided that if the period from the Redemption Date to such date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used. The Company will (1) calculate the Treasury Rate on the 2nd Business Day preceding the applicable Redemption Date and (2) prior to such redemption date file with the Trustee an officer’s certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-777bbbb).

Trustee ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

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

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

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(a) any Subsidiary of the Company which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Company, as provided below); and

(b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that

(i) any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company;

(ii) such designation complies with Sections 4.07 and 4.16 hereof; and

(iii) each of (A) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (B) its Subsidiaries has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either:

(a) the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test; or

(b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Company immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

Any such designation by the Company shall be notified by the Company to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

 

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

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing:

(a) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment; by

(b) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100.0% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions .

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

“Acceptable Commitment”

   4.10

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Applicable Premium Deficit”

   8.04

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.10

“Authentication Order”

   2.02

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.14

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.14

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   4.14

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03

“DTC”

   2.03

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“Fixed Charge Coverage Test”

   4.07

“incur”

   4.09

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“Offer Amount”

   3.09

“Offer Period”

   3.09

“Pari Passu Indebtedness”

   4.10

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Purchase Date”

   3.09

“Redemption Date”

   3.07

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.09

 

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“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.07

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07

“Second Commitment”

   4.10

“Note Register”

   2.03

“Successor Company”

   5.01

“Successor Guarantee”

   5.01

“Successor Issuer”

   5.01

“Treasury Capital Stock”

   4.07

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“indenture securities” means the Notes and the Guarantees;

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

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

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

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

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including”, “includes” and similar words means including without limitation;

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

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

(g) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

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

(i) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article,” “Section” or “clause” refers to an Article, Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

(j) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not any particular Article, Section, clause or other subdivision;

(k) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Issuers dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

(l) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory purchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater.

Section 1.05 Acts of Holders .

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments is delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuers. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee or the Issuers in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

 

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(e) The Issuers may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuers prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

(g) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including DTC, that is a Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and any Person, that is a Holder of a Global Note, including DTC, may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

(h) The Issuers may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by DTC entitled under the procedures of such depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating; Terms .

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

 

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

(c) Terms . The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

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

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuers pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer as provided in Section 4.10 hereof or a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.14 hereof. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article 3 hereof.

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Issuers without notice to or consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes; provided that the Issuers’ ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Issuers’ compliance with Section 4.09 hereof. Any Additional Notes may be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.

(d) Euroclear and Clearstream Applicable Procedures . The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

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Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication . At least one Officer of the Issuers shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Issuers by manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature.

If an Officer of such Issuer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuers’ Order (an “ Authentication Order ”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes in the aggregate principal amount or amounts specified in such Authentication Order. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued or increased hereunder.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuers. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Issuers pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent . The Issuers shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“ Note Register ”) and of their transfer and exchange. The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of the Note for all purposes. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agents. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall, to the extent that it is capable, act as such. The Issuer or any of its domestic Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

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

The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee to act as the Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Notes and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

 

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Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or a domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuers, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05 Holder Lists . The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee at least two Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders and the Issuers shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor thereto. All beneficial interests in Global Notes will be exchanged for Definitive Notes if (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 120 days, (ii) the Issuers, at their option, notify the Trustee in writing that they elect to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes, or (iii) upon the request of a Holder if there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided , however , beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or 2.06(c) hereof.

 

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

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

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A)(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B)(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

and, in each such case set forth in this subclause (iv), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(iv).

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuers or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

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

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

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

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

 

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

and, in each such case set forth in this Section 2.06(c)(ii), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

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

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

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

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

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

and, in each such case set forth in this Section 2.06(d)(ii), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably

 

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acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

and, in each such case set forth in this Section 2.06(e)(ii), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

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

(f) [Reserved].

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

(i) Private Placement Legend .

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE

 

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OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

 

  (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT, AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING, (A) IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, AND

 

  (2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUERS THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH), EXCEPT:

 

  (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, OR

 

  (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

  (C) TO A PERSON REASONABLY BELIEVED TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

  (D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

 

  (E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE WILL BE THE DATE (1) THAT IS AT LEAST ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND (2) ON WHICH THE ISSUERS INSTRUCT THE TRUSTEE THAT THIS LEGEND SHALL BE DEEMED REMOVED FROM THIS SECURITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE RELATED TO THIS SECURITY.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2(B) ABOVE, THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN

 

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COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.”

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(ii) Global Note Legend . Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (with appropriate changes in the last sentence if DTC is not the Depositary):

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such

 

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Global Note shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

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

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14, and 9.05 hereof).

(iii) The Issuers shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection or (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date with respect to such Note and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date with respect to such Note.

(iv) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

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

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

 

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(vii) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuers designated pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

(viii) At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

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

(x) Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary. The Trustee may treat and consider the person in whose name each Note is registered in the registration books as the holder and absolute owner of such Note for all purposes whatsoever (or may list out various purposes: the purpose of payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to such Note, for the purpose of giving notices of redemption or tender and other matters with respect to such Note, for the purpose of registering transfers with respect to such Note, and for all purposes whatsoever).

(xi) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among beneficial owners of interests in any Global Notes) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements of this Indenture.

 

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Section 2.07 Replacement Notes . If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuers and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.

Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuers and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

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

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser (as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code).

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

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuers or a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor) holds, on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes (or portions thereof) payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

 

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Section 2.09 Treasury Notes . In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer or by any Affiliate of the Issuer, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuers or a Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes . Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuers considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under this Indenture.

 

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Section 2.11 Cancellation . The Issuers at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such cancelled Notes in its customary manner (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the disposal of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuers upon its request therefor. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest . If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, they shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any such special record date. At least 15 days before any such special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

Section 2.13 CUSIP/ISIN Numbers . The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers (in each case, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.

 

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ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee . If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least two Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or cause to be mailed to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof but not more than 60 days before the date of redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”), an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed . If the Issuers are redeeming less than all of the Notes issued under this Indenture at any time, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, at least three Business Days prior to the sending of the notice of redemption (unless the Trustee agrees to a shorter period), an Officer’s Certificate requesting the Trustee select the Notes to be redeemed and the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed (a) if the Notes are listed on an exchange, in compliance with the requirements of such exchange or (b) on a pro rata basis or by lot (or in case of Global Notes, by such method as DTC may require). In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed or purchased in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption . Subject to Section 3.09 hereof, notice of redemption shall be delivered by the Issuers by electronic transmission or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, with a copy to the Trustee, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.07(c) hereof, notices of redemption may not be conditional.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the name of the Notes, series, issue date, interest rate, maturity date and certificate numbers) and shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the redemption price;

(c) if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of such Note that has been or is to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed will be issued in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

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

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

(f) that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

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

(h) the CUSIP and ISIN number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP and ISIN number that is listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

(i) any condition to such redemption.

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuers’ name and at its expense; provided that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least three Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption . Once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Section 3.07(d) hereof). The notice, if delivered in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to deliver such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section 3.05 hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price .

(a) Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Redemption Date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that Redemption Date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed.

(b) If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph (a), on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes

 

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called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the Redemption Date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the Redemption Date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part . Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to October 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice in accordance with Sections 3.02 and 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) From and after October 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option on one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Sections 3.02 and 3.03 hereof, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 15, of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2018

     107.875

2019

     105.250

2020

     102.625

2021 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) Before October 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 110.500% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds received by it from one or more Equity Offerings;

 

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provided that (i) at least 60.0% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (ii) each such redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(d) Any notice of any redemption may be given prior to the redemption thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ option and discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, without limitation, the consummation of an incurrence or issuance of debt or equity or a Change of Control or other corporate transaction. The Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

(e) Except pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (c) of this Section 3.07, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to October 15, 2018.

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

Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption . The Issuers will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

Section 3.09 Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds .

(a) In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Issuers shall be required to commence an Asset Sale Offer, it shall follow the procedures specified below.

(b) The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Purchase Date ”), the Issuers shall apply all Excess Proceeds (the “ Offer Amount ”) to the purchase of Notes and, if required, Pari Passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(c) If the Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest, up to but excluding the Purchase Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

(d) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers shall deliver electronically or mail, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

 

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

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

(iii) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(iv) that, unless the Issuers default in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

(v) that any Holder electing to have less than all of the aggregate principal amount of its Notes purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in an amount not less than $2,000;

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

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

(viii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes or Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes and the Company shall select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in an amount not less than $2,000 are purchased); and

(ix) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer) representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased.

(e) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis as described in Section 3.09(d)(viii) hereof, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered and (2) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof so tendered.

 

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(f) The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers for purchase, and the Issuers shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuers to the Holder thereof. The Issuers shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

(g) Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be purchased on that Purchase Date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed.

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09 or Section 4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes . The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers or a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer, holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the due date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; the Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

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Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency . The Issuers shall maintain the offices or agencies (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) required under Section 2.03 hereof where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or presented for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuers of their obligation to maintain such offices or agencies as required by Section 2.03 hereof for such purposes. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

The Issuers hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office as one such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

Section 4.03 Reports and Other Information .

(a) Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Company will file with the SEC (and make available to the Trustee and Holders of the Notes (without exhibits), without cost to any Holder, within 15 days after it files them with the SEC) from and after the Issue Date,

(i) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, annual reports on Form 10-K, or any successor or comparable form, containing the information required to be contained therein, or required in such successor or comparable form;

(ii) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, reports on Form 10-Q containing all quarterly information that would be required to be contained in Form 10-Q, or any successor or comparable form; and

(iii) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other reports on Form 8-K, or any successor or comparable form.

in each case, in a manner that complies in all material respects with the requirements specified in such form; provided that the Company shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing. To the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A (d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to comply with Item 3-10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Section 4.03 for purposes of Section 6.01(c) hereof until 90 days after the date any report is due under this Section 4.03.

(d) The Company will be deemed to have furnished the reports, documents and information to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes, and to the extent herein provided, to prospective investors, as required by this covenant if it has filed such reports with the SEC using the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”) (or any successor system) or if such system is not available to the Company, if the Company has filed such reports, documents and information on the Company website, and in each such case, such reports are publicly available thereon; provided , however , that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such reports, documents and information are available on any such website. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate .

(a) The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officers signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture during such fiscal year and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Company shall promptly (which shall be no more than five Business Days after becoming aware of such Default) deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or by facsimile transmission an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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Section 4.05 Taxes . The Company shall pay or discharge, and shall cause the Issuers and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay or discharge, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment or discharge is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws . The Company, the Issuers and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture and the Notes; and the Issuers and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i)

(A) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Company’s, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation other than:

(1) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or

(2) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

(B) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(C) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than:

 

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(1) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (vii) and (viii) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; or

(2) the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition; or

(D) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (A) through (D) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(ii)

(A) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(B) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof (the “ Fixed Charge Coverage Test ”); and

(C) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by Sections 4.07(b)(i), 4.07(b)(ii) (with respect to the payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock only), 4.07(b)(vi)(C), 4.07(b)(xii) and 4.07(b)(xiv) hereof, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07(b) hereof), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(1) 50.0% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period and including the predecessor) beginning on January 1, 2011 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100.0% of such deficit (which amount shall not be less than zero); plus

(2) 100.0% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Company since immediately after the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xii)(A) hereof) from the issue or sale of:

 

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(i)(A) Equity Interests of the Company, including Treasury Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:

(x) Equity Interests to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any direct or indirect parent company of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries after the Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(iv) hereof; and

(y) Designated Preferred Stock;

and (B) to the extent such net cash proceeds are actually contributed to the Company, Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such company or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(iv) hereof); or

(ii) debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Company; provided that this clause (2) shall not include the proceeds from: (W) Refunding Capital Stock; (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Company sold to a Restricted Subsidiary; (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock; or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

(3) 100.0% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Company following the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xii)(A) hereof) (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary and other than any Excluded Contributions); plus

(4) 100.0% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and

 

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redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) and repayments of loans or advances, which constitute Restricted Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date; or

(ii) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(vii) or 4.07(b)(x) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date; plus

(5) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (which, if the fair market value of such Investment shall exceed $15.0 million, shall be determined by the board of directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto will be delivered to the Trustee) at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant Section 4.07(b)(vii) or 4.07(b)(x) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

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

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

(ii) (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“ Treasury Capital Stock ”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests, other than any substantially concurrent sale that has been applied pursuant to Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(2) hereof, of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent contributed to the Company (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“ Refunding Capital Stock ”) and (B) if immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividend thereon was permitted under Section 4.07(b)(vi) hereof, the declaration and payment of dividend on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to

 

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redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of (1) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuers, the Company, or a Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuers, the Company, or a Subsidiary Guarantor or (2) Disqualified Stock of the Issuers, the Company, or a Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Disqualified Stock of the Issuers, the Company, or a Subsidiary Guarantor, that, in each case, is incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired, defeasance costs and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock;

(B) such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired;

(C) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired; and

(D) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired;

(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or

 

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employee benefit plan or agreement, or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any notes issued by the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company in connection with such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition); provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made under this clause does not exceed $10.0 million in any fiscal year (with unused amounts in any fiscal year being carried over to the next two succeeding fiscal years); provided , further , that each of the amounts in any fiscal year under this clause may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and, to the extent contributed to the Company, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, in each case to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C) hereof; plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; less

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iv);

and provided , further , that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, or consultants of the Company (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), any direct or indirect parent company of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(vi)(A) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (vi)(A) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually received by the Company from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock;

 

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(B) the declaration and payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by such parent company after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (vi)(B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Company from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(ii) hereof;

provided , in the case of each of subclauses (A), (B) and (C) of this clause (vi), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under Section 4.09(a) hereof;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities, not to exceed the greater of (A) $75.0 million and (B) 2.50% of Total Assets;

(viii) payments made or expected to be made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise of Equity Interests by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) and any repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants or required withholding or similar taxes;

(ix) Restricted Payments during the term of this Indenture in the aggregate not to exceed the amount of Excluded Contributions at the time such Restricted Payment is made;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (x) not to exceed the greater of (A) $125.0 million and (B) 4.00% of Total Assets;

(xi) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(xii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Section 4.10 and 4.14 hereof; provided that all Notes validly tendered by Holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired for value;

 

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(xiii) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are Cash Equivalents);

(xiv) the payment of cash dividends on the Company’s Common Stock in an aggregate amount per fiscal quarter not to exceed $0.15 per share for each share of common stock of the Company outstanding as of the record date for dividends payable in respect of such fiscal quarter (as such amount shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, reverse stock splits, stock consolidations and similar transactions), and not to exceed $25.0 million in any fiscal year; and

(xv) any Restricted Payments to the extent the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the date of such Restricted Payment determined on a pro forma basis giving effect to the transactions entered into in connection with such Restricted Payment would not exceed 3.00:1.00.

provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under Sections 4.07(b)(x), 4.07(b)(xiii), 4.07(b)(xiv) and 4.07(b)(xv) hereof, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Company’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the next to the last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 4.07(a) hereof or under Section 4.07(b)(vii), 4.07(b)(ix) or 4.07(b)(x) hereof, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture.

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(i)(A) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or

 

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(B) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is an Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is an Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor; or

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

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

(i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities and the related documentation and Hedging Obligations;

(ii) this Indenture, the Notes and the guarantees thereof;

(iii) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in Section 4.08(a)(iii) hereof on the property so acquired;

(iv) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(v) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person (but, in any such case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries or the property or assets so acquired;

(vi) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(vii) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 4.09 and 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

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

(ix) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09 hereof;

 

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(x) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements relating solely to such joint venture;

(xi) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property and other agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xii) restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Company are necessary or advisable to effect such Qualified Securitization Facility;

(xiii) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary that are the subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary;

(xiv) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof; provided that, in the judgment of the Company, such incurrence will not materially impair the Company’s ability to make payments under the Notes when due; and

(xv) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Sections 4.08(a)(i), 4.08(a)(ii) and 4.08(a)(iii) hereof imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in Section 4.08(b)(i) through 4.08(b)(xiv) hereof; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “ incur ” and collectively, an “ incurrence ”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Company will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired

 

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Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the Company’s most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not apply to:

(i)

(A) the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to Credit Facilities, other than the New ABL Credit Facility, by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary up to an aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause 1(a) not to exceed the greater of (i) $1,700.0 million and (ii) an amount such that the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio on the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred would be no greater than 3.50:1.00;

(B) the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to the New ABL Credit Facility and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) the Borrowing Base;

(ii) the incurrence by the Company, the Issuers and any Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any guarantee thereof) to be issued on the Issue Date (but excluding any Additional Notes);

(iii) Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(b)(i) and 4.09(b)(ii) hereof) and, for purposes of Section 4.09(b)(xiii) hereof, Section 4.09(b)(vii) through 4.09(b)(ix) hereof;

(iv) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) and Disqualified Stock incurred or issued by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other assets, that in each case are used or useful in a Similar Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets in an aggregate principal amount, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock incurred or issued and outstanding under this Section 4.09(b)(iv), not to exceed the greater of (A) $100.0 million and (B) 3.25% of Total Assets (in each case, determined at the date of incurrence) at any time outstanding;

 

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(v) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, banker’s acceptances, warehouse receipts, or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance; provided that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnouts or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(vii) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor (other than the Issuers) is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosure thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this Section 4.09(b)(vii);

(viii) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not one of the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of the Notes of such Subsidiary Guarantor or the Notes in the case of the Issuers; provided , further , that any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosure thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this Section 4.09(b)(viii);

(ix) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this Section 4.09(b)(ix);

 

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(x) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of (A) limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, (B) fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges, or (C) fixing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases or sales;

(xi) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(xii) (A) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined below) in respect thereof and all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock in each case outstanding under this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(A), up to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or cash contributed to the capital of the Company (in each case, other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(2) and 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(3) hereof to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 4.07(b) hereof or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (a) and (c) of the definition thereof) and (B) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(B), does not at any one time outstanding exceed the greater of (x) $150.0 million and (y) 5.00% of Total Assets (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(B) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(B) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof from and after the first date on which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(B));

(xiii) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, the issuance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Disqualified Stock or the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock which serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section

 

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4.09(a) hereof and Section 4.09(b)(ii), 4.09(b)(iii), 4.09(b)(iv) and 4.09(b)(xii)(A) hereof, this Section 4.09(b)(xiii) and Section 4.09(b)(xiv) hereof or any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (the “ Refinancing Indebtedness ”) prior to its respective maturity; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(A) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased;

(B) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases (1) Indebtedness subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee thereof at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased or (2) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively; and

(C) shall not include:

(1) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor (other than the Issuers) that refinances Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company;

(2) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor or the Issuers that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor or the Issuers; or

(3) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

and, provided , further , that Section 4.09(b)(xiii)(A) hereof will not apply to any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any Secured Indebtedness.

(xiv) (A) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or (B) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that in the case of clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 4.09(b)(xiv), after giving effect to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, either

 

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(1) the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately subsequent to the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued is greater than or equal to immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(xv) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its incurrence;

(xvi) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Facilities that is incurred under Section 4.09(b)(i) hereof, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(xvii) (A) any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture, or

(B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company; provided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with Section 4.15 hereof;

(xviii) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers and consultants thereof, their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent described in Section 4.07(b)(iv) hereof;

(xix) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;

(xx) Indebtedness in respect of Bank Products provided by banks or other financial institutions to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xxi) Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred or undertaken in the ordinary course of business on arm’s length commercial terms on a recourse basis;

 

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(xxii) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (A) the financing of insurance premiums or (B) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(xxiii) the incurrence of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company in an amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this Section 4.09(b)(xxiii), the greater of (A) $100.0 million and (B) 3.25% of the Total Assets (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09(b)(xxiii) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for the purpose of this Section 4.09(b)(xxiii) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this Section 4.09(b)(xxiii));

(xxiv) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance or assumed in connection with an acquisition in a principal amount not to exceed $20.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding together with all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock incurred or issued under this Section 4.09(b)(xxiv) (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09(b)(xxiv) shall cease to be deemed incurred, issued or outstanding for purposes of this Section 4.09(b)(xxiv) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof from and after the first date on which such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this Section 4.09(b)(xxiv));

(xxv) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries undertaken in connection with cash management and related activities with respect to any Subsidiary or joint venture in the ordinary course of business; and

(xxvi) the guarantee of Indebtedness with respect to the HSBC Asian Production Facility up to an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million; provided that increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purpose of this Section 4.09(b)(xxvi).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant and Sections 4.09(b)(xii), 4.09(b)(xiv) , 4.09(b)(xxiii), and 4.09(b)(xxiv) (other than, with respect to Sections 4.09(b)(xiv) and 4.09(b)(xxiv), Indebtedness assumed not in contemplation of an acquisition) and Section 4.09(b)(xiii) to the extent constituting Refinancing Indebtedness of any of the foregoing of the second paragraph of this covenant if, after giving pro forma effect thereto (including pro forma application of the

 

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proceeds thereof), more than an aggregate of the greater of (a) $150.0 million and (b) 5.00% of Total Assets (determined on the date of such incurrence) of Indebtedness of non-Guarantors would be outstanding pursuant to this paragraph at such time.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09:

(i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in Section 4.09(b)(i) through 4.09(b)(xxvi) hereof or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the above clauses or under Section 4.09(a) hereof; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Issue Date will be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under Section 4.09(b)(i) hereof;

(ii) at the time of incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(a) and 4.09(b) hereof; and

(iii) in the event that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (x) incurs Indebtedness to finance an acquisition or (y) assumes Indebtedness of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the date of determination of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall, at the option of the Company, be the date that a definitive agreement for such acquisition is entered into and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) consistent with the definition of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) if any such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer or the target company) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant acquisition, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether such acquisition and any related transactions are permitted hereunder and (B) such ratios shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such acquisition or related transactions; provided , further , that if the Company elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement, (i) any such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreement is entered into and to be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any ratios under this Indenture after the date of such agreement and before the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition and (ii) to the extent any covenant baskets were utilized in satisfying any

 

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covenants, such baskets shall be deemed utilized, but any calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of other incurrences of Indebtedness or Liens or making of Restricted Payments (not related to such acquisition) shall not reflect such acquisition until it has been consummated.

Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same class will not be deemed to be an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09.

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed (a) the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (b) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing.

The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Issuers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee to the extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be.

This Indenture will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

Section 4.10 Asset Sales

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

 

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(i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(ii) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75.0% of the consideration (for asset sales in excess of $25.0 million) therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto) of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which the Company and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all creditors in writing;

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale; and

(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 4.10(a)(ii)(C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 2.50% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose.

(b) Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale,

(i) to permanently reduce:

(A) Obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

(B) Obligations under Senior Indebtedness, other than Senior Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, that is secured by a Lien, which Lien is permitted by this Indenture, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

 

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(C) Obligations under other Senior Indebtedness (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto), other than Senior Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Company shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes as provided under Section 3.07 hereof or through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100.0% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.09 and 4.10(e) hereof) to all Holders to purchase their Notes at 100.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes to be repurchased; or

(D) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary;

(ii) to make (A) an Investment in any one or more businesses; provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) capital expenditures or (C) acquisitions of other assets, in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C), used or useful in a Similar Business; or

(iii) to make an Investment in (A) any one or more businesses; provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary or increases the Issuers’ direct or indirect percentage ownership of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) properties or (C) acquisitions of other assets that, in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C), replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale;

provided that, in the case of Sections 4.10(b)(ii) and 4.10(b)(iii) hereof, a binding commitment entered into not later than such 365th day shall extend the period for such Investment or other payment for an additional 180 days after the end of such 365-day period so long as the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “ Acceptable Commitment ”) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “ Second Commitment ”) within such 180-day period; provided , further, that (x) if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied or (y) such Net Proceeds are not actually so invested or paid in accordance with Sections 4.10(b)(ii) and 4.10(b)(iii) hereof by the end of such 180-day period, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds (as defined below) on the date of such cancellation or termination, or such 180th day, as applicable.

 

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(c) Any Net Proceeds from the Asset Sale that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.10(b) hereof will be deemed to constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $40.0 million, the Company shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes (“ Pari Passu Indebtedness ”), to the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that is in an amount equal to at least $2,000, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100.0% of the principal amount thereof (or accreted value thereof, if less), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. The Company will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $40.0 million by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 365 days (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $40.0 million or less.

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes or the Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and the Company shall select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered (with adjustments so that only Notes in an amount not less than $2,000 are purchased). Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds that resulted in the Asset Sale Offer shall be reset to zero.

(d) Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.10, the holder of such Net Proceeds may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

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

The provisions of Section 3.09 hereof and this Section 4.10 may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

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Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $10.0 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Company or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis; and

(ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $35.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the board of directors of the Company approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with Section 4.11(a)(i) hereof.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.11(a) hereof will not apply to the following, without duplication:

(i) transactions between or among the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;

(ii) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 hereof;

(iii) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment and severance arrangements provided on behalf of or for the benefit of, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors or consultants of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(iv) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to the Company or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

(v) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date, or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of the Company to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date);

 

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(vi) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this Section 4.11(b)(vi) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise disadvantageous in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of the Company to the Holders when taken as a whole;

(vii) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the board of directors of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(viii) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any direct or indirect parent company of the Company or to any Permitted Holder or to any employee, director, officer, manager, distributor or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ix) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with or any Qualified Securitization Facility;

(x) [Reserved];

(xi) payments and Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of any Restricted Subsidiary to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement; and any employment agreements, stock option plans and other compensatory arrangements (and any successor plans thereto) and any supplemental executive retirement benefit plans or arrangements with any such employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) that are, in each case, approved by Company in good faith;

 

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(xii) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, any cash management activities related thereto);

(xiii) if and for so long as the Company is a member of a group filing a consolidated, unitary or combined tax return with any direct or indirect parent company thereof, payments by the Company (and such parent company) and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Company (and any such parent company) and its Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent of amounts actually received in cash from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries) would be required to pay in respect of foreign, federal, state and local income taxes for such fiscal year were the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) to pay such taxes on a consolidated basis on behalf of an affiliated group consisting only of the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xiv) any lease entered into between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee and any Affiliate of the Company, as lessor, which is approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Company in good faith; and

(xv) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.12 Liens . The Company and the Issuers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures Obligations under any Indebtedness or any related Guarantee of Indebtedness, on any asset or property of the Company, the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, unless:

(a) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; and

(b) in all other cases, the Notes or the Guarantees are equally and ratably secured, except that the foregoing shall not apply to (i) Liens securing the Notes and the related Guarantees and (ii) Liens securing (x) Indebtedness and other Obligations permitted to be incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(i) hereof and (y) obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Bank Products and Hedging Obligations provided by any lender party to any Senior Credit Facility or any Affiliate of such lender (or any Person that was a lender or an Affiliate of a lender at the time the applicable agreements pursuant to which such Bank Products are provided were entered into).

 

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Section 4.13 Company Existence . Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company and the Issuers shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) their company or corporate existence, as applicable, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time); provided that, subject to Section 4.16 hereof, the Company shall not be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other existence of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Issuer), if the Company in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control . If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently electronically delivered or mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Section 3.07 hereof, the Issuers will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “ Change of Control Offer ”) at a price in cash (the “ Change of Control Payment ”) equal to 101.0% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date prior to such repurchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuers will deliver notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Security Register or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures with the following information:

(a) that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.14 and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuers;

(b) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”);

(c) that any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

(d) that unless the Issuers default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(e) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the paying agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(f) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuers to purchase such Notes; provided that the Paying Agent receives, not later

 

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than the close of business on the expiration date of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, facsimile or electronic transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(g) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to at least $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

(h) if such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control; and

(i) the other instructions, as determined by the Issuers, consistent with this Section 4.14, that a Holder must follow.

The Issuer will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(j) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers will, to the extent permitted by law:

(i) accept for payment all Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

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

(iii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuers.

(k) The Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(l) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

 

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(m) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.14, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

The provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof and this Section 4.14 may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

Section 4.15 Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries . The Company will not permit any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries guarantee Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company, the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor), other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary Guarantor, a Foreign Subsidiary (except any Foreign Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Senior Credit Facilities or any foreign tranche of the New ABL Credit Facility) or a Securitization Subsidiary, to incur or guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness of the Company, the Issuer, or any Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

(a) such Restricted Subsidiary within 30 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes; and

(b) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee;

provided that this covenant shall not be applicable to (i) any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) guarantees of any Qualified Securitization Facility by any Restricted Subsidiary. The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor to become a Subsidiary Guarantor, in which case such Subsidiary shall not be required to comply with the 30-day period described in Section 4.15(a) hereof.

Section 4.16 Existence of Corporate Co-Issuer .

(a) The Issuer will always maintain a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company organized as a corporation under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that will serve as a co-issuer of the notes unless the Issuer is itself a corporation under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

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ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets .

(a) Neither Issuer may, and the Company may not permit any Issuer to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) such Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made, is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Issuer ”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation organized or existing under such laws;

(ii) the Successor Issuer, if other than such Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Issuer or, if such Issuer is the surviving Person, such Issuer, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test, or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(v) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 5.01(c)(ii) hereof shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

(vi) such Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such

 

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supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and such supplemental indentures, if any, are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer or successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) and any Guarantors party thereto.

The Successor Issuer will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Issuer under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, as applicable. Notwithstanding Sections 5.01(a)(iii) and 5.01(a)(iv) hereof,

(x) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to an Issuer, and

(y) an Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Company (other than with the other Issuer) solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Issuer in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of such Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the covenant described in this Section 5.01(a) shall not apply in the event that any Issuer in its sole discretion converts into a limited liability company existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Issuer and undertakes any transactions related or incidental thereto at any time after the Closing Date; provided that in the case of such conversion, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation.

(b) The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made, is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Company ”);

(ii) the Successor Company, if other than the Company, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Company or, if the Company is the surviving Person, the Company, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test, or

 

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(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or, if the Company is the surviving Person, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, would be less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(v) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and such supplemental indentures, if any, are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or successor Company (if other than the Company) and any Guarantor party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms.

The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, as applicable. Notwithstanding Sections 5.01(b)(iii) and 5.01(b)(iv),

(x) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, and

(y) the Company may merge with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

(c) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, no Guarantor will, and the Company will not permit any Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company, an Issuer or such Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person being herein called the “ Successor Guarantor ”);

(ii) the Successor Guarantor expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and

(iv) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and that such supplemental indentures, if any, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the successor Guarantor, if other than the Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms; or

 

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(v) the transaction is made in compliance with the Section 4.10 hereof as applicable on the date of the transaction.

(d) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, the Successor Guarantor will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor (other than the Company) may (i) merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or any of the Issuers, (ii) merge with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or (iii) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor.

Section 5.02 Successor Person Substituted . Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company, the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, herein; provided that the predecessor Company, predecessor Issuers and predecessor Subsidiary Guarantors shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all of the Company’s, the Issuers’ or a Subsidiary Guarantor’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default .

An “ Event of Default ,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(b) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

 

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(c) failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clause (a) or (b) above) contained in this Indenture or the Notes;

(d) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(i) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and

(ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $50.0 million or more at any one time outstanding;

(e) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (net of amounts covered by insurance policies issued by reputable insurance companies), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(f) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) (in each case determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Law;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, Trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

 

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(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

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

(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary)(in each case determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof), in a proceeding in which the Company or any such Subsidiary or such group of Restricted Subsidiaries is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary)(in each case determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary or such group of Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) (in each case determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof);

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

(h) the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or the responsible officers of any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the most recent consolidated financial statement of the Company for a fiscal quarter end) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), as the case may be, denies in writing that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives written notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.

 

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Section 6.02 Acceleration . If any Event of Default (other than of a type specified in Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) hereof) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately.

Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal of and premium, if any, and interest will be due and payable immediately.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) hereof, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. The Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. In addition, the Trustee will have no obligation to accelerate the Notes.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all the Holders rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:

(a) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; or

(b) holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

(c) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

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Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults . The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all the Holders waive any existing Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority . The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits . Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

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

(b) Holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have made a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) the Holders of the Notes have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(d) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(e) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period;

provided that a Holder may not prejudice the rights of another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such use by a Holder prejudices the rights of any other Holders or obtains preference or priority over such Holders).

 

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Section 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies . If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative . Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, 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 appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver . No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of a Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

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Section 6.12 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.13 Priorities . If the Trustee or any Agent collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(a) to the Trustee, such Agent, their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or such Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(b) to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(c) to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13.

 

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Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs . In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10.0% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee .

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

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

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not investigate or confirm the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

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

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.02, 6.04 or 6.05 hereof.

 

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

(e) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holder of the Notes unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee .

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. No Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 12.04 hereof shall be required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the authentication of the Notes on the Issue Date. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

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

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

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

 

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(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for punitive, special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(j) [Reserved].

(k) Delivery of reports, information and documents (including without limitation reports contemplated under Section 4.03 hereof) to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

(l) The permissive rights of the Trustee to take certain actions under this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein.

(m) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

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Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee . The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any of its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer . The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.02(g) hereof, the Trustee shall deliver to Holders a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders . Within 60 days after each May 15, beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be mailed to the Issuers and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

 

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Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity . The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all out-of-pocket disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Company, the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify, defend, and protect the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, agents and any predecessor trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability, cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) suffered or incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company, the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Company, the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim of which a Responsible Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuers need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith.

The obligations of the Issuers under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

To secure the payment obligations of the Company, the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

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Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee upon 30 days written notice to the Trustee and the Issuers. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof or Trust Indenture Act Section 310;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Issuers’ expense), the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, at the expense of the Issuers, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc . If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification . There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has, together with its parent, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers . The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Guarantors with respect to the Guarantees upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge . Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees and all then existing Events of Default cured on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Guarantees), which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (including that of the Guarantors) (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a) the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

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(b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Article 8.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance . Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14 and 4.15 hereof and Sections 5.01(a)(iv), 5.01(a)(v), 5.01(c) and 5.01(d) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes may not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and the Guarantees, the Issuers and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and the Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(c) (solely with respect to the covenants that are released upon a Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries subject thereto), 6.01(g) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries subject thereto) and 6.01(h) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance . The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:

(a) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent

 

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public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes on the stated maturity date or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes, and the Issuers must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “ Applicable Premium Deficit ”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption (it being understood that any defeasance shall be subject to the condition subsequent that such deficit is in fact paid). Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(i) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(ii) since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

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

(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders and beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to such tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any

 

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borrowing of funds to be applied to make the deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(f) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code;

(g) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuers or any Guarantor or others; and

(h) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions . Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “ Trustee ”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

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Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers . Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on its request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement . If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided that, if the Issuers make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders . Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and any Guarantee or Notes without the consent of any Holder:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes ( provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended);

(c) to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

(d) to provide the assumption of the Issuers’ or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

(e) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not materially adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

(f) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuers or any Guarantor;

(g) [Reserved];

 

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(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;

(i) [Reserved];

(j) to add a Guarantor under this Indenture;

(k) to conform the text of this Indenture, Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Circular to the extent that such provision in such “Description of Notes” section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, Guarantee or Notes; or

(l) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided that (a) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a resolution of its board of directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02(b) hereof and an Opinion of Counsel that any such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall have the right, but not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders . Except as provided in Section 9.01 hereof and this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, Notes, and any existing Default (except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal on maturity of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes issued thereunder may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes). Sections 2.08 and 2.09 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a resolution of its board of directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such

 

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amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuers shall mail to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuers to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Without the consent of each affected Holder of Notes, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:

(a) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes (other than provisions relating to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof to the extent that any such amendment or waiver does not have the effect of reducing the principal of or changing the final maturity of any such Note or altering or waiving the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes);

(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(d) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;

(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

(g) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(h) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

 

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(i) make any change to or modify the ranking of the Notes that would materially adversely affect the Holders; or

(j) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes.

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act . Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies in all material respects with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents . Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Issuers may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes . The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc . The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Issuers may not sign an amendment, supplement or waiver until the board of directors of each of the Issuers approves it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be provided with, upon request, and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03 hereof).

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee . Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally, guarantees on an unsecured senior basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder: (a) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuers, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by full payment of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

 

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If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any nonpaying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuers for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuers become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

In case any provision of any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

The Guarantee issued by any Guarantor will be a general, unsecured senior obligation of each Guarantor and will be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor, if any.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

 

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Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability . Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Any Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee will be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery . To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President or Treasurer, one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

If required by Section 4.15 hereof, the Issuers shall cause any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

 

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Section 10.04 Subrogation . Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

Section 10.05 Benefits Acknowledged . Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 10.06 Release of Guarantees . Each Guarantee by a Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Issuers or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(a) (i) any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise) of (A) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor, in each case if such sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture to the extent required to be satisfied as of the date of the transaction;

(ii) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, or such other guarantee that resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still a release, and that if any such Guarantee is so reinstated, such Guarantee shall also be reinstated to the extent that such Guarantor would then be required to provide a Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof);

(iii) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture; or

(iv) the exercise by the Issuers of their Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article 8 hereof or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

(b) such Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with and such Guarantee is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

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ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge . This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, when either:

(a) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) (i) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers and the Issuers or any Guarantor have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption (it being understood that any defeasance shall be subject to the condition subsequent that such deficit is in fact paid). Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption,

(ii) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities, Notes or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound (other than resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(iii) the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(iv) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

 

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In addition, the Issuers must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01(b)(i) hereof, the provisions of Sections 11.02 and 8.06 hereof shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money . Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers or a Guarantor acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers’ and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls . If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Trust Indenture Act Section 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

Section 12.02 Notices . Any notice or communication by the Company, the Issuers, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), fax or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company, the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300

 

125


Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281) 504-4700

Attention: General Counsel

with a copy to:

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, NY 10006

Facsimile: (212) 225-3999

Attention: Duane McLaughlin

If to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile: 214-756-7401

Attention: Corporate, Municipal & Escrow Services

The Company, the Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed or sent electronically; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof and, subject to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, on the final date on which publication is made, if given by publication.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be electronically delivered, mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the Note Register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act. Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuers mail a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or purchase) to

 

126


a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to DTC (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from DTC or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

Section 12.03 Communication by Holders with Other Holders . Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

Section 12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by the Issuers or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuers or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) An Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) An Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof or Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(e) and shall include:

(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

 

127


Section 12.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders . No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any of their direct or indirect parent companies (other than the Issuer and the Guarantors) shall have any liability, for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 12.08 Governing Law . THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 12.09 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE ISSUERS, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 12.10 Force Majeure . In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 12.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements . This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 12.12 Successors . All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.

Section 12.13 Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

128


Section 12.14 Counterpart Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument.

Section 12.15 Table of Contents, Headings, etc . The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 12.16 U.S.A. PATRIOT Act . The parties acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.

[ Signatures on following page ]

 

129


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Indenture as of the Closing Date.

 

KRATON POLYMERS LLC

KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION

KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.

ELASTOMERS HOLDINGS LLC

KRATON POLYMERS U.S. LLC

By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

  Name: Stephen E. Tremblay
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


ARIZONA CHEMICAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
AZ CHEM US INC.
AZ CHEM INTERMEDIATE INC.
AZ CHEM US HOLDINGS INC.
ARIZONA CHEMICAL COMPANY, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:

  Stephen E. Tremblay

Title:

  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

 

/s/ Patrick Giordano

Name:

  Patrick Giordano

Title:

  Vice President

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1-1


CUSIP                     

ISIN                     

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S] [GLOBAL] NOTE

representing up to

$[            ]

10.500% Senior Note due 2023

 

No.     

[$              ]

Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promise to pay to              or registered assigns, the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto] [of                      United States Dollars] on April 15, 2023.

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15, commencing on                      ,             

Record Dates: April 1 and October 1

 

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IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

KRATON POLYMERS LLC

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:
KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-1-3


This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As Trustee

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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[Back of Note]

10.500% Senior Note due 2023

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest . Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 10.500% from                      ,              until maturity. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note semi-annually in arrears on April 15, and October 15, of each year beginning                      ,              or, if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). The Issuers will make each interest payment to the Holder of record of this Note on the immediately preceding April 1 and October 1 (each, a “ Record Date ”). Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including                      ,              . The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate borne by this Note to the extent lawful; the Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the rate borne by this Note to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment . The Issuers will pay interest on this Note to the Person who is the registered Holder of this Note at the close of business on the Record Date (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if this Note is cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Note Register of Holders, provided that (a) all cash payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, Notes represented by Global Notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof and (b) all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to certificated Notes will be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the continental United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion) and such payee owns $1 million or more of the Notes. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar . The Issuers initially appoint Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, to act as the Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Notes. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holders. The Issuer or any of its domestic Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

A-1-5


4. Indenture . The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of January 6, 2016 (the “ Indenture ”), among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, the Guarantors listed therein and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as their 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023. The Issuers shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

5. Optional Redemption .

(a) Except as described below under clauses 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d) hereof, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to October 15, 2018.

(b) At any time prior to October 15, 2018, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice in accordance with Sections 3.02 and 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of such Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(c) From or after October 15, 2018, the Issuer may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Sections 3.02 and 3.03 of the Indenture, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 15, of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2018

     107.875

2019

     105.250

2020

     102.625

2021 and thereafter

     100.000

(d) Before October 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 110.500% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds received by it from one or more Equity Offerings; provided that (i) at least 60.0% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (ii) each such redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of closing of

 

A-1-6


each such Equity Offering. Any notice of any redemption may be given prior to the redemption thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ option and discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, without limitation, the consummation of an incurrence or issuance of debt or equity or a Change of Control or other corporate transaction. The Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

(e) Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

6. Mandatory Redemption . The Issuers will not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

7. Notice of Redemption . Subject to Section 3.03 of the Indenture, notice of redemption shall be delivered by the Issuers electronically or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, with a copy to the Trustee, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 of the Indenture. Except as set forth in Section 3.07(c) of the Indenture, notices of redemption may not be conditional. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed or purchased in part, except that if all the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed. Subject to Section 3.05 of the Indenture, on and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on this Note or portions thereof called for redemption.

8. Offers to Repurchase . If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all of the outstanding Notes as described under Section 3.07 of the Indenture, the Issuers will make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Issuer shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Sections 3.09 and 4.10 of the Indenture.

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. The Issuers shall not be required to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection.

10. Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of the Note for all purposes.

 

A-1-7


11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver . The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

12. Defaults and Remedies . The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. If any Event of Default (other than of a type specified in Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) of the Indenture) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all the Holders (i) waive any existing Default or and its consequences under the Indenture (except a continuing Default in payment of interest on, principal of, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer) and (ii) rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture in accordance with Section 4.04(a) of the Indenture, and the Issuers are required within five Business Days after becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default and what action the Issuers propose to take with respect thereto in accordance with Section 4.04(b) of the Indenture.

13. Authentication . At least one Officer of the Issuers shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Issuers by manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature of the Trustee.

14. [Reserved].

15. Governing Law . THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

16. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

A-1-8


The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281) 504-4700

Attention: General Counsel

 

A-1-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:     

 

     (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint                                          to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                     

   
  Your Signature:  

 

    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                           

   

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

[    ] Section 4.10             [    ] Section 4.14

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                     

 

Date:                     

   
  Your Signature:  

 

    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
  Tax Identification No.:  

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                       

   

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-1-11


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $              . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of

Exchange

 

Amount of

decrease in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

 

Amount of

increase in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

 

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

following such

decrease or

increase

 

Signature of

authorized

officer of

Trustee or

Custodian

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-1-12


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281) 504-4700

Attention: General Counsel

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile: 214-756-7401

Attention: Corporate, Municipal & Escrow Services

Re:          10.500% Senior Notes due 2023

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 6, 2016 (the “ Indenture ”), among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                     (the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $              in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby

 

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further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 (b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S and (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. [    ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

(b) [    ] such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof; or

(c) [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any

 

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applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                      

 

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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a) [    ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) [    ] 144A Global Note ([CUSIP:             ]), or

 

  (ii) [    ] Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP:             ]), or

 

  (b) [    ] a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a) [    ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) [    ] 144A Global Note ([CUSIP:     ]), or

 

  (ii) [    ] Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP:             ])or

 

  (iii) [    ] Unrestricted Global Note ([            ] [            ]); or

 

  (b) [    ] a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) [    ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

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EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281) 504-4700

Attention: General Counsel

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile: 214-756-7401

Attention: Corporate, Municipal & Escrow Services

Re: 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 6, 2016 (the “ Indenture ”), among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                     (the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $               in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1) EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

a) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

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b) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

c) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

d) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2) EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

a) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

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b) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [ ] 144A Global Note [ ] Regulation S Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer and are dated                      .

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                     

 

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EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of                      , among                      (the “ Guaranteeing Subsidiary ”), a subsidiary of Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (together, the “ Issuers ”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of January 6, 2016, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023;

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “ Guarantee ”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows:

(a) Along with all other Guarantors named in the Indenture (including pursuant to any supplemental indentures), to jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally, guarantee on an unsecured senior basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder:

(i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

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(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. This is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers or any other Guarantor, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

(c) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby waives: diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuers, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever.

(d) This Guarantee shall not be discharged except by full payment of the obligations contained in the Notes, the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all obligations applicable to a Guarantor under the Indenture, including Article 10 of the Indenture (which is deemed incorporated in this Supplemental Indenture and applicable to this Guarantee). The Guaranteeing Subsidiary acknowledges that by executing this Supplemental Indenture, it will become a Guarantor under the Indenture and subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to Guarantors contained therein.

(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers, the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary), or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

(f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.

(g) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary further agrees that, between the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed

 

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hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary for the purpose of this Guarantee.

(h) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under this Guarantee.

(i) Pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 10 of the Indenture, this new Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Guarantee will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

(j) This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuers for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuers become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes and Guarantee, whether as a “voidable preference”, “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Note shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

(k) In case any provision of this Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

(l) This Guarantee shall be a general, unsecured senior obligation of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary, and will be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, if any.

(m) Each payment to be made by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in respect of this Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

(3) Execution and Delivery . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

 

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(4) Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(c) of the Indenture, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not consolidate, merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Guaranteeing Subsidiary is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) (A) such Guaranteeing Subsidiary is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guaranteeing Subsidiary) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such surviving Guaranteeing Subsidiary or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Person ”);

(B) the Successor Person expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Indenture and such Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and

(D) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and the supplemental indenture, if any, is the valid, legal and binding obligation of the Issuer; or

(ii) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

(b) Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Indenture and such Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such Guaranteeing Subsidiary may merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guaranteeing Subsidiary or any of the Issuers.

(5) Releases . The Guarantee of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the Issuers or the Trustee is required for the release of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee, upon:

(a) (i) any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise) of (i) the Capital Stock of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary, after which the applicable Guaranteeing Subsidiary is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) all or substantially all the assets of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary, in each case if such sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(ii) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guaranteeing Subsidiary of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, or such other guarantee that resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still a release, and that if any such Guarantee is so reinstated, such Guarantee shall also be reinstated to the extent that such Guaranteeing Subsidiary would then be required to provide a Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.15 in the Indenture);

(iii) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guaranteeing Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture; or

(iv) the exercise by the Issuers of their Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article 8 of the Indenture or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; and

(b) such Guaranteeing Subsidiary delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

(6) No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders . No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary or any of their direct or indirect parent companies (other than the Issuers and the Guarantors) shall have any liability, for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(7) Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(8) Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument.

(9) Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(10) The Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(11) Subrogation . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary

 

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pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 hereof and Section 10.01 of the Indenture; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under the Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

(12) Benefits Acknowledged . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to this Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

(13) Successors . All agreements of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in this Supplemental Indenture. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

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

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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Exhibit 4.3

EXECUTION VERSION

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Second Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of December 14, 2015, by and among Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ,” and together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture, dated as of February 11, 2011, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 20, 2012 (together, the “ Indenture ”), providing for the issuance of 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Company has distributed an Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated as of December 1, 2015 (the “ Statement ”), with an accompanying Letter of Transmittal and Consent (“ Letter of Transmittal and Consent ”), to the Holders of the Notes in connection with the solicitation of such Holders’ consent to certain proposed amendments to the Indenture;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.02 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Second Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Statement, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding as of the date hereof (excluding, for this purpose, any Notes owned by the Company or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any Guarantor) have consented to the amendments effected by this Second Supplemental Indenture in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, evidence of such consents has been provided by the Issuer to the Trustee, and all other conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the execution of this Second Supplemental Indenture have been complied with as of the date hereof.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

SECTION 1.02. DEFINITION. When used herein, “Trigger Event” shall mean the occurrence of each of the following events: (1) the Early Settlement Date (as such term is defined in the Statement), or if there is no Early Settlement Date, the Final Settlement Date (as such term is defined in the Statement), and (2) the Company’s payment to holders of Notes the Consent Fee (as such term is defined in the Statement) payable as of such Early Settlement Date for Notes tendered on or before the Consent Payment Deadline (as such term is defined in the Statement), or if there is no Early Settlement Date, the Final Settlement Date, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Statement and the Letter of Transmittal and Consent.

 

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ARTICLE II

AMENDMENTS TO THE INDENTURE

SECTION 2.01. CONSENT AND AMENDMENT. Effective upon the Trigger Event, and without any further action by any party hereto, the Indenture is hereby amended as follows:

(a) The text of Sections 3.09, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 5.01, 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f) and 6.01(g) shall each be deleted in its entirety and replaced with “[RESERVED].”

(b) All defined terms in Sections 1.01 and 1.02 that appear only in the text of the Indenture that has been deleted pursuant to subsection (a) above shall be eliminated from Sections 1.01 and 1.02. In addition, any and all references in the Indenture to the deleted text referred to in this Section 2.01 will also be deleted in their entirety.

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 3.01. EXECUTION AS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE. This Second Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Indenture and, as provided in the Indenture, this Second Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof.

SECTION 3.02. RATIFICATION AND INCORPORATION OF INDENTURE. As supplemented hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.

SECTION 3.03. GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

SECTION 3.04. SEPARABILITY. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Second Supplemental Indenture shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then, to the extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture, but this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

SECTION 3.05. COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Second Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 3.06. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 3.07. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Second Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Issuers and Guarantors and not of the Trustee.

 

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

 

KRATON POLYMERS LLC

KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION

ELASTOMERS HOLDINGS LLC

KRATON POLYMERS U.S. LLC

KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS INC.

By:

 

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:

 

Stephen E. Tremblay

Title:

  Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

 

/s/ Michael Tu

Name:

  Michael Tu

Title:

  Assistant Vice President

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

CREDIT AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

dated as of January 6, 2016,

among

KRATON POLYMERS LLC, as Borrower,

KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC. and

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF KRATON POLYMERS LLC,

as Guarantors,

VARIOUS LENDERS,

and

CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC., and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

as Syndication Agents

 

 

$1,350,000,000 Senior Secured Credit Facilities

 

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page  

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

     1   
  1.1    Definitions      1   
  1.2    Accounting Terms; Limited Condition Acquisition Calculations      42   
  1.3    Interpretation, etc.      44   
  1.4    Currency Translation      44   
  1.5    Cashless Rolls      44   
  1.6    Calculation of Consolidated Total Assets      44   

SECTION 2. LOANS

     45   
  2.1    Loans      45   
  2.2    Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds      45   
  2.3    Use of Proceeds      46   
  2.4    Evidence of Debt; Register; Lenders’ Books and Records; Notes      46   
  2.5    Interest on Loans      47   
  2.6    Conversion/Continuation      48   
  2.7    Default Interest      49   
  2.8    Fees      49   
  2.9    Scheduled Payments      49   
  2.10    Voluntary Prepayments/Commitment Reductions      50   
  2.11    Mandatory Prepayments/Commitment Reductions      52   
  2.12    Application of Prepayments/Reductions      55   
  2.13    General Provisions Regarding Payments      56   
  2.14    Ratable Sharing      57   
  2.15    Making or Maintaining Eurocurrency Rate Loans      58   
  2.16    Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy      60   
  2.17    Taxes; Withholding, etc.      62   
  2.18    Obligation to Mitigate      66   
  2.19    Replacement of Lenders      67   
  2.20    Extension Offers      68   
  2.21    Incremental Credit Extensions      70   

SECTION 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     73   
  3.1    Closing Date      73   
  3.2    Conditions to Each Credit Extension after the Closing Date      77   

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     78   
  4.1    Organization; Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification      78   
  4.2    Equity Interests and Ownership      78   
  4.3    Due Authorization      78   
  4.4    No Conflict      78   

 

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  4.5    Governmental Consents      79   
  4.6    Binding Obligation      79   
  4.7    Historical Financial Statements      79   
  4.8    [Reserved]      79   
  4.9    No Material Adverse Change      79   
  4.10    Adverse Proceedings, etc.      79   
  4.11    Payment of Taxes      80   
  4.12    Properties      80   
  4.13    Environmental Matters      80   
  4.14    No Defaults      81   
  4.15    Investment Company Act      81   
  4.16    Margin Stock      81   
  4.17    [Reserved].      81   
  4.18    Employee Benefit Plans      81   
  4.19    Solvency      82   
  4.20    Compliance with Statutes, etc.      82   
  4.21    Disclosure      83   
  4.22    Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions      83   
  4.23    Collateral Matters      83   
  4.24    Use of Proceeds.      84   

SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     84   
  5.1    Financial Statements and Other Reports      84   
  5.2    Existence      87   
  5.3    Payment of Taxes and Claims      87   
  5.4    Maintenance of Properties      88   
  5.5    Insurance      88   
  5.6    Books and Records; Inspections      88   
  5.7    Compliance with Laws      89   
  5.8    Environmental      89   
  5.9    Subsidiaries      90   
  5.10    Additional Material Real Estate Assets      91   
  5.11    Further Assurances      94   
  5.12    Unrestricted Subsidiary Designation      95   
  5.13    Maintenance of Ratings      95   
  5.14    Use of Proceeds      95   
  5.15    Certain Post-Closing Obligations      95   

SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     95   
  6.1    Indebtedness      96   
  6.2    Liens      101   
  6.3    No Further Negative Pledges      103   
  6.4    Restricted Junior Payments      104   
  6.5    Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions      105   
  6.6    Investments      106   

 

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  6.7    Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets      108   
  6.8    Sales and Leasebacks      111   
  6.9    Transactions with Affiliates      111   
  6.10    Conduct of Business      113   
  6.11    Permitted Activities of Parent      113   
  6.12    Amendments or Waivers of Material Debt Agreements or Organizational Documents and Junior Indebtedness      114   
  6.13    Fiscal Year      114   
  6.14    Financial Covenant.      115   
SECTION 7. GUARANTEE      115   
  7.1    Guarantee of the Obligations      115   
  7.2    Borrower Indemnity; Contribution by Guarantors      115   
  7.3    Payment by Guarantors      117   
  7.4    Liability of Guarantors Absolute      117   
  7.5    Waivers by Guarantors      119   
  7.6    Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, etc.      119   
  7.7    Subordination of Other Obligations      120   
  7.8    Continuing Guarantee      120   
  7.9    Authority of Guarantors or Borrower      120   
  7.10    Financial Condition of Borrower      120   
  7.11    Bankruptcy, etc.      121   
  7.12    Discharge of Guarantee Upon Sale of Guarantor      121   

SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     122   
  8.1    Events of Default      122   

SECTION 9. AGENTS

     125   
  9.1    Appointment of Agents      125   
  9.2    Powers and Duties      125   
  9.3    General Immunity      126   
  9.4    Agents Entitled to Act as Lender      128   
  9.5    Lenders’ Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment      128   
  9.6    Expense Reimbursement and Indemnity      129   
  9.7    Successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent      130   
  9.8    Collateral Documents and Guarantee      131   
  9.9    Withholding Tax.      133   
  9.10    Agency for Perfection      133   

SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS

     134   
  10.1    Notices      134   
  10.2    Expenses      136   
  10.3    Indemnity      137   
  10.4    Set-Off      138   

 

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  10.5    Amendments and Waivers      138   
  10.6    Successors and Assigns; Participations      142   
  10.7    Independence of Covenants      146   
  10.8    Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements      146   
  10.9    No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative      146   
  10.10    Marshalling; Payments Set Aside      146   
  10.11    Severability      147   
  10.12    Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights      147   
  10.13    Headings      147   
  10.14    APPLICABLE LAW      147   
  10.15    CONSENT TO JURISDICTION      147   
  10.16    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      148   
  10.17    Confidentiality      149   
  10.18    Usury Savings Clause      150   
  10.19    Counterparts      150   
  10.20    Effectiveness; Entire Agreement      150   
  10.21    PATRIOT Act      151   
  10.22    Electronic Execution of Loan Documents      151   
  10.23    No Fiduciary Duty      151   
  10.24    Judgment Currency      152   
  10.25    Authorization of Filing of Financing Statements      152   
  10.26    Actions in Concert      152   
  10.27    Applicable Intercreditor Agreements      152   

 

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APPENDICES:

   A    Initial Term Loan Commitments
   B    Notice Addresses

SCHEDULES:

   4.1    Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification
   4.2    Equity Interests and Ownership
   4.11    Payment of Taxes
   4.12    Real Estate Assets
   5.10    Mortgaged Properties
   5.14    Post-Closing Matters
   6.1    Certain Indebtedness
   6.2    Certain Liens
   6.5    Certain Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions
   6.6    Certain Investments
   6.9    Certain Affiliate Transactions

EXHIBITS:

   A-1    Funding Notice
   A-2    Conversion/Continuation Notice
   B    Term Loan Note
   C    Compliance Certificate
   D    Assignment and Assumption Agreement
   E    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
   F    Closing Date Certificate
   G    Counterpart Agreement
   H-1    ABL Intercreditor Agreement
   H-2    Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement
   I    Form of Perfection Certificate
   J    Pledge and Security Agreement
   K    Solvency Certificate
   L    Collateral Certificate

 

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CREDIT AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT , dated as of January 6, 2016, is entered into by and among Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Borrower ”); Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”); certain subsidiaries of Parent, as Guarantors; the Lenders party hereto from time to time; Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch ( Credit Suisse ) , as Administrative Agent (together with its permitted successors in such capacity, “ Administrative Agent ”) and as Collateral Agent (together with its permitted successors in such capacity, “ Collateral Agent ”); and Nomura Securities International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as Syndication Agents.

RECITALS:

WHEREAS , capitalized terms used in these Recitals shall have the respective meanings set forth for such terms in Section 1.1;

WHEREAS , Borrower has entered into the Stock Purchase Agreement pursuant to which Borrower will purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation; and

WHEREAS , in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement and each other Transaction, the Borrower has requested the Lenders to extend credit as set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1.1 Definitions. The following terms used herein, including in the preamble, recitals, exhibits and schedules hereto, shall have the following meanings:

ABL Administrative Agent ” means Bank of America N.A., as Administrative Agent under the ABL Loan Agreement together with its permitted successor and assigns.

ABL Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the ABL Administrative Agent, as agent for the holders of the ABL Obligations (as defined therein), Administrative Agent, as agent for the holders of the Fixed Asset Obligations (as defined therein), the other Fixed Asset Collateral Agents (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto and the other ABL Collateral Agents (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto and acknowledged by Parent, Borrower and Guarantors.

ABL Loan Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guarantee Agreement dated as of Closing Date, by and among, inter alia, Parent, the Borrower, the ABL Administrative Agent, and the lenders from time to time a party thereto, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, modified, refunded, replaced, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with this Agreement and the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.


ABL Loan Documents ” means the ABL Loan Agreement and any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements constituting “Loan Documents” (or similar term) under and as defined in the ABL Loan Agreement, and in each case, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, modified, refunded, replaced, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with this Agreement and the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

ABL Loans ” means the “Loans” (as defined in the ABL Loan Agreement).

ABL Priority Collateral ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article 9 of the UCC.

Acquisition ” means any acquisition whether by purchase, merger or otherwise (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of any other Person or of a business unit, division, product line or line of business of any other Person.

Acquisition Consideration ” means the purchase consideration for any Permitted Acquisition or other acquisition and all other payments by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange for, or as part of, or in connection with, any Permitted Acquisition or any other acquisition, whether paid in cash or by exchange of Equity Interests or of properties or otherwise and whether payable at or prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or such other acquisition or deferred for payment at any future time (provided, however, “Acquisition Consideration” shall not include any such future payment for so long as it is subject to the occurrence of any contingency) and includes any and all payments representing the purchase price and any assumptions of Indebtedness, “earn-outs” and other agreements to make any payment the amount of which is, or the terms of payment of which are, in any respect subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flow or profits (or the like) of any Person or business.

Additional Commitments ” means any term commitments established pursuant to Section 2.20, 2.21 or 10.5(f)(i).

Additional Lender ” means a Lender with an Additional Commitment or an outstanding Additional Loan.

Additional Loans ” means any term loans made pursuant to any Additional Commitments or established as a separate Class of Loans pursuant to Section 2.20.

Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate ” means, for any Interest Rate Determination Date with respect to an Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the rate per annum that appears on the page of the Reuters Screen that displays the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) (such page currently being LIBOR01 page) for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period in Dollars, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date, by (ii) an amount equal to one minus the

 

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Applicable Reserve Requirement. In the event the rate referenced in the preceding clause (a)(i) or (b) does not appear on such page or service or if such page or service shall cease to be available, each such referenced rate shall be deemed to be the Interpolated Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate applicable to any Initial Term Loan shall at no time be less than 1.00% per annum.

Administrative Agent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Adverse Proceeding ” means any action, suit, proceeding, hearing (in each case, whether administrative, judicial or otherwise), governmental investigation or arbitration (whether or not purportedly on behalf of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign (including any Environmental Claims), whether pending or, to the knowledge of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, threatened in writing against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any property of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Affected Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(b).

Affected Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(b).

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any branch of such Person or any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. For purpose of this definition, (a) “ 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 ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise and (b) “ Controlled ” has a correlative meaning. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Arrangers, the Agent or their respective lending affiliates shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries.

Agent ” means each of (i) Administrative Agent, (ii) Collateral Agent, (iii) the Arrangers and (iv) any other Person appointed under the Credit Documents to serve in an agent or similar capacity, including, without limitation, any auction manager.

Agent/Arranger Affiliates ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1(b)(iii).

Aggregate Amounts Due ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14.

Aggregate Payments ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2.

Agreement ” means this Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2016, as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Parent or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, money laundering or corruption.

 

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Applicable Intercreditor Agreement ” means (a) the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, (b) with respect to debt that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations hereunder, an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H-2, or (c) with respect to Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Obligations hereunder or secured by a Lien that is subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations hereunder (excluding Indebtedness under the ABL Loan Documents), an intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

Applicable Margin ” means (a) with respect to Initial Term Loans that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans, 5.00% per annum; and (b) with respect to Initial Term Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 4.00% per annum; and (c) with respect to any Additional Loan of any Class, the rate or rates per annum specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Amendment.

Applicable Reserve Requirement ” means, at any time, for any Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, the maximum rate, expressed as a decimal, at which reserves (including, without limitation, any basic marginal, special, supplemental, emergency or other reserves) are required to be maintained with respect thereto against “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as such term is defined in Regulation D) under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors or other applicable banking regulator. Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Applicable Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks with respect to (i) any category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the applicable Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or any other interest rate of a Loan is to be determined, or (ii) any category of extensions of credit or other assets which include Eurocurrency Rate Loans. A Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such shall be deemed subject to reserve requirements without benefits of credit for proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to the applicable Lender. The rate of interest on Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Applicable Reserve Requirement.

Approved Electronic Communications ” means any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material that any Credit Party provides to Administrative Agent pursuant to any Credit Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed to Agents or Lenders by means of electronic communications pursuant to Section 10.1(b).

Arrangers ” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC ( CS Securities ), Nomura Securities International, Inc. (“ Nomura ”) and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“ DBSI ”).

Asset Sale ” means a sale, lease or sub-lease (as lessor or sublessor), sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, exclusive license (as licensor or sublicensor) transfer or other disposition to, or any exchange of property with, any Person (other than (a) to Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary or (b) among wholly owned Subsidiaries of Parent that are not Credit Parties), in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or any part of Parent’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ businesses, assets or properties of any kind, whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or leased, including, without limitation, the Equity Interests of any of Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

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other than (i) sales, leases or licenses (exclusive or non-exclusive) out granted in the ordinary course of business (excluding any such sales, leases or licenses out by operations or divisions discontinued or to be discontinued), (ii) non-exclusive licenses out of Intellectual Property by any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent to another Restricted Subsidiary of Parent in the ordinary course of business, (iii) sales of Accounts in connection with any Supplier Financing Transaction, (iv) any sale or other transfer of inventory, Cash, Cash Equivalents and other cash management investments and obsolete, unused or unnecessary equipment, in each case in the ordinary course of business and (v) other than for purposes of Section 6.7 and the definition of “Internally Generated Cash”, sales, leases or licenses out of other assets for consideration of less than $30,000,000 in the aggregate during any Fiscal Year.

Assignment Agreement ” means an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D, in each case with such amendments or modifications thereto as may be approved by Administrative Agent and Borrower.

Assignment Effective Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.6(b).

Auction ” means a purchase by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10(c) of Loans of any Class (Loans tendered for in an Auction being referred to as “ Offer Loans ”) pursuant to a modified Dutch auction in accordance with the following restrictions: (a) the Borrower shall deliver a notice of the proposed purchase of Loans to Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders) no later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least three Business Days in advance of a proposed commencement date of such Auction indicating (i) the dates on which the Auction will commence and conclude, (ii) the maximum principal amount of Loans that such purchaser is willing to purchase in such Auction and (iii) the range of discounts to par at which such purchaser would be willing to purchase the Offer Loans, (b) the dollar amount of the proposed purchase in each Auction (based on the par value of the Offer Loans to be purchased) shall be no less than an aggregate of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (c) such purchaser shall hold each Auction open for a minimum period of two Business Days, (d) a Lender that elects to participate in an Auction may choose to tender all or part of such Lender’s Loans, (e) each Auction shall be offered to the Lenders holding the applicable Class of Loans on a pro rata basis in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares, (f) each Auction shall be conducted pursuant to procedures Administrative Agent may establish, which shall be consistent with this definition and with Section 2.10(c) and otherwise reasonably acceptable to Borrower, that a Lender must follow in order to have its Offer Loans purchased, (g) as to each assigning Lender, each purchase of Loans shall be of a uniform, and not varying, percentage of all rights of such assigning Lender hereunder with respect thereto (and shall be allocated among the Loans of such Class of such assigning Lender in a manner that would result in such assigning Lender holding Loans of each Type (and, in the case of Loans that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans, for each Interest Period) in accordance with its applicable Pro Rata Share) and (h) all purchases of Loans pursuant to any individual Auction shall be at the same discounted purchase price.

Authorized Officer ” means, as applied to any Person, any individual holding the position of chairman of the board (if an officer), chief executive officer, president or one of its vice presidents (or the equivalent thereof), or such Person’s chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or treasurer; provided , that, when such term is used in reference to a certificate or other document executed by, or a certificate of, an Authorized Officer, the secretary or assistant secretary (or equivalent thereof) of such Person shall have delivered an incumbency certificate to Administrative Agent as to the authority of such Authorized Officer.

 

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Available Basket Amount ” means, as of any date:

 

  (a) $50,000,000.00 (the “ Starter Basket ”); plus

 

  (b) the sum, for all Fiscal Years commencing with the Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2016, for which the financial statements required by Section 5.1(b) shall have been delivered, 50.00% of Consolidated Net Income for each such Fiscal Year, minus

 

  (c) the portion of the Available Basket Amount previously utilized pursuant to Section 6.4(f) or 6.6(k), with the utilization of Section 6.6(k) for any acquisition being the Acquisition Consideration in respect thereof and the utilization of Section 6.6(k) for any Investment being the amount thereof determined in accordance with the last sentence of the definition of “Investment”, plus

 

  (d) an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all Returns received on or prior to such date in Cash or Cash Equivalents in respect of any Investment made in reliance on Section 6.6(k), plus

 

  (e) the amount of any Declined Proceeds, plus

 

  (f) the net Cash proceeds, of a sale of Qualified Equity Interests of Parent (which proceeds shall be contributed to Borrower as Cash in exchange for Qualified Equity Interests), and the fair market value, as reasonably determined by Borrower, of Cash Equivalents, marketable securities or any other property received by Parent as a capital contribution or in return for any issuance (without duplication of clause (g) immediately below) of common Equity Interests of Parent, and contributed to Borrower as Qualified Equity Interests, in each case received after the Closing Date and excluding any such amount received pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or pursuant to Section 6.6(s), plus

 

  (g) the net Cash proceeds of Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries or of Disqualified Equity Interests of Parent, in each case, issued after the Closing Date (other than in respect of (i) any issuance by any of Parent or its Subsidiaries to Parent or any Subsidiary, or (ii) pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan) to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests have been exchanged or converted into Qualified Equity Interests of Parent, together with the fair market value of any Cash Equivalents and the fair market value (as reasonably determined by Borrower) of any property or assets received by Borrower upon such exchange or conversion.

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

 

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Base Rate ” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus  1 2 of 1.00% and (iii) the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate (after giving effect to any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate “floor”) that would be applicable to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars with an Interest Period of one month determined on such day plus 1.00% per annum; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Base Rate applicable to any Initial Term Loan shall at no time be less than 2.00% per annum. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall be effective on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, as the case may be.

Base Rate Loan ” means a Loan denominated in Dollars bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.

Beneficiary ” means any Secured Party.

Board of Governors ” means the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, or any successor thereto.

Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Business Day ” means (i) any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in such state are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close and (ii) with respect to all notices, determinations, fundings and payments in connection with the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or any Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, the term “ Business Day ” shall mean any day which is a Business Day described in clause (i) and which is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Lease ” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person, in each case subject to Section 1.2(c).

Captive Insurance Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Parent that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).

Cash ” means money, currency or a credit balance in any Deposit Account.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

  (a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

7


  (b) direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an investment grade rating from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another rating agency) maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

  (c) investments in commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof rated, at such date of acquisition, at least A-2 by S&P or at least P-2 by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another rating agency);

 

  (d) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances, demand deposits, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any Lender or any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

  (e) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for securities described in clause (a) through (d) above and (f) through (h) below and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (d) above;

 

  (f) money market and similar liquid funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a 7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated at least A-2 by S&P and P-2 by Moody’s and have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000 (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another rating agency);

 

  (g) securities with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof;

 

  (h) indebtedness or preferred stock issued by persons rated A or higher by S&P or A2 or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another rating agency);

 

  (i) any money market fund of which the assets are comprised of not less than 90.00% of the items specified in clauses (a) through (h) above; and

 

  (j) with respect to any Non-U.S. Subsidiary investments denominated in the currency of the jurisdiction in which such Person is organized which are similar to the items specified in clauses (a) through (h) above (other than the nationality of the governmental or non-governmental issuer or counterparty involved).

 

8


Change in Law ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16(a).

Change of Control ” means, (a) at any time, Parent shall not beneficially own and control directly or indirectly 100% of the Equity Interests of Borrower and of each Person that directly or indirectly owns or controls any outstanding voting stock of Borrower; (b) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, of Equity Interests representing more than 35.00% of the total voting power of all of the Equity Interests of Parent; (c) a “Change of Control” (as defined in the Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture, the ABL Loan Agreement or any other agreement with respect to Material Indebtedness of any Credit Party) shall have occurred and (d) the majority of the seats (other than vacant sales) on the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Parent shall cease to be occupied by Continuing Directors.

Class , when used in reference to (a) any Loan or borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such borrowing, are Initial Term Loans, Additional Loans of any series established as a separate “Class” pursuant to Section 2.20, 2.21 or 10.5(f), (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is an Initial Term Loan Commitment, an Additional Commitment of any series established as a separate “Class” pursuant to Section 2.20, 2.21 or 10.5(f) and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment of a particular Class.

Closing Date ” means the date on which the Initial Term Loans are made, which occurred on January 6, 2016.

Closing Date Certificate ” means a Closing Date Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

Collateral ” means, collectively, all of the real, personal and mixed property (including Equity Interests) in which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as security for all or any part of the Obligations (subject to exceptions contained herein and/or in the Collateral Documents, and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Excluded Assets).

Collateral Agent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Collateral Documents ” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, the Mortgages, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, any deed or amendment of deed executed in connection with this Agreement or any amendment hereof and all other instruments, documents and agreements delivered by any Credit Party pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents in order to grant to, or perfect in favor of, Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a Lien on any real, personal or mixed property of that Credit Party as security for all or any part of the Obligations.

 

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Commitment ” means each of the Initial Term Loan Commitments and the Additional Commitments.

Commitment Letter ” means that certain Amended and Restated Commitment Letter dated October 7, 2015, by and among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Commitment Parties named therein.

Commodity Agreement ” means any commodity price protection agreement or other commodity price hedging arrangement, swap agreement, futures contract, option contract, cap or other similar agreement or arrangement.

Company Material Adverse Effect ” means any events, acts, changes, effects or circumstances that (1) has had or would be reasonably expected to have a material and adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (2) would reasonably be expected to prevent or delay past the Outside Date the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement by Seller or the Company; provided , however , that none of the following shall be deemed (either alone or in combination) to constitute, and none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been or may be, a Company Material Adverse Effect: (i) the effect of any change in the United States or foreign economies or securities, financial, banking or credit markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates) or geopolitical conditions in general; (ii) the effect of any change that generally affects any industry in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates or seasonal changes in the results of operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) the effect of any change arising in connection with natural disasters or acts of nature, hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions or any escalation or material worsening of any such hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions; (iv) the effect of any action taken by the Company as expressly required by the Stock Purchase Agreement or with the consent of Buyer or the failure to take any action expressly prohibited by the Stock Purchase Agreement; (v) the effect of any changes in applicable Laws or accounting rules or any action required to be taken under any applicable Law or Order; (vi) the failure of the Company or its Subsidiaries to meet any of their internal projections (it being agreed that such exception shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that the underlying cause of any such failure (unless such underlying cause is covered by any other section of this proviso) is or contributed to a Company Material Adverse Effect); (vii) any effect resulting from the negotiation, execution, announcement, pendency or performance of the Stock Purchase Agreement, compliance with terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement or any communication by Buyer or any of its Affiliates of its plans or intentions (including in respect of employees) with respect to any of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including (A) losses or threatened losses of, or any adverse change in the relationship with employees, customers, suppliers, distributors, financing sources, joint venture partners, licensors, licensees or others having relationships with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (B) the initiation of litigation or other administrative proceedings by any Person with respect to the Stock Purchase Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby; (viii) any effect that results from any action taken at the express prior request of Buyer or with Buyer’s prior written consent; or (ix) any breach by Buyer of its obligations under the Stock Purchase Agreement.; provided , however , any events, acts, changes, effects or circumstances

 

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referred to in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) shall be taken into account for purposes of determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred to the extent such event, act, change, effect or circumstance adversely affects the Company in a disproportionate manner as compared to similarly situated participants in the industry in which the Company operates. For the avoidance of doubt, a Company Material Adverse Effect shall be measured only against past performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and not against any forward-looking statements, financial projections or forecasts of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Capitalized terms in the preceding definition (other than the terms “Company Material Adverse Effect” and “Stock Purchase Agreement”) are used as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Compliance Certificate ” means a Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA ” means with respect to Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

  (a) increased (without duplication) and to the extent deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

 

  (i) the amount of depreciation and amortization, as determined in accordance with GAAP; plus

 

  (ii) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, the sum of (A) premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses incurred in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets plus (B) the portion of rent expense with respect to such period under any Capital Leases that is treated as interest expense in accordance with GAAP plus (C) the implied interest component of synthetic leases with respect to such period plus (D) any losses on hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such hedging obligations or such derivative instruments plus (E) bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus (F) any commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges; plus

 

  (iii) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, provincial, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including any future taxes or other levies which replace or are intended to be in lieu of such taxes and any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations); plus

 

  (iv) negative effects of purchase accounting; plus

 

  (v) all extraordinary, nonrecurring or one-time charges; plus

 

11


  (vi) the sum of: (A) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies related to any acquisition or similar transaction (including the Acquisition) projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of actions (taken, committed to be taken or planned to be taken, in each case on or prior to the date that is 24 months after such acquisition or similar transaction (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable), (B) cost savings to be realized for actions already taken in connection with the Borrower’s cost reset initiative announced prior to the Closing Date (such strategic cost reset initiative as described in the presentation provided to the Lenders on December 1, 2015 the “ Cost Reset Initiative ”) and achieved prior to the date which is 12 months after the Closing Date, which shall not exceed $12,000,000 and (C) cost savings in connection with actions taken after the Closing Date (excluding any cost savings related to the Cost Savings Initiative regardless of when the actions giving rise to such cost savings are taken or when such cost savings are realized) projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized on or prior to the date that is 12 months after such action is taken (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable) and provided further that such cost savings shall not exceed $15,000,000 for any period; and provided that the aggregate amount of such cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies in clauses (A), (B) and (C) hereof shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, prior to giving effect to such additions; plus

 

  (vii) all non-cash charges that did not increase Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in a prior period; provided , that for any such non-cash charges resulting in a cash payment or cash outlay in a subsequent period, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA will be reduced by the amount of the cash payment or cash outlay in the period made; plus

 

  (viii) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of hedging agreements pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 — “Derivatives and Hedging”; plus

 

  (ix) (A) the amount of any restructuring provisions, restructuring charges, restructuring accruals or restructuring reserves, (B) cost initiative charges embedded in cost of goods sold (cash and non-cash charges) and (C) cost initiative charges embedded in selling, general and administrative expenses (cash and non-cash charges); plus

 

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  (x) non-recurring operating location exit charges; provided no amounts pursuant to this clause (x) may be added if such amount was added in a prior period; plus

 

  (xi) actual plant turnaround costs and expenses to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7,500,000 in such period; plus

 

  (xii) losses on sales of assets, disposals or abandonments other than in the ordinary course of business (cash and non-cash); plus

 

  (xiii) Transaction Costs and any fees, costs and expenses payable by Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any offering of Equity Interests of Parent, Permitted Acquisitions, joint ventures or other Investments permitted hereunder (whether consummated or unsuccessful and other than Investments made in the ordinary course of business and other than Investments in Subsidiaries) expensed or amortized in such period; plus

 

  (xiv) Pro Forma EBITDA; plus

 

  (xv) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the KFPC Percentage times the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the joint venture Kraton Formosa Polymers Corporation, a corporation formed under the laws of Republic of China (“ Kraton Formosa ”), calculated in a manner consistent with the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA otherwise applicable to the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries and provided that prior to the commission of the production facility owned by Kraton Formosa, such amount shall be excluded if a negative number;

 

  (b) decreased (without duplication) and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

 

  (i) gains on sales of assets other than in the ordinary course of business (cash and non-cash); minus

 

  (ii) any non-cash gains attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of hedging agreements pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 — “Derivatives and Hedging”;

 

  (c) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any effects of Inventory Revaluation; and

 

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  (d) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency re-measurements of assets or liabilities (including the net loss or gain resulting from hedging agreements for currency exchange risk and revaluations of intercompany balances).

Consolidated Capital Expenditures ” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases) of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period determined on a consolidated basis that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included as capital expenditures in the consolidated statement of cash flows of Parent and its Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Current Assets ” means, as at any date of determination, the total assets of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current assets in conformity with GAAP, excluding Cash and Cash Equivalents.

Consolidated Current Liabilities ” means, as at any date of determination, the total liabilities of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current liabilities in conformity with GAAP, excluding the current portion of long term debt.

Consolidated Excess Cash Flow ” means, for any period, an amount (if positive) equal to:

 

  (a) the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) to the extent reducing Consolidated Net Income, the sum, without duplication, of amounts for non-Cash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income, including for depreciation and amortization (excluding any such non-Cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for a potential Cash charge in any future period or amortization of a prepaid Cash charge that was paid in a prior period (other than with respect to any environmental, pension and other post-retirement expenses accrual or reserves)), plus (c) the Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment; minus

 

  (b)

the sum, without duplication (including with respect to amounts already reducing Consolidated Net Income), of (a) the amounts paid in such period from Internally Generated Cash of (1) scheduled repayments of Indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding repayments of any revolving facilities except to the extent the commitments under any such revolving facilities are permanently reduced in connection with such repayments) and scheduled repayments of obligations under Capital Leases (excluding any interest expense portion thereof), and (2) Consolidated Capital Expenditures and other cash payments by Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness) to the extent such payments are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) other non-Cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding

 

14


  any such non-Cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential Cash charge in any prior period (other than with respect to any environmental, pension and other post-retirement expenses accrual or reserves)), plus (c) environmental, pension and other post-retirement expenses paid in such period to the extent previously or concurrently accrued or reserved and not reducing Consolidated Net Income in this period plus (d) the aggregate amount of Restricted Junior Payments made pursuant to Sections 6.4(a), (b), (d) and (h) or Investments made pursuant to Sections 6.6(h), (l), (n), (p), (q) and (r) (in each case, to the extent funded with Internally Generated Cash of the Credit Parties); in each case paid by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such period plus (e) any gain (loss) on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice) or income (loss) from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of). As used in this clause (b)(a)(1), “scheduled repayments of Indebtedness” do not include mandatory prepayments or voluntary prepayments or purchases of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.10.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Parent or is merged into or consolidated with Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of Parent) in which Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Credit Document) or any applicable law.

Consolidated Total Assets ” means, at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, unreimbursed obligations under letters of credit, obligations in respect of Capital Leases and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments; provided that the maximum amount of the guarantee of indebtedness of Kraton Formosa shall be included in calculating Consolidated Total Debt, with such indebtedness calculated net of the KFPC Percentage times the unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of Kraton Formosa and its subsidiaries.

 

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Consolidated Total Secured Debt ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Debt outstanding on such date that is secured by a Lien on any property of Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Working Capital ” means, as at any date of determination, the excess of Consolidated Current Assets over Consolidated Current Liabilities.

Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment ” means, for any period on a consolidated basis, the amount (which may be a negative number) by which Consolidated Working Capital as of the beginning of such period exceeds (or is less than) Consolidated Working Capital as of the end of such period. In calculating the Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment there shall be excluded the effect of reclassification during such period of current assets to long term assets and current liabilities to long term liabilities and the effect of any Permitted Acquisition during such period; provided that there shall be included with respect to any Permitted Acquisition during such period an amount (which may be a negative number) by which the Consolidated Working Capital attributable to the Person or Persons acquired in such Permitted Acquisition as at the time of such Permitted Acquisition is consummated exceeds (or is less than) Consolidated Working Capital attributable to such Person or Persons at the end of such period.

Contingent Obligation ” means as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Debt or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such Debt or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such Debt of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such Debt or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of such Debt against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Debt in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.

Continuing Directors ” means (a) the directors of Holding on the Closing Date after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) each other director of Holdings if, in each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the board of directors of Holdings is recommenced by at least 50% of the votes of the then Continuing Directors.

Contractual Obligation ” means, as applied to any Person, any provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, contract, undertaking, agreement or other instrument to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or to which it or any of its properties is subject.

Contributing Guarantors ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2.

 

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Conversion/Continuation Date ” means the effective date of a continuation or conversion, as the case may be, as set forth in the applicable Conversion/Continuation Notice.

Conversion/Continuation Notice ” means a Conversion/Continuation Notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.

Counterpart Agreement ” means a Counterpart Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G delivered by a Credit Party pursuant to Section 5.9 and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Cost Reset Initiative ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA”.

Credit Date ” means the date of a Credit Extension.

Credit Document ” means any of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the Counterpart Agreements, each Refinancing Amendment, each Incremental Facility Amendment, each Extension Amendment, each Additional Agreement and, except for purposes of Section 10.5, the Notes, if any, any amendments or other modifications of any of the foregoing, and each other document, certificate, instrument or agreement executed and delivered by a Credit Party for the benefit of any Agent or any Lender in connection herewith on or after the date hereof that is designated by Borrower and Administrative Agent as a “Credit Document”.

Credit Extension ” means the making or extension of a Loan.

Credit Party ” means Borrower and each Guarantor.

Currency Agreement ” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract, synthetic cap or other similar agreement or arrangement.

Debtor Relief Laws ” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, general assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws of the U.S. or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Declined Proceeds ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(f).

Default ” means a condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Deposit Account ” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration ” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of non-cash consideration received by Parent, the Borrower or any

 

17


of their Subsidiaries in connection with an asset sale that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, setting forth such valuation, less the amount of cash or cash equivalents received in connection with a subsequent disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

Designated Subsidiary ” means (a) each Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary; and (b) each Subsidiary that is a Credit Party on the Closing Date.

Disqualified Equity Interest ” means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (i) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests which are not otherwise Disqualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Equity Interests which are not otherwise Disqualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (iii) provides for the payment of any dividend, interest, sinking fund or other similar payment in cash, or (iv) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the then-existing Latest Maturity Date, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), if as a result of a change of control or asset sale, so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of such a change of control or asset sale event are subject to the prior payment in full of all Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.

Disqualified Lenders ” means (a) the persons identified as “Disqualified Lenders” in writing to the Arrangers by the Borrower on or prior to the date of the Original Commitment Letter (as defined in the Commitment Letter), (b) those competitors of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries who are from time to time identified in writing by Borrower to Administrative Agent and (upon request) the Lenders as Disqualified Lenders and (b) in the case of each such competitor, each Affiliate thereof (other than bona fide debt funds that are affiliates of competitors of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) that is clearly identifiable on the basis of such Affiliate’s name or that is identified in writing by Borrower to Administrative Agent and the Lenders as a Disqualified Lender (it being understood that no supplement to the list of Disqualified Lenders will affect any assignment to a Person not on the list at the time it acquired its interest in any Commitment, Loan or other interest hereunder).

Disregarded Entity ” means any entity that is treated as a pass-through or disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes.

Dollars ” and the sign “ $ ” mean the lawful money of the United States.

Eligible Assignee ” means any Person other than a natural Person that is (i) a Lender, an Affiliate of any Lender or a Related Fund (any two or more Related Funds being treated as a single Eligible Assignee for all purposes hereunder) or (ii) a commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund or other entity that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) and which extends credit or buys loans in the ordinary course of business; provided , that (A) none of the Credit Parties or any Affiliate of any Credit Party shall be an Eligible Assignee and (B) if at any time a list of Disqualified Lenders has been

 

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made available to Administrative Agent and (upon request) all Lenders, no Disqualified Lender identified on such list shall be an Eligible Assignee at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that Administrative Agent (1) shall not have any responsibility or obligation to determine whether any Lender or any potential assignee Lender is a Disqualified Lender and (2) shall not have any liability with respect to any assignment or participation made to a Disqualified Lender.

Employee Benefit Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (other than any plan that is sponsored by a Governmental Authority) which is or in the last six years, was sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed by, Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates.

Environmental Claim ” means any investigation, written notice, notice of violation, claim, action, suit, proceeding, written demand, abatement order or other order or directive (conditional or otherwise), by any Governmental Authority or any other Person, arising (i) pursuant to or in connection with any actual or alleged violation of, or liability under, any Environmental Law; (ii) in connection with any Hazardous Material or any actual or alleged Hazardous Materials Activity; or (iii) in connection with any actual or alleged damage, injury, threat or harm to human health or safety as related to environmental matters, natural resources or the environment.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all current or future foreign or domestic, federal or state (or any subdivision of either of them), laws (including, without limitation, common law and legally binding directives, rules and regulations of the European Union), statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, judgments, Governmental Authorizations, or any other requirements of Governmental Authorities relating to (i) environmental matters, including those relating to any Hazardous Materials Activity; (ii) the generation, use, storage, transportation or disposal of Hazardous Materials; or (iii) occupational safety and health as related to exposure to Hazardous Materials, in any manner applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any Real Estate Facility.

Equity Interests ” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents, including membership interests (however designated, whether voting or nonvoting) of equity of such Person, including if such Person is a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), if such Person is a limited liability company, membership interests, and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of property of, such partnership, whether outstanding on the date hereof or issued on or after the Closing Date, but excluding debt securities convertible or exchangeable into such equity interests.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

ERISA Affiliate ” means, as applied to any Person, (i) any corporation which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; (ii) any trade or business (whether or

 

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not incorporated) which is a member of a group of trades or businesses under common control within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; and (iii) any member of an affiliated service group within the meaning of Section 414(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person, any corporation described in clause (i) above or any trade or business described in clause (ii) above is a member.

ERISA Event ” means (i) a “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder with respect to any Pension Plan (excluding those for which the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC has been waived by regulation); (ii) the failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (iii) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Pension Plan, (iv) the provision by the administrator of any Pension Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (v) the withdrawal by Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan, in either case resulting in liability to Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (vi) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event or condition which would reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; Parent(vii) the imposition of liability on Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (viii) the withdrawal of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if there is any potential liability therefor; (ix) the occurrence of an act or omission which gives or would be reasonably expected to give rise to the imposition on Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of fines, penalties, taxes or related charges under Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code or under Section 409, Section 502(c), (i) or (l), or Section 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Pension Plan; (x) the assertion of a material claim (other than routine claims for benefits) against any Pension Plan or the assets thereof, or against Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in connection with any Pension Plan; (xi) receipt from the Internal Revenue Service of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; (xii) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k), 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or pursuant to ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan; or (xiii) any event with respect to any Non-U.S. Plan, based on applicable law, which is similar to any event described in any of subsections (i) through (xii) hereof.

 

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Eurocurrency Rate Loan ” means a Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate.

Event of Default ” means each of the conditions or events set forth in Section 8.1.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Excluded Assets ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (a) any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (b) any Immaterial Subsidiaries, (c) any Joint Ventures, (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable law, rule or regulation or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date (or, if later, the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) from guaranteeing the Term Facility or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (e) any Subsidiary that is an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (or would be such an investment company if it were to provide or maintain a Guarantee), (f) any Subsidiary whose provision of a guarantee would constitute an investment in “United States property” by a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of sections 956 and 957 of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder (or any similar law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction) (a “ CFC ”) or otherwise result in a material adverse tax consequence to the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Term Administrative Agent, (g) any Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by a CFC, (h) any Subsidiary that is a disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes and substantially all of whose assets consist (directly or indirectly through disregarded entities) of the capital stock or debt of CFCs, (i) not-for-profit Subsidiaries and captive insurance companies, if any, (j) any Subsidiary for which the providing of a guarantee could reasonably be expected to result in any violation or breach of, or conflict with, fiduciary duties of such Subsidiary’s officers, directors or managers, and (k) any Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition financed with indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Agreement as assumed indebtedness and any Restricted Subsidiary thereof that guarantees such indebtedness, in each case to the extent such secured indebtedness prohibits such subsidiary from becoming a Guarantor.

Extended Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a)(i).

Extension ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Extension Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent (for purposes of giving effect to Section 2.20) and Borrower executed by each of (a) Parent, Borrower and the other Guarantors, (b) Administrative Agent and (c) each Lender that has accepted the applicable Extension Offer pursuant hereto and in accordance with Section 2.20.

Extension Offer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

 

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Fair Share ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2.

Fair Share Contribution Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable thereto and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury regulations thereunder or other official administrative interpretations thereof, any similar provision of law applicable under an intergovernmental agreement entered into in respect thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to such intergovernmental agreement or current section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreements implementing the foregoing.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided , (i) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by Administrative Agent.

Financial Officer Certification ” means, with respect to any financial statements for which such certification is required, the certification of the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer or the treasurer of Parent that such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as disclosed in such financial statements), subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.

Financial Plan ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1(h).

First Priority ” means, with respect to any Lien purported to be created in any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document, that such Lien is the only Lien to which such Collateral is subject, other than any Permitted Lien.

Fiscal Quarter ” means a fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year.

Fiscal Year ” means the fiscal year of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each calendar year.

Fixed Incremental Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

 

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Flood Certificate ” means a “Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form” of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and any successor Governmental Authority performing a similar function.

Flood Hazard Property ” means any Real Estate Asset subject to a Mortgage in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and located in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and any successor Governmental Authority performing a similar function as being located in a special flood hazard area.

Flood Program ” means the National Flood Insurance Program created by the U.S. Congress pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, in each case as amended from time to time, and any successor statutes.

Flood Zone ” means areas having special flood hazards as described in the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Funding Guarantors ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2.

Funding Notice ” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.

GAAP ” means, subject to Section 1.2, United States generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the date of determination thereof.

Governmental Acts ” means any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority.

Governmental Authority ” means any foreign or domestic, federal, state, municipal, supranational, national or other government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity, officer or examiner exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether associated with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign entity or government.

Governmental Authorization ” means any permit, license, authorization, plan, directive, consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental Authority.

Grantor ” means a “Grantor” as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement or any similar term defined in any other Collateral Document.

Guarantee ” means the guarantee of each Guarantor set forth in Section 7.

Guaranteed Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1.

Guarantor ” means (i) Parent, (ii) each other Subsidiary of Parent listed on the signature pages of this Agreement and (iii) each Subsidiary of Parent that signs a Counterpart Agreement as a Guarantor that is delivered to the Administrative Agent; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt no Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor hereunder.

 

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Guarantor Subsidiary ” means each Guarantor other than Parent.

Hazardous Materials ” means any chemical, material or substance which is regulated, classified or otherwise characterized as “hazardous” or “toxic” or as a “pollutant” or “contaminant” by any Governmental Authority.

Hazardous Materials Activity ” means any past, current or proposed activity, event or occurrence involving any Hazardous Materials, including the use, manufacture, possession, storage, holding, presence, existence, location, Release, threatened Release, discharge, placement, generation, transportation, processing, treatment, abatement, removal, remediation, disposal, disposition or handling of any Hazardous Materials, and any corrective action or response action with respect to any of the foregoing.

Highest Lawful Rate ” means the maximum lawful interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, charged, or received under the laws applicable to any Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.

Historical Financial Statements ” means as of the Closing Date, (i) the consolidated balance sheet and statements of operations, shareholder’s (deficiency in assets) equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows of (a) Parent and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2014, audited by and accompanied by the opinion of KPMG, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm and (b) Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2014, audited by and accompanied by the opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and (ii) the consolidated balance sheet and statements of operations, shareholder’s equity and comprehensive income of (a) Parent and its Subsidiaries and (b) Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation and its Subsidiaries, in each case as of and for the Fiscal Quarters and the portion of the Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2015, and the statement of cash flows of Parent and its Subsidiaries for such portion of such Fiscal Year.

HSBC Asian Production Facility ” means the production facility owned by Kraton Formosa, or any other Asian production facility the Borrower may choose to pursue.

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means, as of any date, any Subsidiary of any Credit Party (a) for which the book value of its consolidated assets is less than 5.00% of Consolidated Total Assets and (b) the consolidated revenues of which for the most recently ended four-Fiscal Quarter period for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable (or, prior to the first delivery of financial statements thereunder, for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ended September 30, 2015, as set forth in the Historical Financial Statements therefor), constituted less than 5.00% of the revenues of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period; provided that the consolidated total assets and revenues of all Immaterial Subsidiaries shall not exceed 5.00% of Consolidated Total Assets or 5.00% of the consolidated revenues of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of and for the relevant four-Fiscal Quarter period, as the case may be.

 

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Incremental Cap ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Incremental Commitment ” means any commitment made by a lender to provide all or any portion of an Incremental Facility.

Incremental Equivalent Debt ” means Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the then-available Incremental Cap, consisting of notes, term loans or any bridge facility, in each case, issued in (A) a public offering, Rule 144A or other private placement or (B) except in the case of senior secured notes, a bridge facility or in a syndicated loan financing or otherwise in lieu of an Incremental Facility, on terms and conditions that are customary on the date of incurrence thereof; provided that (a) the maturity date of such Incremental Equivalent Debt will be no earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date, (b) the weighted average life to maturity of such Incremental Equivalent Debt may not be shorter than the then remaining weighted average life to maturity of the Loans, and (c) if such Incremental Equivalent Debt is secured, it shall be subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement or such other customary intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. All Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be deemed to be Secured Indebtedness for all purposes of calculating the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio hereunder.

Incremental Facilities ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Incremental Facility Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent (for purposes of giving effect to Section 2.21) and Borrower executed by each of (a) Parent, Borrower and the other Guarantors, (b) Administrative Agent and (c) each Lender that agrees to provide all or any portion of the Incremental Facility being incurred pursuant thereto and in accordance with Section 2.21.

Incremental Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Indebtedness ”, as applied to any Person, means, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money; (ii) that portion of obligations with respect to Capital Leases that is properly classified as a liability on a balance sheet in conformity with GAAP; (iii) notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money; (iv) any obligation owed for all or any part of the deferred purchase price of property or services, (excluding any earn-out obligation until such obligation (x) becomes a liability on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP and (y) has not been paid within 30 days after becoming due and payable), which purchase price is (a) due more than six months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect thereof or (b) evidenced by a note or similar written instrument; (v) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person; (vi) the face amount of any letter of credit issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings; (vii) Disqualified Equity Interests, (viii) the direct or indirect guarantee, endorsement (otherwise than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting with recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the indebtedness of another; (ix) any obligation

 

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of such Person the primary purpose or intent of which is to provide assurance to an obligee that the indebtedness of the obligor thereof will be paid or discharged, or any agreement relating thereto will be complied with, or the holders thereof will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss in respect thereof; (x) any liability of such Person for the indebtedness of another through any agreement (contingent or otherwise) (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise) or (b) to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of another if, in the case of any agreement described under subclauses (a) or (b) of this clause (x), the primary purpose or intent thereof is as described in clause (ix) above; and (xi) all obligations of such Person in respect of any exchange traded or over the counter derivative transaction, including under any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodity Agreement, whether entered into for hedging or speculative purposes.

Indemnified Liabilities ” means, collectively, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages (including natural resource damages), penalties, claims (including Environmental Claims), actions, judgments, suits, costs (including the costs of any investigation, study, sampling, testing, abatement, cleanup, removal, remediation or other response action necessary to remove, remediate, treat, monitor, clean up or abate any Hazardous Materials), expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for Indemnitees (and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees (and, in the case of a conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnitee)) in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding or hearing commenced or threatened by any Person (including Parent or any of its Affiliates), whether or not any such Indemnitee shall be designated as a party or a potential party thereto, and any fees or expenses incurred by Indemnitees in enforcing this indemnity), whether direct, indirect, special or consequential and whether based on any federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or regulations (including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable cause or on contract or otherwise, that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such Indemnitee, in any manner relating to or arising out of (i) this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the Transactions, Lenders’ agreement to make Credit Extensions, the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein or the use or intended use of the proceeds thereof, any amendments, waivers or consents with respect to any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, or any enforcement of any of the Credit Documents (including any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral or the enforcement of the Guarantee)); or (ii) any Environmental Claim or any Hazardous Materials Activity relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, any past or present activity, operation, land ownership, or practice of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

Indemnified Taxes ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(e).

Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.3.

 

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Initial Term Facility ” means the Initial Term Loan Commitments and the Initial Term Loans.

Initial Term Lender ” means a Lender with an Initial Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Initial Term Loan.

Initial Term Loan Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make an Initial Term Loan on the Closing Date as set forth on Appendix A or in the applicable Assignment Agreement, subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Initial Term Loan Commitments as of the Closing Date is $1,350,000,000.

Initial Term Loan Maturity Date ” means the earlier of (i) the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date and (ii) the date that all Initial Term Loans shall become due and payable in full hereunder, whether by acceleration or otherwise.

Initial Term Loans ” means the term loans made by the Initial Term Lenders to Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a).

Installment ” means each scheduled repayment of any Loan prior to the Maturity Date applicable thereto, as set forth in Section 2.9 with respect to the Initial Term Loans or in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Amendment with respect to any Additional Loans.

Intellectual Property ” means the rights in and to (a) all inventions and discoveries (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all patents, patent applications and patent disclosures, together with all reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions and reexaminations thereof, (b) all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names and corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations thereof and including all goodwill associated therewith, (c) all copyrightable works, all copyrights and all applications, registrations and renewals in connection therewith, (d) all know-how, trade secrets and confidential business information, whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice (including ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, compositions and manufacturing and production process and techniques, technical data, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals), (e) designs, (f) all computer software (including data and related documentation), (g) all other proprietary rights and (h) all licenses and agreements in connection therewith.

Intellectual Property Security Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Intercompany Note ” means a promissory note , including without limitation, a global intercompany note, evidencing Indebtedness owed among the Credit Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries in a form reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent.

Interest Payment Date ” means with respect to (i) any Loan that is a Base Rate Loan, each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on March 31, 2016,

 

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and the final maturity date of such Loan; and (ii) any Loan that is a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan; provided , in the case of each Interest Period of longer than three months “Interest Payment Date” shall also include each date that is three months, or an integral multiple thereof, after the commencement of such Interest Period.

Interest Period ” means, in connection with a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, an interest period of one-, two-, three- or six-months (or, if approved by all applicable Lenders, twelve months or a shorter period), as selected by Borrower in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, (i) initially, commencing on the Credit Date or Conversion/Continuation Date thereof, as the case may be, and (ii) thereafter, commencing on the day on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires; provided , (a) if an Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day unless no further Business Day occurs in such month, in which case such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day; (b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall, subject to clauses (c) of this definition, end on the last Business Day of a calendar month and (c) no Interest Period with respect to any portion of the Loans shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loans.

Interest Rate Agreement ” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedging agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.

Interest Rate Determination Date ” means, with respect to any Interest Period the date that is two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

Internal Revenue Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter, and any successor statute (unless otherwise provided herein).

Internally Generated Cash ” means, with respect to any period, any cash of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries generated during such period, excluding Net Asset Sale Proceeds (for the avoidance of doubt, being determined without giving effect to clause (iii) of the definition of “Asset Sale”), Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds and any cash that is generated from an incurrence of Indebtedness, or the issuance of Equity Interests.

Interpolated Rate ” means, with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate for any Loan, the rate which results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or otherwise on the Reuters Screen) for the longest period (for which that rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period and (b) the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or otherwise on the Reuters Screen) for the shortest period (for which that rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period, in each case as of approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the date that is two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

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Inventory Revaluation ” means an adjustment (positive or negative) to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA equal to the difference of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as determined in accordance with the “first-in-first-out” method of accounting minus (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as determined in accordance with the “replacement cost” method of accounting, computed by adjusting cost of sales to reflect the cost of raw material prices during the applicable period.

Investment ” means (i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of, or of a beneficial interest in, any of the Securities of any other Person; (ii) any direct or indirect redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition for value, by any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent, from any Person of any Equity Interests of such Person; (iii) any direct or indirect loan, advance (other than advances to employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any other Person, including all indebtedness and accounts receivable from such other Person that are not current assets or did not arise from sales to such other Person in the ordinary course of business; and (iv) all investments consisting of any exchange traded or over the counter derivative transaction, including any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodity Agreement, whether entered into for hedging or speculative purposes or otherwise. The amount of any Investment of the type described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) shall be the original cost of such Investment plus the cost of all additions thereto, without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

Joint Venture ” means a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement, whether in corporate, partnership or other legal form.

judgment currency ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.24.

Junior Indebtedness ” means, collectively, any Indebtedness that is (x) secured by a Lien that is junior in priority to the Liens securing the Obligations hereunder and the Obligations under the ABL Loan Agreement, (y) by its terms subordinated in right of payment to all or any portion of the Obligations hereunder or (z) unsecured.

KFPC Percentage ” means, at any date of measurement, the percentage of Equity Interests of Kraton Formosa directly or indirectly owned by the Company.

Kraton Formosa ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA”.

Latest Maturity Date ” means, as of any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time.

LCA Election ” means the Borrower’s election to treat a specified investment as a Limited Condition Acquisition.

LCA Test Date ” means the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(e).

 

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Leasehold Property ” means any leasehold interest of any Credit Party as lessee under any lease of real property, other than any such leasehold interest designated from time to time by Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion as not being required to be included in the Collateral.

Lender ” means each financial institution listed on the signature pages hereto as a Lender, each Additional Lender and any other Person that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment Agreement, other than a Person that shall have ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment Agreement.

Lien ” means (i) any lien, mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease or license in the nature thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing and (ii) in the case of Securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such Securities.

Limited Condition Acquisition ” means any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

Loans ” means each of the Initial Term Loans and the Additional Loans.

Local Time ” means with respect to a Loan or notice with respect to any Loan, New York City time.

Majority in Interest ”, when used in reference to Lenders of any Class, means, at any time, Lenders having Term Loan Exposure representing more than 50.00% of the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all the Lenders of such Class at such time.

Margin Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U of the Board of Governors as in effect from time to time.

Material Adverse Effect ” means an event or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations, in each case, of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies (taken as a whole) of Administrative Agent under the Credit Documents or (c) the ability of Borrower and the Guarantors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Credit Documents.

Material Real Estate Asset ” means each Real Estate Asset owned in fee and located in the United States by a Credit Party that, together with the improvements thereon, has a fair market value, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith and without requirement of delivery of an appraisal or other third party valuation, in excess of $10,000,000.

Material Subsidiary ” means (a) Borrower and (b) each other Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary.

 

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Maturity Date ” means (a) with respect to the Initial Term Loans, the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Replacement Term Loans, the final maturity date for such Replacement Term Loans, as the case may be, as set forth in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, (c) with respect to any Incremental Facility, the final maturity date set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, and (d) with respect to any Extended Term Loans, the final maturity date set forth in the applicable Extension Amendment.

Minimum Extension Condition ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(b).

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

Mortgage ” means any mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt or similar document granting a security interest to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in a Real Estate Asset of a Credit Party, or any mortgage or deed of trust amendment or any amendment of any other such document, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion, as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Mortgaged Property ” means each Real Estate Asset that is, or is required by Section 5.10 to be, subject to a Mortgage, including those listed on Schedule 5.10 and any properties which may become Mortgaged Properties after the date hereof.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any Employee Benefit Plan which is a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.

NAIC ” means The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and any successor thereto.

Net Asset Sale Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, an amount equal to: (i) Cash payments (including any Cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) received by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Asset Sale, minus (ii) any bona fide direct costs incurred in connection with such Asset Sale, including (a) income or gains taxes payable or reasonably estimated to be payable within two years of such Asset Sale by the seller as a result of any gain recognized in connection with such Asset Sale, (b) payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans, any Other Applicable Indebtedness and any other Indebtedness secured by a Lien that is pari passu or junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations) that is secured by a Lien on the stock or assets in question and that is required to be repaid under the terms thereof as a result of such Asset Sale (other than any such Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such stock or assets), (c) any bona fide direct costs incurred by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale, including the costs and expenses of outside counsel and other advisors and commissions and fees paid or payable in connection with such Asset Sale including but not limited to any title insurance premiums, related search and recording charges, survey costs and mortgage recording tax paid therewith, and (d) a reasonable reserve for any indemnification payments (fixed or contingent) attributable to seller’s

 

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indemnities and representations and warranties to purchaser in respect of such Asset Sale undertaken by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale or any other liabilities associated with the assets subject to such Asset Sale and retained by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such Asset Sale including without limitation pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and environmental liabilities; provided that upon release of any such reserve, the amount released shall be considered Net Asset Sale Proceeds.

Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds ” means an amount equal to: (i) any Cash payments or proceeds received by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) under any casualty insurance policy in respect of a covered loss thereunder or (b) as a result of the taking of any assets of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person pursuant to the power of eminent domain, condemnation or otherwise, or pursuant to a sale of any such assets to a purchaser with such power under threat of such a taking, minus (ii) (a) any actual and reasonable costs incurred by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the adjustment or settlement of any claims of Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary in respect thereof, including the costs and expenses of outside counsel and other advisors, (b) any bona fide direct costs incurred in connection with (i) any such casualty or condemnation or (ii) any sale of such assets as referred to in clause (i)(b) of this definition, in either case including income or gains taxes payable or reasonably estimated to be payable within two years as a result of any gain recognized in connection therewith, and (c) payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans, any Other Applicable Indebtedness and any other Indebtedness secured by a Lien that is pari passu or junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations) that is secured by a Lien on the assets in question and that is required to be repaid as a result of such casualty or condemnation. For the avoidance of doubt, any receipt of proceeds pursuant to Section 6.16 of the Stock Purchase Agreement shall not be deemed Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds hereunder.

Net Mark-to-Market Exposure ” of a Person means, as of any date of determination, the excess (if any) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized profits of such Person arising from any Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements, Commodity Agreements or other Indebtedness of the type described in clause (xi) of the definition thereof. As used in this definition, “unrealized losses” means the fair market value of the cost to such Person of replacing such Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodity Agreement or such other Indebtedness as of the date of determination (assuming the Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodity Agreement or such other Indebtedness were to be terminated as of that date), and “unrealized profits” means the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing such Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodity Agreement or such other Indebtedness as of the date of determination (assuming such Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodity Agreement or such other Indebtedness were to be terminated as of that date).

Non-Guarantor Cap ” means, at any time, the greater of (a) $150,000,000.00 and (b) 5.00% of Consolidated Total Assets, as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable.

 

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Non-Guarantor Specified Investments Amount ” means, at any time, the aggregate outstanding amount of Investments made after the Closing Date in reliance on Section 6.6(e), (h), (l) or (n).

Nonpublic Information ” means information with respect to Parent, Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing or any Security of any of the foregoing that is not Public Information.

Non-U.S. Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(d)(i).

Non-U.S. Plan ” means any employee benefit plan maintained by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is mandated or governed by any law, rule or regulation of any Government Authority other than the United States, any State thereof or any other political subdivision thereof.

Non-U.S. Subsidiary ” means each Restricted Subsidiary organized in any jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

Note ” means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B, as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Notice ” means a Funding Notice or a Conversion/ Continuation Notice.

Obligations ” means all obligations of every nature of each Credit Party under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, including obligations under the Guarantees, in each case whether for principal, interest (including interest that, but for the filing of a petition in bankruptcy with respect to such Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, would have accrued on any such obligation, whether or not a claim is allowed against such Credit Party or Restricted Subsidiary for such interest in the related bankruptcy proceeding), fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise.

Obligee Guarantor ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.7.

Offer Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Auction”.

Organizational Documents ” means (i) with respect to any corporation or company, its certificate, memorandum or articles of incorporation, organization or association, as amended, and its by-laws, as amended, (ii) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate or declaration of limited partnership, as amended, and its partnership agreement, as amended, (iii) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, as amended, (iv) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of organization, as amended, and its operating agreement, as amended and (v) with respect to any other Non-U.S. Subsidiary, the equivalent thereof in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. In the event any term or condition of this Agreement or any other Credit Document requires any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state or similar governmental official, including an official of a non-United States government, the reference to any such “Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such governmental official in such official’s relevant jurisdiction.

 

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Other Applicable Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(b).

Other Taxes ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(c).

Parent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Parent Company ” means (a) Parent and (b) any other Person of which Parent is a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary.

Participant Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.6(g)(iv).

PATRIOT Act ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1(n).

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

Pension Plan ” means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA.

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I that provides information with respect to the personal or mixed property of each Credit Party (or such other form reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent).

Permitted Acquisition ” means any acquisition by Borrower or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries whether by an Investment or an Acquisition; provided , that

 

  (a) at the time of the execution of the definitive documentation for such Permitted Acquisition, both immediately prior thereto and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (and any incurred or assumed Indebtedness and related transactions in connection therewith) on a Pro Forma Basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; and

 

  (b) any Person or assets or division as acquired in accordance herewith shall (A) become a Restricted Subsidiary (unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary) and (B) be in the same or a similar business or line of business as that in which Parent and any of its Subsidiaries are engaged as of the Closing Date or shall be engaged in businesses and activities that are similar, complementary, ancillary, reasonably related or incidental thereto.

Permitted Liens ” means each of the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.2.

Person ” means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies, Joint Ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other organizations, whether or not legal entities, and Governmental Authorities.

Platform ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1(k).

 

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Pledge and Security Agreement ” means the Pledge and Security Agreement to be executed by the Credit Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit J, as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Primary Syndication Period ” means the period of the primary syndication of the credit facilities being provided under this Agreement, provided that the Primary Syndication Period will be deemed to have been completed on the earlier to occur of (a) Arrangers notifying Borrower that primary syndication has been completed and (b) the date falling 60 days after the Closing Date.

Prime Rate ” means, the rate of interest per annum determined from time to time by Credit Suisse AG as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City and notified to the Borrower. The prime rate is a rate set by Credit Suisse AG based upon various factors including Credit Suisse AG’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such rate.

Principal Office ” means, for the Administrative Agent, its “Principal Office” as set forth on Appendix B, or such other office or office of a third party or sub-agent, as appropriate, the Administrative Agent may from time to time designate in writing to Borrower and each Lender.

Pro Forma Basis ” means with respect to any determination of the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets (including, in each case, component definitions thereof), for any period during which one or more Subject Transactions occurs, such Subject Transaction (and all other Subject Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the most recent four Fiscal Quarter period of measurement and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person disposed of in a Subject Transaction shall be excluded and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person acquired in a Subject Transaction shall be included; provided that the foregoing pro forma adjustments may include anticipated cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies solely to the extent set forth in the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

Pro Forma EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Specified Transaction for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Specified Transaction.

Pro Rata Share ” means with respect to all payments, computations and other matters relating to the Loan of any Class of any Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Term Loan Exposure in respect of such Class of that Lender by (b) the aggregate Term Loan Exposure in respect of such Class of all Lenders. For all other purposes with respect to each Lender, “Pro Rata Share” means the percentage obtained by dividing (A) an amount equal to the sum of the Term Loan Exposure of that Lender, by (B) an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all Lenders.

 

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Public Information ” means any information that (a) has been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD and, where applicable, any comparable doctrines under state and foreign securities laws, (b) does not constitute material non-public information concerning Parent, Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, or any Security of any of the foregoing, for purposes of the United States federal and state securities laws and, where applicable, foreign securities laws or (c) so long as neither Parent, Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall have any Securities registered under the Exchange Act or issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, or shall otherwise be subject to the reporting obligations under the Exchange Act, is information of the type that would be publicly disclosed in connection with an issuance of Securities by Parent, Borrower or such Subsidiary pursuant to an offering of Securities registered under the Securities Act or made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (but only if such information does not constitute material non-public information of any Affiliate thereof for the foregoing purposes).

Public Lenders ” means Lenders that do not wish to receive material Nonpublic Information with respect to Parent, its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates or their respective Securities.

Qualified Equity Interest ” means any Equity Interest that is not a Disqualified Equity Interest.

Ratio Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(n).

Real Estate Asset ” means, at any time of determination, any fee interest then owned by any Credit Party in any real property.

Real Estate Facility ” means any real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or used by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates.

Refinancing ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1(h).

Refinancing Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent (for purposes of giving effect to Section 10.5(f)) and Borrower executed by each of (a) Parent, Borrower and the other Guarantors, (b) Administrative Agent and (c) each Lender that agrees to provide all or any portion of the Replacement Term Loans being incurred pursuant thereto and in accordance with Section 10.5(f).

Refinancing Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(m).

Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.4(b).

Regulation D ” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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Regulation FD ” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as in effect from time to time.

Related Fund ” means, with respect to any Lender that is an investment fund, any other investment fund that invests in commercial loans and that is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

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

Release ” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, escaping, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration of any Hazardous Material into the indoor or outdoor environment (including the abandonment or disposal of any barrels, containers or other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material), including the movement of any Hazardous Material through the air, soil, surface water or groundwater.

Replaced Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.5(f).

Replacement Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19.

Replacement Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.5(f).

Repricing Event ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(b).

Requirements of Law ” means, with respect to any Person, collectively, the common law and all federal, state, local, foreign, multinational or international laws, statutes, codes, treaties, standards, rules and regulations, guidelines, ordinances, orders, judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees (including administrative or judicial precedents or authorities) and the interpretation or administration thereof by, and other determinations, directives, requirements or requests of any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law and that are applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Requisite Lenders ” means, at any time, one or more Lenders having Term Loan Exposure representing more than 50.00% of the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all Lenders.

Restricted Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(e).

Restricted Junior Payment ” means (i) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any Equity Interests of Parent, Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries now or hereafter outstanding, except a dividend payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests, (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of Parent, Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries now or hereafter outstanding, (iii) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire Equity

 

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Interests of Parent, Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries now or hereafter outstanding and (iv) any payment or prepayment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance (including in-substance or legal defeasance), sinking fund or similar payment with respect to, any Junior Indebtedness, other than in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), solely in the exchange for Qualified Equity Interests.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Parent that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary, including the Borrower.

Returns ” means (a) with respect to any Investment in the form of a loan or advance, the return of principal thereof and payments of interest thereon, (b) with respect to any other Investment, any return of capital received or realized in respect of such Investment (including the net proceeds of any sale or other disposition) and (c) other profits, distributions and similar amounts received on Investments made in reliance on Section 6.6(j); provided that the aggregate Returns in respect of any Investment shall not exceed the amount of the Available Basket Amount used in making the original amount of such Investment.

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

Sanctions ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.22.

Secured Parties ” means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders.

Securities ” means any stock, shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) the amount as of such day of Consolidated Total Secured Debt minus the Unrestricted Cash Amount to (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four Fiscal Quarter period ending on such date.

Senior Unsecured Note Documents ” shall mean the Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture and the Senior Unsecured Notes, as each such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Senior Unsecured Notes ” shall mean the 10.50% Senior Notes due 2023 issued by Borrower on the date hereof and any notes issued by Borrower in exchange for, and as contemplated by, the Senior Unsecured Notes with substantially identical terms as the Senior Unsecured Notes.

 

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Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture ” shall mean the indenture, dated as of the date hereof, with Borrower, as issuer, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the Senior Unsecured Notes, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Similar Business ” means (1) any business engaged in by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, and (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the Issue Date.

Solvent ” means, with respect to any Person, that as of the date of determination, (a) the sum of such Person’s debt and other liabilities (including contingent liabilities) does not exceed the present fair saleable value of such Person’s present assets; (b) such Person’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business as contemplated to be conducted after the Closing Date and the consummation of the Transactions; and (c) such Person has not incurred and does not intend to incur, or believe (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur, debts and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) beyond its ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise). For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5).

Specified Disposition ” means any disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent or any division, business unit, product line or line of business of such Restricted Subsidiary or Parent.

Specified Representations ” means the representations and warranties relating to the Parent and its Subsidiaries set forth in Sections 4.1(b), 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 4.15, 4.16, 4.19, 4.23 and 4.24.

Specified Transaction ” means (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition and (c) the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness.

Starter Basket ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Available Basket Amount.

Stock Purchase Agreement ” means that certain Stock Purchase Agreement entered into by and among AZC Holding Company LLC, as the Seller, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, as the Company, and Borrower, as Buyer dated as of September 27, 2015.

Subject Transaction ” means, with respect to any four Fiscal Quarter period, any of the following that shall have occurred during such period: (a) the Transactions, (b) any Permitted

 

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Acquisition or the making of other acquisitions and Investments not prohibited by this Agreement (including any Investment in a Subsidiary which serves to increase Parent’s or any Subsidiary’s respective equity ownership in such Subsidiary or any acquisition or Investment in any joint venture for the purpose of purchasing any or all of the interests of any joint venture partner), (c) any disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of a Subsidiary (or any business unit, line of business or division of Borrower or a Subsidiary) not prohibited by this Agreement or (d) any other event that by the terms of the Credit Documents requires pro forma compliance with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50.00% of the total voting power of shares, stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) 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 and policies thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; provided , in determining the percentage of ownership interests of any Person controlled by another Person, no ownership interest in the nature of a “qualifying share” of the former Person shall be deemed to be outstanding. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to a “Subsidiary” refer to a Subsidiary of Parent.

Subsidiary Redesignation ” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” set forth in Section 5.12.

Supplier Financing Transaction ” means, any transaction in which the Borrower or an Restricted Subsidiary may, from time to time, directly, or indirectly through a special purpose vehicle for an amount equal to the market value of such Accounts, sell to a bank buyer certain Accounts on a non-recourse and true sale basis.

Syndication Agents ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Tax ” means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, assessment, charge, fee, deduction or withholding of any nature and whatever called, by whomsoever, on whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto; provided , “Tax on the overall net income” of a Person shall be construed as a reference to (a) a tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which that Person is organized or incorporated or in which that Person’s applicable principal office (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office) is located or in which that Person (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office) is deemed to be doing business on all or part of the net income, profits or gains (whether worldwide or only insofar as such income, profits or gains are considered to arise in or to relate to a particular jurisdiction, or otherwise) of that Person (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its applicable lending office) other than a jurisdiction in which it is subject to tax solely as a result of such Person having executed, delivered, become a party to, perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or performed its obligations or received a payment under or enforced, any of the Credit Documents or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document or (b) any branch profits tax imposed by the jurisdictions listed in clause (a).

 

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Term Facility ” means any of the Initial Term Facility, any Incremental Facility and any Replacement Term Facility.

Term Lender ” means a Lender with a Commitment or an outstanding Loan.

Term Loan Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Loans of such Lender; provided , at any time prior to the making of the Loans of any Class, the Term Loan Exposure of any Lender shall be determined by reference to such Lender’s Commitment of such Class. The “Term Loan Exposure” of any Lender with respect to any Class of Loans means, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Loans of such Class of such Lender.

Title Policy ” means an ALTA mortgagee title insurance policy with respect to a Mortgaged Property issued by one or more title companies reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent.

Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Debt minus the Unrestricted Cash Amount to (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

Transaction Costs ” means the fees, costs and expenses payable by Parent, Borrower any Affiliate of Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions.

Transactions ” means (i) the entering into and funding of the Initial Term Loans pursuant to this Agreement the other Loan Documents, the ABL Loans pursuant to the ABL Loan Documents and the Senior Unsecured Notes pursuant to the Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture, (ii) the consummation of the transactions pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, (iii) the creation or continuation of the Liens created by the Collateral Documents, (iv) the Refinancing and (v) except for purposes of the definition of “Subject Transaction”, the performance by Credit Parties of their obligations under the Credit Documents.

Type of Loan ” means a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect from time to time in any applicable jurisdiction.

United States ” and “ US ” mean the United States of America.

Unrestricted Cash Amount ” means, as of any date of determination, the amount of all unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents owned by Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP of as of such date and not subject to any Lien (other than Liens created under the Credit Documents in favor of Collateral Agent, Liens created under the ABL Loan Documents in favor of the ABL Administrative Agent and Liens arising by operation of law that are permitted by Section 6.2).

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Parent designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.12 that has not subsequently been designated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.12.

U.S. Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

1.2 Accounting Terms; Limited Condition Acquisition Calculations. (a) All financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature that are used in calculating the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date unless otherwise agreed to by Borrower and the Requisite Lenders; provided that all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made without giving effect to (i) any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein and (ii) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, financial ratios and tests (including the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and the amount of Consolidated Total Assets) contained in this Agreement that are calculated with respect to any period during which any Subject Transaction occurs shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Subject Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis. Further, if since the beginning of any such period and on or prior to the date of any required calculation of a financial ratio or test (x) a Subject Transaction shall have occurred or (y) any Person that subsequently became a Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into Borrower or any other Subsidiary of Parent since the beginning of such period shall have consummated any Subject Transaction, then, in each case, any applicable financial ratio or test shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such period as if such Subject Transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable period.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) above or the definition of “Capital Lease,” in the event of an accounting change requiring certain or all leases

 

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to be capitalized, only those leases (assuming for purposes hereof that they were in existence on the date hereof) that would constitute Capital Leases on the date hereof shall be considered Capital Leases and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith including for the avoidance of doubt, in the calculation of Consolidated Total Assets ( provided that together with all financial statements delivered to Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement after the date of such accounting change, Borrower shall deliver a schedule showing the adjustments necessary to reconcile such financial statements with GAAP as in effect immediately prior to such accounting change).

(d) For purposes of determining the permissibility of any action, change, transaction or event that by the terms of the Credit Documents requires a calculation of any financial ratio or test (including the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the amount of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets), such financial ratio or test shall be calculated at the time such action is taken, such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be, and no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of a change in such financial ratio or test occurring after the time such action is taken, such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be. For the purposes of determining the permissibility of any incurrence of Ratio Debt or any Indebtedness pursuant to Sections 2.21, 6.1(l) or 6.1(m), the proceeds of any such Indebtedness shall be disregarded in determining the Unrestricted Cash Amount as part of the calculation of any financial ratio required by such Sections.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, solely for the purpose of (A) measuring the relevant financial ratios and basket availability with respect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness or Liens or the making of any Investments or (B) determining compliance with representations and warranties or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, in each case, in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, if the Borrower has made an LCA Election with respect to such Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder, shall be deemed to be the date on which the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the “LCA Test Date”), and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent four-Fiscal Quarter period ending prior to the LCA Test Date, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such financial ratio, basket, representation or warranty, such financial ratio, basket, representation or warranty shall be deemed to have been complied with. If the Borrower has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any financial ratio or basket availability (other than any basket availability based on a percentage of Consolidated Total Assets) on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of (x) the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or (y) the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such financial ratio or basket availability shall be calculated (and tested) (A) on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated until such time as the applicable Limited Condition Acquisition has actually closed or the definitive agreement with respect thereto has been terminated and (B) on a standalone basis without giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions in connection therewith.

 

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1.3 Interpretation, etc. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference. References herein to any Section, Appendix, Schedule or Exhibit shall be to a Section, an Appendix, a Schedule or an Exhibit, as the case may be, hereof unless otherwise specifically provided. The use herein of the word “include” or “including”, when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The terms lease and license shall include sub-lease and sub-license, as applicable. Any reference herein to Term Loans shall be deemed to refer to the Loans.

1.4 Currency Translation. Administrative Agent shall set up standards and procedures to determine or redetermine to the extent required by this Agreement or any other Credit Document the equivalent in Dollars of any amount expressed in any currency other than Dollars, and otherwise may, but shall not be obligated to, rely on any determination made by any Credit Party. Any such determination or redetermination by Administrative Agent shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. No determination or redetermination by any Secured Party or any Credit Party and no other currency conversion shall change or release any obligation of any Credit Party or of any Secured Party (other than Administrative Agent and its Agent/Arrangers Affiliates) under any Credit Document, each of which agrees to pay separately for any shortfall remaining after any conversion and payment of the amount as converted. Administrative Agent may round up or down, and may set up appropriate mechanisms to round up or down, any amount hereunder to nearest higher or lower amounts and may determine reasonable de minimis payment thresholds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of any determination under Section 5, Section 6 or Section 8.1 requiring the use of a current exchange rate, all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at currency exchange rates in effect on the date of such determination.

1.5 Cashless Rolls. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, if any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with Incremental Loans, Replacement Term Loans, Extended Term Loans or loans incurred under a new credit facility, then, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or under any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars” or the relevant alternate currency, “in immediately available funds”, “in Cash” or any other similar requirement.

1.6 Calculation of Consolidated Total Assets. Any reference to a percentage of Consolidated Total Assets, unless the provided otherwise, shall be to the Consolidated Total Assets from and after the date that financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b), as applicable.

 

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SECTION 2. LOANS

2.1 Loans.

(a) Initial Term Loan Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender with an Initial Term Loan Commitment on the Closing Date severally agrees to make, on the Closing Date, an Initial Term Loan to Borrower in Dollars in an amount equal to such Initial Term Loan Commitment, and each Initial Term Loan Commitment will terminate on the Closing Date following the making of Initial Term Loans on such date. Any amount borrowed under this Section 2.1(a) and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Subject to Sections 2.10(a) and 2.11, all amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Initial Term Loans shall be paid in full no later than the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date.

(b) Borrowing Mechanics for Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date . Borrower shall deliver to Administrative Agent a fully executed Funding Notice in respect of the Initial Term Loans to be made on the Closing Date no later than one Business Day prior to the Closing Date. Promptly upon receipt by Administrative Agent of such Funding Notice, Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender with an Initial Term Loan Commitment of the proposed borrowing.

(c) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any applicable Refinancing Amendment or Incremental Facility Amendment, each Additional Lender with an Additional Commitment of a given Class, severally and not jointly, agrees to make Additional Loans of such Class to Borrower, which Loans shall not exceed for any such Additional Lender at the time of any incurrence thereof the Additional Commitment of such Class of such Additional Lender as set forth in the applicable Refinancing Amendment or Incremental Facility Amendment.

2.2 Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds.

(a) Pro Rata Shares . Except as provided in Section 2.1(a), all Loans shall be made, and all participations purchased, by Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro Rata Shares, it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder or purchase a participation required hereby nor shall any Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of a default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder or purchase a participation required hereby.

(b) Availability of Funds . Unless Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the applicable Credit Date that such Lender does not intend to make available to Administrative Agent the amount of such Lender’s Loan requested on such Credit Date, Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to Administrative Agent on such Credit Date and Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, make available to Borrower a corresponding amount on such Credit Date. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to Administrative Agent by

 

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such Lender, Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from such Credit Date until the date such amount is paid to Administrative Agent, at the customary rate set by Administrative Agent for the correction of errors among banks for three Business Days and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Borrower and Borrower shall promptly pay such corresponding amount to Administrative Agent together with interest thereon, for each day from such Credit Date until the date such amount is paid to Administrative Agent, at the rate payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans for such Class of Loans. Nothing in this Section 2.2(b) shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

2.3 Use of Proceeds. On the Closing Date, the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans will be used as set forth in the recitals. No portion of the proceeds of any Credit Extension shall be used in any manner that causes such Credit Extension or the application of such proceeds to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors or any other regulation thereof or to violate the Exchange Act. Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to Parent, any Subsidiary of Parent or any other Person, (a) for the purpose of furthering an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (b) for the purpose of (i) funding any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions, or (ii) carrying on any other transaction that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person.

2.4 Evidence of Debt; Register; Lenders’ Books and Records; Notes.

(a) Lenders’ Evidence of Debt . Each Lender shall maintain on its internal records an account or accounts evidencing the Obligations of Borrower to such Lender, including the amounts of the Loans made by it and each repayment and prepayment in respect thereof. Any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on Borrower, absent manifest error; provided , that the failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect Borrower’s Obligations in respect of any applicable Loans; and provided further , in the event of any inconsistency between the Register and any Lender’s records, the recordations in the Register shall govern.

(b) Register . Administrative Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it) shall, solely as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrower, maintain at the Principal Office a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of Lenders and Loans of each Lender from time to time (the “ Register ”). The Register shall be available for inspection by Borrower or any Lender (solely with respect to (i) any entry relating to such Lender’s Commitments and Loans and (ii) the identity of the other Lenders (but not any information with respect to such other Lenders’ Commitments or Loans)) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. Administrative Agent shall record, or shall cause to be recorded, in the Register the Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6, and each repayment or prepayment in respect of the principal amount of the Loans, and any such recordation shall be conclusive and

 

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binding on Borrower and each Lender, absent manifest error; provided , failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect Borrower’s Obligations in respect of any Loan. Borrower hereby designates Administrative Agent to serve as Borrower’s non-fiduciary agent solely for purposes of maintaining the Register as provided in this Section 2.4, and Borrower hereby agrees that, to the extent Administrative Agent serves in such capacity, Administrative Agent and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and affiliates shall constitute “Indemnitees.” This Section 2.4(b) shall be construed so that any Loan or other obligation pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement is maintained in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

(c) Notes . If so requested by any Lender by written notice to Borrower (with a copy to Administrative Agent) at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, or at any time thereafter, Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (and/or, if applicable and if so specified in such notice, to any Person who is an assignee of such Lender pursuant to Section 10.6) on the Closing Date (or, if such notice is delivered after the Closing Date, promptly after Borrower’s receipt of such notice) a Note or Notes to evidence such Lender’s Loans.

2.5 Interest on Loans.

(a) Except as otherwise set forth herein, each Class of Loan shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date made through repayment (whether by acceleration or otherwise) thereof as follows:

(i) in the case of the Initial Term Loans:

 

  (1) if a Base Rate Loan, at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin; or

 

  (2) if a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

(ii) in the case of any other Loans, as set forth in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Amendment.

(b) The basis for determining the rate of interest with respect to any Loan, and the Interest Period with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, shall be selected by Borrower and notified to Administrative Agent and Lenders pursuant to the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, as the case may be; provided that, until the end of the Primary Syndication Period, the Initial Term Loans shall be maintained as either (1) Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period of no longer than one month or (2) Base Rate Loans. If on any day a Loan is outstanding with respect to which a Funding Notice has not been delivered to Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof specifying the applicable basis for determining the rate of interest, then such Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.

(c) In connection with Eurocurrency Rate Loans of any Class there shall be no more than five (5) Interest Periods outstanding at any time. With respect to the Loans denominated in Dollars, in the event Borrower fails to specify between a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, such Loan (if

 

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outstanding as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan) will be automatically continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan with an Interest Period of one month on the last day of the then-current Interest Period for such Loan (or if outstanding as a Base Rate Loan will remain as, or (if not then outstanding) will be made as, a Base Rate Loan). In the event Borrower fails to specify an Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Rate Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. As soon as practicable after 10:00 a.m. (Local Time) on each Interest Rate Determination Date, Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties) the interest rate that shall apply to the Eurocurrency Rate Loans for which an interest rate is then being determined for the applicable Interest Period and shall promptly give notice thereof to Borrower and each Lender.

(d) Interest payable pursuant to Section 2.5(a) shall be computed (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans, on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as the case may be, and (ii) in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which it accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date of the making of such Loan or the first day of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Term Loan, the last Interest Payment Date with respect to such Term Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted from a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan to such Base Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be included, and the date of payment of such Loan or the expiration date of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan to such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be excluded; provided , if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s interest shall be paid on that Loan.

(e) Except as otherwise set forth herein, interest on each Loan (i) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with respect to interest accrued on and to each such payment date, (ii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in arrears upon any prepayment of that Loan, whether voluntary or mandatory, to the extent accrued on the amount being prepaid and (iii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in arrears at maturity of the Loans, including final maturity of the Loans.

2.6 Conversion/Continuation.

(a) Subject to Section 2.15 and so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and then be continuing:

(i) Borrower shall have the option to convert at any time all or any part of any Loan denominated in Dollars equal to $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess of that amount from one Type of Loan to another Type of Loan; provided , a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may only be converted on the expiration of the Interest Period applicable to such Eurocurrency Rate Loan unless Borrower shall pay all amounts due under Section 2.15 in connection with any such conversion; or

(ii) Borrower shall have the option upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, to continue all or any portion of such Loan equal to $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess of that amount as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

 

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(b) Subject to Section 3.2(b), Borrower shall deliver a Conversion/Continuation Notice to Administrative Agent no later than 10:00 a.m. (Local Time) at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed conversion date (in the case of a conversion to a Base Rate Loan) and at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date (in the case of a conversion to, or a continuation of, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan). Except as otherwise provided herein or as agreed to by the Administrative Agent, a Conversion/Continuation Notice for conversion to, or continuation of, any Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) shall be irrevocable on and after the related Interest Rate Determination Date, and Borrower shall be bound to effect a conversion or continuation in accordance therewith. All conversions and continuations shall be allocated among the Lenders of the applicable Class ratably in accordance with, as applicable, the Term Loan Exposures.

2.7 Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g), the past due principal amount of all Loans outstanding and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any interest payments on the Loans or any fees or other amounts owed hereunder, shall thereafter bear interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws) payable on demand at a rate that is 2.00% per annum in excess of the interest rate (including the Applicable Margin) otherwise payable thereon or if no rate is applicable, at a rate equal to the rate payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans. Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this Section 2.7 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of Administrative Agent or any Lender.

2.8 Fees. Borrower agrees to pay to Agents such other fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon.

2.9 Scheduled Payments. (a) The principal amount of the Initial Term Loans shall be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments on the following dates in the respective amounts set forth opposite such dates (which amounts may be reduced from time to time as a result of the application of prepayments, purchases and cancellations of the Initial Term Loans in accordance with Sections 2.10, 2.11 and 2.12):

 

Installment Payment Date

   Principal Amount

March 31, 2016

   8,437,500

June 30, 2016

   8,437,500

September 30, 2016

   8,437,500

December 31, 2016

   8,437,500

March 31, 2017

   16,875,000

June 30, 2017

   16,875,000

September 30, 2017

   16,875,000

December 31, 2017

   16,875,000

March 31, 2018

   16,875,000

June 30, 2018

   16,875,000

September 30, 2018

   16,875,000

December 31, 2018

   16,875,000

March 31, 2019

   16,875,000

June 30, 2019

   16,875,000

September 30, 2019

   16,875,000

December 31, 2019

   16,875,000

March 31, 2020

   16,875,000

June 30, 2020

   16,875,000

September 30, 2020

   16,875,000

December 31, 2020

   16,875,000

March 31, 2021

   16,875,000

June 30, 2021

   16,875,000

September 30, 2021

   16,875,000

 

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provided , however , that on the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, the remainder of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date shall be repaid, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of such payment.

(b) Borrower shall repay the Additional Loans of any Class in such scheduled amortization installments and on such date or dates as shall be specified therefor in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Facility Agreement or Extension Amendment (as such payments may be reduced from time to time as a result of the application of prepayments, purchases and cancellations of the such Additional Loans in accordance with Sections 2.10, 2.11 and 2.12).

2.10 Voluntary Prepayments/Commitment Reductions.

(a) Voluntary Prepayments .

(i) Any time and from time to time:

 

  (1) Borrower may prepay any such Loans on any Business Day in whole or in part, in an aggregate minimum amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess of that amount.

(ii) All such prepayments shall be made:

 

  (1) upon not less than one Business Day’s prior written notice in the case of Base Rate Loans; and

 

  (2) upon not less than three Business Days’ prior written notice in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

in each case given to Administrative Agent by 12:00 p.m. (Local Time) on the date required and, if given by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing to Administrative Agent (and Administrative Agent will promptly transmit such telephonic or written notice to each Lender). Upon the giving of any such notice, the principal amount of the Loans specified in such notice

 

50


shall become due and payable on the prepayment date specified therein; provided that a notice of prepayment of Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(i) may state that such notice is conditioned upon the occurrence of one or more events specified therein, in which case such notice may be rescinded by Borrower (by notice to Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date of prepayment) if such condition is not satisfied and such Loans shall not be due and payable on such prepayment date. Any such voluntary prepayment shall be applied as specified in Section 2.12(a).

(b) Repricing Event . In the event that any Initial Term Loans are subject to a Repricing Event prior to the date that is 12 months after the Closing Date, then each Lender whose Loans are prepaid or repaid in whole or in part or amended, or which is required to assign any of its Loans pursuant to Section 2.19, in connection with such Repricing Event shall be paid an amount equal to 1.00% of the amount of such Lender’s Loans so prepaid, repaid, amended or assigned. “ Repricing Event ” shall mean the refinancing or repricing by Borrower of all or any portion of the Initial Term Loans with any long-term bank debt financing incurred by Parent, the Borrower or any subsidiary thereof, for the primary purpose of reducing the effective interest cost or weighted average yield (as such cost or yield may be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent consistent with generally accepted financial practice and, in any event, excluding any arrangement or commitment fees not payable generally to all Lenders in connection therewith) to less than the interest rate for or weighted average yield (as determined by the Administrative Agent on the same basis) of the Initial Term Loans, including without limitation, as may be effected through any amendment to this Agreement involving the interest rate for, or weighted average yield of, the Initial Term Loans, but which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any prepayment or refinancing in connection with a Change of Control or any refinancing that involves an upsizing in connection with an acquisition or Investment not permitted under this Agreement.

(c) Certain Permitted Loan Purchases . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.10, Section 10.6 or any other provision of this Agreement, so long as (A) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (B) Parent represents that it is not in possession of any material non-public information with respect to itself or its subsidiaries for purposes of U.S. federal or state security laws, the Borrower may purchase or acquire assignments (each such purchase or acquisition of an assignment being referred to as a “ purchase ” in this Section 2.10(c)) of outstanding Loans of any Class on the following basis without the consent of Administrative Agent:

(i) the Borrower may conduct Auctions to purchase Loans of any Class. In connection with any Auction, Administrative Agent may request one or more certificates of an Authorized Officer of Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 2.10(c) and in the definition of “Auction”.

(ii) With respect to all purchases made by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), (A) the purchaser shall pay to the applicable assigning Lender all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the purchased Loans to the date of purchase of such Loans, (B) the purchase of such Loans by such purchaser shall not be taken into account in the calculation of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, but for the avoidance of doubt, can be deducted from the prepayment amount in respect thereof as and to the

 

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extent provided in Section 2.10(c), (C) all purchases of Loans pursuant to any individual Auction shall be at the same discounted purchase price, and (D) such purchases shall not be deemed to be voluntary prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.10, Section 2.12 or Section 2.13 except that the amount of Loans so purchased shall be applied on a pro rata basis to reduce the scheduled remaining Installments of principal on the Loans.

(iii) Following purchase by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), the Loans so purchased shall, without further action by any Person, be deemed cancelled for all purposes and no longer outstanding (and may not be resold by the purchaser) for all purposes of this Agreement and all other Credit Documents, including, but not limited to (A) the making of, or the application of, any payments to the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (B) the making of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under this Agreement or any other Credit Document or (C) the determination of Requisite Lenders, or for any similar or related purpose, under this Agreement or any other Credit Document. In connection with any Loans purchased and cancelled pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), Administrative Agent is authorized to make appropriate entries in the Register to reflect any such cancellation. Any payment made by the Borrower in connection with a purchase permitted by this Section 2.10(c) shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 2.13(a), Section 2.13(c), Section 2.14 or Section 2.15(c). Failure by the Borrower to make any payment to a Lender required by to be made in an Auction pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a).

(iv) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any purchases of Loans permitted under this Section 2.10(c) be funded with any proceeds of ABL Loans.

(v) The provisions of Section 10.6 shall not apply to any purchase of Loans pursuant to this Section 2.10(c).

2.11 Mandatory Prepayments/Commitment Reductions.

(a) Asset Sales . No later than the fifth Business Day following the date of receipt by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of any Net Asset Sale Proceeds, Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Asset Sale Proceeds from Asset Sales made pursuant to Section 6.7(c) and (m); provided , Borrower shall have the option, directly or through one or more Subsidiaries of Parent, to invest such Net Asset Sale Proceeds within 365 days of receipt thereof (or, within 180 days after the end of such 365-day period if Borrower or any Subsidiary of Parent has entered into a binding contract to so reinvest such Net Asset Sale Proceeds during such 365-day period) in assets useful in the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries (other than Cash or Cash Equivalents or inventory); p rovided , further that Net Asset Sale Proceeds from ABL Priority Collateral shall be applied first as required by the ABL Loan Agreement and to the extent so used to repay loans under the ABL Loan Agreement (without any mandatory reduction in commitments thereunder) shall not be required to be applied to the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11.

 

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(b) Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds . No later than the fifth Business Day following the date of receipt by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or Administrative Agent as loss payee, of any Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds, Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds; provided , Borrower shall have the option, directly or through one or more of Subsidiaries of Parent, to repair, restore or replace the applicable assets or to invest such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds within 365 days of receipt thereof (or, within 180 days after the end of such 365-day period if Borrower or any Subsidiary of Parent has entered into a binding contract to so reinvest such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds during such 365-day period) in assets useful in the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries (other than Cash or Cash Equivalents or inventory); provided , further that Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral shall be applied first as required by the ABL Loan Agreement and to the extent so used to repay loans under the ABL Loan Agreement (without any mandatory reduction in commitments thereunder) shall not be required to be applied to the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11.

(c) Issuance of Debt . No later than the first Business Day following the date of receipt by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of any Cash proceeds from the incurrence of any Indebtedness of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1, except to the extent constituting (x) Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 6.1(m), (y) Incremental Loans incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.21 or (z) Replacement Term Loans incurred to refinance Loans in accordance with the requirements of Section 10.5(f)), Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100.00% of such proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses associated therewith, including legal, auditing and accounting fees and expenses.

(d) Consolidated Excess Cash Flow . In the event that there shall be Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any Fiscal Year (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2016), Borrower shall, no later than ninety days after the end of such Fiscal Year, prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 50.00% (or, if the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of any Fiscal Year after the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2016 (determined by reference to the Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c) for such Fiscal Year) shall have been less than 2.50 to 1.00, 25.00% or, if the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of any Fiscal Year after the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2016 (determined by reference to the Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c) for such Fiscal Year) shall have been less than 2.00 to 1.00, 0%, in each case calculated after giving pro forma effect to any voluntary prepayment made during such Fiscal Year or on or prior to the 90 th day after the end of such fiscal year, to the extent such payment is actually made) of such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow minus voluntary repayments of the Loans made during such Fiscal Year or on or prior to the 90 th day after the end of such fiscal year (including all purchases of Loans by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10(c) in an amount equal to the purchase price for the Loans so purchased), other than prepayments funded with the proceeds of incurrences of long-term indebtedness.

(e) Deferred Prepayments . Notwithstanding any provision under this Section 2.11 to the contrary, (A) any amounts that would otherwise be required to be paid by Borrower pursuant

 

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to Section 2.11(a), (b) or (d) above shall not be required to be so prepaid to the extent any such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow is generated by a Non-U.S. Subsidiary or the applicable Asset Sale is consummated by a Non-U.S. Subsidiary, such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds are received by a Non-U.S. Subsidiary, as the case may be, for so long as the repatriation to the U.S. of any such amounts would be prohibited under any Requirement of Law or conflict with the fiduciary duties of such Non-U.S. Subsidiary’s directors (or equivalent persons), or require the approval or be subject to the review of any works council or similar body (including the Dutch Works Council), or result in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a risk of personal or criminal liability for any officer, director (or equivalent person), employee, manager, member of management or consultant of such Non-U.S. Subsidiary (such restricted amount a “ Legal Restricted Amount ”); provided that the Borrower agrees to cause the applicable Non-U.S. Subsidiary to use commercially reasonable efforts to permit such repatriation, and once such repatriation of any of such affected proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable Requirement of Law and, to the extent applicable, would no longer conflict with the fiduciary duties of such director (or equivalent person), or result in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a risk of personal or criminal liability for such Persons described above, such repatriation will be promptly effected and such repatriated proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional Taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11 to the extent provided herein; provided that any such reduction in prepayments due to such a limitation on repatriation shall be allocated ratably as between amounts required to be prepaid in respect of the Loans and amounts required to be prepaid in respect of all Other Applicable Indebtedness; and (B) if Parent and the Subsidiaries determine in good faith that the repatriation to the U.S. of any amounts required to mandatorily prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(a), (b) or (d) above on account of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow generated by a Non-U.S. Subsidiary, an Asset Sale consummated by a Non-U.S. Subsidiary, Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds received by a Non-U.S. Subsidiary or Indebtedness incurred by a Non-U.S. Subsidiary would result in material adverse tax consequences (including any withholding taxes) to Parent and its Subsidiaries, taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation (such amount, a “ Tax Restricted Amount ” and together with the Legal Restricted Amount, “ Restricted Amounts ”), the amount Borrower shall be required to mandatorily prepay pursuant to Section 2.11(a), (b), (c) or (d) above, as applicable, shall be reduced by the Restricted Amount until such time (if any) as it may repatriate to the U.S. such Restricted Amount without incurring such material adverse tax liability; provided that the Borrower agrees to take and to cause each applicable Non-U.S. Subsidiary to use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate such adverse tax liability to permit the repatriation of such amounts); provided further that, to the extent that the repatriation of any proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow from such Non-U.S. Subsidiary would no longer have a material and adverse tax consequence, an amount equal to such proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as applicable, not previously applied pursuant to this clause (B), shall be promptly applied to the repayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11 as otherwise required above (without regard to this paragraph (f)); and provided further that any Restricted Amount shall be allocated ratably as between amounts required to be prepaid in respect of the Loans and amounts required to be prepaid in respect of all Other Applicable Indebtedness; and provided further , that the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to eliminate such adverse tax consequence in its reasonable control in order to make such payments.

 

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(f) Declined Proceeds . Each Lender may elect, by notice to Administrative Agent at or prior to the time, and in the manner specified by Administrative Agent, of any prepayment of Loans required to be made by Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.11, to decline all but not less than all of its Pro Rata Share of such prepayment (such declined amounts, the “ Declined Proceeds ”), which Declined Proceeds may be retained by Borrower and shall be added to the calculation of the Available Basket Amount; provided , however , that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Lender may reject any prepayment made under Section 2.11(c) above to the extent constituting Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 6.1(m), Incremental Loans incurred to refinance all or a portion of Loans pursuant to Section 2.21 or Replacement Term Loans incurred to refinance Loans in accordance with the requirements of Section 10.5(f). If a Lender fails to deliver a notice of election declining receipt of all or any portion of its Pro Rata Share of such mandatory prepayment to Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above, any such failure will be deemed to constitute an acceptance of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the total amount of such mandatory prepayment of Loans.

2.12 Application of Prepayments/Reductions.

(a) Application of Voluntary Prepayments by Type of Loans . Any prepayment of any Loan pursuant to Section 2.10(a) shall be applied as specified by Borrower in the applicable notice of prepayment; provided , in the event Borrower fails to specify the Loans to which any such prepayment shall be applied, such prepayment shall be applied to prepay the Loans on a pro rata basis (in accordance with the respective outstanding principal amounts thereof) and further applied on a pro rata basis to reduce the scheduled remaining Installments of principal of the Loans.

(b) Application of Mandatory Prepayments by Type of Loans . Except as otherwise provided in any Refinancing Amendment, any Incremental Facility Amendment or any Extension Amendment, each prepayment of Loans pursuant to any of Section 2.11(a) through 2.11(d) shall be applied ratably to each Class of Loans then outstanding ( provided that any prepayment of Loans with proceeds of any Refinancing Indebtedness, Incremental Facility or Replacement Term Loans shall, to the extent incurred to refinance or replace Loans of any Class, be applied to the applicable Class of Loans being refinanced or replaced); and shall be further applied (i) in the case of the Initial Term Loans, as directed by Borrower and (ii) in the case of each other Class of Loans, as specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Amendment; provided that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required hereunder, Borrower is required to offer to purchase or prepay any other Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations under the Credit Documents pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with such net proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the case may be (such Indebtedness required to be offered to be so purchased or prepaid, the “ Other Applicable Indebtedness ”), then Borrower may apply such net proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the case may be, on a pro rata basis to the prepayment of the Loans and to the purchase or prepayment of the Other Applicable Indebtedness (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal

 

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amount of the Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness (or accreted amount if such Other Applicable Indebtedness is issued with original issue discount) at such time; provided that the portion of such net proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the case may be, allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such net proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the case may be, required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such net proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the case may be, shall be allocated to the Loans in accordance with the terms hereof), and the amount of prepayment of the Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to Section 2.11 shall be reduced accordingly; provided , further , that to the extent the holders of the Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such Indebtedness prepaid or purchased, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Loans in accordance with the terms hereof. If the Borrower fails to deliver a direction to the Administrative Agent as to the order of application of such prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.12(b), such prepayment shall be applied to repay the Loans on a pro rata basis (in accordance with the respective outstanding principal amounts thereof) and further applied on a pro rata basis to reduce the scheduled remaining Installments of principal of the Loans in directly order of maturity.

(c) Application of Prepayments of Loans to Base Rate Loans and Eurocurrency Rate Loans . In connection with any mandatory prepayments by the Borrower of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11, such prepayments shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the then outstanding Term Loans being prepaid irrespective of whether such outstanding Term Loans are Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans; provided that if no Lenders exercise the right to waive a given mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(f), then, with respect to such mandatory prepayment, the amount of such mandatory prepayment shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, in each case in a manner which minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by Borrower pursuant to Section 2.15(c).

2.13 General Provisions Regarding Payments.

(a) All payments by Borrower of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made in Dollars, in same day funds, without defense, setoff or counterclaim, free of any restriction or condition, and delivered to Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (Local Time) on the date due at the Principal Office designated by Administrative Agent for the account of Lenders; for purposes of computing interest and fees, funds received by Administrative Agent after that time on such due date shall be deemed to have been paid by Borrower on the next succeeding Business Day.

(b) All payments in respect of the principal amount of any Loan shall be accompanied by payment of accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid or prepaid, and all such payments (and, in any event, any payments in respect of any Loan on a date when interest is due and payable with respect to such Loan) shall be applied to the payment of interest then due and payable before application to principal.

 

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(c) Administrative Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it) shall, except as expressly provided in Section 2.19 promptly distribute to each Lender at such address as such Lender shall indicate in writing, such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of all payments and prepayments of principal and interest due hereunder, together with all other amounts due thereto, including all fees payable with respect thereto, to the extent received by Administrative Agent.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions hereof, if any Conversion/ Continuation Notice is withdrawn as to any Affected Lender or if any Affected Lender makes Base Rate Loans in lieu of its Pro Rata Share of any Eurocurrency Rate Loans, Administrative Agent shall give effect thereto in apportioning payments received thereafter.

(e) Subject to the provisos set forth in the definition of “Interest Period” as they may apply to Loans, whenever any payment to be made hereunder with respect to any Loan shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in the computation of the payment of interest and fees hereunder.

(f) Administrative Agent shall deem any payment by or on behalf of Borrower hereunder that is not made in same day funds prior to 12:00 p.m. (Local Time) to be a non-conforming payment. Any such payment shall not be deemed to have been received by Administrative Agent until the later of (i) the time such funds become available funds, and (ii) the applicable next Business Day. Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to Borrower and each applicable Lender if any payment is non-conforming. Any non-conforming payment may constitute or become a Default or an Event of Default in accordance with the terms of Section 8.1(a). Interest shall continue to accrue on any principal as to which a non-conforming payment is made until such funds become available funds (but in no event less than the period from the date of such payment to the next succeeding applicable Business Day) at the rate determined pursuant to Section 2.7 from the date such amount was due and payable until the date such amount is paid in full.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision herein contained to the contrary, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and not otherwise been waived, and the maturity of the Obligations shall have been accelerated pursuant to Section 8.1, all payments or proceeds received by Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder in respect of any of the Obligations of Borrower (including, without limitation, all proceeds received by each of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in respect of any sale, any collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral) shall be applied in accordance with the application arrangements set forth in Section 7.2 of the Pledge and Security Agreement and the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

2.14 Ratable Sharing. Lenders hereby agree among themselves that, except as otherwise provided herein or in the Collateral Documents with respect to amounts realized from the exercise of rights with respect to Liens on the Collateral, if any of them shall, whether by voluntary payment (other than a voluntary prepayment or purchase of Loans made and applied in accordance with the terms hereof), through the exercise of any right of set-off or banker’s lien, by counterclaim or cross action or by the enforcement of any right under the Credit Documents or otherwise, or as adequate protection of a deposit treated as cash collateral under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable legislation, receive payment or reduction of a proportion of

 

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the aggregate amount of principal, interest, fees and other amounts then due and owing to such Lender hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (collectively, the “ Aggregate Amounts Due ” to such Lender) which is greater than the proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the Aggregate Amounts Due to such other Lender, then the Lender receiving such proportionately greater payment shall (a) notify Administrative Agent and each other Lender of the receipt of such payment and (b) apply a portion of such payment to purchase participations (which it shall be deemed to have purchased from each seller of a participation simultaneously upon the receipt by such seller of its portion of such payment) in the Aggregate Amounts Due to the other Lenders so that all such recoveries of Aggregate Amounts Due shall be shared by all Lenders in proportion to the Aggregate Amounts Due to them; provided , if all or part of such proportionately greater payment received by such purchasing Lender is thereafter recovered from such Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of Borrower or otherwise, those purchases shall be rescinded and the purchase prices paid for such participations shall be returned to such purchasing Lender ratably to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees that any holder of a participation so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, consolidation, set-off or counterclaim with respect to any and all monies owing by Borrower to that holder with respect thereto as fully as if that holder were owed the amount of the participation held by that holder. The provisions of this Section 2.14 shall not be construed to apply to (a) any payment made by Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including Section 2.10(c)), (b) any payment obtained by any Lender as consideration for the assignment or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or other Obligations owed to it in accordance with the terms hereof or (c) any contribution to Borrower of any Loan held by an Affiliate of Borrower so long as no consideration (other than common equity) is paid by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party for such contribution and such Loan is immediately retired and cancelled and is no longer outstanding, provided that any such contribution, retirement and cancellation of Loans pursuant to this clause (c) shall not be deemed to be a voluntary prepayment of such Loans for any purpose under this Agreement, including Section 2.10, Section 2.11(d), Section 2.12 and Section 2.13, except that the amount of Loans so contributed, retired and cancelled shall be applied on a pro rata basis to reduce the scheduled remaining Installments of principal on the Loans.

2.15 Making or Maintaining Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

(a) Inability to Determine Applicable Interest Rate . In the event that Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto), on any Interest Rate Determination Date with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loans, that by reason of circumstances affecting the London interbank market adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate applicable to such Loans on the basis provided for in the definition of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice (which may be by telephone, if promptly confirmed in writing) to Borrower and each Lender of such determination, whereupon (i) no Loans may be made as, or converted to, Eurocurrency Rate Loans (other than those where the interest rate can be determined in accordance with clause (c) or (d) of the definition of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate) until such time as Administrative Agent notifies Borrower and Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, and (ii) any Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice given by Borrower with respect to the Loans in respect of which such determination was made shall be deemed to be rescinded by Borrower.

 

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(b) Illegality or Impracticability of Eurocurrency Rate Loans . In the event that on any date any Lender shall have determined (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that the making, maintaining, converting to or continuation of its Eurocurrency Rate Loans (i) has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any law, treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or would conflict with any such treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or (ii) Administrative Agent is advised by the Requisite Lenders (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that the making, maintaining, converting to or continuation of its Eurocurrency Rate Loans has become impracticable, as a result of contingencies occurring after the date hereof which materially and adversely affect the London interbank market or the position of the Lenders in that market, then, and in any such event, such Lenders (or in the case of the preceding clause (i), such Lender) shall be an “ Affected Lender ” and such Affected Lender shall promptly give notice (which may be by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing) to Borrower and Administrative Agent of such determination (which notice Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each other Lender). If Administrative Agent receives a notice from (x) any Lender pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence or (y) a notice from Lenders constituting Requisite Lenders pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then (1) the obligation of the Lenders (or, in the case of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, such Lender) to make Loans as, or to convert Loans to, Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended until such notice shall be withdrawn by each Affected Lender, (2) to the extent such determination by the Affected Lender relates to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan then being requested by Borrower pursuant to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Lenders (or in the case of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, such Lender) shall make such Loan as (or continue such Loan as or convert such Loan to, as the case may be) a Base Rate Loan, (3) the Lenders’ (or in the case of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, such Lender’s) obligation to maintain its outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans (the “ Affected Loans ”) shall be terminated at the earlier to occur of the expiration of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the Affected Loans or when required by law and (4) the Affected Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans on the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a determination by an Affected Lender as described above relates to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan then being requested by Borrower pursuant to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, Borrower shall have the option, subject to the provisions of Section 2.15(c), to rescind such Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice as to all Lenders by giving notice (which may be by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing) to Administrative Agent of such rescission on the date on which the Affected Lender gives notice of its determination as described above (which notice of rescission Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each other Lender).

(c) Compensation for Breakage or Non-Commencement of Interest Periods . Borrower shall compensate each Lender, upon written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth the basis for requesting such amounts), for all actual losses, expenses and liabilities as reasonably determined, including by ratable allocation (including any interest paid

 

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or payable by such Lender to Lenders of funds borrowed by it to make or carry its Eurocurrency Rate Loans and any loss, expense or liability sustained by such Lender in connection with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds but excluding loss of anticipated profits) which such Lender may sustain: (i) if for any reason (other than a default by such Lender) a borrowing of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Funding Notice or a telephonic request for borrowing, or a conversion to or continuation of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Conversion/Continuation Notice or a telephonic request for conversion or continuation; (ii) if any prepayment or other principal payment of, or any conversion of, any of its Eurocurrency Rate Loans occurs on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period applicable to that Loan; or (iii) if any prepayment of any of its Eurocurrency Rate Loans is not made on any date specified in a notice of prepayment given by Borrower.

(d) Booking of Eurocurrency Rate Loans . Any Lender may make, carry or transfer Eurocurrency Rate Loans at, to, or for the account of any of its branch offices or the office of an Affiliate of such Lender.

(e) Assumptions Concerning Funding of Eurocurrency Rate Loans . Calculation of all amounts payable to a Lender under this Section 2.15 and under Section 2.16 shall be made as though such Lender had actually funded each of its relevant Eurocurrency Rate Loans through the purchase of a Eurocurrency deposit bearing interest at the rate obtained pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate in an amount equal to the amount of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan and having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period and through the transfer of such Eurocurrency deposit from an offshore office of such Lender to a domestic office of such Lender in the United States; provided , however , each Lender may fund each of its Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized only for the purposes of calculating amounts payable under this Section 2.15 and under Section 2.16.

2.16 Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy.

(a) Compensation For Increased Costs and Taxes . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.17 (which shall be controlling with respect to the matters covered thereby), in the event that any Lender or Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that (A) any law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change therein or in the interpretation, administration or application thereof (regardless of whether the underlying law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order was issued or enacted prior to the date hereof), including the introduction of any new law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order but excluding solely proposals thereof, or any determination of a court or Governmental Authority, in each case that becomes effective after the date hereof (or in the case of (x) any Lender that becomes a party after the Closing Date through an assignment by a Lender not affected by any of the foregoing or (y) any Additional Lender, the date that such Lender becomes a party hereto), or (B) any guideline, request or directive by any central bank or other Governmental Authority or quasi-Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law) or any implementation rules or interpretations of previously issued guidelines, requests or directives, in each case that is issued or made after the date hereof (or in the case of (x) any Lender that becomes a party after

 

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the Closing Date through an assignment by a Lender not affected by any of the foregoing or (y) any Additional Lender, the date that such Lender becomes a party hereto) (any such change, determination or issuance, a “ Change in Law ”): (i) subjects such Lender or Administrative Agent (or its applicable lending office) or any company controlling such Lender or Administrative Agent to any additional Tax (other than any Tax on the overall net income of such Lender or Administrative Agent) with respect to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or its loans, loan principal, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto or any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or any payments to such Lender or Administrative Agent (or its applicable lending office) of principal, interest, fees or any other amount payable hereunder or thereunder; (ii) imposes, modifies or holds applicable any reserve (including any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserve), special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, FDIC insurance or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, or advances or loans by, or other credit extended by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender or any company controlling such Lender (other than any such reserve or other requirements with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans that are reflected in the definition of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate); or (iii) imposes any other condition (other than with respect to a Tax matter) on or affecting such Lender (or its applicable lending office) or any company controlling such Lender or such Lender’s obligations hereunder or the London interbank market or the European interbank market; and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the actual cost to such Lender of agreeing to make, making or maintaining Loans hereunder or to reduce any amount actually received or receivable by such Lender (or its applicable lending office) with respect thereto; then, in any such case, Borrower shall promptly pay to such Lender or Administrative Agent, upon receipt of the statement referred to in the next sentence, such additional amount or amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or in a lump sum or otherwise as such Lender in its sole discretion shall determine) as may be necessary to compensate such Lender or Administrative Agent on an after Tax basis for any such increased cost or reduction in amounts received or receivable hereunder. Such Lender or Administrative Agent shall deliver to Borrower (with a copy to Administrative Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for calculating the additional amounts owed to such Lender or Administrative Agent under this Section 2.16(a), which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error.

(b) Capital Adequacy Adjustment . In the event that any Lender shall have determined that the adoption, effectiveness, phase-in or applicability after the Closing Date (or in the case of (x) any Lender that becomes a party after the Closing Date through an assignment by a Lender not affected by any of the foregoing or (y) any Additional Lender, the date that such Lender becomes a party hereto) of any law, rule or regulation (or any provision thereof) regarding capital adequacy or liquidity, or any change therein or in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or its applicable lending office) or any company controlling such Lender with any guideline, request or directive regarding capital adequacy or liquidity (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency that was made, issued or otherwise become effective after the Closing Date (or in the case of (x) any Lender that becomes a party after the Closing Date through an assignment by a Lender not affected by any of the

 

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foregoing or (y) any Additional Lender, the date that such Lender becomes a party hereto), has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any company controlling such Lender as a consequence of, or with reference to, such Lender’s Loans or participations therein or other obligations hereunder with respect to the Loans to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling company could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, phase-in, applicability, change or compliance (taking into consideration the policies of such Lender or such controlling company with regard to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time, within five Business Days after receipt by Borrower from such Lender of the statement referred to in the next sentence, Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such controlling company on an after-Tax basis for such reduction. Such Lender shall deliver to Borrower (with a copy to Administrative Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for calculating the additional amounts owed to Lender under this Section 2.16(b), which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error.

For the avoidance of doubt, subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 2.16 shall apply to all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning liquidity and capital adequacy issued by any United States or foreign regulatory authority (i) under or in connection with the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and (ii) in connection with the implementation of the recommendations of the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority), regardless of the date adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies Borrower of the change giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the change giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof) and (ii) no Lender shall be entitled to request compensation for such increased costs or reductions pursuant to this Section 2.16 unless it is the general policy or practice of such Lender (as determined by such Lender) to request such compensation for similar amounts from similar borrowers under comparable provisions of similar credit facilities (to the extent such Lender has the right under such similar credit facilities to do so).

2.17 Taxes; Withholding, etc.

(a) Payments to Be Free and Clear . All sums payable by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder and under the other Credit Documents shall (except to the extent required by applicable law) be paid free and clear of, and without any deduction or withholding on account of, any Tax imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

(b) Withholding of Taxes . If any Credit Party or any other Person is required by applicable law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any such Tax from any sum paid or payable by or an account of any obligation of any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any of the Credit Documents: (i) Borrower shall notify, or cause to be

 

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notified, Administrative Agent of any such requirement or any change in any such requirement as soon as Borrower becomes aware of it; (ii) such Credit Party or other Person shall pay, or cause to be paid, any such Tax before the date on which penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to pay is imposed on any Credit Party) for its own account or (if that liability is imposed on Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be) on behalf of and in the name of Administrative Agent or such Lender and (iii) if such Tax is not a Tax on the overall net income of any Lender and is not a U.S. federal withholding tax imposed under FATCA and is not attributable to such Lender’s or Administrative Agent’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(d)(i), the sum payable in respect of which the relevant deduction, withholding or payment is required shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of such deduction, withholding or payment (including such withholding applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, receives on the due date a net sum equal to what it would have received had no such deduction, withholding or payment been required or made; provided , no such additional amounts shall be required to be paid to any Lender to the extent of U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to a law in effect on the date hereof (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof on the Closing Date), the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender hereunder (in the case of an Additional Lender), the effective date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender (in the case of each other Lender, but excluding any Lender that becomes a Lender pursuant to Section 2.19), or the date on which such Lender changes its lending office (in the case of all Lenders) ; provided , however , that a Lender shall be entitled to receive additional amounts to the extent such Lender’s assignor was entitled to receive additional amounts or to the extent that such Lender was entitled to receive additional amounts before it changed its Lending Office, as applicable.

(c) Payment of Other Taxes . In addition, the Credit Parties shall timely pay or cause to be timely paid, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for payment of, any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document (“ Other Taxes ”) to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(d) Evidence of Exemption From U.S. Withholding Tax .

(i) Each Lender that is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) for United States federal income tax purposes (a “ Non-U.S. Lender ”) shall deliver to Administrative Agent for transmission to Borrower, on or prior to the Closing Date (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof on the Closing Date), on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender hereunder (in the case of an Additional Lender) or on or prior to the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each other Lender), and at such other times upon request of Borrower or Administrative Agent as may be necessary in the determination of Borrower or Administrative Agent (each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (i) two original or certified copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, W-8EXP and/or W-8IMY (or any successor forms), properly completed and duly executed by such Lender,

 

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and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code or reasonably requested by Borrower or Administrative Agent to establish that such Lender is not subject to (or is subject to a reduced rate of) deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the Credit Documents, or (ii) if such Lender is not a “bank” or other Person described in Section 881(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and cannot deliver Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or W-8EXP pursuant to clause (i) above, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate together with two original or certified copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E and/or W-8IMY (or any successor form), properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code or reasonably requested by Borrower or Administrative Agent to establish that such Lender is not subject to (or is subject to a reduced rate of) deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of interest payable under any of the Credit Documents. If any Lender provides an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, such Lender must also attach a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate and/or the additional documentation from each beneficial owner, as applicable, that must be transmitted with Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, including the appropriate forms described in this Section 2.17(d)(i). Each Lender that is a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall deliver to Borrower and Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof on the Closing Date), on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender hereunder (in the case of an Additional Lender) or on or prior to the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each other Lender), and at such other times, upon request of Borrower or Administrative Agent, as may be necessary in the determination of Borrower and Administrative Agent(each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion) two original or certified copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or successor forms) and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code or reasonably requested by Borrower or Administrative Agent to establish that such Lender is not subject to U.S. federal backup withholding tax. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be required to deliver any form or statement pursuant to this Section 2.17(d)(i) that such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver, and no Lender shall be required to deliver any documentation pursuant to this Section 2.17(d)(i) other than any applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9 (or successor forms), any other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code, or any U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment the completion, execution or submission of such other documentation would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender. Each Lender required to deliver any forms, certificates or other evidence with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters pursuant to this Section 2.17(d)(i) hereby agrees, from time to time after the initial delivery by such Lender of such forms, certificates or other evidence, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders such forms, certificates or other evidence obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, that such Lender shall promptly deliver to Administrative Agent for transmission to Borrower two new original

 

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or certified copies of such forms, certificates or other evidence (or any successor forms, certificates, or other evidence), as the case may be, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code or reasonably requested by Borrower or Administrative Agent to confirm or establish that such Lender is not subject to (or is subject to a reduced rate of) deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to payments to such Lender under the Credit Documents, or promptly notify Administrative Agent and Borrower of its inability to deliver any such forms, certificates or other evidence.

(ii) If any payment made to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to Administrative Agent and/or Borrower, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by Administrative Agent and/or Borrower, such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by Administrative Agent and/or Borrower as may be necessary for Administrative Agent and/or Borrower to comply with its obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 2.17(d)(ii), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(e) Credit Parties Indemnification for Failure to Pay Required Taxes, etc. If the Credit Parties fail to pay (or cause to be paid) any Taxes pursuant to Section 2.17(b)(iii) or (c) (“ Indemnified Taxes ”) when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fail to remit to Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, Credit Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify Administrative Agent and the Lenders for the full amount of such Taxes paid or payable by, or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to, Administrative Agent or any Lender (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts paid or payable under this Section 2.17) and any incremental Taxes that may become payable by Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of any such failure, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Payment under this indemnification must be made within fifteen days from the date any Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates makes written demand therefore accompanied by appropriate evidence of the Tax and its payment. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or Agent (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or Agent, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds . So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, if Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or other taxes (as described in Section 2.17(c)) as to which it has been indemnified by a Credit Party or with respect to which the Credit Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay to such Credit Party an amount

 

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equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity or other payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Credit Party under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that such Credit Party, upon the request of Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Credit Party ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will Administrative Agent or any Lender be required to pay any amount to such Credit Party pursuant to this paragraph (f) the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent or such Lender in a less favorable net after-Tax position than it 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 Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Credit Party or any other Person.

(g) As soon as practicable after payment of any Tax by any Credit Party pursuant to this Section 2.17, and within thirty days after the due date of payment of any such Tax, such Credit Party shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Administrative Agent the original or certified copy of and receipt evidencing such payment.

(h) Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement 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 under any Credit Document.

2.18 Obligation to Mitigate. Each Lender agrees that, as promptly as practicable after the officer of such Lender responsible for administering its Loans becomes aware of the occurrence of an event or the existence of a condition that would cause such Lender to become an Affected Lender or that would entitle such Lender to receive payments under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, it will, to the extent not inconsistent with the internal policies of such Lender and any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions, use reasonable efforts to (a) make, issue, fund or maintain its Credit Extensions, including any Affected Loans, through another office of such Lender, or (b) take such other measures as such Lender may deem reasonable, if as a result thereof the circumstances which would cause such Lender to be an Affected Lender would cease to exist or the additional amounts which would otherwise be required to be paid to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17 would be materially reduced and if, as determined by such Lender in its sole discretion, the making, issuing, funding or maintaining of such Loans through such other office or in accordance with such other measures, as the case may be, would not otherwise adversely affect such Loans or the interests of such Lender; provided , such Lender will not be obligated to utilize such other office pursuant to this Section 2.18 unless Borrower agrees to pay all incremental expenses incurred by such Lender as a result of utilizing such other office as described above. A certificate as to the amount of any such expenses payable by Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.18 (setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount) submitted by such Lender to Borrower (with a copy to Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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2.19 Replacement of Lenders.

If (i) any Lender has become and continues to be an Affected Lender, (ii) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.16, (iii) Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 or (iv) any Lender has failed to consent to a proposed waiver, amendment or other modification of any Credit Document, or to any departure of any Credit Party therefrom, that under Section 10.5(b) or 10.5(c) requires the consent of all the Lenders (or all the affected Lenders or all the Lenders of the affected Class) and with respect to which the Requisite Lenders (or, in circumstances where Section 10.5(d) does not require the consent of the Requisite Lenders, majority in interest of the affected Class of Lenders) shall have granted their consent (each such Lender, a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”), then Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.6, including the consent requirements set forth therein), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents (or, in the case of any such assignment and delegation resulting from a failure to provide a consent, all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as a Lender of a particular Class) to an Eligible Assignee (each a “ Replacement Lender ”) that shall assume such obligations (which may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment and delegation); provided that (A) the registration and processing fee payable to Administrative Agent referred to in Section 10.6(d) shall not be required in connection with such assignment, (B) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (including any amounts under Section 2.15(c) and, if such assignment is made in connection with a Repricing Event, the prepayment fee under Section 2.10(b) (if applicable, in each case only to the extent such amounts relate to its interest as a Lender of a particular Class)) from the assignee (in the case of such principal) or Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (C) such assignment and delegation does not conflict with applicable law, (D) in the case of any such assignment and delegation resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.16 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter and (E) in the case of any such assignment and delegation resulting from the failure to provide a consent, the assignee shall have given such consent and, as a result of such assignment and delegation and any contemporaneous assignments and delegations and consents, the applicable waiver, amendment or other modification, or consent to a departure, can be effected. A Lender (other than a Non-Consenting Lender) shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver or consent by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling Borrower to require such assignment and delegation have ceased to apply. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment and delegation required pursuant to this Section 2.19 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment Agreement executed by Borrower, Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such assignment and delegation need not be a party thereto.

 

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2.20 Extension Offers.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “ Extension Offer ”) made from time to time by Borrower to all Lenders holding Loans of any Class or Commitments of any Class, in each case on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the respective Loans or Commitments of such Class) and on the same terms to each such Lender, Borrower is hereby permitted to consummate from time to time transactions with individual Lenders that accept the terms contained in such Extension Offers to extend the Maturity Date of each such Lender’s Loans and/or Commitments of such Class and otherwise modify the terms of such Loans and/or Commitments of such Class pursuant to the terms of the relevant Extension Offer (including by increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect of such Loans and/or Commitments (and related outstandings) and/or modifying the amortization schedule, if any, in respect of such Lender’s Loans of such Class) (each, an “ Extension ”, and each group of Loans or Commitments, as applicable, in each case as so extended, as well as the original Loans and the original Commitments (in each case not so extended), being a “ tranche ” for purposes of this Section 2.20; any Extended Term Loans shall constitute a separate tranche of Loans from the tranche of Loans from which they were converted), so long as the following terms are satisfied:

(i) except as to (x) interest rates, fees, amortization, final maturity date, premiums, required prepayment dates and participation in prepayments (which shall, subject to immediately succeeding clauses (iii), (iv) and (v), be determined by Borrower and any Lender that agrees to an Extension of its Loans and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) and (y) any covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date (in each case, as of the date of such Extension), the Loans of any Lender extended pursuant to any Extension (any such extended Loans, the “ Extended Term Loans ”) shall have the same terms (or terms not less favorable to existing Lenders) as the tranche of Loans subject to such Extension Offer;

(ii) the final Maturity Date of any Extended Term Loans shall be no earlier than the then applicable Latest Maturity Date at the time of Extension;

(iii) the weighted average life to maturity of any Extended Term Loans shall be equal to or greater than the weighted average life to maturity of the then-existing Term Facility with the longest weighted average life to maturity;

(iv) any Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory repayments or prepayments (but, for purposes of clarity, not scheduled amortization payments) in respect of the Loans, in each case as specified in the respective Extension Offer;

(v) if the aggregate principal amount of Loans or Commitments, as the case may be, in respect of which Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Loans or Commitments, as the case may be, offered to be extended by Borrower pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Loans or Commitments, as the case may be, of such Lenders shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer;

 

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(vi) the Extensions shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000;

(vii) any applicable Minimum Extension Condition shall be satisfied or waived by Borrower; and

(viii) all documentation in respect of such Extension shall be consistent with the foregoing.

(b) With respect to all Extensions consummated by Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.20, (i) such Extensions shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments for purposes of Section 2.10 or 2.11, (ii) the scheduled amortization payments (insofar as such schedule affects payments due to Lenders participating in the relevant Class) set forth in Section 2.9 shall be adjusted to give effect to the Extension of the relevant Class and (iii) except as set forth in clause (a)(vii) above, no Extension Offer is required to be in any minimum amount or any minimum increment; provided that Borrower may at its election specify as a condition (a “ Minimum Extension Condition ”) to consummating any such Extension that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Offer in Borrower’s sole discretion and which may be waived by Borrower) of Loans or Commitments (as applicable) of any or all applicable tranches be tendered. Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.20 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Term Loans on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including Sections 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 2.13 or 2.14) or any other Credit Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section.

(c) No consent of any Lender or Administrative Agent shall be required to effectuate any Extension, other than the consent of each Lender agreeing to such Extension with respect to one or more of its Loans and/or Commitments of any Class (or a portion thereof). All Extended Term Loans and all obligations in respect thereof shall be Obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents that are secured by the Collateral and guaranteed on a pari passu basis with all other applicable Obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent to enter into any Extension Amendment and any amendments to any of the other Credit Documents with the Credit Parties as may be necessary in order to establish new tranches or sub-tranches in respect of Loans or Commitments so extended and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent and Borrower in connection with the establishment of such new tranches or sub-tranches, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.20.

(d) In connection with any Extension, Borrower shall provide Administrative Agent at least ten Business Days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed by Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof, and shall agree to such procedures (including regarding timing, rounding and other adjustments and to ensure reasonable administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after such Extension), if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.20.

 

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2.21 Incremental Credit Extensions.

(a) Borrower may, at any time, on one or more occasions pursuant to an Incremental Facility Amendment add one or more new tranches of term facilities and/or increase the principal amount of the Loans of any existing Class by requesting new term loan commitments to provide such Loans (any such new tranche or increase, the “ Incremental Facilities ” and any loans made pursuant to an Incremental Facility, “ Incremental Loans ”), in an aggregate principal amount which shall not exceed:

(x) $350,000,000 (the “ Fixed Incremental Amount ”) less the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred or issued in reliance on the Fixed Incremental Amount, plus

(y) an unlimited amount so long as, in the case of this clause (y), after giving effect to such Incremental Facility, in the case of any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, subject to Section 1.2(e), as of the last day of the most recently ended four Fiscal Quarter period for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable (or, prior to the first delivery of financial statements thereunder, for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ended September 30, 2015, as set forth in the Historical Financial Statements therefor), does not exceed 3.10:1.00;

(it being understood that for purposes of clause (y) of this Section 2.21(a), the Cash proceeds of the relevant Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be excluded in calculating the Unrestricted Cash Amount used in determining the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio) (the amounts described in clauses (x) and (y) above, the “ Incremental Cap ”); provided that:

(i) each such Incremental Facility Amendment shall specify the amount of such Incremental Facility, which shall be in an amount not less than $5,000,000,

(ii) except as otherwise agreed by the lenders providing an Incremental Facility in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, (x) if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are being used to finance a Limited Condition Acquisition permitted hereunder, no Default or Event of Default under Section 8.1(a), Section 8.1(f) or Section 8.1(g) or (y) if otherwise, no Event of Default shall exist, subject to Section 1.2(e), immediately prior to or after giving effect to the effectiveness of any such Incremental Facility,

(iii) after giving effect to such Incremental Loans, the conditions of Section 3.2(a) shall be satisfied (it being understood that all references to “such date” or similar language in such Section 3.2 shall be deemed to refer to the effective date of such Incremental Facility Amendment); provided that, if the proceeds of any Incremental Loans are being used to finance a Limited Condition Acquisition, the lenders providing an Incremental Facility in connection with such Limited Condition Acquisition may

 

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agree that (x) the reference in Section 3.2(a) to the accuracy of the representations and warranties shall refer to the accuracy of the representations and warranties that would constitute Specified Representations and the representations and warranties in the relevant acquisition agreement the breach of which would permit the buyer to terminate its obligations thereunder or decline to consummate such Limited Condition Acquisition and (y) the reference to “Material Adverse Effect” in the Specified Representations shall be understood for this purpose to refer to “Material Adverse Effect” or similar definition as defined in the main transaction agreement governing such Permitted Acquisition,

(iv) the proceeds of any Incremental Facility may be used by Borrower and its subsidiaries for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, including the financing of Permitted Acquisitions, acquisitions, investments, debt repayments, Restricted Junior Payments and other uses not prohibited by the Credit Documents,

(v) the interest rate (determined as set forth below) for any Incremental Facility will not be more than 0.50% higher than the corresponding interest rate applicable to the Initial Term Facility, unless the interest rate margin with respect to the Initial Term Facility is adjusted to be equal to the interest rate with respect to the relevant Incremental Loans or Incremental Facility, minus, 0.50%; provided , further , that in determining the applicable interest rate: (w) interest margins, original issue discount and upfront fees paid by Borrower in connection with such Incremental Facility and the Initial Term Facility (in the case of original issue discount or upfront fees, equated to interest rate margin based on the lesser of a four year average life to maturity and the remaining stated life to maturity), shall be included, (x) any amendments to the Applicable Margin that became effective subsequent to the Closing Date but prior to the time of the addition of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Loans shall be included, (y) arrangement, commitment, structuring, underwriting, amendment and similar fees that are not shared with all the lenders providing such Incremental Facility or the Initial Term Facility shall be excluded and (z) if such Incremental Facility includes an interest rate floor greater than those applicable to the Initial Term Facility such differential between interest rate floors shall be included for purposes of determining whether an increase to the interest rate margin under the Initial Term Facility shall be required hereunder, but only to the extent that an increase in the interest rate floor applicable to the Initial Term Facility would cause an increase in the interest rate in effect thereunder as of the date of determination (and, in such case, the interest rate floor (but not the interest rate margin) applicable to the Initial Term Facility shall be increased to the extent of such differential),

(vi) each Incremental Facility (A) will have Maturity Date no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date and (B) will have a weighted average life to maturity equal to or greater than the weighted average life to maturity of the then-existing Term Facility with the longest weighted average life to maturity,

(vii) each Incremental Facility will be guaranteed solely by the Guarantors and will be secured on a pari passu basis with the other Term Facilities solely by the Collateral,

 

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(viii) any prepayment (other than scheduled amortization payments) of Incremental Loans that are pari passu in right of payment and pari passu with respect to security with the Initial Term Loans shall be made on a pro rata basis with all then existing Initial Term Loans (and all then-existing Incremental Loans, Extended Term Loans and Replacement Term Loans requiring ratable prepayment), except that Borrower and the lenders in respect of such Incremental Loans shall be permitted, in their sole discretion, to elect to prepay or receive, as applicable, any prepayments on a less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis),

(ix) all terms (other than with respect to margin, pricing, maturity or fees) applicable to any Incremental Facility (other than any terms which are applicable only after the Latest Maturity Date or that are also added to this Agreement for the benefit of the existing Lenders) shall be no more favorable to the Lenders providing such Incremental Facility (taken as a whole) than to the existing Lenders, unless otherwise reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent (and Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to enter into any Amendment to this Agreement to give effect to any such more favorable terms for the benefit of the existing Lenders without the consent of any other party hereto other than Borrower),

(x) for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect Borrower’s rights under Section 6.1(l) to incur Incremental Equivalent Debt (or incur any loans or establish commitments thereunder) that is not pari passu in right of payment or security with the Obligations), and

(xi) the Borrower may elect to use clause (y) of the Incremental Cap prior to clause (x) thereof, and if both clause (x) and (y) are available and the Borrower does not make an election, the Borrower will be deemed to have elected clause (y).

(b) Incremental Commitments may be provided by any existing Lender or by any other Person that will become an Additional Lender; provided that Administrative Agent shall have consented (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) to such Additional Lender’s providing such Incremental Commitments if such consent would be required under Section 10.6 for an assignment of Loans or Commitments of the applicable Class to such Additional Lender; provided further , that except as separately agreed from time to time between Borrower and any Lender, no Lender shall be obligated to provide all or any portion of any Incremental Commitment and the determination to provide such commitment shall be within the sole and absolute discretion of such Lender. The creation or provision of any Incremental Facility or Incremental Loan shall not require the approval of any existing Lender other than any existing Lender providing all or part of any Incremental Commitment.

(c) Each Lender or Additional Lender providing a portion of the Incremental Commitments shall execute and deliver to Administrative Agent and Borrower all such documentation (including the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment and amendments to any other Credit Document) as may be reasonably required by Administrative Agent to evidence and effectuate such Incremental Commitments. On the effective date of such Incremental Commitments, each Additional Lender added as a new Lender pursuant to such Incremental Commitments shall become a Lender for all purposes in connection with this Agreement.

 

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(d) As a condition precedent to any Incremental Facility or Incremental Loans, (i) upon its reasonable request, Administrative Agent shall have received customary opinions of counsel, as well as such reaffirmation agreements, supplements and/or amendments to one or more of the Credit Documents as it shall reasonably require, (ii) Administrative Agent shall have received the following (if reasonably requested): (x) an updated completed Flood Certificate, (y) a modification to each Mortgage (except in any instance where local counsel advises that the recording of the existing Mortgage is the only filing or recording necessary to give constructive notice to third parties of the lien created by such Mortgage as security for the Obligations, including as amended pursuant to the Incremental Facility Amendment, for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and (z) an endorsement to each Title Policy relating to any Mortgage which is modified pursuant to this section and (iii) Administrative Agent shall have received an Administrative Questionnaire and such other documents as it shall reasonably require from each Additional Lender and Administrative Agent and Lenders shall have received all fees required to be paid in respect of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Loans.

(e) On the date of the making of any Incremental Loans that will be of the same Class as any then-existing Class of Loans, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Sections 2.5 and 2.6, such Incremental Loans shall be added to (and constitute a part of and be of the same Type as and have, if applicable, the same Interest Period as) each borrowing of outstanding Loans of such Class on a pro rata basis (based on the relative sizes of such borrowings), so that each Term Lender providing such Incremental Loans will participate proportionately in each then outstanding borrowing of Loans of such Class.

(f) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent to enter into any Incremental Facility Amendment and any amendment to any of the other Credit Documents with the Credit Parties as may be necessary in order to establish new Classes in respect of Loans or Commitments increased or extended pursuant to this Section 2.21 and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent and Borrower in connection with the establishment of such new Classes, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.21.

(g) This Section 2.21 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13, 2.14 or 10.5 to the contrary.

 

SECTION 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

3.1 Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 10.5, of the following conditions on or before the Closing Date:

(a) Credit Documents . Administrative Agent and Arrangers shall have received copies of this Agreement, the Pledge and Security Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, each other Credit Document contemplated herein to be delivered on the Closing Date, the Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture and the ABL Loan Agreement, each executed and delivered by each applicable Credit Party, as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

(b) No Company Material Adverse Effect . Except as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 4.22 thereto, (i) since December 31, 2014 until

 

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and through the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect and (ii) since the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, there shall not have been any Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Organizational Documents; Incumbency . Administrative Agent and Arrangers shall have received (i) a copy of each Organizational Document of each Credit Party certified, to the extent applicable, as of a recent date by the applicable Governmental Authority, and a certificate from an Authorized Officer certifying that such Organizational Documents remain in full force and effect and have not been amended, modified, revoked or rescinded, (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the officers or directors of each Credit Party executing this Agreement and any Collateral Documents to which it is a party, (iii) resolutions of the Board of Directors or similar governing body of each Credit Party approving and, to the extent required in any jurisdiction, resolutions of the meeting of shareholders of a Credit Party, in each case authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and any Collateral Documents to which it is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound as of the Closing Date, certified as of the Closing Date by a director, its secretary or an assistant secretary as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment and (iv) a good standing certificate (to the extent such concept is applicable in the relevant jurisdiction) from the applicable Governmental Authority of each Credit Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, each dated a recent date prior to the Closing Date.

(d) Consummation of Transactions . The proceeds from Loans made on the Closing Date, the proceeds from loans made under the ABL Loan Agreement, the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Unsecured Notes and Cash on hand of Borrower shall be sufficient to consummate the Transactions. The Transactions, including the acquisition pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, shall have been consummated or substantially simultaneously with the making of the Initial Term Loans, shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement without giving effect to any waivers, consents, amendments, supplements or modifications that are in any respect materially adverse to the Lenders and the Arrangers without approval of the Lenders and the Arrangers (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). For purposes of the foregoing condition, it is hereby understood and agreed that any increase or reduction in the purchase price in connection with the acquisition pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement shall not be deemed to be material and adverse to the interests of the Lenders and Arrangers; provided that (i) any increase in the purchase price shall be funded with equity and (ii) an amount equal to 100% of any reduction of the purchase price shall be allocated (x) first to the Senior Unsecured Notes to reduce the aggregate principal amount of such issuance to $250,000,000, and (y) then to the Initial Term Facility to reduce the amount of commitments thereof; provided , further that the granting of any consent under the Stock Purchase Agreement that is not materially adverse to the interest of the Lenders and Arrangers will not otherwise constitute an amendment, modification or waiver.

(e) Personal Property Collateral . In order to create in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid, perfected First Priority security interest in the Collateral (other than ABL Priority Collateral) and a valid, perfected second priority security interest in the ABL Priority Collateral, in each case other than ABL Priority Collateral located, applied for, registered or otherwise arising under the law of any jurisdiction outside of the United States,

 

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and except as set forth in Schedule 5.15, the Credit Parties shall have delivered to Collateral Agent:

(i) a completed Perfection Certificate dated the Closing Date and executed by an Authorized Officer of Parent, together with all attachments contemplated thereby;

(ii) authorized UCC financing statements, originals of securities, instruments and chattel paper and any agreements governing deposit and/or securities accounts in each case to the extent required pursuant to the Pledge and Security Agreement or other Collateral Documents; and

(iii) opinions of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent) with respect to the creation and perfection of the security interests in favor of Collateral Agent in such Collateral and such other matters governed by the laws of each jurisdiction in which any Credit Party or any personal property Collateral is located as Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent.

(f) Opinion of Counsel to Credit Parties . Agents and Lenders shall have received an executed copy of the customary written opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Credit Parties, addressed to Agents and Lenders, dated as of the Closing Date and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and Arrangers (and each Credit Party hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinion to Agents and Lenders).

(g) Fees and other Amounts . Borrower shall have paid to Lenders, Agents and Arrangers the fees payable on the Closing Date referred to in Sections 2.8 and all expenses payable pursuant to Section 10.2 or pursuant any other letter agreement with the Arrangers which have accrued to or are otherwise payable on the Closing Date, in each case to the extent Borrower has received invoices therefor at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

(h) Payment of Loans and Other Amounts . On the Closing Date or substantially simultaneously with the Closing Date, Parent and its Subsidiaries shall have (i)(A) purchased and cancelled or redeemed in full the Borrower’s 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “ Borrower Notes ”) and (B) for any Borrower Notes not so cancelled or redeemed, if any, give irrevocable notice for the redemption or repayment of such Borrower Notes and proceeds sufficient to redeem or repay in full such Borrower Notes shall have been deposited with the trustee of the Borrower Notes pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers, (ii) repaid in full of all outstanding indebtedness under that certain (A) First Lien Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2014, by and among AZ Chem US Inc., certain of its subsidiaries, the lenders from time to time party thereto and General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent and (B) Second Lien Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2014, by and among AZ Chem US Inc., certain of its subsidiaries, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and (iv) delivered to Administrative Agent and Arrangers all documents or instruments necessary to release all guarantees and all Liens securing such foregoing Indebtedness or other obligations of Parent and its Subsidiaries thereunder (collectively, the “ Refinancing ”).

 

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(i) Closing Date Certificate . The Borrower shall have delivered to Administrative Agent and Arrangers an originally executed Closing Date Certificate, together with all attachments thereto.

(j) Solvency Certificate . The Lenders shall have received a solvency certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit K from the chief financial officer of the Borrower that shall certify as to the solvency of Parent and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) after giving effect to the Transactions.

(k) Letter of Direction . Administrative Agent and Arrangers shall have received a duly executed letter of direction from Borrower addressed to Administrative Agent and Arrangers, directing the disbursement on the Closing Date of the proceeds of the Loans made on such date.

(l) Financial Statements . The Lenders shall have received (i) audited financial statements of the Borrower and Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation for the three most recent fiscal years ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date and (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation for each quarterly period ended after the latest fiscal year referred to in clause (i) above and ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date.

(m) Pro Forma Balance Sheet . The Lenders shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as at the date of the most recent consolidated balance sheet delivered pursuant to the preceding paragraph and a pro forma statement of income for the four fiscal quarters most recently ended for which financial statements were delivered to the Lenders pursuant to the preceding paragraph, in each case adjusted to give effect to the consummation of the Transactions and the financings contemplated hereby as if such transactions, with respect to the pro forma balance sheet, had occurred on such date or with respect to the pro forma statements of income, had occurred on the first day of such period.

(n) PATRIOT Act . At least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information that they reasonably determine is required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ PATRIOT Act ”) that has been requested to be delivered not less than ten Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

(o) Representations and Warranties . (i) The representations and warranties made by Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation in the Stock Purchase Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower or any of its Affiliates has the right to terminate its obligations under the Stock Purchase Agreement or not be obligated to consummate the acquisition thereunder as a result of a breach of such representations and

 

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warranties in the Stock Purchase Agreement shall be true and correct and (ii) the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of any Specified Representation which expressly relates to a given date or period, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the respective date or for the respective period, as the case may be).

(p) Funding Notice . Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed and delivered Funding Notice.

Administrative Agent shall notify Credit Parties and Lenders of the Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

3.2 Conditions to Each Credit Extension after the Closing Date.

(a) Conditions Precedent . The obligation of each Lender to make any Loan on any Credit Date (other than the Closing Date) are subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 10.5, of the following conditions precedent:

(i) Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed and delivered Funding Notice;

(ii) on any other Credit Date, subject to Section 1.2(e) and Section 2.21(a)(iii), the representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such Credit Date with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date; provided that, in each case, such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and

(iii) as of such Credit Date, subject to Section 1.2(e) and Section 2.21(a)(ii), no event or condition shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of the applicable Credit Extension that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

Any Agent or Requisite Lenders shall be entitled, but not obligated, to request and receive, prior to the making of any Credit Extension, additional information reasonably satisfactory to the requesting party confirming the satisfaction of any of the foregoing if, in the good faith judgment of such Agent or Requisite Lenders such request is warranted under the circumstances.

(b) Notices . Any Notice shall be executed by an Authorized Officer in a writing delivered to Administrative Agent. The Borrower may give Administrative Agent telephonic notice by the required time of any proposed borrowing or conversion/continuation, as the case may be; provided each such notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery of the applicable Notice to Administrative Agent. Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall incur any liability to Borrower in acting upon any telephonic notice referred to above that Administrative Agent believes in good faith to have been given by a duly authorized officer or other person authorized on behalf of Borrower or for otherwise acting in good faith.

 

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SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

In order to induce Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make each Credit Extension to be made thereby, each Credit Party represents and warrants to each Lender, on the Closing Date and on each Credit Date, that the following statements are true and correct (it being understood and agreed that the representations and warranties made on the Closing Date are deemed to be made concurrently with and after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions):

4.1 Organization; Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification. Each of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is known in the relevant jurisdiction and to the extent the failure to be in good standing has not had, and could not be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect) under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization as identified in Schedule 4.1, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its properties, to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, to enter into the Credit Documents to which it is a party and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby and (c) is qualified to do business and in good standing (to the extent such concept is known in the relevant jurisdiction) in every jurisdiction where its assets are located and wherever necessary to carry out its business and operations, except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not had, and could not be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.2 Equity Interests and Ownership. The Equity Interests of the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, as of the date hereof, there is no existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment or other agreement to which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party requiring, and there is no membership interest or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding which upon conversion or exchange would require, the issuance by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any additional membership interests or other Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or other Securities convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase, a membership interest or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.2 correctly sets forth the ownership interests of the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries in their respective Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions.

4.3 Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each Credit Party that is a party thereto.

4.4 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by Credit Parties of the Credit Documents to which they are parties and the consummation of the Transactions do not and will not (a) violate (i) any provision of any law or any governmental rule or regulation applicable to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) any of the Organizational

 

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Documents of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (iii) any order, judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government binding on Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any Contractual Obligation of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except to the extent such conflict, breach or default could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.5 Governmental Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Credit Parties of the Credit Documents to which they are parties and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents do not and will not require any material registration with, material consent or material approval of, material notice to, or other material action to, with or by, any Governmental Authority, except for filings and recordings with respect to the Collateral required to be made, or otherwise delivered to Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement, for filing and/or recordation, as of the Closing Date or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree.

4.6 Binding Obligation. Each Credit Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party that is a party thereto and is the legally valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its respective 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 and principles of good faith and fair dealing.

4.7 Historical Financial Statements. The Historical Financial Statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP and fairly present in accordance with GAAP, in all material respects, the financial position, on a consolidated basis, of the Persons described in such financial statements as at the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows, on a consolidated basis, of the entities described therein for each of the periods then ended, subject, in the case of any such unaudited financial statements, to the absence of footnotes and changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.

4.8 [Reserved].

4.9 No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2014, there have been no events or circumstances, either individually or in the aggregate, that have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.10 Adverse Proceedings, etc. There are no Adverse Proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is in violation of any applicable laws in any jurisdiction (including Environmental Laws) that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) is subject to or in default with respect to any final judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees, rules or regulations of any court or any federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.11 Payment of Taxes. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 5.3 and listed on Schedule 4.11, all material Tax returns of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries required to be filed by any of them have been timely filed, and all material Taxes due and payable and all assessments, fees and other governmental charges upon Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries and upon their respective properties, assets, income, businesses and franchises which are due and payable have been paid except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted that operate to suspend the collection of such contested Taxes, assessments, fees or charges and for which adequate amounts have been recorded as a liability or reserved against on the most recent Historical Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. Except as listed on Schedule 4.11, there is no proposed material Tax assessment against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

4.12 Properties.

(a) Title . Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12 and subject in each case to Permitted Liens, each of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries has (i) good and marketable title to all real property owned by it in fee simple (or the equivalent in foreign jurisdictions) and (ii) valid leasehold interests in all real property leased by it, in each case to the extent such property is necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for any failures to have such title or interest that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect . Each of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries owns, or has the right to use, all Intellectual Property required for the conduct of its business as currently conducted except for any such failures to own or have the right to use which could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Real Estate . As of the Closing Date, Schedule 4.12 contains a true, accurate and complete list of all Material Real Estate Assets owned by the Credit Parties.

4.13 Environmental Matters. (i) Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries nor any of their respective Real Estate Facilities or operations are subject to any outstanding written order, consent decree or settlement agreement with any Person relating to any Environmental Law, any Environmental Claim, or any Hazardous Materials Activity that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has received any letter or request for information under Section 104 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9604) or any comparable state or foreign law except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) there are and, to each of Parent’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ knowledge, have been, no conditions, occurrences, or Hazardous Materials Activities which could reasonably be expected to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries nor, to any Credit Party’s knowledge, any predecessor of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has filed any notice under any Environmental Law indicating past or present treatment of Hazardous Materials at any Real Estate Facility, and none of Parent’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ operations involves the generation, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste, as

 

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defined under 40 C.F.R. Parts 260-270 or any state or foreign law equivalent that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (v) compliance with all current or reasonably foreseeable future requirements pursuant to or under Environmental Laws could not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (vi) no event or condition has occurred or is occurring with respect to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to any Environmental Law, any Release of Hazardous Materials, or any Hazardous Materials Activity which, individually or in the aggregate, has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.14 No Defaults. Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any of its Contractual Obligations, and no condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, could constitute such a default, except where such default or the consequences, direct or indirect, of such default or defaults, if any, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.15 Investment Company Act. No Credit Party is an “investment company,” a company “controlled” by an “investment company,” or an “investment advisor,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

4.16 Margin Stock. (a) Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.

(b) No portion of the proceeds of any Credit Extension shall be used in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, that causes or could reasonably be expected to cause, such Credit Extension or the application of such proceeds to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors or any other regulation thereof or to violate the Exchange Act.

4.17 [Reserved].

4.18 Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) Parent, each of its Restricted Subsidiaries and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates are in compliance with all applicable provisions and requirements of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each Pension Plan, and have performed all their obligations under each Pension Plan except for instances of noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No liability to the PBGC (other than required premium payments), the Internal Revenue Service (to the extent related to Pension Plans), any Pension Plan (other than contributions in the ordinary course) or any trust established under Title IV of ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred by Parent, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates except for liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each Pension Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by

 

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Parent, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates (determined as of the end of the most recent plan year on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in the most recent actuarial valuation for such Pension Plan), did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Pension Plan by an amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. As of the most recent valuation date for each Multiemployer Plan for which the actuarial report is available, the potential liability of Parent, its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective ERISA Affiliates for a complete withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of Section 4203 of ERISA), when aggregated with such potential liability for a complete withdrawal from all Multiemployer Plans, based on information available pursuant to Section 4221(e) of ERISA could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Parent, each of its Restricted Subsidiaries and each of their ERISA Affiliates have complied with the requirements of Section 515 of ERISA with respect to each Multiemployer Plan and are not in material “default” (as defined in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan in a manner that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, all Non-U.S. Plans are operated in compliance with all applicable laws, each of Parent and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which contributes to a Non-U.S. Plan has paid all required contributions to such Non-U.S. Plan as they fall due, and no action or omission has been or is expected to be taken by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries nor has any event occurred in relation to a Non-U.S. Plan which has or is reasonably likely to result in liability to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any Governmental Authority.

(c) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, there are no liabilities associated with or arising from Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries participating in, providing, or contributing to, either currently or in the past, or ceasing to provide or contribute to, or in respect of, any scheme or arrangement for the provision of any pension, superannuation, retirement (including on early retirement) or death benefits (including in the form of a lump sum) (the benefits together referred to as “ Pension Benefits ”) or providing, or being obligated to provide or failing to provide any Pension Benefits, which are not fully funded, insured or provided for on a generally accepted basis either through a separate trust, insurance policy or as an accrual or provision in the accounts of Parent or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary.

4.19 Solvency. Immediately after giving effect to the Transactions occurring substantially concurrently with the Closing Date, Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be Solvent.

4.20 Compliance with Statutes, etc. Each of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable statutes, laws, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all Governmental Authorities, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its property (including compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and the requirements of any permits issued under such Environmental Laws or the operations of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except such non-compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.21 Disclosure. Neither any document, certificate or other written materials furnished to any Agent or Lender by or on behalf of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished on or prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of materials delivered after the Closing Date, at or prior to the delivery thereof) when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact (known to any Credit Party, in the case of any document not furnished by or on behalf of any Credit Party) necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which the same were made. Any financial projections and pro forma financial information contained in such materials were prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are believed by the preparer thereof to be reasonable at the time such financial projections were furnished, it being understood and agreed (a) that financial projections are as to future events, are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Parent’s control or the control of its Affiliates, (b) that no assurances can be given that any particular projections will be realized and (iii) that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material.

4.22 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. (a) Parent and Borrower have implemented and maintain in effect policies designed to support compliance by Parent, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

(b) Parent, Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of Parent and Borrower, their respective officers and directors, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.

(c) None of Parent, Borrower, any of their respective Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Parent or Borrower, any director, officer, employee, agent, or Affiliate of Parent, Borrower, any of their respective Subsidiaries is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”).

4.23 Collateral Matters.

(a) The Pledge and Security Agreement creates in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral subject thereto and (i) when the Collateral subject thereto constituting certificated securities (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) is delivered to Collateral Agent, together with instruments of transfer duly endorsed in blank, the security interest created under the Pledge and Security Agreement will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the pledgors thereunder in such Collateral, prior and superior in right to any other Person, except for rights secured by Permitted Liens which by operation of law or contract would have priority over the Liens securing the Obligations, and (ii) when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the applicable filing offices, the security interest created under the Pledge and Security Agreement will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the

 

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Credit Parties in the remaining Collateral subject thereto to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, prior and superior to the rights of any other Person, except for rights secured by Permitted Liens which by operation of law or contract would have priority over the Liens securing the Obligations.

(b) Upon the recordation of the Intellectual Property Security Agreements with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, and the filing of the financing statements referred to in Section 4.23(a), the security interest created under the Pledge and Security Agreement will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the Credit Parties in the Intellectual Property in which a security interest may be perfected by filing in such offices in the United States, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, but subject to Permitted Liens (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a security interest in such Intellectual Property acquired by the Credit Parties after the Closing Date). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and in the Collateral Documents, no actions shall be required in order to create or perfect any security interest in any Intellectual Property applied for, registered or otherwise arising under the law of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, and no foreign law security or pledge agreements or foreign intellectual property filings or searches shall be required.

4.24 Use of Proceeds. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, (i) for any payment to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or (ii) in violation of applicable Sanctions.

 

SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Each Credit Party covenants and agrees that, so long as any Commitment is in effect and until payment in full of all Obligations, each Credit Party shall perform, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to perform, all covenants in this Section 5.

5.1 Financial Statements and Other Reports. Parent will deliver to Administrative Agent, for distribution to the Lenders:

(a) Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available, and in any event on or before the date on which such financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on or before the date that is forty-five (45) days after the end of each such Fiscal Quarter) after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of Parent, an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related statements of income and cash flow for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Fiscal Year then elapsed, on a consolidated basis for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, setting forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and certified by the chief financial officer of Parent as prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly presenting in all material respects the financial position and results of operations for such Fiscal Quarter and period, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

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(b) Annual Financial Statements . As soon as available and in any event on or before the date on which such financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on or before the date that is ninety (90) days after the end of each such Fiscal Year), the consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flow and shareholders’ equity for such Fiscal Year, on a consolidated basis for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which consolidated statements shall be audited and certified (without “going concern” disclosure or like qualification or exception (or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) except with respect to Indebtedness under this Agreement or the ABL Loan Agreement becoming due and payable by its terms within one year of such opinion) by a firm of independent certified public accountants of recognized standing selected by Parent and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and shall set forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and other information reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(c) Compliance Certificate . Together with each delivery of financial statements of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) or 5.1(m), a duly executed and completed Compliance Certificate for the quarter or year, as applicable, executed by an authorized financial officer of Parent which shall include, without limitation (A) a statement that such authorized financial officer has reviewed the terms of this Agreement and has made, or caused to be made under his or her supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and financial condition of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by such financial statements and that such authorized financial officer does not have knowledge of the existence, as at the date of the compliance certificate, of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or Event of Default or, if any such condition or event exists, specifying the nature thereof and what action Parent has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto;

(d) [Reserved] .

(e) Notice of Default . Promptly upon any officer of Parent or Borrower obtaining actual knowledge (i) of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or of any notice of any such condition or event that has been given to Parent or Borrower; (ii) that any Person has given any notice to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or taken any other action with respect to any event or condition set forth in Section 8.1(b); or (iii) of the occurrence of any event or change that has caused or is reasonably expected to cause, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; a certificate of an Authorized Officer specifying the nature and period of existence of such condition, event or change, or specifying the notice given and action taken by any such Person and the nature of such claimed Event of Default, Default, default, event or condition, and what action Borrower has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto;

(f) Notice of Litigation . Promptly upon any Authorized Officer of Parent or Borrower obtaining actual knowledge of the institution or threatened institution of any action, suit, investigation or proceeding against or adversely affecting Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any such investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Authority (other than routine periodic inquiries, investigations or reviews) or any material development in

 

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any such action, suit, investigation or proceeding, in each case that would, if adversely determined, be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect (but excluding any privileged information), written notice thereof;

(g) ERISA . Promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence of or forthcoming occurrence of any ERISA Event that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a written notice specifying the nature thereof, what action Parent, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto or similar Governmental Authority with respect to any Non-U.S. Plan;

(h) Financial Plan . As soon as practicable and in any event no later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated plan and financial forecast for such Fiscal Year (a “ Financial Plan ”), including (i) a forecasted consolidated balance sheet and forecasted consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for each such Fiscal Year, together with an explanation of the assumptions on which such forecasts are based, and (ii) forecasted consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for each Fiscal Quarter of such Fiscal Year;

(i) Information Regarding Collateral . Borrower will furnish to Collateral Agent at least 15 days prior written notice (or such shorter time as the Collateral Agent may agree) of any change (i) in any Credit Party’s corporate name, (ii) in any Credit Party’s identity or corporate structure, (iii) in any Credit Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation or organization or (iv) in any Credit Party’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number, in each case, to the extent such information is reasonably necessary to enable the Collateral Agent to perfect or maintain the perfection of its security interest in the Collateral of the relevant Credit Party;

(j) Annual Collateral Verification . Each year, at the time of delivery of annual financial statements with respect to the preceding Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 5.1(b), Borrower shall deliver to Collateral Agent a certificate of its Authorized Officer in the form of Exhibit L.

(k) Other Information . Such other information and data regarding the business and financial affairs of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as from time to time may be reasonably requested by Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender; and

(l) Certification of Public Information . Concurrently with the delivery of any document or notice required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 or otherwise provided to Administrative Agent by or on behalf of Parent or any other Credit Party, Parent shall indicate in writing whether such document or notice contains Nonpublic Information that is of the type that would constitute material non-public information for purposes of United States Federal and State securities laws. Parent and each Lender acknowledges that certain of the Lenders may be Public Lenders and, if documents or notices required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 or otherwise are being distributed through IntraLinks/IntraAgency, SyndTrak or another relevant website or other similar information platform selected by Administrative Agent (the “ Platform ”), any document or notice that Parent has indicated contains such Nonpublic

 

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Information shall not be posted on that portion of the Platform designated for Public Lenders. If Parent has not indicated whether a document or notice delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 contains such Nonpublic Information, Administrative Agent reserves the right to post such document or notice solely on that portion of the Platform designated for Lenders who wish to receive such Nonpublic Information with respect to Parent, its Subsidiaries and their respective Securities. Parent and Borrower agree that the Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a), (b) and (c) can be posted to that portion of the Platform designated for Public Lenders unless Parent promptly notifies Administrative Agent otherwise.

(m) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations referred to in Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of Parent and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of any Parent Company or (B) such Parent Company’s Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC (and the public filing of such report with the SEC shall constitute delivery under this Section 5.01); provided that with respect to each of the preceding clauses (A) and (B), to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.01(b) (it being understood that such information may be audited at the option of the Borrower), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion by a firm of independent certified public accountants of recognized standing selected by Parent and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion (x) shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and (y) shall not be subject to any qualification as to the scope of such audit or be subject to any explanatory statement as to the Borrower’s ability to continue as a “going concern” or like qualification. In connection with the delivery of financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (m), if there are any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the Parent will also provide financial information in detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for the applicable period for such Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

5.2 Existence. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.7, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and all rights and franchises, licenses and permits material to its business; provided , no Credit Party (other than Parent and Borrower with respect to existence) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any such existence, right or franchise, licenses and permits if such Person’s board of directors (or similar governing body) shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of such Person.

5.3 Payment of Taxes and Claims. Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted 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 penalty or fine accrues thereon, and all 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 unless such Tax or claim is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long as (a) (i) adequate reserve or other appropriate provision, 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 or (b) the failure to make payment pending such contest would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.4 Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and damage from casualty or condemnation excepted, all material real or personal properties necessary in the ordinary course of business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from time to time will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals and replacements thereof.

5.5 Insurance. Parent will maintain or cause to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to the Parent’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business Parent, in each case in such amounts (giving effect to self-insurance), with such deductibles, covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and conditions as shall be reasonable and customary for such Persons, provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary be required to obtain or maintain insurance that is more restrictive than its normal course of practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent will maintain or cause to be maintained flood insurance with respect to each Flood Hazard Property that is located in a community that participates in the Flood Program, in each case in compliance with any applicable regulations of the Board of Governors. Each property and general liability policy of insurance with a coverage amount in excess of $10,000,000 shall (i) name Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder as its interests may appear and (ii) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, contain a mortgagee and lenders loss payable clause or endorsement, satisfactory in form and substance to Collateral Agent, that names Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as a mortgagee and lenders loss payee thereunder and the relevant Credit Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the insurer to provide for at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Collateral Agent of any material modification or cancellation of such policy.

5.6 Books and Records; Inspections. Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and accounts in which full, true and correct entries in conformity in all material respects with GAAP shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities (it being understood and agreed that certain Non-U.S. Subsidiaries may maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder). Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any authorized representatives designated by Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of the properties of any Credit Party and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at which the principal financial records and executive officers of the applicable Person are located, to inspect, copy and take extracts from its financial and accounting records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its Authorized Officers and independent public accountants ( provided that Borrower or the applicable Credit Party may, if it so chooses, be present at or participate in any such discussion), all upon reasonable notice, reasonable coordination in and at such reasonable

 

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times during normal business hours and as often as may reasonably be requested; provided that (x) only Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise the rights of Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 5.6, and (y) except as provided in the proviso below in connection with the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, (i) Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than one time during any calendar year with respect to any Credit Party and (ii) only one such time with respect to any Credit Party per calendar year shall be at the reasonable expense of Borrower; provided , further , that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Administrative Agent (or any of its representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the reasonable expense of Borrower in accordance with Section 10.2 at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice.

5.7 Compliance with Laws. Each Credit Party will comply, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority (including all ERISA, PATRIOT Act and Environmental Laws), except where the failure to comply therewith could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

5.8 Environmental.

(a) Environmental Disclosure . Parent will deliver to Administrative Agent and Lenders:

(i) as soon as practicable following receipt thereof, copies of material post-Closing Date environmental audits, investigations, analyses and reports, prepared by personnel of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or, if prepared by independent consultants, Governmental Authorities or any other Persons in the possession of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, reasonably accessible by Parent or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary, with respect to significant environmental matters at any Real Estate Facility or with respect to any Environmental Claims that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ii) promptly upon the occurrence thereof, written notice describing in reasonable detail (1) any Release required to be reported to any Governmental Authority under any applicable Environmental Laws that could reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, (2) any remedial action taken by Parent or any other Person in response to (A) any Hazardous Materials Activities the existence of which could reasonably be expected to result in one or more Environmental Claims having, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (B) any Environmental Claims that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (3) Parent or Borrower’s discovery of any occurrence or condition on any real property adjoining or in the vicinity of any Mortgaged Property that is reasonably likely to cause such Mortgaged Property or any part thereof to be subject to any restrictions on ownership, occupancy, transferability or use under any Environmental Laws that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the value or use of such Mortgaged Property.

 

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(b) Hazardous Materials Activities, Etc . Each Credit Party shall promptly take, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries promptly to take, any and all actions necessary to (i) cure any violation of applicable Environmental Laws by such Credit Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) make an appropriate response to any Environmental Claim against such Credit Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and discharge any obligations it may have to any Person thereunder where failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

5.9 Subsidiaries. In the event that any Person becomes a Designated Subsidiary (including through a Subsidiary Redesignation) of any Credit Party after the Closing Date, such Credit Party shall within 60 calendar days (or 90 calendar days in the case of the establishment or amendment of any Mortgage) (or such longer period as Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) (a) cause such Designated Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder and a Grantor under the Pledge and Security Agreement by executing and delivering to Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent a Counterpart Agreement, (b) take all of the actions referred to in Section 3.1(e) necessary to grant and perfect a First Priority Lien in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, under the Pledge and Security Agreement in 100% of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary held by a Credit Party, (c) cause such Designated Subsidiary to take all such necessary actions, and to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such documents, instruments, agreements, and certificates, as are specified in Sections 3.1(c), 3.1(e), 3.1(i), 3.1(j) and, as to each Material Real Estate Asset owned by such Designated Subsidiary, Section 5.10 and (d) cause such Designated Subsidiary to become an “Obligor” under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement by executing and delivering to Administrative Agent an Intercreditor Joinder Agreement in the form of Exhibit A thereto. In the event that any Person becomes a Non-U.S. Subsidiary directly owned by any Credit Party, or a U.S. Subsidiary that is directly owned by any Credit Party and that is a Disregarded Entity substantially all of whose assets consist (directly or indirectly through Disregarded Entities) of the capital stock or debt of CFCs, such Credit Party shall take, or shall cause such Subsidiary to take, as applicable, all of the actions referred to in Section 3.1(e) necessary to grant and to perfect a First Priority Lien in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in 65.00% of the voting Equity Interests and 100% of the non-voting Equity Interests of such Subsidiary (or, in the case of any such Non-U.S. Subsidiary that is a Disregarded Entity and whose assets do not consist (directly or indirectly through other Disregarded Entities) of the capital stock or debt of CFCs, 100.00% of the Equity Interests of such Non-U.S. Subsidiary) to secure such Credit Party’s guarantee of the Obligations. With respect to each such Designated Subsidiary, Parent shall promptly send to Administrative Agent written notice setting forth with respect to such Person (i) the date on which such Person became a Designated Subsidiary, and (ii) all of the data required to be set forth in Schedules 4.1 and 4.2 with respect to all Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (including this Section 5.9 and Sections 5.10 and 5.11) or in any Collateral Document, with respect to the Collateral, (i) the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets shall not be required if and for so long as Administrative Agent and Borrower mutually determine that the cost or burden of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance, legal

 

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opinions or other deliverables in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (ii) Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time in its reasonable discretion for the creation and perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to particular assets or the provision of any Guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary; (iii) no actions shall be required in order to create or perfect any security interest in any assets located, applied for, registered or otherwise arising under the law of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, and no foreign law security or pledge agreements or foreign intellectual property filings or searches shall be required, (iv) the Credit Parties shall not be required to seek any landlord lien waiver, estoppel, warehouseman waiver or other collateral access or similar letter or agreement with respect to any leasehold real property or otherwise, unless (A) a landlord lien waiver, estoppel, warehouseman waiver or other collateral access or similar letter or agreement has been obtained with respect to the ABL Loan Documents and (B) such landlord, warehouseman or other third party is in possession of inventory with a value in excess of $10,000,000, (v) perfection by control shall not be required with respect to assets requiring perfection through control agreements or other control arrangements, including deposit, securities and commodities accounts (except to the extent required pursuant to the ABL Loan Documents and the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), provided that the foregoing shall not apply to delivery of pledged Equity Interests and pledged promissory notes (other than pledged Equity Interests in Immaterial Subsidiaries and any pledged promissory note with a principal amount of less than $2,000,000 individually or $6,000,000 in the aggregate), and (vi) no actions shall be required to perfect the grant of the security interest in vehicles and any other assets subject to certificates of title, commercial tort claims and letter of credit rights, in each case except to the extent perfection of a security interest therein may be accomplished by the filing of financing statements under the UCC.

5.10 Additional Material Real Estate Assets.

(a) In order to create in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid and, subject to any filing and/or recording referred to herein, perfected First Priority security interest in each Material Real Estate Asset listed in Schedule 5.10, within 90 days following the Closing Date or such longer period of time following the Closing Date as may be acceptable to Collateral Agent, Collateral Agent shall have received from Borrower and each applicable Guarantor, unless waived by Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion, the documents set forth below:

(i) a fully executed and notarized Mortgage, in proper form for recording in the appropriate place in the applicable jurisdiction, encumbering such Material Real Estate Asset;

(ii) an opinion of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent) in the state in which such Material Real Estate Asset is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgages to be recorded in such state and such other matters as Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent (it being understood and agreed that, if the mortgagor or trustor or comparable party under any such Mortgage is organized in a state other than the state in which such Material Real Estate Asset is located, counsel shall be entitled to either assume the due authorization of execution and delivery of such Mortgage or rely on an opinion of counsel delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement with respect to the same);

 

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(iii) (A) a lender’s Title Policy with respect to such Material Real Estate Asset, in an amount not less than the fair market value, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith and without requirement of delivery of an appraisal or other third-party valuation, of such Real Estate Asset, together with copies of all recorded documents listed as exceptions to title or otherwise referred to therein, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and insuring that Collateral Agent has a First Priority mortgage lien on such Material Real Estate Asset together with such endorsements as Collateral Agent shall reasonably require, and (B) evidence reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent that the applicable Credit Party has paid to the title company or to the appropriate Governmental Authorities all reasonable expenses and premiums of the title company and all other sums required in connection with the issuance of such Title Policy and all recording and stamp Taxes (including mortgage recording and intangible Taxes) payable in connection with recording the Mortgage for such Material Real Estate Asset in the appropriate real estate records;

(iv) (A) a completed Flood Certificate with respect such Material Real Estate Asset, which Flood Certificate shall be addressed to Collateral Agent and otherwise comply with the Flood Program; (B) if the Flood Certificate states that such Material Real Estate Asset is located in a Flood Zone, Borrower’s written acknowledgment of receipt of written notification from Collateral Agent (x) as to the existence of a Mortgage on such Material Real Estate Asset and (y) as to whether the community in which such Material Real Estate Asset is located is participating in the Flood Program; (C) if such Material Real Estate Asset is located in a Flood Zone and is located in a community that participates in the Flood Program, evidence that Borrower has obtained a policy of flood insurance that is in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Flood Program; and (D) if such Material Real Estate Asset is located in a Flood Zone and is located in a community that does not participate in the Flood Program, evidence that Borrower has obtained private flood insurance that is in compliance with all applicable regulations or, in the absence of regulations, is otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent; and

(v) existing ALTA surveys (or survey updates) and applicable “survey affidavits of no-change” in a form acceptable to the issuing title company or, if there is no existing ALTA survey, then an ALTA survey reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent for all Mortgaged Properties, certified to Collateral Agent, together with customary owner’s affidavits with respect to all Mortgaged Properties in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the issuing title company.

(b) In the event that any Credit Party acquires a Material Real Estate Asset or a Real Estate Asset owned on the Closing Date becomes a Material Real Estate Asset and such interest has not otherwise been made subject to the Lien of the Collateral Documents in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, then such Credit Party shall within 90 days following the date of such acquisition (or such longer period of time as may be acceptable to Collateral Agent), take all such actions and execute and

 

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deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, those documents set forth or contemplated by Section 5.10(a), as applicable, including:

(i) fully executed and notarized Mortgage, in proper form for recording in the appropriate place in the applicable jurisdiction, encumbering such Material Real Estate Asset;

(ii) an opinion of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent) in the state in which such Material Real Estate Asset is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgages to be recorded in such state and such other matters as Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent (it being understood and agreed that, if the mortgagor or trustor or comparable party under any such Mortgage is organized in a state other than the state in which such Material Real Estate Asset is located, counsel shall be entitled to assume the due authorization of execution and delivery of such Mortgage);

(iii) (A) a lender’s Title Policy with respect to such Material Real Estate Asset, in an amount not less than the fair market value, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith and without requirement of delivery of an appraisal or other third-party valuation, of such Material Real Estate Asset, together with copies of all recorded documents listed as exceptions to title or otherwise referred to therein, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and insuring that Collateral Agent has a First Priority mortgage lien on such Material Real Estate Asset together with such endorsements as Collateral Agent shall reasonably require, and (B) evidence reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent that the applicable Credit Party has paid to the title company or to the appropriate Governmental Authorities all reasonable expenses and premiums of the title company and all other sums required in connection with the issuance of such Title Policy and all recording and stamp Taxes (including mortgage recording and intangible Taxes) payable in connection with recording the Mortgage for such Material Real Estate Asset in the appropriate real estate records;

(iv) (A) a completed Flood Certificate with respect such Material Real Estate Asset, which Flood Certificate shall be addressed to Collateral Agent and otherwise comply with the Flood Program; (B) if the Flood Certificate states that such Material Real Estate Asset is located in a Flood Zone, Borrower’s written acknowledgment of receipt of written notification from Collateral Agent (x) as to the existence of a Mortgage on such Material Real Estate Asset and (y) as to whether the community in which such Material Real Estate Asset is located is participating in the Flood Program; (C) if such Material Real Estate Asset is located in a Flood Zone and is located in a community that participates in the Flood Program, evidence that Borrower has obtained a policy of flood insurance that is in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Flood Program; and (D) if such Material Real Estate Asset is located in a Flood Zone and is located in a community that does not participate in the Flood Program, evidence that Borrower has obtained private flood insurance that is in compliance with all applicable regulations or, in the absence of regulations, is otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent; and

 

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(v) an existing ALTA survey (or survey update) and applicable “survey affidavits of no-change” in a form acceptable to the issuing title company or, if there is no existing ALTA survey, then an ALTA survey reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent for such Material Real Estate Asset, certified to Collateral Agent, together with customary owner’s affidavits with respect to such Material Real Estate Asset in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the issuing title company.

In addition to the foregoing, Borrower shall, at the request of Collateral Agent, deliver, from time to time, to Collateral Agent such appraisals as are required by law or regulation of Real Estate Assets with respect to which Collateral Agent has been granted a Lien; provided , that unless an Event of Default exists, Collateral Agent shall not request such appraisals in respect of any Material Real Estate Asset more than once per calendar year and provided, further , that the Collateral Agent shall request no such appraisals unless required by law or regulation.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets shall not be required if and for so long as Collateral Agent determines that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom. Administrative Agent and Lenders further agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Credit Parties in minimizing any recording Taxes that may be payable with respect to any Mortgage. The Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation and perfection of Mortgage Liens in or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to particular Material Real Estate Assets where it determines that such action cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required to be accomplished by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.

5.11 Further Assurances. At any time or from time to time upon the request of Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, each Credit Party will, at its expense, promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such further documents and do such other acts and things as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of the Credit Documents. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Credit Party shall (and Parent shall procure that each of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall) promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as Collateral Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as Collateral Agent may reasonably require in favor of Collateral Agent or its nominee(s)), to the extent reasonably required by Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of Collateral Agent or (i) to create or perfect the security created or intended to be created under or evidenced by the Collateral Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other security over all or any part of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of security pursuant to the Collateral Documents); (ii) to facilitate the realization of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Collateral Documents; or (iii) otherwise to ensure that the Obligations are guaranteed by the applicable Guarantors and are secured by substantially all the assets of the Credit Parties and all the outstanding Equity Interests of the Subsidiaries of Parent held directly by any Credit Party (subject to limitations contained in the Credit Documents). Each Credit

 

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Party shall (and Parent shall procure that each of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall) take all such action as is reasonably available to it (including making all filings and registrations) as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection, protection or maintenance of any security conferred or intended to be conferred on Collateral Agent or the Credit Parties by or pursuant to the Credit Documents (subject to limitations contained in the Credit Documents).

5.12 Unrestricted Subsidiary Designation. The Borrower may at any time on or after the Closing Date designate a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result therefrom, (ii) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 4.70:1.00 calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable (or, prior to the first delivery of financial statements thereunder, for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ended September 30, 2015, as set forth in the Historical Financial Statements therefor), (iii) if an Unrestricted Subsidiary is being designated as a Subsidiary hereunder (“ Subsidiary Redesignation ”) such Subsidiary Redesignation shall constitute the incurrence by such Subsidiary of all Indebtedness and Liens of such Unrestricted Subsidiary at such time and (iv) if an Unrestricted Subsidiary is being designated as a Subsidiary hereunder, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate executed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, certifying to the best of such officer’s knowledge, compliance with the requirements of the proceeding clauses (i) through (iii). In the event of a designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder, (a) such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be capitalized (to the extent capitalized by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) through Investments as permitted by, and in compliance with, Section 6.6, and any prior or concurrent Investments in such Subsidiary by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have been made under Section 6.6 and (b) without duplication of clause (a) any net assets owned by such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of the initial designation thereof shall be treated as Investments pursuant to Section 6.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be permitted to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

5.13 Maintenance of Ratings. Borrower shall at all times use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain (i) a public corporate family rating for Parent from Moody’s, (ii) a public corporate credit rating for Parent from S&P and (iii) a public credit rating for the Initial Term Loans from each of Moody’s and S&P (but, in each case, not any minimum rating).

5.14 Use of Proceeds. The Borrowers will use the proceeds of all Loans in a manner contemplated by Section 2.3.

5.15 Certain Post-Closing Obligations. Each of the Credit Parties shall satisfy the requirements set forth on Schedule 5.15 on or before the date specified for such requirement or such later date as is agreed to in writing by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

 

SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Each Credit Party covenants and agrees that, so long as any Commitment is in effect and until payment in full of all Obligations, such Credit Party shall perform, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to perform, all covenants in this Section 6.

 

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6.1 Indebtedness. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or guarantee, or otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except the following:

(a) (i) Indebtedness created under (i) the Credit Documents, (ii) Indebtedness created under the ABL Loan Documents in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $350,000,000 and (iii) the Senior Unsecured Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $425,000,000;

(b) (i) Indebtedness of Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary owed to any other Subsidiary of Parent, (ii) Indebtedness of any Credit Party owed to any other Credit Party (subject, in the case of Parent, to Section 6.11) and (iii) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party owed to any other Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and (iv) to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a permitted Investment pursuant to Section 6.6(j) or 6.6(m); provided , that in the case of (i) and (ii), (1) with respect to any Indebtedness owed to a Credit Party, shall be evidenced by one or more Intercompany Notes and subject to a First Priority Lien pursuant to the Pledge and Security Agreement or another Collateral Document, securing the Obligations and (2) all such Indebtedness, if owed by a Credit Party, shall be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment (on customary terms for intercompany subordinated Indebtedness which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be included in the Intercompany Note) to the payment in full of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the applicable Intercompany Note;

(c) Indebtedness incurred by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, or from guaranties or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or permitted dispositions of any business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(d) Indebtedness which may be deemed to exist pursuant to any performance, surety, statutory, appeal, banker’s acceptance facilities and completion guaranties or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations;

(e) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections, cash management services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, employee credit card programs and otherwise in connection with deposit, securities and commodities accounts in the ordinary course of business;

(f) guaranties in the ordinary course of business of the obligations of suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors, licensees, sub-licensees and distribution partners of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(g) guaranties (i) by any Credit Party of Indebtedness of any other Credit Party and (ii) by any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party of Indebtedness of any other Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, with respect, in each case, Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred by such Credit Party pursuant to this Section 6.1; provided , in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), that if the Indebtedness that is being guaranteed is unsecured and/or subordinated to the Obligations, the guarantee shall also be unsecured and/or subordinated to the Obligations;

 

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(h) Indebtedness described in Schedule 6.1, but not any extensions, renewals, refundings or replacements of such Indebtedness except (i) extensions, renewals, refundings or replacements expressly provided for in the agreements evidencing any such Indebtedness as the same are in effect on the date of this Agreement and (ii) extensions, renewals, refundings or replacements of any such Indebtedness permitted by clause (m) of this Section 6.1;

(i) Indebtedness with respect to Capital Leases and purchase money Indebtedness in an aggregate amount, taken together with the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leasebacks entered into in reliance on Section 6.8, not to exceed at any time the greater of $100,000,000.00 and 3.25 % of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b); provided , that any such Indebtedness (i) shall be secured only by the asset acquired in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness (and such asset is so acquired within 270 days of such Indebtedness being incurred), and (ii) shall constitute not more than 100.00% of the aggregate consideration paid with respect to such asset; provided , further, that individual financings of the purchase of equipment provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of the purchase of assets provided solely by such lender.

(j) (i) Indebtedness of a Person or Indebtedness attaching to assets of a Person that, in either case, becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness attaching to assets that are acquired by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Closing Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $100,000,000.00 and 3.25% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b); provided that (w) such Indebtedness exists at the time such acquisition is consummated and is not created or incurred in connection therewith or in contemplation thereof, (x) no Event of Default exists or would reasonably be expected to result therefrom, (y) no Credit Party (other than such Person so acquired in such acquisition that becomes a Credit Party or Restricted Subsidiary thereof) shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness and (z) if such Indebtedness is secured, no Lien thereon shall extend to or cover any other assets other than the assets acquired in such acquisition and (ii) any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness specified in subclause (i) above and permitted by clause (m) of this Section 6.1;

(k) Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements and Commodity Agreements entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate exposure, foreign currency risk or commodity pricing risk associated with Parent’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ operations and not for speculative purposes;

(l) Incremental Equivalent Debt; provided that (i) Incremental Equivalent Debt may be the obligation of and guaranteed solely by the Credit Parties (and no other Persons) and may be secured solely by the Collateral (and no other collateral) and, to the extent secured on a pari passu basis or a junior basis to the Obligations with respect to the Collateral, shall be subject to an Applicable Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) any Incremental Equivalent Debt that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Loans may participate in any mandatory asset sale prepayments on a

 

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pro rata basis (or on a basis less than pro rata) with the Loans, but may not participate on a basis that is more favorable than pro rata (it being understood that Incremental Equivalent Debt may contain customary change of control offer provisions), and (iii) all terms (other than with respect to margin, pricing, maturity or fees) applicable to any Incremental Equivalent Debt (other than any terms which are applicable only after the Latest Maturity Date or that are also added to this Agreement for the benefit of the existing Lenders) shall be no more favorable to the holders of such Incremental Equivalent Debt (taken as a whole) than to the existing Lenders, unless otherwise reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent (and Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to enter into any Amendment to this Agreement to give effect to any such more favorable terms for the benefit of the existing Lenders without the consent of any other party hereto other than Borrower);

(m) Indebtedness refinancing, refunding, replacing or extending any Indebtedness permitted under clauses (a), (h), (j) and (l) of this Section 6.1 (in any case, including any refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect thereof, “ Refinancing Indebtedness ”) and any subsequent Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided no Event of Default exists and is continuing and:

(i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced, except (A) by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premiums (including tender premiums) thereon plus underwriting discounts, other customary fees, commissions and expenses (including upfront fees, original issue discount or initial yield payments) incurred in connection with such refinancing or replacement and (B) by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder,

(ii) such Indebtedness has a final maturity on or later than the final maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced and a weighted average life to maturity equal to or greater than the weighted average life to maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced,

(iii) the terms of such Refinancing Indebtedness are not, taken as a whole (as reasonably determined by Borrower), more favorable to the lenders providing such Indebtedness than those applicable to the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced (other than any covenants or any other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date as of such date) or shall be on then current market terms for such type of Indebtedness,

(iv) (A) (1) with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(i) and (ii) or Section 6.1(l), or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, such Indebtedness is not secured by any assets other than the Collateral (and with respect to Section 6.1(a)(ii) or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, assets of Non-U.S. Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of Non-U.S. Subsidiaries under the ABL Documents, including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), (2) with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.1 (h), such Indebtedness is secured only by the Liens set forth on Schedule 6.2 hereof (and replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon) and (3) with respect to Indebtedness incurred

 

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pursuant to Section 6.1 (j), such Indebtedness is secured only by Liens permitted under Section 6.2(n) and (4) with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.1 (a)(iii), such Indebtedness is unsecured, (B) such Indebtedness is incurred and guaranteed only by the obligor or obligors in respect of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced other than the addition of Non-U.S. Subsidiaries under the ABL Documents or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, (C) if the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced was originally contractually subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment (or the Liens securing such Indebtedness were originally contractually subordinated to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, including solely with regard to the Fixed Asset Collateral as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), such Indebtedness is contractually subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment (or the Liens securing such Indebtedness shall be so subordinated to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations) on terms not materially less favorable (as reasonably determined by Borrower), taken as a whole, to the Lenders than those applicable to the Indebtedness (or Liens, as applicable) being refinanced, refunded or replaced, taken as a whole, (D) if such Indebtedness in the form of Loans is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations with respect to the Collateral, the Lenders shall be afforded the same protections provided under Section 2.21(a)(v), (E) any such Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis or a junior basis to the Obligations with respect to the Collateral, shall be subject to an Applicable Intercreditor Agreement (and if secured on a junior basis to the Obligations shall be secured on a pari passu or junior basis to the obligations under the ABL Loan Agreement), (F) such Indebtedness shall be incurred under (and pursuant to) documentation other than this Agreement and (G) any Refinancing Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment and security with the remaining Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments or prepayments in respect of the Loans, in each case as agreed by Borrower and the creditors providing such Refinancing Indebtedness, but may not participate on a basis that is more favorable than pro rata;

(n) senior, senior subordinated or subordinated Indebtedness (the Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (n), the “ Ratio Debt ”) so long as (x) if such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis to the Loans or junior basis to the Loans and the obligations under the ABL Loan Agreement, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio would not exceed 3.10:1.00, or (y) if such Indebtedness is not secured, the Total Net Leverage Ratio would not exceed 4.70:1.00, in each case calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable (or, prior to the first delivery of financial statements thereunder, for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ended September 30, 2015, as set forth in the Historical Financial Statements therefor), prior to the date of the incurrence thereof; provided that no Event of Default exists and is continuing and the aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding of any such Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are non-Credit Parties under this clause (n) and under clause (p) below shall not exceed the greater of $100,000,000.00 and 3.25% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable; provided further that in the case of any Ratio Debt of the Credit Parties, (A) if such Ratio Debt is borrowed or issued by any Credit Party, it shall not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party, (B)

 

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the final maturity date with respect to such Ratio Debt shall be no earlier than (x) in the case of Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Loans, the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence thereof and (y) in the case of Junior Indebtedness, the date that is 91 days after the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, (C) such Ratio Debt will have a weighted average life to maturity equal to or greater than the weighted average life to maturity of the then-existing Term Facility with the longest weighted average life to maturity, (D) such Ratio Debt may rank pari passu or junior in right of payment and/or pari passu or junior with respect to security with the Obligations or may be unsecured (and to the extent secured on a pari passu basis or a junior basis to the Obligations with respect to the Collateral, shall be subject to an Applicable Intercreditor Agreement (and if secured on a junior basis to the Obligations shall be secured on a pari passu or junior basis to the obligations under the ABL Loan Agreement), and to the extent subordinated in right of payment, shall be subject to intercreditor arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent) and (E) if secured on a pari passu basis with respect to security with the Obligations in the form of Loans and, the Lenders shall be provided the same protections set forth in Section 2.21(a)(v) of this Agreement;

(o) Indebtedness and any guarantees thereof (whether existing on the date hereof or incurred hereafter) with respect to the HSBC Asian Production Facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed $125,000,000.00;

(p) Indebtedness of Non-U.S. Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount together with the amounts set forth in the first proviso of Section 6.1(n), not to exceed at any time the greater of $100,000,000.00 and 3.25% of the Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable;

(q) Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred or undertaken in the ordinary course of business on arm’s length commercial terms on a recourse basis;

(r) Indebtedness arising from agreements of Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnouts or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(s) other Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the greater of $100,000,000.00 and 3.25% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable, of which no more than the greater of $50,000,000.00 and 1.75% of Consolidated Total Assets shall at any time be Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties; and

 

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(t) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, Restricted Junior Payments made in accordance with Section 6.4, Investments made in accordance with Section 6.6 and Asset Sales made in accordance with Section 6.7.

6.2 Liens. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect to any property or asset of any kind (including any document or instrument in respect of goods or accounts receivable) of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or licensed, or any income, profits or royalties therefrom, except:

(a) Liens in favor of Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties granted pursuant to any Credit Document;

(b) Liens for Taxes if obligations with respect to such Taxes are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted that operate to suspend the collection of such contested Taxes and for which adequate amounts have been recorded as a liability or reserved against on the most recent Historical Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP, and Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable and otherwise in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.3;

(c) Liens of landlords (whether arising by Law or pursuant to contract), banks (including rights of set-off), carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by law (other than any such Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code or by ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the Internal Revenue Code or similar law with respect to any Non-U.S. Plan), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue or (ii) for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in excess of thirty days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made for any such contested amounts;

(d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases (other than Capital Leases), government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money or other Indebtedness), so long as no foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof;

(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encumbrances, encroachments, and other minor defects or irregularities in title, in each case which do not and will not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(f) any (i) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease of real estate permitted (or not prohibited) hereunder and (ii) Lien affecting the interest of the landlord under any lease of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as lessee;

 

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(g) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;

(h) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements or similarly public filings relating solely to operating leases, consignments or accounts entered into by Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

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

(j) any zoning, building or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any governmental office or agency to control or regulate the use of any real property;

(k) licenses (including sublicenses and covenants not to sue) of patents, copyrights, trademarks and other Intellectual Property rights granted by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries either (i) existing as of the date hereof or (ii) hereafter entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(l) Liens described in Schedule 6.2 or on a title report delivered on or prior to the Closing Date;

(m) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(i); provided , any such Lien shall encumber only the asset acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness;

(n) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(k); provided that such Liens are subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement;

(o) (i) Liens on assets of non-U.S. Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of any Non-U.S. Subsidiary incurred in reliance on Section 6.1(p) and (ii) Liens on assets of non-Credit Parties (and the equity interests thereof) securing Indebtedness of such non-Credit Party incurred pursuant to Section 6.1(n)(x) or Section 6.1(p);

(p) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Sections 6.1(l) and (m), to the extent permitted by Section 6.1(m)(iv)(A), and subject in all cases to the Applicable Intercreditor Agreement;

(q) Liens on Collateral securing Ratio Debt incurred by a Credit Party pursuant to Section 6.1(n)(x); provided that any such Indebtedness secured by Collateral on a pari passu basis or a junior basis to the Obligations shall be subject to an Applicable Intercreditor Agreement (and if secured on a junior basis to the Obligations shall be secured on a junior or pari passu basis to the obligations under the ABL Loan Agreement), and if any such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations it shall be subject to intercreditor arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;

(r) other Liens on assets securing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $50,000,000.00 and 1.75% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the

 

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most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b) (which at the Borrower’s election shall be subject to an intercreditor arrangement reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent);

(s) to the extent constituting Liens, Restricted Junior Payments made in accordance with Section 6.4, Investments made in accordance with Section 6.6 and Asset Sales made in accordance with Section 6.7;

(t) Liens on the Collateral and the as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to the ABL Loan Documents, subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, and Liens on the assets of Non-U.S. Subsidiaries to the extent securing Indebtedness of Non-U.S. Subsidiaries under the ABL Documents or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof,

(u) [Reserved];

(v) right of setoff, banker’s lien, netting agreements and other Liens arising by operation of law or by the terms of documents of banks or other financial institutions in relation to the maintenance of administration deposit accounts, securities accounts, cash management agreements or in connection with the issuance of letters of credit, bank guarantees or other similar instruments;

(w) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others that do not (A) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (B) secure any Indebtedness; and

(x) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case after the date hereof and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (A) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and other than after-acquired property subject to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require or include, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (C) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 6.1.

6.3 No Further Negative Pledges. Except with respect to (a) specific property encumbered to secure payment of particular Indebtedness or to be sold pursuant to an executed agreement with respect to a permitted Asset Sale and (b) restrictions by reason of customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting or other transfers contained in leases, Capital Leases, licenses and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business ( provided that such restrictions are limited to the property or assets secured by such Liens or the property or assets subject to such leases, Capital Leases, licenses or similar agreements, as the case may be), no Credit Party shall enter into any agreement prohibiting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon any of its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure the Obligations.

 

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6.4 Restricted Junior Payments. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries through any manner or means or through any other Person to, directly or indirectly, declare, order, pay, make or set apart, or agree to declare, order, pay, make or set apart, any sum for any Restricted Junior Payment except that:

(a) (i) Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make regularly scheduled payments of principal, interest and fees due in respect of Junior Indebtedness, in the case of subordinated debt, accordance with the terms of, and subject to any subordination provisions contained in the indenture or other agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was subordinated and (ii) in the case of any such Indebtedness owed to any Credit Party, Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent may make Restricted Junior Payments to Parent to allow it to make the payments referred to in clause (i) hereof to such Credit Party, so long as Parent applies the amount of any such Restricted Junior Payment for such purposes promptly upon receipt thereof;

(b) Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent may make Restricted Junior Payments to Parent (directly or through other Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent) (i) to the extent necessary to permit Parent to pay legal, accounting and reporting expenses, (ii) to the extent necessary to permit Parent to pay general administrative costs and expenses, general corporate operating and overhead costs and to pay reasonable directors fees and expenses, (iii) to the extent necessary to permit Parent to pay franchise fees or similar taxes and fees required to maintain its organizational existence, (iv) to the extent necessary to pay fees and expenses related to debt or equity offerings of Parent and (v) to the extent necessary to permit Parent or any relevant Parent Company to discharge the consolidated U.S. federal, state or local income tax liabilities of Parent, its Restricted Subsidiaries and any such Parent Company in respect thereof but with respect to any taxable period not in excess of the U.S. federal, state, or local income tax liabilities that would have been payable by Borrower and its Subsidiaries if Borrower and such Subsidiaries had been a stand-alone corporate tax group for all taxable periods ending after the Closing Date, in each case described in clauses (i) through (v), solely to the extent arising in connection with or as a consequence of the business, operations or existence of the Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent, and so long as Parent applies the amount of any such Restricted Junior Payment for such purposes promptly upon receipt thereof;

(c) Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Junior Payments consisting of the cashless exercise of options and warrants in respect of Equity Interests of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(d) Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions or consummate irrevocable redemption to purchase or redeem, or may purchase or redeem, the Equity Interests of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including related profit interests) held by or for the benefit of then present or former officers or employees of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon such Person’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or under the terms of any benefit plan or agreement relating to such shares of stock or related rights; provided , that the aggregate amount of such cash purchases or redemptions shall not exceed $10,000,000.00 in any Fiscal Year (with unused amounts in any Fiscal Year being carried over to succeeding two Fiscal Years);

 

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(e) any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions ratably to its equityholders and may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions to each Credit Party that holds its Equity Interests;

(f) Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Junior Payments so long as at the time thereof and after giving effect thereto (A) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 4.45:1.00 calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable (or, prior to the first delivery of financial statements thereunder, for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ended September 30, 2015, as set forth in the Historical Financial Statements therefor), and (C) at the time of the making thereof, the aggregate amount of each Restricted Junior Payment made in reliance on this clause (f) shall not exceed the Available Basket Amount at such time;

(g) Parent may make additional Restricted Junior Payments so long as at the time of the declaration thereof, (A) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom and (B) the Total Net Leverage Ratio would not exceed 3.00:1.00 calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable (or, prior to the first delivery of financial statements thereunder, for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ended September 30, 2015, as set forth in the Historical Financial Statements therefor);

(h) any further payments directly or indirectly to AZC Holding Company LLC on account of earn-outs, “true-up” or purchase price adjustments pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement; and

(i) Parent may apply the proceeds of substantially contemporaneous payments received by Parent from its Restricted Subsidiaries to repay, in whole or in part, intercompany Indebtedness owed to any Credit Party and (ii) Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent may make Restricted Junior Payments to Parent to allow it to make the payments referred to in clause (j) hereof, so long as Parent applies the amount of any such Restricted Junior Payment for such purposes promptly upon receipt thereof.

6.5 Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions. Except as provided herein, no Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary of a Credit Party to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on any of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests owned by a Credit Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (b) repay or prepay any Indebtedness owed by such Restricted Subsidiary to a Credit Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (c) make loans or advances to a Credit Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary of a Credit Party, or (d) transfer, lease or license any of its property or assets to a Credit Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary of a Credit Party, other than restrictions (i) imposed by law or by any Loan

 

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Documents, (ii) in agreements evidencing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(i) that impose restrictions on the property so acquired, (iii) contained in the documentation governing any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to 6.1(a) or other indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Agreement to the extent such restriction does not materially adversely affect the ability of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with their obligations under this Agreement, (iv) by reason of customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting or other transfers contained in leases, licenses, joint venture agreements and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (v) that are or were created by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer or option or right with respect to any property, assets or Equity Interests not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement, (vi) described on Schedule 6.5, (vii) that are or were created in connection with the ABL Loan Documents or the Senior Unsecured Note Documents or (viii) with respect to the HSBC Asian Production Facility as in effect on the date hereof.

6.6 Investments. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make or own any Investment in any Person (including any Joint Venture), or make an Acquisition, except:

(a) Investments in Cash and Cash Equivalents;

(b) Investments consisting of purchase and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, services or similar assets, or the licensing or contribution of Intellectual Property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons in the ordinary course of business;

(c) (i) equity Investments owned as of the Closing Date in any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) equity Investments made after the Closing Date by (A) the Borrower in its wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries, (B) Parent in Borrower, (C) Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary in Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary, and (D) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party;

(d) Investments (i) in any Securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and (ii) deposits, prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business consistent with the past practices of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(e) intercompany loans to the extent permitted under Section 6.1(b); provided that (A) all such intercompany loans shall be evidenced by Intercompany Notes and otherwise comply with the requirements set forth in the proviso to Section 6.1(b) and (B) no intercompany loan shall be made in reliance on this clause (e) if it would result in the Non-Guarantor Specified Investments Amount exceeding the Non-Guarantor Cap at such time;

(f) Consolidated Capital Expenditures (but without giving effect to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of the definition of such term);

(g) (i) loans and advances to employees of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000.00; and (ii) Investments made in the ordinary course of business consisting of notes from employees and directors of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries used as consideration for the contemporaneous purchase of the Equity Interests of Parent in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time $15,000,000.00;

 

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(h) Permitted Acquisitions, provided that no Permitted Acquisition shall be made in reliance on this clause (h) if after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition the Acquisition Consideration paid by the Credit Parties in respect of such Permitted Acquisition (including by means of contributions or advances made to Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties to enable such Restricted Subsidiaries to make Permitted Acquisitions) in respect of (i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of any Person (including by merger, amalgamation or otherwise) or of any Equity Interests in any Person or any other Investment in any Person that, in either case, does not become a Guarantor or (ii) the Acquisition of assets by any Person other than Borrower or a Guarantor, would result in the Non-Guarantor Specified Investments Amount exceeding the Non-Guarantor Cap at such time;

(i) Investments described in Schedule 6.6;

(j) Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements and Commodity Agreements which constitute Investments and are entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate exposure, foreign currency risk or commodity pricing risk associated with Parent’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ operations and not for speculative purposes;

(k) other Investments of the type described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the definition of “Investment” (which may include Investments in Joint Ventures) or Acquisitions; provided that, so long as at the time each such Investment or Acquisition is purchased, made or otherwise acquired and after giving effect thereto, (A) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) the aggregate amount of each Investment, or the aggregate amount of Acquisition Consideration for each Acquisition, made in reliance on this clause (k) shall not exceed the Available Basket Amount at such time, and (C) the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 4.45:1.00 calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable (or, prior to the first delivery of financial statements thereunder, for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ended September 30, 2015, as set forth in the Historical Financial Statements therefor);

(l) acquisitions of Equity Interests in Joint Ventures or non-wholly-owned Subsidiaries as a result of the exercise of “put” or similar rights by the Joint Venture partners or the minority equityholders pursuant to buy/sell arrangements between the parties thereto set forth in Joint Venture or other similar agreements, provided that no Investment shall be made in reliance on this clause (l) if it would result in the Non-Guarantor Specified Investments Amount exceeding the Non Guarantor Cap at such time;

(m) Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents received in connection with an Asset Sale in accordance with Section 6.7(c);

(n) other Investments of the type described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the definition of “Investment”, including Investments in, or acquisitions of interests in, Joint Ventures; provided that no Investment shall be made in reliance on this clause (n) if it would result in the Non-Guarantor Specified Investments Amount exceeding the Non-Guarantor Cap at such time;

 

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(o) other Investments or Acquisitions so long as at the time of the declaration thereof, (A) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom and (B) the Total Net Leverage Ratio would not exceed 3.50:1.00 calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable (or, prior to the first delivery of financial statements thereunder, for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ended September 30, 2015 as set forth in the Historical Financial Statements therefor);

(p) Investments in the HSBC Asian Production Facility in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000.00;

(q) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries taken together with all other Investments made in reliance on this clause (q) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale does not consist of cash or marketable securities, not to exceed the greater of $75,000,000.00 or 2.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b);

(r) Investments in a Similar Business taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (r) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $150,000,000.00 and (b) 5.00% of Total Assets;

(s) other Investments or Acquisitions to the extent that payment for such Investments or Acquisitions is made solely with Qualified Equity Interests of Parent or cash contributions from the issuance of Qualified Equity Interests in Parent not resulting in a Change of Control; provided that such Equity Interest amounts used pursuant to this clause (s) do not increase the Available Basket Amount; and

(t) Investments with respect to Supplier Financing Transactions permitted pursuant to Section 6.7(q).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Credit Party make any Investment which results in or facilitates in any manner any Restricted Junior Payment not otherwise permitted under the terms of Section 6.4.

6.7 Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation, or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease or license, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any part of its business, assets or property of any kind whatsoever, whether

 

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real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, leased or licensed, except:

(a) (i) any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent (other than Borrower) may be merged with or into Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, property or assets may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor; provided , Borrower, or such Guarantor, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or the transferee of the relevant business, property or assets, as the case may be and (ii) any Non-U.S. Subsidiary of Parent may be merged with or into any wholly owned Non-U.S. Subsidiary of Parent, or all or any part of its business, property or assets may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to any wholly owned Non-U.S. Subsidiary of Parent; provided , a wholly owned Non-U.S. Subsidiary of Parent shall be the continuing, surviving or succeeding Person, or the transferee of the relevant business, property or assets, as the case may be;

(b) sales or other dispositions of assets that do not constitute Asset Sales;

(c) Asset Sales; provided that (i) the consideration received for such assets (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise in connection with such Asset Sales) under this clause (c) shall be in an amount at least equal to the fair market value thereof (determined in good faith by the board of directors of Parent (or similar governing body)), (ii) no less than 75% thereof shall be paid in Cash or Cash Equivalents, (iii) the Net Asset Sale Proceeds thereof shall be applied as required by Section 2.11(a), and (iv) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Asset Sale; provided , further , that the provisions of clause (ii) shall not apply to any individual transaction or series of related transactions involving assets with a fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of less than $25,000,000; provided , further , that for purposes of (ii), each of the following shall be deemed to be Cash: (A) the amount of any liabilities (as shown on Holding’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets or are otherwise cancelled in connection with such transaction, (B) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days after receipt thereof (to the extent of the Cash received) and (C) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C), not to exceed the greater of $75,000,000.00 or 2.50% of Consolidated Total Assets, as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable in the aggregate for all such designations during the term this Agreement (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(d) disposals of used, obsolete, damaged, worn out or surplus equipment or property, including any property that is no longer useful in the conduct of the business or otherwise economically impracticable to maintain, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business (other than Intellectual Property);

 

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(e) disposals of all or substantially all of the assets of any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary, provided that if the transferor is a Guarantor, the transferee must also be a Guarantor.

(f) to the extent constituting an Asset Sale and/or a “Fundamental Change”, Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.1, Liens granted in accordance with Section 6.2, Restricted Junior Payments made in accordance with Section 6.4 and Investments made in accordance with Section 6.6;

(g) leases or licenses (including sublicenses and covenants not to sue) of Intellectual Property, in the ordinary course of business;

(h) the settlement or write-off of accounts receivable or sale of overdue accounts receivable (including any discount or forgiveness thereof) for collection in the ordinary course of business;

(i) the disposition of Cash or Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

(j) the termination of a lease due to the default of the landlord thereunder or pursuant to any right of termination of the tenant under the lease;

(k) to the extent the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries determines in its reasonable business judgment is desirable in the conduct of its business, dispositions of Intellectual Property, including discontinuing the use or maintenance of, failing to pursue, or otherwise abandoning, allowing to lapse, terminating or putting into the public domain, any Intellectual Property;

(l) dispositions in the ordinary course of business consisting of the abandonment of intellectual property rights which, in the reasonable good faith determination of Borrower, are not material to the conduct of the business of Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(m) dispositions of Investments in joint ventures or any Restricted Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, buy/sell arrangements between joint venture or similar parties set forth in the relevant joint venture arrangements and/or similar binding arrangements;

(n) transfers of condemned property as a result of the exercise of “eminent domain” or other similar powers to the respective Governmental Authority or agency that has condemned the same (whether by deed in lieu of condemnation or otherwise), and transfers of property that have been subject to a casualty to the respective insurer of such real property as part of an insurance settlement;

(o) the disposition of one or more plants located in the United Kingdom with a fair market value of approximately $10,000,000;

(p) any disposition made in accordance with Section 6.16 of the Stock Purchase Agreement; and

 

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(q) a sale or other disposition of Accounts in connection with a Supplier Financing Transaction so long as at the time of such sale or other disposition, no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom after giving pro forma effect to such sale or disposition.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following transactions shall be permitted: (i) the liquidation or dissolution of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Borrower) if Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of Borrower, is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary receives any assets of the relevant dissolved or liquidated Subsidiary and (ii) any merger, dissolution, liquidation or consolidation, the purpose of which is to effect (A) any Asset Sale otherwise permitted under this Section 6.7 or (B) any Investment permitted under Section 6.6.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Parent nor Borrower will sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, or permit the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions, including by merger of a Subsidiary), all or substantially all the assets (including Equity Interests in Subsidiaries) of Parent and its Subsidiaries or Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries considered on a consolidated basis, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Person (other than Parent or Borrower) may (a) merge into Parent in a transaction in which Parent is the surviving corporation or (b) merge into Borrower in a transaction in which Borrower is the surviving corporation.

6.8 Sales and Leasebacks. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any arrangement, whereby it shall sell or transfer any Property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such Property or other Property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair value of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 270 days after such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset and the amount of all such sales shall not exceed the greater of $75,000,000.00 or 2.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b).

6.9 Transactions with Affiliates. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of Parent on terms that are less favorable to such Credit Party or Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that might be obtained at the time from a Person who is not such an Affiliate in a comparable arm’s length transaction, involving payments or consideration in excess of $10,000,000, unless: (1) such transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Credit Parties than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Credit Parties with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis and (2) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent with respect to any such transaction or series of related affiliate transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of

 

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$35,000,000, a resolution adopted by the majority of the board of directors of the Parent approving such transaction and set forth in a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer certifying that such transaction complies with clause (1) above; provided , the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

(a) any transaction between Borrower and any Guarantor Subsidiary, or between Guarantor Subsidiaries, or between Subsidiaries that are not Guarantor Subsidiaries;

(b) reasonable and customary fees paid to members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Parent, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(c) compensation, benefits, reimbursement, indemnification arrangements or severance arrangements for officers and other employees of Parent, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(d) the Restricted Junior Payments permitted pursuant to Section 6.4;

(e) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(b) or 6.1(g);

(f) loans and advances permitted pursuant to Section 6.6(f);

(g) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, joint ventures, purchasers or sellers of goods or services or providers of employees or other labor entered into in the ordinary course of business, which are fair to Borrower and/or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary in the good faith determination of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Borrower or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(h) any transaction in respect of which Borrower delivers to Administrative Agent a letter addressed to the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Borrower from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing stating that such transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary than might be obtained at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction from a Person who is not an Affiliate;

(i) the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses related to registration rights and customary indemnities provided to shareholders under any shareholder agreement;

(j) any lease entered into between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee and any Affiliate of the Borrower, as lessor, and any transaction(s) pursuant to that lease, which lease is approved by the board of directors (or similar governing body) or senior management of the Borrower in good faith;

(k) Intellectual Property licenses in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

 

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(l) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, industry practice or industry norms (including, any cash management activities related thereto);

(m) any issuance, sale or grant of securities or other payments, awards or grants in Cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Borrower in good faith; and

(n) transactions described in Schedule 6.9.

6.10 Conduct of Business. From and after the Closing Date, no Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (a) the businesses engaged in on the Closing Date, (b) businesses and activities that are similar, complementary, ancillary, reasonably related or incidental thereto and (c) such other lines of business as may be consented to by the Requisite Lenders.

6.11 Permitted Activities of Parent. Parent shall not (a) incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness or any other material liabilities; provided that Parent may (i) incur Indebtedness and obligations under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents, the ABL Loan Documents, the Senior Unsecured Notes Documents, any Incremental Equivalent Debt, any other debt permitted to be incurred hereunder and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of which it is permitted to be an obligor and guarantees of other Indebtedness permitted hereunder, (ii) in the ordinary course of business, provide guarantees of obligations of its Restricted Subsidiaries that do not constitute Indebtedness, (iii) incur liabilities imposed by law, including liabilities in respect of Taxes, and other liabilities incidental to its existence and permitted business and activities, (iv) incur fees, costs and expenses relating to overhead and general operating, including professional fees for legal, tax and accounting issues and (v) incur Indebtedness of Parent representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors and unsecured Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by any Credit Party to future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors or consultants of the Borrower, Parent or any Subsidiaries; (b) create or suffer to exist any Lien upon any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired, leased or licensed by it other than the Liens created under the Collateral Documents to which it is a party or permitted pursuant to Section 6.2; (c) engage in any business or activity or own any assets other than (i) owning immaterial assets incidental to its existence and permitted business and activities, (ii) holding 100.00% of the Equity Interests of Borrower, (iii) engaging in activities to maintain legal existence of Parent, including to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance, (iv) the entry into, and exercise of rights and performance of obligations in respect of this Agreement and any other Credit Document, ABL Loan Documents, the Senior Unsecured Notes Documents, any Incremental Equivalent Debt and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of which it is permitted to be an obligor, (v) holding and making investments in Cash and Cash Equivalents to the extent and for the purposes permitted under this Section, (vi) making Restricted Junior Payments to the extent permitted by this Agreement, (vii) participating in activities incidental to the consummation of the Transactions, (viii) as may be required by law, filing Tax reports and paying Taxes and other customary obligations related thereto in the

 

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ordinary course (and contesting any Taxes), (ix) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of the consolidated group of Parent and the Borrower, (x) in the case of Parent, issuing its own Equity Interests (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or registration of its Equity Interest for sale or resale, the making of any dividend or distribution on account of, or any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value of, any shares of any class of Equity Interests as permitted by Section 6.4), (xi) repurchasing Indebtedness through open market purchases and Dutch auctions; (xii) preparing reports to Governmental Authorities and to its shareholders, (xiii) holding director and shareholder meetings and preparing organizational records, (xiv) making Investments in Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements, including receiving, holding and applying Cash and Cash Equivalents in connection therewith, (xv) providing indemnification and severance arrangements for its current or former officers, directors, members of management, managers, employees and advisors or consultants and (xvi) other activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in the foregoing or (d) consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or license all or substantially all its assets to, any Person.

6.12 Amendments or Waivers of Material Debt Agreements or Organizational Documents and Junior Indebtedness. (a) No Credit Party shall permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to agree to any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification to, or waiver of, any of its Organizational Documents and Junior Indebtedness after the Closing Date that would be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders without in each case obtaining the prior written consent of Administrative Agent to such amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification or waiver (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that no amendment, modification or change of any term or condition of any Junior Indebtedness, if, after giving effect to such amendment, modification, waiver, change or consent, the obligors with respect to such Junior Indebtedness would not have been permitted to incur, guarantee or secure such Junior Indebtedness, pursuant to the terms hereof if such Junior Indebtedness, as amended, modified, waived or otherwise changed, was instead incurred, guaranteed or secured as Permitted Refinancing Debt in respect of such Junior Indebtedness or if such amendment, modification, waiver or other change is restricted by any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement or other applicable intercreditor agreement or any other stand-alone subordination agreement in respect thereof and, in each case connected to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders.

6.13 Fiscal Year. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, change its Fiscal Year-end from December 31.

 

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6.14 Financial Covenant. The Borrower shall not permit the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter (beginning on the last day of the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date) to exceed the ratio set forth below opposite the last day of such fiscal quarter:

 

Fiscal Quarter Ended:

   Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio

March 31, 2016

   4.00:1.00

June 30, 2016

   4.00:1.00

September 30, 2016

   4.00:1.00

December 31, 2016

   4.00:1.00

March 31, 2017

   4.00:1.00

June 30, 2017

   3.75:1.00

September 30, 2017

   3.75:1.00

December 31, 2017

   3.75:1.00

March 31, 2018

   3.75:1.00

June 30, 2018

   3.50:1.00

September 30, 2018

   3.50:1.00

December 31, 2018

   3.50:1.00

March 31, 2019

   3.50:1.00

June 30, 2019

   3.25:1.00

September 30, 2019

   3.25:1.00

December 31, 2019

   3.25:1.00

March 31, 2020

   3.25:1.00

June 30, 2020

   3.25:1.00

September 30, 2020

   3.25:1.00

December 31, 2020

   3.25:1.00

March 31, 2021

   3.25:1.00

June 30, 2021

   3.25:1.00

September 30, 2021, and thereafter

   3.25:1.00

 

SECTION 7. GUARANTEE

7.1 Guarantee of the Obligations. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.2, the Guarantors jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Beneficiaries the due and punctual payment in full of all Obligations, when the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including amounts that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) or any equivalent provision in any applicable jurisdiction) (each, a “ Guaranteed Obligation ”, and collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”).

7.2 Borrower Indemnity; Contribution by Guarantors.

(a) In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as Parent or any Guarantor Subsidiary may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 7.5), Borrower

 

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agrees that (i) in the event a payment shall be made by Parent or any Guarantor Subsidiary under its Guarantee, Borrower shall indemnify Parent or such Guarantor Subsidiary, as the case may be, for the full amount of such payment and Parent or such Guarantor Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (ii) in the event any Collateral provided by Parent or any Guarantor Subsidiary shall be sold pursuant to any Collateral Document to satisfy in whole or in part any Guaranteed Obligations, Borrower shall indemnify Parent or such Guarantor Subsidiary, as the case may be, in an amount equal to the fair market value of the assets so sold.

(b) Subject to Section 7.13, all Guarantors desire to allocate among themselves (collectively, the “ Contributing Guarantors ”), in a fair and equitable manner, their obligations arising under this Guarantee. Accordingly, in the event any payment or distribution is made on any date by a Guarantor (a “ Funding Guarantor ”) under this Guarantee such that its Aggregate Payments exceeds its Fair Share as of such date and such Funding Guarantor shall not have been fully indemnified by Borrower as provided in Section 7.2(a), such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each of the other Contributing Guarantors in an amount sufficient to cause each Contributing Guarantor’s Aggregate Payments to equal its Fair Share as of such date (and for all purposes of this Section 7.2(b), any sale or other dispositions of Collateral of a Guarantor pursuant to an exercise of remedies under any Collateral Document shall be deemed to be a payment by such Guarantor under its Guarantee in an amount equal to the fair market value of such Collateral, less any amount of the proceeds of such sale or other dispositions returned to such Guarantor). “ Fair Share ” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the ratio of (i) the Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Contributing Guarantor to (ii) the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution Amounts with respect to all Contributing Guarantors multiplied by (b) the aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all Funding Guarantors under this Guarantee in respect of the obligations guaranteed. “ Fair Share Contribution Amount ” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, the maximum aggregate amount of the obligations of such Contributing Guarantor under this Guarantee that would not render its obligations hereunder or thereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any comparable applicable provisions of state law or would not be violative of Section 7.13; provided , solely for purposes of calculating the “ Fair Share Contribution Amount ” with respect to any Contributing Guarantor for purposes of this Section 7.2, any assets or liabilities of such Contributing Guarantor arising by virtue of any rights to subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or obligations of contribution hereunder shall not be considered as assets or liabilities of such Contributing Guarantor. “ Aggregate Payments ” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (1) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions made on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor in respect of this Guarantee (including in respect of this Section 7.2), minus (2) the aggregate amount of all payments received on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor from Borrower under Section 7.2(a) or from the other Contributing Guarantors as contributions under this Section 7.2(b). The amounts payable as contributions hereunder shall be determined as of the date on which the related payment or distribution is made by the applicable Funding Guarantor. The allocation among Contributing Guarantors of their obligations as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall not be construed in any way to limit the liability of any Contributing Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor is a third party beneficiary to the contribution agreement set forth in this Section 7.2.

 

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7.3 Payment by Guarantors. Subject to Sections 7.2 and 7.13, the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree, in furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Beneficiary may have at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, that upon the failure of Borrower to pay any of the Guaranteed Obligations when and as the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including amounts that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) or any equivalent provision in any applicable jurisdiction), the Guarantors will upon demand pay, or cause to be paid, in Cash in the currency in which the applicable Guaranteed Obligation is denominated, to Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of Beneficiaries, an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal amount of all Guaranteed Obligations then due as aforesaid, accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (including interest which, but for Borrower’s becoming the subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code or other similar legislation in any jurisdiction, would have accrued on such Guaranteed Obligations, whether or not a claim is allowed against Borrower for such interest in the related bankruptcy case) and all other Guaranteed Obligations then owed to Beneficiaries as aforesaid.

7.4 Liability of Guarantors Absolute. Each Guarantor agrees that its obligations hereunder are irrevocable, absolute, independent and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance which constitutes a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor or surety other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, each Guarantor agrees as follows:

(a) this Guarantee is a guarantee of payment when due and not of collectability and is the primary obligation of each Guarantor and not merely a contract of surety;

(b) the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of Borrower and the obligations of any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the obligations of Borrower, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against such Guarantor, subject to Section 7.13, whether or not any action is brought against Borrower or any of such other guarantors and whether or not Borrower is joined in any such action or actions;

(c) payment by any Guarantor of a portion, but not all, of the Guaranteed Obligations shall in no way limit, affect, modify or abridge any Guarantor’s liability for any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations which has not been paid, subject to Section 7.13. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if Administrative Agent is awarded a judgment in any suit brought to enforce any Guarantor’s covenant to pay a portion of the Guaranteed Obligations, such judgment shall not be deemed to release such Guarantor from its covenant to pay the portion of the Guaranteed Obligations that is not the subject of such suit, and such judgment shall not, except to the extent satisfied by such Guarantor, limit, affect, modify or abridge any other Guarantor’s liability hereunder in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, in each case, subject to Section 7.13;

 

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(d) any Beneficiary, upon such terms as it deems appropriate, without notice or demand and without affecting the validity or enforceability hereof or giving rise to any reduction, limitation, impairment, discharge or termination of any Guarantor’s liability hereunder, from time to time may (i) renew, extend, accelerate, increase the rate of interest on, or otherwise change the time, place, manner or terms of payment of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) settle, compromise, release or discharge, or accept or refuse any offer of performance with respect to, or substitutions for, the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement relating thereto and/or subordinate the payment of the same to the payment of any other obligations; (iii) request and accept other guaranties of the Guaranteed Obligations and take and hold security for the payment hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) release, surrender, exchange, substitute, compromise, settle, rescind, waive, alter, subordinate or modify, with or without consideration, any security for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, any other guaranties of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other obligation of any Person (including any other Guarantor) with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations; (v) enforce and apply any security now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of such Beneficiary in respect hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations and direct the order or manner of sale thereof, or exercise any other right or remedy that such Beneficiary may have against any such security, in each case as such Beneficiary in its discretion may determine consistent herewith and any applicable security agreement, including foreclosure on any such security pursuant to one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, and even though such action operates to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Guarantor against any other Credit Party or any security for the Guaranteed Obligations; and (vi) exercise any other rights available to it under the Credit Documents; and

(e) this Guarantee and the obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall be valid and enforceable and shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment, discharge or termination for any reason (other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than as set forth in Section 7.13)), including the occurrence of any of the following, whether or not any Guarantor shall have had notice or knowledge of any of them: (i) any failure or omission to assert or enforce or agreement or election not to assert or enforce, or the stay or enjoining, by order of court, by operation of law or otherwise, of the exercise or enforcement of, any claim or demand or any right, power or remedy (whether arising under the Credit Documents, at law, in equity or otherwise) with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any other guarantee of or security for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any consent to departure from, any of the terms or provisions (including provisions relating to events of default) hereof, any of the other Credit Documents or any agreement or instrument executed pursuant thereto, or of any other guarantee or security for the Guaranteed Obligations, in each case whether or not in accordance with the terms hereof or such Credit Document or any agreement relating to such other guarantee or security; (iii) the Guaranteed Obligations, or any agreement relating thereto, at any time being found to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect; (iv) [reserved]; (v) any Beneficiary’s consent to the change, reorganization or termination of the corporate structure or existence of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and to any corresponding restructuring of the Guaranteed Obligations; (vi) any failure to perfect or continue perfection of a security interest in any collateral which secures any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (vii) any defenses, set-offs or counterclaims which Borrower may allege or assert against any Beneficiary in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, including failure of consideration, breach of warranty, statute of frauds and usury; and (viii) any other act or thing or omission, or delay to do any other act or thing, which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor as an obligor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

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7.5 Waivers by Guarantors. Each Guarantor hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, for the benefit of Beneficiaries: (a) any right to require any Beneficiary, as a condition of payment or performance by such Guarantor, to (i) proceed against Borrower, any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from Borrower, any such other guarantor or any other Person, (iii) proceed against or have resort to any balance of any Deposit Account or credit on the books of any Beneficiary in favor of any Credit Party or any other Person, or (iv) pursue any other remedy in the power of any Beneficiary whatsoever; (b) any defense arising by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority or any disability or other defense of Borrower or any other Guarantor including any defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement or instrument relating thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of Borrower or any other Guarantor from any cause other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations; (c) 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; (d) any defense based upon any Beneficiary’s errors or omissions in the administration of the Guaranteed Obligations, except behavior which amounts to bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and unappealable judgment; (e) (i) any principles or provisions of law, statutory or otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with the terms hereof and any legal or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, (ii) any rights to set-offs or recoupments and (iii) promptness, diligence and any requirement (other than a UCC requirement) that any Beneficiary protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices, demands, presentments, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and notices of any action or inaction, including acceptance hereof, notices of default hereunder or any agreement or instrument related thereto, notices of any renewal, extension or modification of the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement related thereto, notices of any extension of credit to Borrower and notices of any of the matters referred to in Section 7.4 and any right to consent to any thereof; in each case other than notices required to be given to the Borrower or the Guarantor hereunder or under the UCC, and (g) 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 hereof.

7.6 Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, etc. Until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by applicable law, any claim, right or remedy, direct or indirect, that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against Borrower or any other Guarantor or any of its assets in connection with this Guarantee or the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations hereunder, in each case whether such claim, right or remedy arises in equity, under contract, by statute, under common law or otherwise and including (a) any right of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against Borrower with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, (b) any right to enforce, or to participate in, any claim, right or remedy that any Beneficiary now has or may hereafter have against Borrower, and (c) any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any collateral or security now or

 

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hereafter held by any Beneficiary. In addition, until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor shall withhold exercise of any right of contribution such Guarantor may have against any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Guaranteed Obligations, including any such right of contribution as contemplated by Section 7.2. Each Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent the waiver or agreement to withhold the exercise of its rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as set forth herein is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason, any rights of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification such Guarantor may have against Borrower or against any Collateral or security, and any rights of contribution such Guarantor may have against any such other guarantor, shall be junior and subordinate to any rights any Beneficiary may have against Borrower, to all right, title and interest any Beneficiary may have in any such Collateral or security, and to any right any Beneficiary may have against such other guarantor. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of any such subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification or contribution rights at any time when all Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been finally and indefeasibly paid in full, such amount shall be held in trust for Administrative Agent on behalf of Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid over to Administrative Agent for the benefit of Beneficiaries to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms hereof.

7.7 Subordination of Other Obligations. Any Indebtedness of Borrower or any Guarantor now or hereafter held by any Guarantor (the “ Obligee Guarantor ”), other than any Intercompany Note effectively pledged under any of the Collateral Documents as security for any of the Obligations, is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations, and any such Indebtedness collected or received by the Obligee Guarantor after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing shall be held in trust for Administrative Agent on behalf of Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid over to Administrative Agent for the benefit of Beneficiaries to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations but without affecting, impairing or limiting in any manner the liability of the Obligee Guarantor under any other provision hereof.

7.8 Continuing Guarantee. This Guarantee is a continuing guarantee and shall remain in effect until all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been paid in full. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any right to revoke this Guarantee as to future transactions giving rise to any Guaranteed Obligations.

7.9 Authority of Guarantors or Borrower. It is not necessary for any Beneficiary to inquire into the capacity or powers of any Guarantor or Borrower or the officers, directors or any agents acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of them.

7.10 Financial Condition of Borrower. Any Credit Extension may be made to Borrower or continued from time to time and any other Guaranteed Obligations may be entered into from time to time, in each case without notice to or authorization from any Guarantor regardless of the financial or other condition of Borrower at the time of any such grant or continuation or at the time such other Guaranteed Obligation is entered into, as the case may be. No Beneficiary shall have any obligation to disclose or discuss with any Guarantor its assessment, or any Guarantor’s assessment, of the financial condition of Borrower. Each Guarantor has adequate means to obtain information from Borrower on a continuing basis

 

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concerning the financial condition of Borrower and its ability to perform its obligations under the Credit Documents and other Guaranteed Obligations, and each Guarantor assumes the responsibility for being and keeping informed of the financial condition of Borrower and of all circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, and relinquishes any duty on the part of any Beneficiary to disclose any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, operations or conditions of Borrower now known or hereafter known by any Beneficiary.

7.11 Bankruptcy, etc.

(a) The obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall not be reduced, limited, impaired, discharged, deferred, suspended or terminated by any case or proceeding, voluntary or involuntary, involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization, liquidation or arrangement of Borrower or any other Guarantor or by any defense which Borrower or any other Guarantor may have by reason of the order, decree or decision of any court or administrative body resulting from any such proceeding.

(b) Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that any interest on any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations which accrues after the commencement of any case or proceeding referred to in clause (a) above (or, if interest on any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations ceases to accrue by operation of law by reason of the commencement of such case or proceeding, such interest as would have accrued on such portion of the Guaranteed Obligations if such case or proceeding had not been commenced) shall be included in the Guaranteed Obligations because it is the intention of Guarantors and Beneficiaries that the Guaranteed Obligations which are guaranteed by Guarantors pursuant hereto should be determined without regard to any rule of law or order which may relieve Borrower of any portion of such Guaranteed Obligations. Guarantors will permit any trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person to pay Administrative Agent, or allow the claim of Administrative Agent in respect of, any such interest accruing after the date on which such case or proceeding is commenced.

(c) In the event that all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be paid by Borrower, the obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall continue and remain in full force and effect or be reinstated, as the case may be, in the event that all or any part of such payment(s) are rescinded or recovered directly or indirectly from any Beneficiary as a preference, fraudulent transfer or otherwise, and any such payments which are so rescinded or recovered shall constitute Guaranteed Obligations for all purposes hereunder.

7.12 Discharge of Guarantee Upon Sale of Guarantor. If all of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of its successors in interest hereunder shall be sold or otherwise disposed of (including by merger or consolidation) to any entity other than Parent or a Subsidiary thereof in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantee of such Guarantor or such successor in interest, as the case may be, hereunder shall automatically be discharged and its obligations and any Collateral under the Collateral Documents shall be released without any further action by any Beneficiary or any other Person effective as of the time of such sale or other disposition.

 

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SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

8.1 Events of Default. If any one or more of the following conditions or events shall occur:

(a) Failure to Make Payments When Due . Failure by Borrower to pay (i) when due any principal of any Loan, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise; or (ii) any interest on any Loan or any fee, premium or any other amount due hereunder within five business days after the date due; or

(b) Default under Other Indebtedness . (i) Failure of any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries to pay when due any principal of or interest on or any other amount, including any payment in settlement, payable in respect of (A) the ABL Loan Documents, (B) the Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture or (C) one or more items of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness referred to in Section 8.1(a)) with an aggregate principal amount (or Net Mark-to-Market Exposure) of $50,000,000 or more, in each case beyond the originally specified grace period, if any, provided therefor; or (ii) breach or default by any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries with respect to any other material term of, or the occurrence of any other event or condition in respect of, (1) one or more items of Indebtedness referred to in clause (i) above or (2) any loan agreement, mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating to such item(s) of Indebtedness (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of hedging obligations, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such hedging obligations and not as a result of any default thereunder by the Borrower, or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary), in each case beyond the originally specified grace period, if any, provided therefor, if the effect of such breach, default, event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of that Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, that Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable or to require the prepayment, purchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its stated maturity or the stated maturity of any underlying obligation, as the case may be; or

(c) Breach of Certain Covenants . Failure of any Credit Party to perform or comply with any term or condition contained in Section 2.3, Section 5.1(e), Section 5.2, Section 5.14 or Section 6; or

(d) Breach of Representations, etc . Any representation, warranty, certification or other statement made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in any Credit Document or in any statement or certificate at any time given by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries in writing pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall be false in any material respect as of the date made or deemed made; provided , however , that any breach of a representation or warranty made on the Closing Date (other than any Specified Representation) relating to Parent, the Borrower and each of Holding’s Subsidiaries that would otherwise result in an Event of Default shall not constitute an Event of Default hereunder unless and until such breach remains unremedied on the date that is 30 days after the Closing Date; provided that such breach is capable of remedy within such 30 day period and appropriate steps are being taken to remedy such breach; or

 

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(e) Other Defaults Under Credit Documents . Any Credit Party shall default in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein or any of the other Credit Documents, other than any such term referred to in any other Section of this Section 8.1, and such default shall not have been remedied or waived within thirty days after receipt by Borrower of notice from Administrative Agent or any Lender of such default; or

(f) Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc . (i) A court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a valid decree or order for relief in respect of Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, winding up, dissolution, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect in any applicable jurisdiction, which decree or order is not stayed; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable federal, foreign or state law; (ii) an involuntary case shall be commenced against Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect in any applicable jurisdiction; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, custodian, administrator or other officer in any applicable jurisdiction having similar powers over Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or over all or a substantial part of its property, shall have been entered; or there shall have occurred the involuntary appointment of an interim receiver, administrator, liquidator, trustee or other custodian of Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries for all or a substantial part of its property; or a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall have been issued against any substantial part of the property of Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries, and any such event described in this clause (ii) shall continue for sixty calendar days without having been dismissed, bonded or discharged; or (iii) any analogous proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law shall be taken under the laws of any jurisdiction in respect of Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or

(g) Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc . (i) Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall have an order for relief entered with respect to it or shall commence a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, winding up, dissolution, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect in any applicable jurisdiction, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, administrator, liquidator, trustee or other custodian for all or a substantial part of its property (other than in connection with any voluntary dissolution effected in compliance with Section 6.7); or Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall make any assignment for the benefit of or a composition with creditors; (ii) Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall be unable or shall be deemed for the purpose of applicable law to be unable, or shall fail generally, or shall admit in writing its inability, to pay its debts as such debts become due, or stops or threatens or announces an action to stop or suspend payment of any of its debts or a moratorium shall be declared in respect of any of its debts; or the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries (or any committee thereof) shall convene a meeting or adopt any resolution or otherwise authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to herein or in Section 8.1(f); or (iii) any analogous proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law shall be taken under the laws of any jurisdiction in respect of Parent or any of its Material Subsidiaries; or

 

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(h) Judgments and Attachments . Any money judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or similar process involving in the aggregate at any time an amount in excess of $50,000,000 (in each case, net of insurance coverage therefor that has not been denied by the insurer) shall be entered or filed against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets and shall remain undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of sixty calendar days (or in any event later than five business days prior to the date of any proposed sale thereunder); or

(i) Employee Benefit Plans . (i) There shall occur one or more ERISA Events or similar events in respect of any Non-U.S. Plans (or a resolution is passed on proceedings commenced to terminate any Non-U.S. Plan) which individually or in the aggregate results in or might reasonably be expected to result in liability of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) there exists any fact or circumstance that reasonably could be expected to result in the imposition of a Lien or security interest under Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the Internal Revenue Code or similar law with respect to any Non-U.S. Plan that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(j) Change of Control . A Change of Control shall occur; or

(k) Guaranties, Collateral Documents and other Credit Documents . At any time after the execution and delivery thereof, (i) the Guarantee for any reason, other than the satisfaction in full of all Obligations, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms) or shall be declared to be null and void or any Guarantor shall repudiate its obligations thereunder in writing, (ii) this Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral Document (with respect to a material portion of the Collateral) shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than by reason of a release of Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof or the satisfaction in full of the Obligations in accordance with the terms hereof) or shall be declared null and void, or Collateral Agent shall not have or shall cease to have a valid and perfected Lien in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents with the priority required by the relevant Collateral Document (except to the extent that any such perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral Documents), in each case for any reason other than the failure of Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to take any action within its control, or (iii) any Credit Party shall contest the validity or enforceability of any Credit Document in writing or deny in writing that it has any further liability, including with respect to future advances by Lenders, under any Credit Document to which it is a party or shall contest the validity or perfection of any Lien in any Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents;

THEN , (1) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g), automatically, and (2) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, at the request of (or with the consent of) Requisite Lenders, upon notice to Borrower by Administrative Agent, (A) each of the following shall immediately become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Credit Party: (I) all (or, if otherwise specified in writing by Administrative Agent, any part of (but ratably as among the Classes of Loans and the Loans of each Class at the time outstanding), provided that any principal or interest not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable) the unpaid principal amount

 

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of and accrued interest on the Loans and (II) all (or, if otherwise specified in writing by Administrative Agent, any part of, provided that any Obligations not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable) other Obligations; (B) Administrative Agent may cause Collateral Agent, to enforce any and all Liens and security interests created pursuant to Collateral Documents; and/or (C) Administrative Agent shall exercise, or direct Collateral Agent to exercise, all or any of its or, as the case may be, Collateral Agent’s rights, remedies, powers or discretions under any of the Credit Documents.

 

SECTION 9. AGENTS

9.1 Appointment of Agents. Credit Suisse is hereby appointed Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents by the Lenders’ and by the Secured Parties’ acceptance of the benefits hereof, and each Secured Party hereby authorizes Credit Suisse to act as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Credit Documents. Each Agent hereby agrees to act in its capacity as such upon the express conditions contained herein and the other Credit Documents, as applicable. The provisions of this Section 9 are solely for the benefit of Agents and Lenders and no Credit Party shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions thereof. In performing its functions and duties hereunder, each Agent shall act solely as an agent of Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with or for Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. None of CS Securities, Nomura or DBSI, each in its capacity as Arrangers, shall have any obligations, but each shall be entitled to all benefits of this Section 9. Subject to Section 9.7, each Arranger and any Agent described in clause (iv) of the definition thereof may resign from such role at any time, with immediate effect, by giving prior written notice thereof to Administrative Agent and Borrower.

9.2 Powers and Duties. Each Lender irrevocably authorizes Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and Collateral Agent (i) to take such action on such Lender’s behalf and to exercise such powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Credit Documents as are specifically delegated or granted to such Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers, rights and remedies as are reasonably incidental thereto and (ii) to enter into any and all of the Collateral Documents together with such other documents as shall be necessary to give effect to the Collateral contemplated by the other Collateral Documents, on its behalf. Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, to (a) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for the Lenders with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection with the Credit Documents (including in any proceeding described in Section 8.1(f) or (g) or any other bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding), and each Person making any payment in connection with any Credit Document to any Secured Party is hereby authorized to make such payment to Administrative Agent, and (b) file and prove claims and file other documents necessary or desirable to allow the claims of the Secured Parties with respect to any Obligation in any proceeding described in Section 8.1(f) or (g) or any other bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding (but not to vote, consent or otherwise act on behalf of such Secured Party). Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to (w) act as collateral agent for each Secured Party for purposes of the perfection of all Liens created by the Credit Documents and all other purposes stated therein, (x) manage, supervise and otherwise deal with the Collateral, (y) take such other action as is necessary or desirable to maintain the perfection and priority of the Liens created or

 

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purported to be created by the Credit Documents, and (z) except as may be otherwise specified in any Credit Document, exercise all remedies given to the Agents and the other Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral, whether under the Credit Documents, applicable law or otherwise. Each Agent shall have only those duties and responsibilities that are expressly specified herein and the other Credit Documents. Each Agent may exercise such powers, rights and remedies and perform such duties by or through its agents or employees. Administrative Agent’s and Collateral Agent’s duties hereunder shall be entirely administrative in nature, notwithstanding the use of the defined terms “Administrative Agent” and “Collateral Agent”, the terms “agent”, “administrative agent” and “collateral agent” and similar terms in any Credit Document to refer to Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, which terms are used for title purposes only. Neither Administrative Agent, any Arranger, nor Collateral Agent (i) are assuming any obligation under any Credit Document other than as expressly set forth therein or (ii) shall have implied functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or other liabilities under any Credit Document, and each Lender hereby waives and agrees not to assert any claim against Administrative Agent, any Arranger or Collateral Agent based on the roles, duties and legal relationships expressly disclaimed in this or the immediately preceding sentence. No Agent shall have, by reason hereof or any of the other Credit Documents, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender or any other Person; and nothing herein or any of the other Credit Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon any Agent any obligations in respect hereof or any of the other Credit Documents except as expressly set forth herein or therein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Agent shall, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to Parent, Borrower or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as such Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Any action taken by Administrative Agent, any Arranger or Collateral Agent in reliance upon the instructions of Requisite Lenders (or, where so required by Section 10.5, such greater proportion of the Lenders) and the exercise by Administrative Agent, any Arranger or Collateral Agent of the powers set forth herein or in the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all of the Secured Parties.

9.3 General Immunity.

(a) No Responsibility for Certain Matters . No Agent shall be responsible to any Lender for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability or sufficiency hereof or any other Credit Document or for any representations, warranties, recitals or statements made herein or therein or made in any written or oral statements or in any financial or other statements, instruments, reports or certificates or any other documents furnished or made by any Agent to Lenders or by or on behalf of any Credit Party or to any Lender in connection with the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, or for the financial condition or business affairs of any Credit Party or any other Person liable for the payment of any Obligations, nor shall any Agent be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained in any of the Credit Documents or as to the use of the proceeds of the Loans or as to the existence or possible existence of any Event of Default or Default or to make any disclosures with respect to the foregoing. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Administrative Agent shall not have any liability arising from confirmations of the amount of outstanding Loans or the component amounts thereof or from any determination of the terms and conditions of any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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(b) Exculpatory Provisions . No Agent nor any of its Agent/Arranger Affiliates shall be liable to any other Agent, any Lender, Borrower or any other Credit Party for any action taken or omitted by any Agent under or in connection with any of the Credit Documents except to the extent caused by such Agent’s (x) gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith or (y) material breach of its express obligations under this Agreement, in each case, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction (and each other Agent, Lender, Borrower and other Credit Party hereby waives and shall not assert any right, claim or cause of action based thereon). Without limiting the foregoing, each Agent shall be entitled to refrain from any act or the taking of any action (including the failure to take an action) in connection herewith or any of the other Credit Documents or from the exercise of any power, discretion or authority vested in it hereunder or thereunder (including with respect to enforcement and collection actions) unless and until such Agent shall have received instructions in respect thereof from Requisite Lenders and, upon receipt of such instructions from Requisite Lenders, such Agent shall be entitled to act or (where so instructed) refrain from acting, or to exercise such power, discretion or authority, in accordance with such instructions, including for the avoidance of doubt refraining from any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may be in violation of the automatic stay under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, (i) each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any communication, instrument or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person or Persons, and shall be entitled to rely and shall be protected in relying on opinions and judgments of attorneys (who may be attorneys for Parent and its Subsidiaries), accountants, experts and other professional advisors selected by it; and (ii) no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against any Agent as a result of such Agent acting or (where so instructed) refraining from acting hereunder or any of the other Credit Documents in accordance with the instructions of Requisite Lenders. In no event shall any Agent be required to take any action (or omit to take any action) that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose any Agent to liability, or that is contrary to the terms of any Credit Document or applicable law.

(c) Delegation of Duties . Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers under this Agreement or under any other Credit Document by or through any one or more sub-agents. Each 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 Affiliates. The exculpatory, indemnification and other provisions of this Section 9.3 and of Section 9.6 shall apply to any of the Affiliates of each 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, Arrangers or Collateral Agent, as applicable. All of the rights, benefits, and privileges (including the exculpatory and indemnification provisions) of this Section 9.3 and of Section 9.6 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities as sub-agent as if such sub-agent and Affiliates were named herein. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub-agent appointed by any Agent, (i) such sub-agent shall be a third party beneficiary under this Agreement with respect to all such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights

 

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and rights to indemnification) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) directly, without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or all of the Credit Parties and the Lenders, (ii) such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) shall not be modified or amended without the consent of such sub-agent, and (iii) such sub-agent shall only have obligations to the applicable Agent and not to any Credit Party, Lender or any other Person, and no Credit Party, Lender or any other Person shall have any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, against such sub-agent.

9.4 Agents Entitled to Act as Lender. The agency hereby created shall in no way impair or affect any of the rights and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon, any Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender hereunder. With respect to its participation in the Loans, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as if it were not performing the duties and functions delegated to it hereunder, and the term “Lender” shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include each Agent in its individual capacity. Any Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory or other business with Parent or any of its Affiliates as if it were not performing the duties specified herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from Borrower for services in connection herewith and otherwise without having to account for the same to Lenders.

9.5 Lenders’ Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment.

(a) Each Lender represents and warrants that it has made its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of Parent and its Subsidiaries in connection with Credit Extensions hereunder and that it has made and shall continue to make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of Parent and its Subsidiaries. No Agent shall have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to make any such investigation or any such appraisal on behalf of Lenders or to provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter, and no Agent shall have any responsibility with respect to the accuracy of or the completeness of any information provided to Lenders. Except for documents expressly required by any Credit Document to be transmitted by Administrative Agent to the Lenders, no Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Secured Party with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any Credit Party or any Affiliate of any Credit Party that may come in to the possession of such Agent or any of its Agent/Arranger Affiliates.

(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement or an Assignment Agreement and funding its Initial Term Loan on the Closing Date, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Credit Document and each other document required to be approved by any Agent, Requisite Lenders or Lenders, as applicable on the Closing Date.

 

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(c) Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default. Administrative Agent will promptly notify each other Agent and Lender of its receipt of any such notice.

9.6 Expense Reimbursement and Indemnity.

(a) Each Lender hereby severally agrees to reimburse each Agent and each of their respective Agent/Arranger Affiliates (to the extent not reimbursed by any Credit Party (and without limiting its obligation to do so)) promptly upon demand for such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any costs and expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of financial, legal and other advisors and Taxes paid in the name of, or on behalf of, any Credit Party) that may be incurred by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any of their respective Agent/Arranger Affiliates in connection with the preparation, syndication, execution, delivery, administration, modification, consent, waiver or enforcement (whether through negotiations, through any work-out, bankruptcy, restructuring or other legal or other proceeding or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of its rights or responsibilities under, any Credit Document.

(b) Each Lender, in proportion to its Pro Rata Share, severally agrees to indemnify each Agent and its respective Agent/Arranger Affiliates, to the extent that such Agent or Agent/Arranger Affiliate shall not have been reimbursed by any Credit Party (and without limiting its obligation to do so), for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of legal, financial and other advisors) or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including Taxes, interest and penalties imposed for not properly withholding or backup withholding on payments made to or for the account of any Lender) which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent or Agent/Arranger Affiliates in exercising its powers, rights and remedies or performing its duties hereunder or under the other Credit Documents or otherwise in its capacity as such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents; provided , no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent’s, or its Agent/Arranger Affiliate’s, (x) gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith or (y) material breach of its express obligations under this Agreement, in each case, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. If any indemnity furnished to any Agent or any of its Agent/Arranger Affiliates for any purpose shall, in the opinion of such Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, such Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished; provided , in no event shall this sentence require any Lender to indemnify any Agent or any of its Agent/Arranger Affiliates against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof; and provided further , this sentence shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify any Agent or any of its Agent/Arranger Affiliates against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement described in the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence. For purposes of this Section 9.6, “Pro Rata Share” shall be determined as of the time that the applicable indemnity payment is sought (or, in the event at such time all the Commitments shall have terminated and all the Loans shall have been repaid in full, as of the time most recently prior thereto when any Loans or Commitments remained outstanding).

 

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9.7 Successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

(a) Agent shall have the right to resign at any time by giving prior written notice thereof to Lenders and Borrower. Administrative Agent shall have the right to appoint a financial institution to act as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent hereunder, subject to the reasonable satisfaction of Borrower (such satisfaction not required during the continuance of an Event of Default) and Requisite Lenders, and Administrative Agent’s resignation shall become effective on the earliest of (i) 30 days after delivery of the notice of resignation, (ii) the acceptance of such successor Administrative Agent by Borrower and Requisite Lenders or (iii) such other date, if any, agreed to by Requisite Lenders. Upon any such notice of resignation, if a successor Administrative Agent has not already been appointed by the retiring Administrative Agent, Requisite Lenders shall have the right, upon five Business Days’ notice to Borrower, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If neither Requisite Lenders nor Administrative Agent have appointed a successor Administrative Agent, Requisite Lenders shall be deemed to have succeeded to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that, until a successor Administrative Agent is so appointed by Requisite Lenders or Administrative Agent, any collateral security held by Administrative Agent in its role as Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders and other Secured Parties under any of the Credit Documents shall continue to be held by the retiring Collateral Agent as nominee until such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, that successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and the retiring Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) transfer to such successor Administrative Agent all sums, Securities and other items of Collateral (if any) held by it in its capacity as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under the Collateral Documents, together with all records and other documents necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of the duties of the successor Administrative Agent under the Credit Documents, and (ii) execute and deliver to such successor Administrative Agent such amendments to financing statements, and take such other actions, as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the assignment to such successor Administrative Agent of the security interests created under the Collateral Documents in favor of Administrative Agent, all at Borrower’s sole cost and expense without representation or warranty by Administrative Agent, whereupon such retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. Except as provided above, any resignation of Credit Suisse or its successor as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute the resignation of Credit Suisse or its successor as Collateral Agent. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 9 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent hereunder. Any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to this Section shall, upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Collateral Agent for all purposes hereunder. In addition to the foregoing, Collateral Agent may resign at any time by giving prior written notice thereof to Lenders and the Grantors. Administrative Agent shall have the right to appoint a financial institution as Collateral Agent hereunder, subject to the reasonable satisfaction of Borrower and Requisite Lenders and Collateral Agent’s

 

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resignation shall become effective on the earliest of (i) 30 days after delivery of the notice of resignation, (ii) the acceptance of such successor Collateral Agent by Borrower and Requisite Lenders or (iii) such other date, if any, agreed to by Requisite Lenders. Upon any such notice of resignation, Requisite Lenders shall have the right, upon five Business Days’ notice to Administrative Agent, to appoint a successor Collateral Agent. Until a successor Collateral Agent is so appointed by Requisite Lenders or Administrative Agent, any collateral security held by Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties under any of the Credit Documents shall continue to be held by the retiring Collateral Agent as nominee until such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor Collateral Agent, that successor Collateral Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, and the retiring Collateral Agent under this Agreement shall promptly (i) transfer to such successor Collateral Agent all sums, Securities and other items of Collateral (if any) held by it in its capacity as Collateral Agent hereunder or under the Collateral Documents, together with all records and other documents necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of the duties of the successor Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, and (ii) execute and deliver to such successor Collateral Agent or otherwise authorize the filing of such amendments to financing statements, and take such other actions, as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the assignment to such successor Collateral Agent of the security interests created under the Collateral Documents in favor of Collateral Agent, all at Borrower’s sole cost and expense without representation or warranty by Collateral Agent, whereupon such retiring Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents. After any retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder as Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it under this Agreement or the Collateral Documents while it was Collateral Agent hereunder.

9.8 Collateral Documents and Guarantee.

(a) Agents under Collateral Documents and Guarantee . Each Secured Party hereby further authorizes Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, on behalf of and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, to be the agent for and representative of the Secured Parties with respect to the Guarantee, the Collateral and the Collateral Documents. Subject to Section 10.5, without further written consent or authorization from any Secured Party, Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable may execute any documents or instruments necessary to (i) in connection with a sale or disposition of assets permitted by this Agreement, release any Lien encumbering any item of Collateral that is the subject of such sale or other disposition of assets or to which Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such consent under Section 10.5) have otherwise consented or (ii) release any Guarantor from the Guarantee pursuant to Section 7.12 or with respect to which Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such consent under Section 10.5) have otherwise consented; provided , further , that no such release shall occur if such asset secures, or such Guarantor is an obligor or a guarantor in respect of, the ABL Loan Agreement, the Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture, any Incremental Equivalent Debt, any Ratio Debt or any Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

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(b) Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee . Anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrower, Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and each Secured Party hereby agree that (i) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Guarantee, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under any of the Credit Documents may be exercised solely by Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure or similar enforcement action by Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public sale under the UCC or a public or private sale other than pursuant to the UCC (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the Bankruptcy Code), Collateral Agent (or any Lender, except with respect to a “credit bid” pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the Bankruptcy Code) may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities) shall be entitled upon instructions from the Requisite Lenders, 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 sale or disposition, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by Collateral Agent at such sale or other disposition.

(c) Release of Collateral and Guarantees, Termination of Credit Documents . It is acknowledged that the Credit Parties will be automatically released from their Guaranteed Obligations hereunder and from the security interests pledged by them under the Collateral Documents upon consummation of transactions permitted hereunder (including a merger, consolidation or liquidation or a permitted Asset Sale) pursuant to which such Credit Party ceases to be a Credit Party hereunder and that Liens on the Collateral will be automatically released upon sales, dispositions or other transfers by Credit Parties of Collateral to entities other than the Credit Parties (or their Restricted Subsidiaries) permitted hereunder. In the event that any action is necessary or required to evidence any such release, the Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to take any such action, including,

(i) to release any such Lien on any Collateral (a) upon termination of all Commitments and payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations, (b) upon the transfer of such Collateral upon any sales, dispositions or other transfers by Credit Parties not prohibited hereunder or under any other Credit Document, (c) upon the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under any Guaranty or (d) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 10.5;

(ii) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under any Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary or a Guarantor as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder;

(iii) to subordinate any Lien on Collateral to the holder of any Lien on such Collateral that is permitted by Section 6.2 to be senior to the Liens securing the Obligations; and

 

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(iv) to deliver to the applicable Credit Party (or as directed by such Credit Party) any certificates or instruments (as defined in the UCC) in the possession of the Collateral Agent or the termination of any control agreement for which its Lien is released or subordinated.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Credit Document, when all Obligations have been paid in full, all Commitments have terminated or expired, upon request and at the expense of Borrower, (i) Administrative Agent shall take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral, and to release all guarantee obligations provided for in any Credit Document and (ii) to the extent required in any jurisdiction, Lenders and other Secured Parties shall take such actions as shall be required to release the security interest in any Collateral and reasonably cooperate with Borrower in assigning the Notes and Mortgages (without recourse) and shall execute all documents reasonably necessary to evidence the discharge or such assignment of the Obligations. Any such release of guarantee obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such guarantee obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of Borrower or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, Borrower or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

9.9 Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable law, Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. Without limiting or expanding the provisions of Section 2.17, if the Internal Revenue Service or any other Governmental Authority asserts a claim that Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender because the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly executed or because such Lender failed to notify Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective or for any other reason, such Lender shall indemnify Administrative Agent fully for, and shall make payable in respect thereof within 10 days after demand thereof, any and all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, including any penalties or interest and together with all expenses (including legal expenses, allocated internal costs and out-of-pocket expenses) incurred. 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 Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Credit Document against any amount due Administrative Agent under this Section 9.9. The agreements in this Section 9.9 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

9.10 Agency for Perfection. Collateral Agent hereby appoints, authorizes and directs each Secured Party to act as collateral sub-agent for Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties for purposes of the perfection of all Liens with respect to the Collateral, including any Deposit Account maintained by a Credit Party with, and Cash and Cash Equivalents held by, such Secured Party, and may further authorize and direct such Secured Party to take further

 

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actions as collateral sub-agents for purposes of enforcing such Liens or otherwise to transfer the Collateral subject thereto to Collateral Agent, and each Secured Party hereby agrees to take such further actions to the extent, and only to the extent, so authorized and directed.

 

SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS

10.1 Notices.

(a) Notices Generally . Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given to a Credit Party, Collateral Agent, Administrative Agent or Arrangers, shall be sent to such Person’s address as set forth on Appendix B or in the other relevant Credit Document, and in the case of any Lender, the address as indicated on Appendix B or otherwise indicated to Administrative Agent in writing. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 3.2(b) or paragraph (b) below, each notice hereunder shall be in writing and may be personally served or sent by fax (except for any notices sent to Administrative Agent) or United States mail or courier service and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by courier service and signed for against receipt thereof, upon receipt of fax, or three Business Days after depositing it in the United States mail with postage prepaid and properly addressed; provided , no notice to any Arranger or any Agent shall be effective until received by such Arranger or such Agent; provided further , any such notice or other communication shall at the request of Administrative Agent be provided to any sub-agent appointed pursuant to Section 9.3(c) as designated by Administrative Agent from time to time.

(b) Electronic Communications .

(i) Notices and other communications to any Agent and the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites, including the Platform) pursuant to procedures approved by Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Agent or any Lender pursuant to Section 2 if such Person has notified Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic communication. Administrative Agent or Borrower may, in their 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 Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgment from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgment), 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.

 

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(ii) Each of the Credit Parties, the Lenders and the Agents understands that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution and agrees and assumes the risks associated with such electronic distribution, including risks of interception, disclosure and abuse, except to the extent caused by the (x) gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith or (y) material breach of its express obligations under this Agreement by, Administrative Agent, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(iii) The Platform and any Approved Electronic Communications are provided “as is” and “as available”. None of the Agents, Arrangers or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors (insurance, financial, legal, environmental or otherwise) or representatives (the “ Agent/Arranger Affiliates ”) warrant the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of the Approved Electronic Communications or the Platform and each expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions in the Platform and the Approved Electronic Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects is made by any Agent, any Arranger or any Agent/Arranger Affiliates in connection with the Platform or the Approved Electronic Communications. Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility for maintaining or providing any equipment, software, services or testing required in connection with any Platform or any Approved Electronic Communications.

(iv) Each of the Credit Parties, the Lenders and the Agents agrees that Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, store any Approved Electronic Communications on the Platform in accordance with Administrative Agent’s customary document retention procedures and policies.

(v) Any notice of Default or Event of Default may be provided by telephone if confirmed promptly thereafter by delivery of written notice thereof.

(c) Private Side Information Contacts . Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States federal and state securities laws, to make reference to information that is not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain Nonpublic Information with respect to Parent, its Subsidiaries or their Securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws. In the event that any Public Lender has determined for itself to not access any information disclosed through the Platform or otherwise, such Public Lender acknowledges that (i) other Lenders may have availed themselves of such information and (ii) neither Borrower nor Administrative Agent has any responsibility for such Public Lender’s decision to limit the scope of the information it has obtained in connection with this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

 

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10.2 Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, Borrower agrees to pay promptly: (a) all reasonable and documented or invoiced costs and expenses actually incurred by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Arrangers in the negotiation, preparation, delivery, execution and administration of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto; (b) all the costs of furnishing all opinions by counsel for Borrower and the other Credit Parties; (c) the reasonable and documented or invoiced fees, expenses and disbursements of one primary firm of counsel to Administrative Agent and Arrangers (as well as one local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and administration of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and any other documents or matters requested by Borrower; (d) all actual costs and reasonable and documented or invoiced expenses actually incurred in creating, perfecting, recording, maintaining and preserving Liens in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, including filing, registration and recording fees, expenses and Taxes, stamp or documentary Taxes, search fees, title insurance premiums, notarial and translation costs and reasonable and documented or invoiced fees, expenses and disbursements of one primary firm of counsel to Administrative Agent (as well as one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction) and of counsel to the Credit Parties providing any opinions that any Agent or Requisite Lenders may reasonably request in respect of the Collateral or the Liens created pursuant to the Collateral Documents; (e) all actual costs and reasonable and documented or invoiced fees, expenses and disbursements of any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers; (f) all actual costs and reasonable and documented or invoiced expenses (including the reasonable and documented or invoiced fees, expenses and disbursements of any appraisers, consultants, advisors and agents employed or retained by Collateral Agent and its counsel) in connection with the custody or preservation of any of the Collateral; (g) all other actual, reasonable and documented or invoiced costs and expenses incurred by any Agent or Arrangers in connection with the syndication of the Loans and Commitments and the negotiation, preparation, delivery, execution and administration of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby; and (h) all costs and expenses, including reasonable and documented or invoiced attorneys’ fees of one firm of counsel to Administrative Agent (as well as (A) local counsel and, with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of counsel providing any opinions that any Agent or Requisite Lenders may reasonably request in respect of the Collateral or the Liens created pursuant to the Collateral Documents and (B) solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest and to the extent notice thereof is provided to Borrower, one additional counsel to all affected Persons taken as a whole and, if necessary, one additional local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction to all affected Persons taken as a whole), notarial and translation costs and costs of settlement, incurred by any Agent, any Arranger and Lenders in preserving or enforcing any Obligations of or in collecting any payments due from any Credit Party hereunder or under the other Credit Documents by reason of such Default or Event of Default (including in connection with the sale, lease or license of, collection from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral or the enforcement of the Guarantee) or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the credit arrangements provided hereunder in the nature of a “work-out” or pursuant to any insolvency or bankruptcy cases or proceedings. For the avoidance of doubt, compliance with the foregoing requirements of this paragraph within 30 calendar days shall be deemed to have been effected “promptly”.

 

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10.3 Indemnity.

(a) In addition to the payment of expenses pursuant to Section 10.2, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, each Credit Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, each Agent, Arranger and Lender, their respective Affiliates and the officers, partners, members, controlling person, directors, trustees, advisors, employees, agents and sub-agents, other representative and the successor and permitted assigns of each of each of the foregoing (each, an “ Indemnitee ”) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities and reimburse each Indemnitee within 30 days of written demand (together with reasonable backup documentation) for any reasonable and documented legal or other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any of the foregoing regardless of whether such Indemnitee is a party thereto and regardless of whether or not such Indemnified Liabilities are the result of proceedings brought by the Borrower, Parent, its equityholders, affiliates or creditors (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to one counsel to such Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction and, solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the indemnified person affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict, one additional counsel and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction to the similarly affected Indemnitees taken as a whole). THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY, OR ARE CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY ANY INDEMNITEE; provided , no Credit Party shall have any obligation to any Indemnitee hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities arise from (i) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, in each case, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) a material breach by such Indemnitee (or any of its Related Parties) of its express obligations under this Agreement or any other Credit Document as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (iii) are related to any disputes solely among Indemnitees and not arising out of, or in connection with, any act or omission of Parent or any of its Affiliates (other than any claims against any Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an arranger or agent or any similar role under the Facilities). To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section 10.3 may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they are violative of any law or public policy, the applicable Credit Party shall contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.

(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no party hereto shall assert, and each party hereto hereby waives, any claim against each other party hereto and its respective Affiliates, directors, employees, attorneys, agents or sub-agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (whether or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or duty imposed by any applicable legal requirement) arising out of, in connection with, as a result of, or in any way related to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any

 

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Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and each Credit Party hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim or any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor; provided that nothing contained in this Section 10.3(b) shall limit any Credit Party’s indemnification obligations set forth in Section 10.3(a) to the extent such special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages are included in any third party claim in connection with which such Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Credit Party will be required to indemnify the Indemnitees for any amount paid or payable by the Indemnitees in the settlement of any action, proceeding or investigation without Borrower’s written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, but if settled with Borrower’s written consent or there is a final judgment for the plaintiff in any proceeding, each Credit Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnitees as set forth above. No Credit Party shall, without the prior written consent of the affected Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), affect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding against such Indemnitee in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnitee from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (i) does not include any statement as to any admission of fault or culpability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund or return any and all amounts paid by the applicable Credit Party to such Indemnitee for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses to the extent such Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof.

10.4 Set-Off. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default each Lender is hereby authorized by each Credit Party at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Credit Party or to any other Person (other than Administrative Agent), any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general or special, including Indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured, but not including trust accounts) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Lender, or any of its Affiliates, to or for the credit or the account of any Credit Party against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of any Credit Party to such Lender hereunder and participations therein and under the other Credit Documents, including all claims of any nature or description arising out of or connected hereto and participations therein or with any other Credit Document, irrespective of whether or not (a) such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or (b) the principal of or the interest on the Loans or any other amounts due hereunder shall have become due and payable pursuant to Section 2 and although such obligations and liabilities, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section 10.4 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have.

10.5 Amendments and Waivers.

(a) Requisite Lenders’ Consent . Subject to the additional requirements of Sections 10.5(b) and 10.5(c), and except as provided in Section 2.20, 2.21 or 10.5(f), no amendment,

 

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modification, termination or waiver of any provision of the Credit Documents, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective without the written concurrence of Requisite Lenders; provided that Administrative Agent may, with the consent of Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement any Credit Document to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency (as reasonably determined by Administrative Agent) or grant additional guarantees or additional Liens or Collateral to Collateral Agent, so long as such amendment, modification or supplement does not adversely affect the rights of any Lender or the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Requisite Lenders stating that the Requisite Lenders object to such amendment, modification or supplement.

(b) Affected Lenders’ Consent . Without the written consent of each Lender that would be directly affected thereby, no amendment, modification, termination, or consent shall be effective if the effect thereof would:

(i) extend the scheduled final maturity of any Loan or Note;

(ii) waive, reduce or postpone any scheduled repayment; provided , no waiver of any condition precedent, Default, Event of Default or mandatory prepayment shall constitute waiver, reduction or postponement of any scheduled repayment;

(iii) reduce the rate of interest on any Loan (other than any waiver of any increase in the interest rate applicable to any Loan pursuant to Section 2.7 or any change in the definition, or in the components thereof, of the term “Total Net Leverage Ratio”) or any fee or any premium payable hereunder;

(iv) extend the time for payment of any such interest, fees or premium;

(v) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of Section 2.10(b);

(vi) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of this Section 10.5(b), Section 10.5(c), Section 10.5(d) or any other provision of this Agreement that expressly provides that the consent of all Lenders is required;

(vii) amend the definition of “ Requisite Lenders ” or “ Pro Rata Share ; provided , additional commitments or extensions of credit pursuant hereto may be included in the determination of “ Requisite Lenders ” or “ Pro Rata Share ” on substantially the same basis as the Initial Term Loan Commitments and the Initial Term Loans are included on the Closing Date (A) with the consent of Requisite Lenders or (B) with respect to any Class of commitments or extensions of credit created thereby, pursuant to any Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Amendment;

(viii) release all or substantially all of the Collateral or all or substantially all of the Guarantors from the Guarantee except as expressly provided in the Credit Documents and except (A) in connection with a “credit bid” undertaken by Collateral Agent at the direction of the Requisite Lenders pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or

 

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otherwise of the Bankruptcy Code or other sale or disposition of assets in connection with an enforcement action with respect to the Collateral permitted pursuant to the Credit Documents (in which case only the consent of the Requisite Lenders will be needed for such release) or (B) as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or any other Credit Document in connection with the sale of any Collateral or Guarantor (other than Parent and the Borrower); or

(ix) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document;

provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, all Lenders shall be deemed directly affected by any amendment described in clauses (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix).

(c) Other Consents . No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of the Credit Documents, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall:

(i) increase any Commitment of any Lender over the amount thereof then in effect, or extend the date of expiration of any Commitment of any Lender, in each case without the consent of such Lender; provided , no amendment, modification or waiver of any condition precedent, covenant, Default, Event of Default or mandatory prepayment shall constitute an increase in or extension of the expiration of any Commitment of any Lender;

(ii) change any provisions of any Credit Document in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of conditions to Credit Extensions, Collateral or payments due to Lenders of any Class differently than Lenders of any other Class, without the written consent of Lenders representing a Majority in Interest of each affected Class; or

(iii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of the Credit Documents as the same applies to the rights or obligations of any Agent, or Arrangers, in each case without the consent of such Agent or Arranger, as applicable.

(d) Class Amendments; Payoff Amendments . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.5, (i) any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or any consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of the Lenders of a particular Class (but not the Lenders of any other Class), may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Parent, Borrower and the requisite number or percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section 10.5 if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time; and (ii) no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be required of any Lender that receives payment in full of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) accrued on each Loan made by, and all other amounts owing to, such Lender or accrued for the account of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents at the time such amendment, waiver or other modification becomes effective and whose Commitments terminate by the terms and upon the effectiveness of such amendment, waiver or other modification.

 

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(e) Execution of Amendments, etc . Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of such Lender. Any waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle any Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent effected in accordance with this Section 10.5 shall be binding upon each Lender, each future Lender and, if signed by a Credit Party, on such Credit Party.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended:

(i) with the written consent of Borrower, Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Term Loans to permit the refinancing or replacement of all or any portion of the outstanding Loans of any Class (such loans, the “ Replaced Term Loans ”) with one or more replacement term loans hereunder (“ Replacement Term Loans ”) pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that:

(A) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Term Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Replaced Term Loans plus the amount of accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts, fees, commissions and expenses associated therewith (it being agreed that any Replacement Term Loans may constitute a portion of the same tranche as any permitted Incremental Facility),

(B) such Replacement Term Loans have a final Maturity Date equal to or later than the final Maturity Date of, and have a weighted average life to maturity equal to or greater than the weighted average life to maturity of, such Replaced Term Loans at the time of such refinancing,

(C) the Replacement Term Loans shall be guaranteed solely by the Guarantors and shall be secured on a pari passu basis with the other Obligations solely by the Collateral,

(D) any Replacement Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory repayments or prepayments in respect of the Loans, in each case as agreed by Borrower and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Term Loans, but may not participate on a basis that is more favorable than pro rata,

(E) such Replacement Term Loans shall have pricing (including interest, fees and premiums) and, subject to preceding clause (D), optional prepayment and redemption terms as may be agreed to by Borrower and the lenders providing such Replacement Term Loans,

 

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(F) all terms (other than with respect to margin, pricing, maturity or fees) applicable to such Replacement Term Loans (other than any terms which are applicable only after the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Facility or that are also added to this Agreement for the benefit of the existing Lenders) shall be no more favorable to the Lenders providing such Replacement Term Loans (taken as a whole) than to the existing Lenders, unless otherwise reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent (and Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to enter into any Amendment to this Agreement to give effect to any such more favorable terms for the benefit of the existing Lenders without the consent of any other party hereto other than Borrower), and

(G) for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect Borrower’s rights under Section 6.1(m) to incur Refinancing Indebtedness (or incur any loans or establish commitments thereunder) that is not pari passu in right of payment or security with the Obligations.

(ii) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment, this Agreement shall be amended by Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Term Loans, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Replacement Term Loans incurred pursuant thereto and the Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent to enter into such Refinancing Amendment and any amendment to any of the other Credit Documents with Credit Parties as may be necessary in order to establish new tranches or sub-tranches in respect of Loans or Commitments increased or extended pursuant to this Section 10.5(c) and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent and Borrower in connection with the establishment of such new tranches or sub-tranches, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 10.5(c). It is understood that any Lender approached to provide all or a portion of Replacement Term Loans may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Replacement Term Loans.

10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations.

(a) Generally . This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors and assigns of Lenders. No Credit Party’s rights or obligations hereunder nor any interest therein may be assigned or delegated by any Credit Party without the prior written consent of all Lenders. 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 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, Affiliates of each of the Agents and Lenders and other Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Register . Borrower, Administrative Agent and Lenders shall deem and treat the Persons listed as Lenders in the Register as the holders and owners of the corresponding Commitments and Loans listed therein for all purposes hereof, and no assignment or transfer of any such Commitment or Loan shall be effective, in each case, unless and until recorded in the

 

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Register following receipt of a fully executed Assignment Agreement effecting the assignment or transfer thereof, together with the required forms and certificates regarding Tax matters and any fees payable in connection with such assignment, in each case, as provided in Section 10.6(d). Each assignment shall be recorded in the Register promptly following receipt by Administrative Agent of the fully executed Assignment Agreement and all other necessary documents and approvals, prompt notice thereof shall be provided to Borrower and a copy of such Assignment Agreement shall be maintained by Administrative Agent. The date of such recordation of a transfer shall be referred to herein as the “ Assignment Effective Date .” Any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is listed in the Register as a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, assignee or transferee of the corresponding Commitments or Loans.

(c) Right to Assign . Each Lender shall have the right at any time to sell, assign or transfer all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, including all or a portion of its Commitments or Loans owing to it or other Obligations to any Person meeting the criteria of the definition of the term “Eligible Assignee” upon giving of notice to Borrower and Administrative Agent and consented to by the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld) and the Borrower (such consent not to be (x) unreasonably withheld or delayed, (y) required with respect to any person meeting the criteria of clause (i) of the term “Eligible Assignee” or (z) required (1) at any time an Event of Default arising under Section 8.1(a), (f) or (g) shall have occurred and then be continuing or (2) during the primary syndication of the Loans); provided that each such assignment pursuant to this Section 10.6(c) (treating contemporaneous assignments by or to Related Funds as one assignment for such purposes) shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than $1,000,000 (or such lesser amount as may be agreed to by Borrower and Administrative Agent or as shall constitute the aggregate amount of the Loans of the applicable Class of the assigning Lender) with respect to the assignment of Loans. Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment for which its consent is required hereunder unless Borrower shall object thereto by written notice to Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice of such proposed assignment.

(d) Mechanics . The parties to each assignment shall (A) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment Agreement via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent or (B) if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment Agreement, in each case, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (other than as agreed by Administrative Agent and except that no such processing and recordation fee shall be payable (x) in connection with an assignment by or to any Arranger or any Affiliate thereof, (y) in the case of an assignee which is already a Lender or is an affiliate or Related Fund of a Lender or a Person under common management with a Lender or (z) during the Primary Syndication Period), payable to Administrative Agent. Assignments made pursuant to the foregoing provision shall be effective as of the Assignment Effective Date. In connection with all assignments there shall be delivered to Administrative Agent such forms, certificates or other evidence, if any, with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters as the assignee under such Assignment Agreement may be required to deliver pursuant to Section 2.17(d).

 

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(e) Representations and Warranties of Assignee/Assignor . Each Lender, upon execution and delivery hereof or upon succeeding to an interest in the Commitments and Loans, as the case may be, represents and warrants as of the Closing Date or as of the Assignment Effective Date that (i) it is an Eligible Assignee; (ii) it has experience and expertise in the making of or investing in commitments or loans such as the applicable Commitments or Loans, as the case may be and (iii) it will make or invest in, as the case may be, its Commitments or Loans for its own account in the ordinary course and without a view to distribution of such Commitments or Loans within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or other federal securities laws (it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Section 10.6, the disposition of such Commitments or Loans or any interests therein shall at all times remain within its exclusive control). It is understood and agreed that Administrative Agent and each assignor Lender shall be entitled to rely, and shall incur no liability for relying, upon the representations and warranties of an assignee set forth in this Section 10.6(e) and in the applicable Assignment Agreement.

(f) Effect of Assignment . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 10.6, as of the “Assignment Effective Date” (i) the assignee thereunder shall have the rights and obligations of a “Lender” hereunder to the extent of its interest in the Loans and Commitments as reflected in the Register and shall thereafter be a party hereto and a “Lender” for all purposes hereof; (ii) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to the assignee, relinquish its rights (other than any rights which survive the termination hereof under Section 10.8) and be released from its obligations hereunder (and, in the case of an assignment covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations hereunder, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto on the Assignment Effective Date; provided , anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, such assigning Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of all indemnities hereunder as specified herein with respect to matters arising out of the prior involvement of such assigning Lender as a Lender hereunder); (iii) the Commitments shall be modified to reflect any Commitment of such assignee of such assigning Lender, if any; and (iv) if any such assignment occurs after the issuance of any Note hereunder, the assigning Lender shall, upon the effectiveness of such assignment or as promptly thereafter as practicable, surrender its applicable Notes to Administrative Agent for cancellation, and thereupon Borrower shall issue and deliver new Notes, if so requested by the assignee and/or assigning Lender, to such assignee and/or to such assigning Lender, with appropriate insertions, to reflect the outstanding Loans of the assignee and/or the assigning Lender.

(g) Participations .

(i) Each Lender shall have the right at any time to sell one or more participations to any Person (other than (A) Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, (B) any natural Person and (C) so long as a list of Disqualified Lenders has been made available to Administrative Agent and (upon request) all Lenders, any Disqualified Lender identified on such list at such time) in all or any part of its Commitments, Loans or in any other Obligation.

(ii) The holder of any such participation, other than an Affiliate of the Lender granting such participation, shall not be entitled to require such Lender to take or omit to

 

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take any action hereunder except with respect to any amendment, modification or waiver that would (A) extend the final scheduled maturity of any Commitment, Loan or Note in which such participant is participating, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon (except in connection with a waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) or reduce the principal amount thereof, or increase the amount of the participant’s participation over the amount thereof then in effect (it being understood that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or of a mandatory reduction in the Commitment shall not constitute a change in the terms of such participation, and that an increase in any Commitment or Loan shall be permitted without the consent of any participant if the participant’s participation is not increased as a result thereof), (B) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or (C) release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Collateral Documents or all or substantially all of the Guarantors from the Guarantee (in each case, except as expressly provided in the Credit Documents).

(iii) Borrower agrees that each participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15(c), 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section; provided , (x) a participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.16 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such participant, unless (A) the sale of the participation to such participant is made with Borrower’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or (B) such greater payment results from a Change in Law after the date the participation was sold to the participant and (y) a participant that would be a Non-U.S. Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such participant and such participant agrees, for the benefit of Borrower, to comply with Section 2.17(d) as though it were a Lender; provided further that, except as specifically set forth in clauses (x) and (y) of this sentence, nothing herein shall require any notice to Borrower or any other Person in connection with the sale of any participation. To the extent permitted by law, each participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.4 as though it were a Lender, provided such participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.14 as though it were a Lender.

(iv) Participant Register . Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Credit Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall be required to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant’s interest in any obligation under any Credit Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that any such 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, Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(h) Certain Other Assignments and Participations . In addition to any other assignment or participation permitted pursuant to this Section 10.6 any Lender may assign, pledge and/or grant a security interest in all or any portion of its Loans, the other Obligations owed by or to such Lender, and its Notes, if any, to secure obligations of such Lender (including to secure obligations owed to any Federal Reserve Bank pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors and any operating circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank or to any central bank in accordance with applicable law); provided , that no Lender, as between Borrower and such Lender, shall be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result of any such assignment and pledge, and provided further , that in no event shall the applicable Federal Reserve Bank, central bank, pledgee or trustee, be considered to be a “Lender” or be entitled to require the assigning Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder.

10.7 Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be 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 condition exists.

10.8 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. All representations, warranties and agreements made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and the making of any Credit Extension. Notwithstanding anything herein or implied by law to the contrary, the agreements of each Credit Party set forth in Sections 2.15(c), 2.16, 2.17, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 and the agreements of Lenders set forth in Sections 2.14, 9.3(b) and 9.6 shall survive the payment of the Loans and the termination hereof.

10.9 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part of any Agent, Arranger or Lender in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege. The rights, powers and remedies given to each Agent, Arranger and Lender hereby are cumulative and shall be in addition to and independent of all rights, powers and remedies existing by virtue of any statute or rule of law or in any of the other Credit Documents. Any forbearance or failure to exercise, and any delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall not impair any such right, power or remedy or be construed to be a waiver thereof, nor shall it preclude the further exercise of any such right, power or remedy.

10.10 Marshalling; Payments Set Aside. None of any Agent, Arranger nor Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Credit Party or any other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to Administrative Agent or Lenders (or to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders), or any Agent or Lender enforces any security interests or exercises any right of setoff, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside

 

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and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, any other state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or payments had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

10.11 Severability. In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

10.12 Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights. The obligations of Lenders hereunder are several and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitment of any other Lender hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other Credit Document, and no action taken by Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute Lenders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at any time hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and each Lender shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out hereof and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

10.13 Headings. Section headings herein are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.

10.14 APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

10.15 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. (a) SUBJECT TO CLAUSES (A) AND (E) OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY PARTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT, OR ANY OF THE OBLIGATIONS, WHETHER ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION LOCATED IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH CREDIT PARTY, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS (OTHER THAN WITH RESPECT TO ACTIONS BY ANY AGENT IN RESPECT OF RIGHTS UNDER ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT GOVERNED BY LAWS OTHER THAN THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY COLLATERAL SUBJECT THERETO); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON

 

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CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE CREDIT PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.1; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE APPLICABLE CREDIT PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT AGENTS AND LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS UNDER ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT.

(b) EACH CREDIT PARTY THAT IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES APPOINTS BORROWER AS ITS AGENT (IN SUCH CAPACITY, THE “PROCESS AGENT”) TO RECEIVE, ON ITS BEHALF, SERVICE OF COPIES OF THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT AND ANY OTHER PROCESS THAT MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING. SERVICE MAY BE MADE ON THE PROCESS AGENT BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.1 HEREOF.

10.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS LOAN TRANSACTION OR THE LENDER/BORROWER RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 10.16 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR TO

 

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ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

10.17 Confidentiality. Each Agent, and each Lender shall hold all information regarding Parent and its Subsidiaries and their businesses and obtained by such Agent or such Lender pursuant to the requirements hereof in accordance with such Agent’s and such Lender’s customary procedures for handling confidential information of such nature and in any case with at least the same degree of care used in maintaining the confidentiality of its own confidential information, it being understood and agreed by Borrower that, in any event, Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, any Agent and any Arranger may disclose such information to the Lenders and each Agent, Arranger and Lender may make (i) disclosures of such information to Affiliates of such Lender, Agent or Arranger and to their respective Agent/Arranger Affiliates (and to other Persons authorized by a Lender, Agent or Arranger to organize, present or disseminate such information in connection with disclosures otherwise made in accordance with this Section 10.17), (ii) disclosures of such information reasonably required by any pledgee under Section 10.6(h) or any bona fide or potential assignee, transferee or participant in connection with the contemplated assignment, transfer or participation of any Loans or any participations therein or by any direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to Borrower and its obligations (provided, such assignees, transferees, participants, counterparties and advisors are advised of and agree to be bound by either the provisions of this Section 10.17 or other provisions at least as restrictive as this Section 10.17), (iii) disclosure to any rating agency when required by it, provided that, prior to any disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake in writing to preserve the confidentiality of any information relating to the Credit Parties received by it from any of the Agents or any Lender, (iv) to the extent reasonably necessary, disclosures in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Credit Document, (v) disclosures required under applicable law or required or requested by any governmental agency or representative thereof or by the NAIC or pursuant to legal or judicial process; provided , unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender and each Agent shall make commercially reasonable efforts to notify Borrower of any request by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with any examination of the financial condition or other routine examination of such Lender by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such information, (vi) disclosures consented to by Borrower, (vii) to the extent that such information is received by an Agent from a third party that is not, to such Arranger’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations (whether legal, contractual, fiduciary or otherwise) owing to Parent or its Subsidiaries, (viii) disclosure on a confidential basis to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Loans, and (ix) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (B) is in the possession of an Agent or Lender prior to its obtaining such Information from Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. In addition, each Agent and each Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents or in connection with tombstones or other advertising or marketing materials. Notwithstanding anything to the

 

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contrary set forth herein, each party (and each of their respective employees, representatives or other agents) may disclose to any and all Persons without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions and other tax analyses) that are provided to any such party relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. However, any information relating to the tax treatment or tax structure shall remain subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent reasonably necessary to enable the parties hereto, their respective Affiliates and their respective Affiliates’ directors and employees to comply with applicable securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” means any facts relevant to the federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement but does not include information relating to the identity of any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Affiliates.

10.18 Usury Savings Clause. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the aggregate interest rate charged with respect to any of the Obligations, including all charges or fees in connection therewith deemed in the nature of interest under applicable law shall not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the rate of interest (determined without regard to the preceding sentence) under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect. In addition, if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid in full the total interest due hereunder (taking into account the increase provided for above) is less than the total amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of interest which would have been paid if the Highest Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of Lenders and Borrower to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for, charges, or receives any consideration which constitutes interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then any such excess shall be cancelled automatically and, if previously paid, shall at such Lender’s option be applied to the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder or be refunded to Borrower.

10.19 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

10.20 Effectiveness; Entire Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by Borrower and Administrative Agent of written or telephonic notification of such execution and authorization of delivery thereof. With the exception of those terms, which by the terms of the Commitment Letter remain in full force and effect, all of the obligations of the Arrangers and their Affiliates under the Commitment Letter shall terminate and be superseded by the Credit Documents and the Arrangers and their Affiliates shall be released from all liability in connection therewith,

 

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including any claim for injury or damages, whether consequential, special, direct, indirect, punitive or otherwise. This Agreement and the other Credit Documents 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 commitment advices submitted by Lenders (but do not supersede any other provisions of the Commitment Letter except as set forth above (or any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Arrangers or Administrative Agent) that do not by the terms of such documents terminate upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, all of which provisions shall remain in full force and effect).

10.21 PATRIOT Act. Each Lender and Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Credit Party that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Credit Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.

10.22 Electronic Execution of Loan Documents. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Loan Documents shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

10.23 No Fiduciary Duty. Each Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “ Lenders ”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Credit Parties, their stockholders and/or their Affiliates. Each Credit Party agrees that nothing in the Credit Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between any Lender, on the one hand, and such Credit Party, its stockholders or its Affiliates, on the other. The Credit Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Credit Parties, on the other, and (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading thereto, (x) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Credit Party, its stockholders or its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise any Credit Party, its stockholders or its Affiliates on other matters) or any other obligation to any Credit Party except the obligations expressly set forth in the Credit Documents and (y) each Lender is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of any Credit Party, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other Person. Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. Each Credit Party agrees that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to such Credit Party, in connection with the financing transactions provided for herein or the process leading thereto.

 

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10.24 Judgment Currency. In respect of any judgment or order given or made for any amount due under this Agreement or any other Credit Document that is expressed and paid in a currency (the “ judgment currency ”) other than Dollars, the Credit Parties will indemnify Administrative Agent and any Lender against any loss incurred by them as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at which the Dollar amount is converted into the judgment currency for the purpose of such judgment or order and (ii) the rate of exchange, as quoted by Administrative Agent or by a known dealer in the judgment currency that is designated by Administrative Agent, at which Administrative Agent or such Lender is able to purchase Dollars with the amount of the judgment currency actually received by Administrative Agent or such Lender. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the Credit Parties and shall survive any termination of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or conversion into Dollars.

10.25 Authorization of Filing of Financing Statements. Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to file one or more financing statements (including fixture filings), continuation statements, or other documents for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the security interest granted by each Credit Party pursuant to the Collateral Documents to which it is a party, without the signature of any Credit Party, and naming any Credit Party or the Credit Parties as debtors and Collateral Agent as secured party. Each Credit Party authorizes Collateral Agent to use the collateral description “all assets,” “all personal property, whether now existing or hereafter acquired,” “all of the debtor’s assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired” or words of similar effect in any such financing statements filed or other filings for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the security interest granted hereunder by such Credit Party.

10.26 Actions in Concert. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the other Credit Documents to the contrary, each Lender hereby agrees with each other Lender that no Lender shall take any action to protect or enforce its rights against any Credit Party arising out of this Agreement or any other Credit Document without first obtaining the prior written consent of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, it being the intent of the Lenders that any such action to protect or enforce rights under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be taken in concert and at the direction or with the consent of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders; provided , however , that each Lender may file and prove a claim for its share amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans in a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

10.27 Applicable Intercreditor Agreements. (a) Each of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties acknowledges that obligations of Borrower and the Guarantors under certain permitted Indebtedness, including Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, Ratio Debt, Refinancing Indebtedness, Indebtedness under the ABL Loan Agreement and any other Indebtedness permitted under this Agreement (any such Indebtedness, “ Ranked Indebtedness ”), may be secured by Liens on assets of Borrower and the Guarantors that constitute Collateral. Each of

 

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the Lenders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Secured Party, (i) on the Closing Date, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) from time to time upon the request of Borrower, in connection with the establishment, incurrence, amendment, refinancing or replacement of any Ranked Indebtedness, any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement (it being understood that Administrative Agent is hereby authorized and directed to determine the terms and conditions of any such Applicable Intercreditor Agreement as contemplated by the definition of the term “Applicable Intercreditor Agreement”), and (iii) any documents relating thereto.

(b) Each of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably (i) consents to the treatment of Liens to be provided for under any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that, upon the execution and delivery thereof, such Secured Party will be bound by the provisions of any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a signatory thereto and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) agrees that no Secured Party shall have any right of action whatsoever against Administrative Agent as a result of any action taken by Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section or in accordance with the terms of any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) authorizes and directs Administrative Agent to carry out the provisions and intent of each such document.

(c) Each of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably further authorizes and directs Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Secured Party, any amendments, supplements or other modifications of any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement that Borrower may from time to time request (i) to give effect to any establishment, incurrence, amendment, extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement of any Ranked Indebtedness, (ii) to confirm for any party that such Applicable Intercreditor Agreement is effective and binding upon Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties or (iii) to effect any other amendment, supplement or modification so long as the resulting agreement would constitute an Applicable Intercreditor Agreement if executed at such time as a new agreement.

(d) Each of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably further authorizes and directs Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Secured Party, any amendments, supplements or other modifications of any Collateral Document to add or remove any legend that may be required pursuant to any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement.

(e) Administrative Agent shall have the benefit of the provisions of Article 9 with respect to all actions taken by it pursuant to this Section or in accordance with the terms of any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement to the full extent thereof.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

 

BORROWER :
KRATON POLYMERS LLC
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
GUARANTORS :
KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.
ELASTOMERS HOLDINGS LLC
KRATON POLYMERS U.S. LLC
KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION

ARIZONA CHEMICAL HOLDINGS

           CORPORATION

AZ CHEM INTERMEDIATE INC. :
AZ CHEM US HOLDINGS INC.
AZ CHEM US INC.
ARIZONA CHEMICAL COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to the Credit and Guarantee Agreement


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,
as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and a Lender
By:  

/s/ Christopher Day

Name:   Christopher Day
Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Karim Rahimtoola

Name:   Karim Rahimtoola
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to the Credit and Guarantee Agreement


NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
as Syndication Agent
By:  

/s/ Carl Mayer

Name:   Carl Mayer
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to the Credit and Guarantee Agreement


DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,
as Syndication Agent
By:  

/s/ Ralph Totoonchie

Name:   Ralph Totoonchie
Title:   Director
By:  

/s/ Alexandra Barth

Name:   Alexandra Barth
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to the Credit and Guarantee Agreement


NOMURA CORPORATE FUNDING AMERICAS, LLC,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Carl Mayer

Name:   Carl Mayer
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to the Credit and Guarantee Agreement


APPENDIX A

TO CREDIT AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

Initial Term Loan Commitments

 

Lender

   Initial Term Loan
Commitment
 

Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch

   $ 1,012,500,000.00   

Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC

   $ 337,500,000.00   
  

 

 

 

Total:

   $ 1,350,000,000.00   
  

 

 

 

 

Appendix A-1


APPENDIX B

TO CREDIT AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

Notice Addresses

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Credit Suisse AG

Attn: Loan Operations – Agency Manager

Eleven Madison Avenue., 6th Floor

New York, NY 10010

Tel: 919-994-6369

Fax: 212-322-2291

Email: agency.loanops@credit-suisse.com

COLLATERAL AGENT

Credit Suisse AG

Attn: Loan Operations – Boutique Management

Eleven Madison Avenue, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10010

Tel: 212538-3525

Fax: 212-325-8315

E-mail: list.ops-collateral@credit-suisse.com

BORROWER AND GUARANTORS

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 JFK Blvd., Suite 300

Houston, TX, USA

77032

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile: 281-504-4827

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, NY 10006

Attention: Duane McLaughlin

Facsimile: 212-225-3999

Email: dmclaughlin@cgsh.com

 

Appendix B-1

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the lien and security interest granted to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Agent hereunder are subject to the provisions of the Applicable Intercreditor Agreements. In the event of any conflict between the terms of any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of the Applicable Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

dated as of January 6, 2016,

between

EACH OF THE GRANTORS PARTY HERETO

and

CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Collateral Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Section 1.

 

Definitions.

     1   

1.1

 

General Definitions

     1   

1.2

 

Definitions; Interpretation

     5   

Section 2.

 

Grant of Security.

     5   

2.1

 

Grant of Security

     5   

2.2

 

Excluded Collateral

     7   

Section 3.

 

Grantors Remain Liable.

     8   

3.1

 

Continuing Liability Under Collateral

     8   

Section 4.

 

Representations and Warranties and Covenants.

     9   

4.1

 

Representations and Warranties

     9   

4.2

 

Covenants and Agreements

     12   

Section 5.

 

Additional Grantors.

     17   

5.1

 

Additional Grantors

     17   

Section 6.

 

Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-In-Fact.

     17   

6.1

 

Power of Attorney

     17   

6.2

 

No Duty on the Part of Collateral Agent or Secured Parties

     18   

6.3

 

Appointment Pursuant to Credit Agreement

     19   

Section 7.

 

Remedies.

     19   

7.1

 

Generally

     19   

7.2

 

Application of Proceeds

     21   

7.3

 

Sales on Credit

     21   

7.4

 

Account Verification; Compromise and Collection

     21   

7.5

 

Pledged Collateral

     22   

7.6

 

Intellectual Property Remedies

     22   

7.7

 

Cash Proceeds

     23   

Section 8.

 

Collateral Agent.

     23   

Section 9.

 

Continuing security interest; transfer of loans; Release of collateral.

     24   

Section 10.

 

Standard of Care; Collateral Agent May Perform.

     25   

 

i


Section 11.

 

Miscellaneous.

     25   

11.1

 

Notices.

     25   

11.2

 

No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies.

     25   

11.3

 

Successors and Assigns.

     25   

11.4

 

Counterparts.

     25   

11.5

 

Severability.

     25   

11.6

 

Integration/Conflict.

     26   

11.7

 

Amendments.

     26   

11.8

 

Intercreditor Governs.

     26   

11.9

 

APPLICABLE LAW.

     26   

11.10

 

CONSENT TO JURISDICTION/WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

     26   

SCHEDULE 1 — COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS

  

SCHEDULE 2 — EXCLUDED PROPERTY

  

EXHIBIT A — COPYRIGHT SECURITY AGREEMENT

  

EXHIBIT B — PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT

  

EXHIBIT C — TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT

  

 

ii


This PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 6, 2016, between EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED GRANTORS , whether as an original signatory hereto or as an Additional Grantor (as herein defined) (each, a “ Grantor ”), and CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (“ CS ”), as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) (in such capacity as collateral agent, together with its successors and assigns, the “ Collateral Agent ”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS , reference is made to that certain Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among KRATON POLYMERS LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Borrower ”), KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC ., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT , as Guarantors, the LENDERS party thereto from time to time (the “ Lenders ”), CS, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent and NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC . and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. , as Syndication Agents; and

WHEREAS , in consideration of the extensions of credit and other accommodations of Lenders and other Secured Parties as set forth in the Credit Agreement, each Grantor has agreed to secure the Obligations.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Grantor and the Collateral Agent agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

1.1 General Definitions . In this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Additional Grantors ” shall have the meaning assigned in Section 5.1.

Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned in the recitals.

Cash Proceeds ” shall have the meaning assigned in Section 7.7.

Collateral ” shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.1.

Collateral Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Contract Rights ” means all rights of any Grantor under each Contract, including, without limitation, (a) any and all rights to receive and demand payments under any or all Contracts, (b) any and all rights to receive and compel performance under any or all Contracts and (c) any and all other rights, interests and claims now existing or in the future arising in connection with any or all Contracts.

 

1


Contracts ” means all contracts between any Grantor and one or more additional parties (including, without limitation, any hedging agreements, licensing agreements and any partnership agreements, joint venture agreements and limited liability company agreements).

Control ” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of Article 9 of the UCC.

Copyright Security Agreement ” shall mean a Copyright Security Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

Copyrights ” means, with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (a) all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyright whether published or unpublished, copyright registrations, and copyright applications; (b) all renewals of any of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including, damages or payments for past or future infringements for any of the foregoing; (d) the right to sue for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (e) all domestic rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

Credit Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

CS ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Domain Name ” means all Internet domain names and associated URL addresses in or to which any Grantor now or hereafter has any right, title or interest.

Excluded Accounts ” means the following: (a) Deposit Accounts that are zero balance disbursement accounts; (b) Deposit Accounts used solely to fund payroll, payroll taxes and similar employment taxes or employee benefits in the ordinary course of business; (c) other Deposit Accounts with an amount on deposit of less than $1,000,000 at any time in the aggregate for all such Deposit Accounts; (d) Deposit Accounts used to secure lease or tax obligations; and (e) Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts holding proceeds from the sale of property that is not Collateral.

Excluded Asset ” shall mean any asset of any Grantor excluded from the Collateral pursuant to Section 2.2, but only to the extent, and for so long as, so excluded thereunder.

Grantors ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Intellectual Property Security Agreement ” means any Copyright Security Agreement, Patent Security Agreement or Trademark Security Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreement ” shall mean the “ABL Intercreditor Agreement” as defined in the Credit Agreement.

 

2


Licenses ” means, with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to (a) any and all written licensing agreements or similar arrangements in (i) Patents, (ii) Copyrights, (iii) Trademarks, (iv) Trade Secrets or (v) Software and (b) all rights to sue for past, present, and future breaches thereof.

Patent Security Agreement ” shall mean a Patent Security Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit B.

Patents ” means, with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to: (a) any and all patents and patent applications; (b) all inventions claimed therein; (c) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, and continuations-in-part thereof; (d) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including damages and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements thereof; and (f) all domestic rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

Pledged Collateral ” shall mean all Pledged Equity Interests, all Pledged Debt and all other all Instruments, Securities and other Investment Property owned by any Grantor, whether or not physically delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor and any and all Proceeds thereof.

Pledged Debt ” shall mean all Indebtedness owed from time to time to any Grantor, whether or not evidenced by any Instrument, including the Intercompany Note and all other Indebtedness set forth in Section 4(b) and on Schedule C to the Perfection Certificate, issued by the obligors named therein, the instruments, if any, evidencing any of the foregoing, and all interest, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing.

Pledged Equity Interests ” shall mean all Pledged Stock, Pledged LLC Interests, Pledged Partnership Interests, Pledged Trust Interests and any other participation or interests in any equity or profits of any business entity, including any trust and all management rights relating to any entity whose equity interests are included as Pledged Equity Interests.

Pledged LLC Interests ” shall mean all interests now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor in any limited liability company and each series thereof, including all limited liability company interests set forth on Schedule B to the Perfection Certificate, and the certificates, if any, representing such limited liability company interests and any interest of any Grantor on the books and records of such limited liability company or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interest and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such limited liability company interests and all rights as a member of the related limited liability company.

Pledged Partnership Interests ” shall mean all interests now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor in any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other partnership, including all partnership interests set forth on Schedule B to the

 

3


Perfection Certificate, and the certificates, if any, representing such partnership interests and any interest of any Grantor on the books and records of such partnership or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interest and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such partnership interests and all rights as a partner of the related partnership.

Pledged Stock ” shall mean all shares of capital stock now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including all shares of capital stock set forth on Schedule B to the Perfection Certificate, and the certificates, if any, representing such shares and any interest of any Grantor in the entries on the books of the issuer of such shares or on the books of any securities intermediary pertaining to such shares, and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such shares.

Pledged Trust Interests ” shall mean all interests now owned or hereafter acquired in a Delaware business trust or other trust including, without limitation, all trust interests listed on Schedule B to the Perfection Certificate, and the certificates, if any, representing such trust interests and any interest of any Grantor on the books and records of such trust or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interest and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such trust interests.

Receivables ” means the Accounts, Payment Intangibles, Chattel Paper and any other rights or claims to receive money that are General Intangibles or that are otherwise included as Collateral.

Software ” means computer programs, source code, object code and supporting documentation including “software” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, as well as computer programs that may be construed as included in the definition of Goods.

Termination Date ” means the date on which all Obligations (other than unasserted contingent indemnity claims) have been paid in full and all Commitments have terminated or expired.

Trademark Security Agreement ” shall mean a Trademark Security Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit C.

Trademarks ” means, with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (a) all trademarks (including service marks), trade names, trade dress, and logos, slogans and other similar indicia of origin and the registrations and applications for registration thereof and the goodwill of the business symbolized by the foregoing; (b) all renewals of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims, and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (d) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing; and (e) all domestic rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

 

4


Trade Secrets ” means, with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following: (a) trade secrets or other confidential information, including unpatented inventions, invention disclosures, engineering or other data, production procedures, know-how, financial data, customer lists, supplier lists, business and marketing plans, processes, schematics, algorithms, techniques, analyses, proposals, source code, and data collections; (b) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (c) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of the foregoing; and (d) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

UCC ” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided , however , that in the event that, by reason of mandatory Requirement of Law, any or all of the perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, priority or remedies.

United States ” shall mean the United States of America.

1.2 Definitions; Interpretation . (a) Each capitalized term used but not defined herein and defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement. Each term defined in the UCC and not defined herein shall have the meaning specified therein (and, if defined in more than one Article of the UCC, shall have the meaning given in Article 9 thereof), including, as if such terms were capitalized in the applicable Article of the UCC, the following terms: “Account”, “Chattel Paper”, “Commercial Tort Claim”, “Commodity Account”, “Deposit Account”, “Document”, “Electronic Chattel Paper”, “Equipment”, “Fixture”, “General Intangible”, “Goods”, “Instruments”, “Inventory”, “Investment Property”, “Letter-of-Credit Right”, “Payment Intangible”, “Proceeds”, “Security Entitlement”, “Securities Account”, “Supporting Obligation” and “Tangible Chattel Paper”).

(b) The rules of interpretation specified in Section 1.3 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis. The terms “lease” and “license” shall include sub-lease and sub-license, as applicable. If any conflict or inconsistency exists between this Agreement and the Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement shall govern. All references herein to provisions of the UCC shall include all successor provisions under any subsequent version or amendment to any Article of the UCC.

SECTION 2. GRANT OF SECURITY.

2.1 Grant of Security . As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest

 

5


in, to and under all personal property of such Grantor, including all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under any and all of the following assets, in each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired and wherever located (collectively, the “ Collateral ”):

(a) Accounts and Payment Intangibles;

(b) Chattel Paper (including Tangible Chattel Paper and Electronic Chattel Paper);

(c) Commercial Tort Claims now or hereafter described on Schedule 1;

(d) Contracts, together with all Contract Rights arising thereunder;

(e) Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Trade Secrets;

(f) Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodity Accounts;

(g) Documents;

(h) Domain Names;

(i) Equipment

(j) Fixtures;

(k) General Intangibles;

(l) Instruments;

(m) Inventory;

(n) Investment Property;

(o) letters of credit and Letter-of-Credit Rights;

(p) Licenses;

(q) Money, cash and cash equivalents;

(r) Pledged Equity Interests;

(s) Receivables;

(t) Software and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording;

(u) Goods not otherwise described above;

(v) Supporting Obligations relating to any of the foregoing;

 

6


(w) to the extent not otherwise included above, all other personal property of any kind, including, without limitation, any other contract rights or rights to the payment of money, insurance claims and proceeds and tort claims relating to the foregoing; and

(x) to the extent not otherwise included above, all Proceeds, products, accessions, rents and profits of or in respect of any of the foregoing, together with all books and records, ledger cards, customer lists, credit files, computer files, programs, printouts and other computer materials and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.

2.2 Excluded Collateral . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Collateral subject to this Agreement include or the security interest or lien granted under Section 2.1 attach to (a) any of the outstanding voting capital stock of a CFC in excess of 65% of the voting power of all classes of capital stock of such CFC entitled to vote; provided that immediately upon the amendment of the Internal Revenue Code to allow the pledge of a greater percentage of the voting power of capital stock in a CFC without adverse tax consequences to Parent and its Subsidiaries, the Collateral shall include, and such security interest and lien shall attach to, such greater percentage of capital stock of each CFC, (b) all Commercial Tort Claims in an individual amount less than or equal to $10,000,000, (c) Margin Stock, (d) any asset to the extent and for so long as the grant of a security interest therein would be prohibited by a Requirement of Law or would require any Governmental Authorization (other than to the extent that any such prohibition or requirement would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the anti-non-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable law), (e) Equity Interests in any Person other than the Grantors to the extent not permitted by the terms of such Person’s organizational or joint venture documents (other than to the extent that any such restriction would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the anti-non- assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable law), (f) Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (g) in the case of assets consisting of licenses, leases, agreements or other contracts or assets that are subject to purchase money financing or capital leases, to the extent and for so long as the grant of security therein is prohibited or restricted by any Requirement of Law or by the terms of such license, lease, agreement or other contract (including anti-assignment provisions of any such contract) or would require the consent of a Governmental Authority or a third party that is party to such contract (unless such consent has already been received or the applicable third party has agreed to cooperate with the establishment of any secured financing) or would trigger termination of (or a right to terminate) any such contract pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provision or the ability for any third party to amend any rights, benefits and/or obligations of the Credit Parties in respect of those assets, or which would require any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party to take any action materially adverse to the interests of such Credit Party or such Subsidiary (in each case, to the extent applicable and other than to the extent that any of the foregoing would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the anti-non-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable law), (h) any other asset to the extent that the cost, burden, difficulty or consequence (including any effect on the ability of the relevant Credit Party to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course) of obtaining or perfecting a security interest therein outweighs the benefit of the security afforded thereby, as reasonably determined by the Borrower and the Collateral Agent (it being acknowledged that the maximum guaranteed or secured amount may be limited to minimize stamp duty, notarization, registration or other

 

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applicable fees, taxes and duties where the Borrower and the Collateral Agent reasonably determine that the benefit to the Lenders of increasing the guaranteed or secured amount is disproportionate to the level of such fee, taxes and duties), (i) any asset to the extent that the grant of a security interest therein would result in materially adverse tax consequences to Parent and its Subsidiaries, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Collateral Agent , (j) any “intent-to-use” trademark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” and any other Intellectual Property in any jurisdiction where, with respect thereto, the grant of a security interest therein would cause the invalidation, abandonment or unenforceability of such Intellectual Property under applicable law; provided , however , that any Proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Assets shall not constitute Excluded Assets unless such Proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would themselves constitute Excluded Assets, (k) property described on Schedule 2 and (l) through January 31, 2016, the Equity Interests in Arizona Chemical Aktiebolag; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, following January 31, 2016, such security interest and lien shall attach to the Equity Interests in Arizona Chemical Aktiebolag subject to the other clauses of this Section 2.2 and only to the extent owned by a Grantor.

Further, (a) no Grantor shall be required to take any action with respect to the perfection of security interests in any assets located, applied for, registered or otherwise arising under the law of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, and no foreign law security or pledge agreements or foreign Intellectual Property filings or searches shall be required, (b) the Credit Parties shall not be required to seek any landlord lien waiver, estoppel, warehouseman waiver or other collateral access or similar letter or agreement, (c) perfection by control shall not be required with respect to assets requiring perfection through control agreements or other control arrangements, including deposit, securities and Commodities Accounts (except to the extent required pursuant to Section 4.1(i), the ABL Loan Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement), provided that the foregoing shall not apply to delivery of pledged Equity Interests and pledged promissory notes (other than pledged Equity Interests in Immaterial Subsidiaries and any pledged promissory note with a face amount of less than $5,000,000), and (d) no actions shall be required to perfect the grant of the security interest in vehicles and any other assets subject to certificates of title or ownership, commercial tort claims and letter of credit rights, in each case except to the extent perfection of a security interest therein may be accomplished by the filing of financing statements under the UCC.

SECTION 3. GRANTORS REMAIN LIABLE.

3.1 Continuing Liability Under Collateral . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) each Grantor shall remain liable for all obligations under the Collateral and nothing contained herein is intended or shall be a delegation of duties to the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party, (ii) each Grantor shall remain liable under each of the leases, licenses, contracts or other agreements included in the Collateral to perform all of the obligations undertaken by it thereunder all in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and provisions thereof and neither the Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any such agreement by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or any other document relating hereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party have any obligation to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by it or have any obligation to take any action

 

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to collect or enforce any rights under any such agreement, and (iii) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights hereunder shall not release any Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under any lease, license, contract or other agreement included in the Collateral.

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS.

4.1 Representations and Warranties . The Grantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties on the Closing Date and each Credit Date, that:

(a) Title, Perfection and Priority; Filing Collateral . This Agreement is effective to create a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on and security interest in the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement under the UCC in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, except, as to enforceability, 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 as well as principles of good faith and fair dealing, and upon the making of such filings and taking of such other actions required to be taken hereby or by the applicable Credit Documents (including the filing of appropriate financing statements with the office of the Secretary of State of the state of organization of each Grantor, in each case in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties), the Collateral Agent will have a fully perfected First Priority Lien on such Collateral.

(b) Names, Type and Jurisdiction of Organization, Organizational and Identification Numbers .

(i) (A) The exact legal name of each Grantor, as such name appears in its respective Organizational Documents filed with the Secretary of State of such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization, is set forth in Section 1 of the Perfection Certificate and (B) each Grantor is the type of entity disclosed next to its name in Section 1 of the Perfection Certificate. Also set forth in Section 1 of the Perfection Certificate is the organizational identification number, if any, of each Grantor, the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number, if any, of each Grantor. Set forth in Section 2(a) of the Perfection Certificate is the jurisdiction of organization of each Grantor.

(ii) Except as otherwise disclosed in Section 1 of the Perfection Certificate, set forth in Section 2(e) to the Perfection Certificate is any other legal name that any Grantor has had in the five years preceding the date of the Perfection Certificate, together with the date of the relevant change.

(iii) Set forth in Section 2(c) to the Perfection Certificate is a list of all entities to which any Grantor became the successor by merger, consolidation or acquisition at any time within the five years preceding the date of the Perfection Certificate.

(iv) Except as disclosed in the Perfection Certificate, no Grantor has changed its jurisdiction of organization or form or nature of organization at any time during the five years preceding the date of the Perfection Certificate.

 

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(c) Locations .

(i) The chief executive office of each Grantor is currently located at the address set forth for such Grantor in Section 3(a) of the Perfection Certificate.

(ii) Set forth in Section 3(c) of the Perfection Certificate opposite the name of each Grantor are all locations (other than those listed in Section 3(a) of the Perfection Certificate) in the United States of America where such Grantor maintains any books and records relating to accounts receivable, Contract Rights, Chattel Paper and General Intangibles.

(d) Accounts and Chattel Paper . The names of the obligors, amounts owing and due dates with respect to each Grantor’s Accounts and Chattel Paper that are Collateral are correctly stated in all material respects in the records of such Grantor relating thereto and, to the extent they have been created, in all invoices, to the extent that such records and invoices are required to be furnished to the Collateral Agent by such Grantor from time to time.

(e) Inventory and Equipment . As of the date specified in the related section of the Perfection Certificate,

(i) Inventory and Equipment (other than Inventory and Equipment in transit) with a value in excess of $500,000 located in the United States with a consignee in possession of such Inventory and Equipment are kept at the locations listed in Section 3(e) of the Perfection Certificate.

(ii) Inventory and Equipment (other than Inventory and Equipment in transit) with a value in excess of $2,000,000 located in the United States with a warehousemen, bailee or any other third party (other than consignees) in possession of such Inventory and Equipment are kept at the locations listed in Section 3(f) of the Perfection Certificate.

(f) Intellectual Property .

(i) Attached as Schedule D to the Perfection Certificate is (A) a schedule setting forth, as of the date hereof, all of each Grantor’s (y) Patents and Trademarks registered with (or applied for in) the United States Patent and Trademark Office (including Trademarks that would constitute Collateral upon the filing of a “Statement of Use” or an “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto), including the name of the registered owner and the registration number (or, if applicable, the applicant and the application number) of each such Patent and Trademark and (z) United States Copyrights registered with (or applied for in) the United States Copyright Office, including the name of the registered owner and the registration number (or, if applicable, the applicant and the application number) of each such Copyright and (B) each Grantor’s Licenses.

(ii) Upon filing of appropriate financing statements with the Secretary of State (or equivalent office) of the state of organization of such Grantor and the filing of this Agreement (or appropriate Intellectual Property Security Agreement) with the United States

 

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Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as applicable, the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall have a fully perfected First Priority Lien on the Collateral constituting United States issued Patents, United States registered Trademarks and registered Copyrights (and applications therefor) under the UCC and the laws of the United States, and such perfected security interests shall be enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of and purchasers from the Grantors, 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 as well as principles of good faith and fair dealing.

(iii) The Grantors are not aware of any third-party claim (A) that any of its owned Patent, Trademark or Copyright registrations or applications is invalid or unenforceable, or (B) challenging any Grantor’s rights to such registrations and applications, and no Grantor is aware of any basis for such claims, other than, in each case, to the extent any such third-party claims could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Pledged Collateral .

(i) Attached as Schedule B to the Perfection Certificate is a true and correct list of all of the issued and outstanding stock, partnership interests, limited liability company membership interests or other Equity Interests that is owned by each Grantor and constitutes Collateral and the record and beneficial owner of such stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other Equity Interests.

(ii) Set forth in Section 4(b) and attached as Schedule C to the Perfection Certificate is a true and correct list of all promissory notes and other evidence of Indebtedness held by any Grantor that are required to be pledged under this Agreement (other than checks to be deposited in the ordinary course of business and evidence of indebtedness held in a Securities Account).

(iii) Each Grantor further represents and warrants that (A) all Pledged Equity Interests of Subsidiaries have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Collateral) duly authorized and validly issued by the issuer thereof and is fully paid and non-assessable, (B) with respect to any certificates delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its bailee) representing Equity Interests, either such certificates are Securities as defined in Article 8 of the UCC as a result of actions by the issuer or otherwise, or, if such certificates are not Securities, such Grantor has taken the necessary steps so that the Collateral Agent (or its bailee) may take steps to perfect its security interest therein as a General Intangible and (C) all certificates or instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Collateral, subject to the requirements of Section 5.9 of the Credit Agreement and Section 4.2(d) hereof, have been delivered to the Collateral Agent in suitable form for transfer by delivery or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank and that the Collateral Agent has a perfected First Priority Lien therein.

 

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(h) Commercial Tort Claims . No Grantor has any commercial tort claims on the date hereof for which such Grantor has filed a complaint in a court of competent jurisdiction, individually in excess of $10,000,000 other than those described on Schedule 1.

(i) Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts . Attached as Schedule A to the Perfection Certificate is a true and correct list of all Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts, brokerage accounts, Commodity Accounts and similar accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) of each Grantor with, in each case, cash in excess of or assets with a value in excess of $500,000 (or equivalent in another currency), including the type of account, account number, name and address of bank or intermediary (as applicable). Except as otherwise provided for in the Credit Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent has a security interest in each Deposit Account, Securities Account, brokerage account, Commodity Account and any similar account (other than an Excluded Account), which security interest shall be perfected by control (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC), in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.

(j) Recourse . This Agreement is made with full recourse to each Grantor and pursuant to and upon all the warranties, representations, covenants and agreements on the part of such Grantor contained herein, in the Credit Documents and otherwise in writing in connection herewith and therewith.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no representation or warranty made or deemed made pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall be deemed to be incorrect solely by virtue of the failure of any Grantor to modify or supplement any schedule identified in this Section 4.1 so long as, at the time such representation and warranty is made or deemed made, the date by which such Grantor is required to make such modification or supplement under the Credit Documents shall not have passed.

4.2 Covenants and Agreements . From the date hereof, and thereafter until the Termination Date:

(a) Authorization to File Financing Statements and IP Filings. Each Grantor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to file, and, if requested agrees to execute (to the extent necessary under the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction) and deliver to the Collateral Agent, all financing statements, in form appropriate for filing under the UCC of the relevant jurisdiction, and other documents and take such other actions as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent in order to establish and maintain a First Priority, valid, enforceable (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 as well as principles of good faith and fair dealing) and perfected security interest in and, with respect to Pledged Collateral to the extent required under Section 4.2(d), Control of, the Collateral. The Borrower and each Grantor agree that the Borrower shall pay any applicable filing fees, recordation fees, recordation taxes and related expenses relating to the Collateral in accordance with Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement. Any financing statement filed by the Collateral Agent may be filed in any filing office in any applicable UCC jurisdiction and may (i) be filed without the signature of such Grantor where permitted by law, (ii) indicate the Collateral (A) as all assets of the applicable Grantor or words of similar effect, regardless of

 

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whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the UCC of such jurisdiction, or (B) by any other description which reasonably approximates the description contained in this Agreement, and (iii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) in each case to the extent applicable, whether the Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number, if any, issued to the Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of real property to which the Collateral relates. Each Grantor also agrees to furnish any such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request. Each Grantor further authorizes the Collateral Agent to file this Agreement (or appropriate Intellectual Property Security Agreements) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office in the United States) in order to evidence or perfect the security interest granted hereunder by each Grantor in the Collateral consisting of United States issued/registered and applied-for Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights or exclusive Licenses with respect to registered Copyrights granted to a Grantor, with or without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as a secured party.

(b) Further Assurances . Each Grantor agrees, at the expense of the Borrower in accordance with Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement, to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to defend title to the Collateral against all Persons (other than Persons holding Permitted Liens on such Collateral that have priority over, or are pari passu with, the Collateral Agent’s Lien) and to defend the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien that is not a Permitted Lien.

(c) Change of Name, Etc . Following delivery of any notice required by Section 5.1(i) of the Credit Agreement, the relevant Grantor shall promptly make all filings required under the UCC or other applicable law and take all other actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent and deemed by the Collateral Agent to be necessary or reasonable and appropriate to ensure that the Collateral Agent shall continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal, enforceable (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 as well as principles of good faith and fair dealing) and perfected First Priority Lien in such Collateral for its benefit and the benefit of the other Secured Parties.

(d) Pledged Collateral .

(i) Delivery of Certificated Securities, Tangible Chattel Paper, Instruments and Documents . Each Grantor will (except as otherwise permitted by Section 5.15 of the Credit Agreement and other than pledged Equity Interests in Immaterial Subsidiaries and any pledged promissory note with a face amount of less than $5,000,000), (A) on the Closing Date, deliver to the Collateral Agent (or, with respect to ABL Priority Collateral, the ABL Administrative Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the originals of all (x) certificated Securities and (y) Tangible Chattel Paper and Instruments, in each case under this clause (y), having an individual face amount in excess of $5,000,000, but in each

 

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case under clauses (x) and (y), constituting Pledged Collateral owned by such Grantor as of the Closing Date, accompanied by undated instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank, (B) after the Closing Date, hold in trust for the Collateral Agent (or, with respect to ABL Priority Collateral, the ABL Administrative Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) upon receipt and, on or prior to the later to occur of (1) 30 days following the date of such receipt and (2) the next date required for delivery of a Compliance Certificate following such receipt (or such later date as may be acceptable to the Collateral Agent or ABL Administrative Agent, as applicable, in its reasonable discretion), deliver to the Collateral Agent (or, with respect to ABL Priority Collateral, the ABL Administrative Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) for the benefit of the Secured Parties any (x) certificated Securities and (y) Tangible Chattel Paper and Instruments, in each case under this clause (y), having an individual face amount in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate, in each case under clauses (x) and (y) constituting Pledged Collateral received during such Fiscal Quarter, accompanied by undated instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank and (C) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and upon the Collateral Agent’s (or, with respect to ABL Priority Collateral, the ABL Administrative Agent’s in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) request, deliver to the Collateral Agent or ABL Administrative Agent, as applicable, and thereafter hold in trust for the Collateral Agent upon receipt and promptly deliver to the Collateral Agent (or, with respect to ABL Priority Collateral, the ABL Administrative Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) any other certificated Securities, Tangible Chattel Paper or Document evidencing or constituting Collateral.

(ii) Uncertificated Securities and Pledged Collateral . With respect to (A) any partnership interest or limited liability company interest of any Grantor not represented by a certificate and/or which is not a Security for purposes of the UCC, such Grantor shall not permit any issuer of such partnership interests or limited liability company interests to (x) enter into any agreement with any Person, other than the Collateral Agent, whereby such issuer effectively delivers “control” of such partnership interests or limited liability company interests (as applicable) under the UCC to such Person, or (y) allow such partnership interests or limited liability company interests (as applicable) to become Securities unless, in the case of this clause (y), the issuer of such interests issues certificates representing such Securities and such Grantor complies with the procedures set forth in Section 4.2(d)(i) within the time period prescribed therein.

(iii) Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations . Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall hold certificated Pledged Collateral required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent under Section 4.2(d)(i) in the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent, but following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and upon three Business Days’ notice to the Borrower, the Collateral Agent shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Collateral in its own name as pledgee, or in the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent). Following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and upon three Business Days’ notice to the Borrower, the Collateral Agent shall at all times have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Collateral for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement.

 

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(iv) Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral .

(A) Without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (B) below, each Grantor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral for all purposes not inconsistent with this Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document;

(B) each Grantor will permit the Collateral Agent or its nominee at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default to exercise the rights and remedies provided under Section 7.1(a)(v) (subject to the notice requirements set forth therein); and

(C) subject to Section 7.1(a)(v), each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral; provided that any non-cash dividends or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Collateral, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Collateral or received in exchange for Pledged Collateral or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall, to the extent constituting Collateral, be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor, shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent as and to the extent required by Section 4.2(d)(i). So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to the applicable Grantor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) any Pledged Collateral in its possession if requested to be delivered to the issuer thereof in connection with any redemption or exchange of such Pledged Collateral permitted by the Credit Agreement.

(e) Intellectual Property . (i) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and upon the written request of the Collateral Agent, each Grantor will (A) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all consents and approvals necessary or appropriate for the assignment to or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent of any License held by such Grantor to enable the Collateral Agent to enforce the security interests granted hereunder and (B) to the extent required pursuant to any material License under which such Grantor is the licensee, deliver to the licensor thereunder any notice of the grant of security interest hereunder or such other notices required to be delivered thereunder in order to permit the security interest created or permitted to be created hereunder pursuant to the terms of such License.

(ii) Each Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent promptly if it knows that any application or registration of any Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Domain Name (now or hereafter existing) included in the Collateral has become abandoned or dedicated to the public, or of any determination or development (including the institution of, or any

 

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such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court in the United States) abandoning such Grantor’s ownership of any such Patent, Trademark or Copyright, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same, except, in each case, for dispositions of Intellectual Property permitted under the Credit Agreement (including discontinuing the use or maintenance of, failing to pursue, or otherwise abandoning, allowing to lapse, terminating or putting into the public domain such Intellectual Property) or where such occurrences individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) In the event that a Grantor (A) files an application for the registration of any Patent, Trademark or Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency in the United States which is part of the Collateral, (B) otherwise acquires Collateral comprised of any Patent, Trademark or Copyright registered or applied for with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency in the United States, or (C) files a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect to any “intent-to-use” Trademark application of such Grantor, it shall, on or prior to the later to occur of (y) 30 days following the date of such filing or acquisition and (z) the next date required for delivery of a Compliance Certificate following such filing or acquisition or, in each case, such later date as may be acceptable to the Collateral Agent in its discretion), provide the Collateral Agent with written notice thereof and, upon request of the Collateral Agent, such Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent the appropriate supplemental Intellectual Property Security Agreements to evidence the Collateral Agent’s security interest in such material United States Patent, Trademark (other than “intent to use” trademark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use”) or Copyright of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby.

(iv) Each Grantor shall take all actions necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to maintain and pursue each application and to obtain and maintain the registration of the United States Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Domain Names (now or hereafter existing) included in the Collateral, except where failure to do so (A) could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (B) is otherwise permitted under the Credit Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not prevent any Grantor from taking, nor obligate any Grantor to take, any action inconsistent with Section 6.7 of the Credit Agreement.

(v) Each Grantor shall (i) promptly notify the Collateral Agent of any infringement or misappropriation of such Grantor’s Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights or Trade Secrets of which it becomes aware and (ii) take all actions that are reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Trade Secret, except, in each case, where such Grantor’s failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Insurance . Except to the extent otherwise permitted to be retained by any Grantor or applied by such Grantor pursuant to the terms of the Credit Documents, the Collateral

 

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Agent shall, at the time any proceeds of any insurance are distributed to the Secured Parties, apply such proceeds in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof. Each Grantor assumes all liability and responsibility in connection with the Collateral acquired by it and the liability of such Grantor to pay the Obligations shall in no way be affected or diminished by reason of the fact that such Collateral may be lost, destroyed, stolen, damaged or for any reason whatsoever unavailable to such Grantor.

(g) Commercial Tort Claims . Within forty-five (45) days after the date of any additional Commercial Tort Claims for which a Grantor has filed a complaint in a court of competent jurisdiction, individually in excess of $10,000,000 arising since Schedule 1 was last delivered, such Grantor shall provide the Collateral Agent with an amended or supplemented Schedule 1 to reflect such additional Commercial Tort Claims.

SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL GRANTORS.

5.1 Additional Grantors . From time to time subsequent to the date hereof, additional Persons may become parties hereto as additional Grantors (each, an “ Additional Grantor ”), by executing and delivering to the Collateral Agent a fully completed Counterpart Agreement. Upon execution and delivery by the Collateral Agent and any Additional Grantor of a Counterpart Agreement, notice of which is hereby waived by Grantors, each Additional Grantor shall be a Grantor and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Additional Grantor were an original signatory hereto. Each Grantor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Grantor hereunder, nor by any election of the Collateral Agent not to cause any Subsidiary of Parent to become an Additional Grantor hereunder. This Agreement shall be fully effective as to any Grantor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Grantor hereunder.

SECTION 6. COLLATERAL AGENT APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.

6.1 Power of Attorney . Each Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent (such appointment being coupled with an interest) as such Grantor’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor, the Collateral Agent or otherwise, from time to time in the Collateral Agent’s discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument that the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including the following:

(a) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and with advance written notice to the applicable Grantor, to obtain and adjust insurance required to be maintained by such Grantor or paid to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement;

(b) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and with advance written notice to the applicable Grantor, to ask for, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compound, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in respect of any of the Collateral;

 

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(c) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, to receive, endorse and collect any drafts or other instruments, documents and chattel paper in connection with clause (b) above;

(d) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings that the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable for the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of the Collateral Agent with respect to any of the Collateral;

(e) to prepare and file any UCC financing statements against such Grantor as debtor;

(f) to prepare, sign, and file for recordation in any intellectual property registry in the United States, appropriate evidence of the lien and security interest granted herein in any Intellectual Property included in the Collateral that is registered in such registry in the name of such Grantor as debtor;

(g) to take or cause to be taken all actions necessary to perform or comply or cause performance or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, including to pay or discharge taxes or Liens (other than Permitted Liens) levied or placed upon or threatened against the Collateral, the legality or validity thereof and the amounts necessary to discharge the same to be determined by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, any such payments made by the Collateral Agent to become obligations of such Grantor to the Collateral Agent, due and payable immediately without demand; and

(h) generally to sell, transfer, lease, license, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do, at the Collateral Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time or from time to time, all acts and things that the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Collateral Agent’s security interest therein in order to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.1 to the contrary, the Collateral Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this Section unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

6.2 No Duty on the Part of Collateral Agent or Secured Parties . The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect the interests of the Secured Parties in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they nor any of their officers, directors, employees or agents (each a “ Related Person ”) shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for those due to (a) bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct or (b) a material breach of its express obligations hereunder, in each case, of the Collateral Agent or any of its Related Persons and as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and unappealable judgment.

 

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6.3 Appointment Pursuant to Credit Agreement . The Collateral Agent has been appointed as collateral agent pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Credit Agreement. The rights, duties, privileges, immunities and indemnities of the Collateral Agent hereunder, including, without limitation, the provisions relating to resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent, are subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, which are incorporated herein by this reference, and shall survive any termination of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 7. REMEDIES.

7.1 Generally .

(a) If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it at law or in equity, all the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent on default under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) to collect, enforce or satisfy any Obligations then owing, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and also may pursue any of the following separately, successively or simultaneously, in each case, in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(i) require any Grantor to, and each Grantor hereby agrees that it shall at its expense and promptly upon request of the Collateral Agent forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by the Collateral Agent and make it available to the Collateral Agent at a place to be designated by the Collateral Agent that is reasonably convenient to both parties;

(ii) enter onto the property where any Collateral is located and take possession thereof with or without judicial process;

(iii) prior to the disposition of the Collateral, store, process, repair or recondition the Collateral or otherwise prepare the Collateral for disposition in any manner to the extent the Collateral Agent deems commercially reasonable;

(iv) without notice except as specified below or under the UCC, sell, assign, lease, license (on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis) or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such time or times and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable; and

(v) upon three Business Days’ prior written notice to the Grantors, transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto (including, without

 

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limitation, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges, or options pertaining to any Capital Stock or Investment Property constituting Pledged Collateral), collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon and otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral as though the Collateral Agent was the outright owner thereof.

(b) The Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any public or private sale (to the extent that the portion of the Collateral being privately sold is of a kind that is customarily sold on a recognized market or the subject of widely distributed standard price quotations) in accordance with the UCC and the Collateral Agent, as collateral agent for and representative of the Secured Parties, 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 sale made in accordance with the UCC, 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. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) all rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal which it now has or may at any time in the future have under any law now existing or hereafter enacted. Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten (10) days’ notice to such Grantor 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 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 Grantor agrees that it would not be commercially unreasonable for the Collateral Agent to dispose, to the extent permitted by applicable law, of the Collateral or any portion thereof by using Internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets. Each Grantor hereby waives any claims against the Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price which might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. If the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all the Obligations, Grantors shall be liable for the deficiency and the fees of any attorneys employed by the Collateral Agent to collect such deficiency, subject in the case of attorneys’ fees in all respects to the reimbursement obligations as set forth in the Credit Agreement. Nothing in this Section 7.1 shall in any way limit the rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

(c) The Collateral Agent may sell the Collateral without giving any warranties as to the Collateral. The Collateral Agent may specifically disclaim or modify any warranties of title or the like. This procedure will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

(d) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to marshal any of the Collateral.

 

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7.2 Application of Proceeds . Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, or the Credit Agreement, all proceeds received by the Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, any collection from or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied in full or in part by the Collateral Agent against the Obligations in the following order of priority: first, to the payment of all costs and expenses of such sale, collection or other realization, including reasonable compensation to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and each of their agents and counsel, and all other expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred by each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in connection therewith, and all amounts for which the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent is entitled to indemnification hereunder (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and not as a Lender) and all advances made by each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent hereunder for the account of the applicable Grantor, and to the payment of all costs and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Credit Document, all in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof; second, to the extent of any excess of such proceeds, to the payment of all other Obligations for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties; and third, to the extent of any excess of such proceeds, to the payment to or upon the order of the applicable Grantor or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

7.3 Sales on Credit . If the Collateral Agent sells any of the Collateral upon credit, the Grantors will be credited only with payments actually made by the purchaser and received by the Collateral Agent. In the event the purchaser fails to pay for the Collateral, the Collateral Agent may resell the Collateral and the Grantors shall be credited with proceeds of the sale.

7.4 Account Verification; Compromise and Collection .

(a) The Collateral Agent may at any time and from time to time following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) and upon three Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower, in the Collateral Agent’s own name, in the name of a nominee of the Collateral Agent, or in the name of any Grantor communicate (by mail, telephone, facsimile or otherwise) with the account debtors of such Grantor, parties to contracts with such Grantor and obligors in respect of Instruments of such Grantor to verify with such Persons, to the Collateral Agent’s reasonable satisfaction, the existence, amount, terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Instruments, Chattel Paper, payment intangibles and/or other Receivables that are Collateral.

(b) Each Grantor agrees that the Collateral Agent may at any time and from time to time (in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement), if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, compromise with the obligor on any Receivable, accept in full payment of any Receivable such amount as the Collateral Agent in its discretion exercised in good faith shall determine or abandon any Receivable, and any such action by the Collateral Agent shall be commercially reasonable so long as the Collateral Agent acts in good faith based on information known to it at the time it takes any such action.

 

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7.5 Pledged Collateral . Each Grantor recognizes that the Collateral Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof. Each Grantor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit any Grantor or the issuer of the Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if any Grantor and the issuer would agree to do so.

7.6 Intellectual Property Remedies .

(a) For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise the rights and remedies under this Article 7 upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent a power of attorney to sign any document which may be required by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or similar registrar in order to effect an absolute assignment of all right, title and interest in each registered Patent, Trademark, Domain Name, and Copyright and each application for such registration, and record the same, in each case included in the Collateral. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may (i) declare the entire right, title and interest of such Grantor in and to each Patent, Trademark, Domain Name, Copyright or Trade Secret, in each case included in the Collateral, vested in the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in which event such rights, title and interest shall immediately vest, in the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to exercise the power of attorney referred to in this Section 7.6 to execute, cause to be acknowledged and notarized and record said absolute assignment with the applicable agency or registrar; (ii) sell any Grantor’s Inventory directly to any Person, including without limitation Persons who have previously purchased any Grantor’s Inventory from such Grantor and in connection with any such sale or other enforcement of the Collateral Agent’s rights under this Agreement, and may (subject to any restrictions contained in applicable third party licenses entered into by a Grantor) sell Inventory which bears any Trademark that is either owned by such Grantor and included in the Collateral or is licensed to such Grantor, and any Inventory that is either covered by any Copyright owned by such Grantor and included in the Collateral or is licensed to such Grantor, and the Collateral Agent may finish any work in process and affix any such relevant Trademark owned by or licensed to any Grantor thereto and sell such Inventory as provided herein, provided that (A) all goodwill arising from any such use of any such Trademark shall inure to the benefit of the Grantor and (B) the use of any such Trademark shall be subject to reasonable quality controls; (iii) direct such Grantor to refrain, in which event such Grantor shall refrain, from using any Patent, Trademark, Domain Name, Copyright, and Trade Secret included in the Collateral in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly; and (iv) assign or sell the Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Domain Names, and Trade Secrets included in the Collateral, as well as the goodwill of such Grantor’s business symbolized by such Trademarks and the right to carry on the business and use the assets of such Grantor in connection with which such Trademarks or Domain Names have been used.

 

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(b) Each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent an irrevocable, nonexclusive license to its right to use, license or sublicense any Patents, Trademarks (subject to reasonable quality controls), Copyrights, Domain Names and Trade Secrets now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor and included in the Collateral, wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for compilation or printout thereof; provided , however , that any license or sublicense under the Grantors’ confidential information or Trade Secrets shall include reasonable and customary terms to protect such Intellectual Property. The use of the license granted pursuant to the preceding sentence to the Collateral Agent may be exercised, at the option of the Collateral Agent, only upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and for the sole purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise its rights and remedies under this Article 7 and only at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies; provided , however , that any license, sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Collateral Agent in accordance with this clause (b) shall be binding upon each Grantor notwithstanding any subsequent or cure of an Event of Default.

7.7 Cash Proceeds . In addition to the rights of the Collateral Agent specified in Section 7.4 with respect to payments of Receivables, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then at the request of the Collateral Agent all proceeds of any Collateral received by any Grantor consisting of Cash or Cash Equivalents (collectively, “ Cash Proceeds ”) shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Collateral Agent, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Grantor be turned over to the Collateral Agent in the exact form received by such Grantor (duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent, if required) and held by the Collateral Agent. Any Cash Proceeds received by the Collateral Agent (whether from a Grantor or otherwise): (i) if no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, shall be held by the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for the Obligations (whether matured or unmatured) and (ii) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, may, in the discretion exercised in good faith of the Collateral Agent, (A) be held by the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for the Obligations (whether matured or unmatured) and/or (B) then or at any time thereafter may be applied by the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the applicable Secured Parties against the Obligations then due and owing.

SECTION 8. COLLATERAL AGENT.

The Collateral Agent has been appointed to act as Collateral Agent hereunder by Lenders and, by their acceptance of the benefits hereof, the other Secured Parties. The Collateral Agent shall be obligated, and shall have the right hereunder, to make demands, to give notices, to exercise or refrain from exercising any rights, and to take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, the release or substitution of Collateral), solely in accordance with this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement. In furtherance of the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Secured Party, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, agrees that it shall have no right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral hereunder, it being understood and agreed by such Secured Party that all rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of Secured Parties in accordance with the terms of this Section.

 

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SECTION 9. CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF LOANS; RELEASE OF COLLATERAL.

This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral, shall remain in full force and effect until the Termination Date, shall be binding upon each Grantor, its successors and assigns, and shall inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder, to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and its successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, any Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any Loans held by it to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to Lenders herein or otherwise. When the Termination Date has occurred or as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement, the security interest granted hereby shall automatically terminate hereunder and of record and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to Grantors. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is acknowledged that the Grantors will be automatically released from their Obligations under this Agreement and the Credit Agreement and from the security interests pledged by them under the Collateral Documents upon consummation of transactions permitted under the Credit Agreement (including a merger, consolidation or liquidation or a permitted Asset Sale, other than with respect to such transactions among Credit Parties) and Liens to secure the Obligations will be automatically released upon sales, dispositions or other transfers by Grantors permitted under the Credit Agreement, other than with respect to such transactions among Credit Parties. In the event that any action is necessary or required to evidence any such release, the Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to take any such action, in each case at Grantor’s expense, including:

(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under any Credit Document (i) upon termination of all Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations, (ii) that is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in connection with any sales, dispositions or other transfers by Grantors not prohibited under the Credit Agreement or under any other Credit Document, other than with respect to such transactions among Credit Parties or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 10.5 of the Credit Agreement;

(b) to release any Grantor from its obligations under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary, Guarantor or a Grantor as a result of a transaction permitted under the Credit Agreement;

(c) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.2 of the Credit Agreement; and

(d) to deliver to the applicable Grantor (or as directed by such Grantor) any certificates or instruments (as defined in the UCC) in the possession of the Collateral Agent or the termination of any control agreement for which its Lien is released or subordinated.

 

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SECTION 10. STANDARD OF CARE; COLLATERAL AGENT MAY PERFORM.

The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon all or any part of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Grantor or otherwise. If any Grantor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, the Collateral Agent may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by each Grantor under Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS.

11.1 Notices . Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be given in accordance with Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.

11.2 No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies . No Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 9.1), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Secured Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by any Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy which such Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

11.3 Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and Grantors and their respective successors and assigns. No Grantor shall, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent given in accordance with the Credit Agreement, assign any right, duty or obligation hereunder.

11.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

11.5 Severability . In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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11.6 Integration/Conflict. This Agreement and the other Credit Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Accordingly, the Credit Documents may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties.

11.7 Amendments. Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Collateral Agent and the Grantor or Grantors with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 10.5 of the Credit Agreement; provided that the Collateral Agent may, without the consent of any Secured Party, consent to a departure by any Grantor from any covenant of such Grantor set forth herein to the extent such departure is consistent with the authority of the Collateral Agent set forth in Section 8 above.

11.8 Intercreditor Governs. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Applicable Intercreditor Agreement.

11.9 APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN ANY MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF THE UCC RELATING TO THE LAW GOVERNING PERFECTION AND THE EFFECT OF PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTEREST).

11.10 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION/WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PROVISIONS OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT UNDER THE HEADINGS “CONSENT TO JURISDICTION” AND “WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL” ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY THIS REFERENCE AND SUCH INCORPORATION SHALL SURVIVE ANY TERMINATION OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor and the Collateral Agent have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

 

KRATON POLYMERS LLC
KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.
ELASTOMERS HOLDINGS LLC
KRATON POLYMERS U.S. LLC
KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION
AZ CHEM US HOLDINGS INC.
AZ CHEM INTERMEDIATE INC.
AZ CHEM US INC.
ARIZONA CHEMICAL COMPANY, LLC
ARIZONA CHEMICAL HOLDINGS
           CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Pledge and Security Agreement


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN

ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Christopher Day

Name:   Christopher Day
Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Karim Rahimtoola

Name:   Karim Rahimtoola
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Pledge and Security Agreement

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN, SECURITY AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

Dated as of January 6, 2016

among

KRATON POLYMERS U.S. LLC,

as Initial U.S. Borrower and a Guarantor,

ARIZONA CHEMICAL COMPANY, LLC,

as Added U.S. Borrower and Guarantor

KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.,

as Parent,

KRATON POLYMERS LLC,

KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION,

ARIZONA CHEMICAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION,

AZ CHEM INTERMEDIATE INC.,

AZ CHEM US HOLDINGS INC.,

AZ CHEM US INC.,

and

ELASTOMERS HOLDINGS LLC,

as Guarantors,

KRATON POLYMERS NEDERLAND B.V.,

as Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower,

K.P. GLOBAL HOLDINGS C.V.,

KRATON POLYMERS HOLDINGS B.V.,

and

KP INTERNATIONAL C.V.

as Foreign Guarantors,

any other Borrowers party hereto from time to time,

certain Persons party hereto from time to time as Guarantors,

CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,

as Lenders,

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Security Trustee

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

CREDIT SUISSE AG,

NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC., and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION      1   
    1.1.    Definitions      1   
    1.2.    Accounting Terms      69   
    1.3.    Uniform Commercial Code      69   
    1.4.    Certain Matters of Construction      69   
    1.5.    Currency Calculations      70   
SECTION 2. CREDIT FACILITIES      71   
    2.1.    Commitment      71   
    2.2.    Dutch Letters of Credit      78   
    2.3.    U.S. Letters of Credit      81   
    2.4.    Resignation of Fronting Banks      83   
    2.5.    Applicable Foreign Borrower Sublimits      84   
SECTION 3. INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES      84   
    3.1.    Interest      84   
    3.2.    Fees      86   
    3.3.    Computation of Interest and Fees      87   
    3.4.    Reimbursement Obligations      87   
    3.5.    Illegality      88   
    3.6.    Inability to Determine Rates      88   
    3.7.    Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy      89   
    3.8.    [Reserved]      90   
    3.9.    Mitigation      90   
    3.10.    Funding Losses      90   
    3.11.    Maximum Interest      90   
SECTION 4. LOAN ADMINISTRATION      91   
    4.1.    Manner of Borrowing and Funding Loans      91   
    4.2.    Defaulting Lender      93   
    4.3.    Number and Amount of LIBOR Loans; Determination of Rate      94   
    4.4.    Loan Party Agents      94   
    4.5.    One Obligation      95   
    4.6.    Effect of Termination      95   
SECTION 5. PAYMENTS      95   
    5.1.    General Payment Provisions      95   
    5.2.    Repayment of Obligations      96   
    5.3.    Payment of Other Obligations      96   
    5.4.    Marshaling; Payments Set Aside      96   
    5.5.    Post-Default Allocation of Payments      97   
    5.6.    Application of Payments      99   
    5.7.    Loan Account; Account Stated      99   
    5.8.    Taxes      100   
    5.9.    Lender Tax Information      103   
    5.10.    Guarantees      104   
    5.11.    Currency Matters      109   


SECTION 6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT      110   
    6.1.    Conditions Precedent to Loans on the Closing Date      110   
    6.2.    Conditions Precedent to All Subsequent Credit Extensions      112   
SECTION 7. COLLATERAL      113   
    7.1.    Grant of Security Interest      113   
    7.2.    Cash Collateral      117   
    7.3.    Administration      118   
    7.4.    No Assumption of Liability      118   
    7.5.    Further Assurances      118   
    7.6.    Termination of Security Interest      119   
    7.7.    Real Estate Collateral      119   
SECTION 8. COLLATERAL ADMINISTRATION      119   
    8.1.    Borrowing Base Certificates      119   
    8.2.    Administration of Accounts      120   
    8.3.    Administration of Inventory      121   
    8.4.    Administration of Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodity Accounts      122   
    8.5.    General Provisions      122   
    8.6.    Power of Attorney      123   
SECTION 9. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      123   
    9.1.    General Representations and Warranties      123   
    9.2.    Complete Disclosure      129   
SECTION 10. COVENANTS AND CONTINUING AGREEMENTS      129   
    10.1.    Affirmative Covenants      129   
    10.2.    Negative Covenants      136   
    10.3.    Financial Covenants      151   
SECTION 11. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES ON DEFAULT      151   
    11.1.    Events of Default      151   
    11.2.    Remedies upon Default      153   
    11.3.    License      154   
    11.4.    Setoff      154   
    11.5.    Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver      154   
    11.6.    Judgment Currency      155   
SECTION 12. AGENT AND SECURITY TRUSTEES      155   
    12.1.    Appointment, Authority and Duties of Agent      155   
    12.2.    Dutch Security Trustee      156   
    12.3.    Agreements Regarding Collateral and Field Examination Reports      161   
    12.4.    Reliance By Agent      163   
    12.5.    Action Upon Default      163   
    12.6.    Ratable Sharing      163   
    12.7.    Indemnification      163   
    12.8.    Limitation on Responsibilities of Agent      164   
    12.9.    Successor Agent and Co-Agents      164   
    12.10.    Due Diligence and Non-Reliance      165   
    12.11.    Remittance of Payments and Collections      165   
    12.12.    Agent in its Individual Capacity      166   


    12.13.    Agent Titles      166   
    12.14.    Bank Product Providers      166   
    12.15.    Withholding Taxes      166   
    12.16.    No Third Party Beneficiaries      167   
SECTION 13. BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS      167   
    13.1.    Successors and Assigns      167   
    13.2.    Participations      167   
    13.3.    Assignments      168   
SECTION 14. MISCELLANEOUS      170   
    14.1.    Consents, Amendments and Waivers      170   
    14.2.    Indemnity      173   
    14.3.    Notices and Communications      173   
    14.4.    Performance of Loan Parties’ Obligations      174   
    14.5.    Credit Inquiries      175   
    14.6.    Severability      175   
    14.7.    Cumulative Effect; Conflict of Terms      175   
    14.8.    Counterparts      175   
    14.9.    Entire Agreement      175   
    14.10.    Relationship with Lenders      175   
    14.11.    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      175   
    14.12.    Confidentiality      176   
    14.13.    [Reserved]      176   
    14.14.    GOVERNING LAW      176   
    14.15.    Consent to Forum      177   
    14.16.    Patriot Act Notice      177   
    14.17.    [Reserved]      178   
    14.18.    Reinstatement      178   
    14.19.    Nonliability of Lenders      178   
    14.20.    Restrictions on Foreign Pledges      178   
    14.21.    NO ORAL AGREEMENTS      179   
    14.22.    ABL Intercreditor Agreement      179   
    14.23.    Amendment and Restatement      179   


LIST OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit A-1   Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit A-2   Form of Assignment Notice
Exhibit B-1   Form of U.S. Kraton Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit B-2   Form of U.S. Arizona Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit B-3   Form of Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit C-1   Form of Dutch Revolver Note
Exhibit C-2   Form of U.S. Revolver Note
Exhibit D   Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit E   Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit F   Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit G   Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit H-1   Form of U.S. Tax Certificate for Foreign Lenders that are not Partnerships
Exhibit H-2   Form of U.S. Tax Certificate for Foreign Participants that are not Partnerships
Exhibit H-3   Form of U.S. Tax Certificate for Foreign Participants that are Partnerships
Exhibit H-4   Form of U.S. Tax Certificate for Foreign Lenders that are Partnerships
Exhibit I   Form of Release Confirmation Letter
Exhibit J   Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit K   Form of Joinder Agreement for Arizona Chemical B.V.
Schedule 2.1.1(a)   Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment
Schedule 2.1.1(b)   U.S. Revolver Commitment
Schedule 7.1.3   Excluded Property
Schedule 8.4   Accounts
Schedule 8.5.1   Location of Inventory
Schedule 9.1.4   Subsidiaries; Capital Structure
Schedule 9.1.8   Supplier Financing Transactions


Schedule 9.1.11   Intellectual Property
Schedule 9.1.14   Compliance with Environmental Laws
Schedule 9.1.15   Restrictive Agreements
Schedule 9.1.16   Litigation
Schedule 9.1.17   Insurance
Schedule 9.1.20   Labor Relations
Schedule 10.1.18   Post-Closing Items
Schedule 10.2.1(c)   Permitted Debt
Schedule 10.2.1(h)   Permitted Intercompany Debt
Schedule 10.2.2   Permitted Liens
Schedule 10.2.4   Investments Existing on the Closing Date


AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN, SECURITY AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN, SECURITY AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of January 6, 2016, among KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC. , a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), KRATON POLYMERS U.S. LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Initial U.S. Borrower ”), ARIZONA CHEMICAL COMPANY, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Added U.S. Borrower ”), and KRATON POLYMERS NEDERLAND B.V. , a besloten vennootschap (a private limited liability company) organized under the laws of the Netherlands (the “ Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower ”) and together with Initial U.S. Borrower, Added U.S. Borrower, the Initial Kraton Arizona Borrower, and each other Subsidiary of the Parent that becomes a Borrower in accordance with Section 10.1.9, the “ Borrowers ” and each, a “ Borrower ”), the other Persons from time to time party to this Agreement as Guarantors, the financial institutions from time to time party to this Agreement as lenders (collectively, “ Lenders ”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , a national banking association, in its capacity as collateral agent, administrative agent and security trustee for itself and the other Secured Parties (together with any successor agent appointed pursuant to Section 12.9, the “ Agent ”).

R E C I T A L S:

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in these Recitals and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, the original lenders party thereto have provided to Initial U.S. Borrower and Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower senior secured revolving credit facilities to finance their mutual and collective business in an initial aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000 consisting of a foreign revolving credit facility in the initial facility amount of $100,000,000 and a U.S. revolving credit facility in the initial facility amount of $150,000,000.

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Agent, the Lenders party hereto and the Loan Parties party hereto desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement to among other things, (a) add Additional U.S. Borrower as a U.S. Borrower and add additional Loan Parties, (b) amend certain terms and provisions of the credit facilities provided for in the Existing Credit Agreement, and (c) ratify all Liens granted to Agent in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and the Obligations thereunder, without causing a novation or extinguishment of any outstanding Obligations or termination of any outstanding Liens (including for Belgian, English, Dutch, French and German law purposes).

NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

1.1. Definitions . As used herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

ABL Intercreditor Agreement : means that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated on or about the Closing Date, by and among Term Agent, in its capacity as agent for the Fixed Asset Lenders (as defined therein), Agent, and acknowledged by certain Loan Parties, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

ABL Priority Collateral : the “ABL Priority Collateral” as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Account : as defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

Account Debtor : any Person who is obligated under an Account.

Accounting Changes : as defined in Section 1.2.

Acquisition : a transaction or series of transactions resulting in (a) acquisition of a business, division, or substantially all assets of a Person; (b) record or beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the Equity Interests of a Person; or (c) merger, consolidation or combination of Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary with another Person.

Added U.S. Borrower Field Exam and Inventory Appraisal : an examination of the Added U.S. Borrower’s books and records or any other financial or Collateral matters as Agent deems appropriate conducted by a Person satisfactory to Agent and appraisals of Inventory to be included in the U.S. Borrowing Base to be conducted by a Person satisfactory to Agent, in each case, to the extent acceptable to Agent, in its Permitted Discretion.

Additional Dutch Kraton Lender : as defined in Section 2.1.7(a).

Additional Foreign Borrower : means any Person that is organized and operates outside of the U.S. that, after the date hereof, has executed a supplement or joinder to this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1.9 and has satisfied the other requirements of Section 10.1.9 in order to become a Foreign Borrower hereunder.

Additional Lender : as defined in Section 2.1.7(b).

Additional U.S. Lender : as defined in Section 2.1.7(b).

Affiliate : with respect to any Person, any branch of such Person or any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. For purpose of this definition, (a) “ Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote 20% or more of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, in the case of a corporation, or equivalent governing body, in the case of any other type of legal entity, of a Person or (ii) to otherwise 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 and (b) “ Controlled ” has a correlative meaning. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Joint Lead Arrangers, Joint Book Managers, the Agent, the Co-Syndication Agents, their respective lending affiliates or any entity acting as a Fronting Bank hereunder shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Parent, the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

Agent : as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Agent Indemnitees : the Agent and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates and agents, including, without limitation, the Security Trustees.

Agent Professionals : attorneys, accountants, appraisers, auditors, business valuation experts, environmental engineers or consultants, turnaround consultants, and other professionals and experts retained by the Agent.

 

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Agreement : this Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guarantee Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Allocable Amount : as defined in Section 5.10.3(b).

AML Legislation : as defined in Section 14.16.

Anti-Terrorism Law : any law relating to terrorism or money laundering, including the Proceeds of Crime Act and the Patriot Act.

Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower : (a) Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower or (b) any other Dutch Kraton Borrower, as the context may require.

Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower Commitment : with respect to any Dutch Kraton Borrower, the maximum amount of Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments under which such Dutch Kraton Borrower may borrow Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans or request the issuance of Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit, as designated by the North American Loan Party Agent from time to time, and in an aggregate amount for all Dutch Kraton Borrowers not to exceed the total Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments.

Applicable Foreign Borrower : (a) an Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, or (b) any other Foreign Borrower, as the context requires.

Applicable Foreign Borrower Commitment : any Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower Commitment or the maximum amount of Revolver Commitments with respect to an Applicable Foreign Borrower, from time to time, as the context may require.

Applicable Law : all laws, rules, regulations and legally binding governmental guidelines applicable to the Person, conduct, transaction, agreement or matter in question, including all applicable statutory law and common law, and all provisions of constitutions, treaties, statutes, rules, regulations, orders and decrees of Governmental Authorities having the force of law.

Applicable Lenders : (a) with respect to the U.S. Borrowers, the U.S. Lenders, or (b) with respect to the Dutch Kraton Borrowers, the Dutch Kraton Lenders.

Applicable Margin : with respect to any Type of Loan and any other Obligations specified below, the respective margin set forth below, based on the Borrowers’ Average Total Excess Availability for the most recent Fiscal Quarter determined as of the most recent determination date:

 

Level

  

Average Total Excess
Availability

  

LIBOR Loans, European
Base Rate Loans and

Letter of Credit Fees

  

U.S. Base Rate Loans

I

   > $80,000,000    1.50%    0.50%

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

II

   ³ $40,000,000 but < $80,000,000    1.75%    0.75%

III

   < $40,000,000    2.00%    1.00%

 

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Until the delivery to the Agent, pursuant to Section 8.1, of a Borrowing Base Certificate for each Borrowing Base covering the first calendar month ending after the Closing Date, the Applicable Margin shall be determined as if Level II were applicable. Thereafter, (a) the Applicable Margin shall be determined (i) on the first day of the calendar month until the end of the first Fiscal Quarter ended after the Closing Date and (ii) as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter, in each case based upon the Borrowing Base Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 and (b) each change in the Applicable Margin shall be effective during the period commencing on the first day of the calendar month following the receipt by the Agent of the financial statements and Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter or, in the case of the last Fiscal Quarter of each year, the calendar year then ended pursuant to Section 10.1.2(a) or (b), as applicable, and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. Average Total Excess Availability shall be deemed to be in Level III at the option of the Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders if the Loan Party Agents fail to deliver any Borrowing Base Certificate required to be delivered by any of them pursuant to Section 8.1, during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until such Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered.

Applicable U.S. Borrower : (a) the Initial U.S. Borrower, (b) the Added U.S. Borrower, or (c) any other U.S. Borrower, as the context may require.

Approved Fund : any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in its Ordinary Course of Business, has the capacity to fund Revolver Loans hereunder and is administered or managed by a Lender, an entity that administers or manages a Lender, or an Affiliate of either.

Arizona Chemical Acquisition : the acquisition on the Closing Date by KPLLC of all the Equity Interests in Arizona Chemical Holdings pursuant to the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Documents.

Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement : that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2015, among KPLLC, Arizona Chemical Holdings and AZC Holding Company LLC, together with all exhibits, schedules and annexes thereto.

Arizona Chemical Acquisition Documents : collectively, the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement and each other document, instrument, certificate and agreement executed and delivered in connection therewith.

Arizona Chemical Holdings : Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Assignment and Acceptance : an assignment agreement between a Lender and Eligible Assignee, in the form of Exhibit A-1 .

Availability : Dutch Kraton Availability and/or U.S. Availability, as the context may require.

Average Total Excess Availability : for any period, the average daily Excess Availability during such period.

Bank of America : Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association, and its successors and assigns.

Bank of America (London) : Bank of America (acting through its London branch).

Bank of America Indemnitees : Bank of America, Bank of America (London), and their respective officers, directors, employees, Affiliates and agents.

 

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Bank Product : any of the following products, services (other than cash management services) or facilities extended to any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary of Parent by a Lender or any of its Affiliates or any Person that is not a Lender hereunder (in the case of clause (b), at the time the Hedge Agreement is executed or, if such time is prior to the Closing Date, on the Closing Date): (a) Banking Services; (b) products under Hedge Agreements; (c) other banking products or services as may be requested by any Borrower or any other Loan Party, other than Loans and Letters of Credit and (d) any other demand deposit, operating account relationships or money market accounts.

Bank Product Debt : Debt and other obligations of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Bank Products.

Bank Product Document : any agreement, instrument or other document entered into in connection with any Bank Product Debt.

Banking Services : any of the following services: (a) commercial credit cards, merchant cards, and purchasing card services (including, without limitation, the processing of payments and other administrative services with respect thereto), (b) stored value cards and (c) Treasury Management Services.

Base Rate : European Base Rate and/or U.S. Base Rate, as the context requires.

Base Rate Loan : a European Base Rate Loan and/or U.S. Base Rate Loan, as the context requires.

Belgian Security Agreement : each pledge and security agreement governed by Belgian law by and among any Dutch Domiciled Loan Party and the Dutch Security Trustee.

Board of Governors : the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Borrowed Money : with respect to any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, without duplication, its (a) Debt that (i) arises from the lending of money by any Person to such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) is evidenced by notes, drafts, bonds, debentures, loan agreements or similar instruments, (iii) accrues interest or is a type upon which interest charges are customarily paid; (b) Capital Lease Obligations; (c) reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued for the account of such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary; and (d) guaranties of any Debt of the foregoing types owing by another Person.

Borrower and Borrowers : as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrower Group : a group consisting of (a) the U.S. Borrowers, (b) the Dutch Kraton Borrowers, and (c) Additional Foreign Borrowers, as the context requires.

Borrower Group Commitment : with respect to the commitment of (a) a U.S. Lender, its U.S. Revolver Commitment, and (b) a Dutch Kraton Lender, its Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment. The term “Borrower Group Commitments” means (i) the Borrower Group Commitment of all U.S. Lenders, or (ii) the Borrower Group Commitment of all Dutch Kraton Lenders, as the context requires. To the extent any Lender has more than one Borrower Group Commitment, each such Commitment shall be considered as a separate Commitment for purposes of this definition.

 

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Borrower Materials : Borrowing Base information, reports, financial statements and other materials delivered in writing by Borrowers hereunder, as well as other Reports and information provided by the Agent to Lenders.

Borrowing : a group of Loans of one Type that are made on the same day or are converted into Loans of one Type on the same day.

Borrowing Base : (a) the U.S. Borrowing Base, and/or (b) the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base, as the context requires.

Borrowing Base Certificate : a certificate, duly executed by a Senior Officer of the Foreign Loan Party Agent or the North American Loan Party Agent, as applicable, in the form of (a)  Exhibit B-1 with respect to the portion of the U.S. Borrowing Base applicable to the Initial U.S. Borrower, (b) Exhibit B-2 with respect to the portion of the U.S. Borrowing Base applicable to the Added U.S. Borrower, and (c)  Exhibit B-3 with respect to the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base, in each case, with such changes as may be agreed to by such Loan Party Agent and the Agent, setting forth the Borrowers’ calculation of their respective Borrowing Base (including, without limitation, the then-current listing of all Account Debtors participating in any Supplier Financing Transaction with Parent and/or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates or Kraton SPV, as applicable).

Business Day : any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any other day that is a legal holiday under the Applicable Laws of the State of New York, the State of Texas or the United Kingdom, or is a day on which banking institutions located in such states are authorized to close, or are in fact closed; and when used with reference to (a) a LIBOR Loan (and related interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments), the term shall also exclude any day on which banks are authorized to close, or are in fact closed for the transaction of banking business in London, England, and (b) a Dutch Revolver Loan (and related interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments), shall also exclude any day (i) on which banks are not open for the transaction of banking business in London, England or the Netherlands and (ii) in respect of any such Revolver Loan denominated in Euros (and related interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments), any day that is not a TARGET Day.

Capital Expenditures : capital expenditures made by a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary for the acquisition of fixed assets, or any improvements, replacements, substitutions or additions thereto with a useful life of more than one year; provided , however , that Capital Expenditures shall not include any such expenditures which are: (a) made with the proceeds of any contribution of capital to Parent or sale or issuance by Parent of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests), in each case, the proceeds of which have been contributed to Borrowers and which are designated as being for such purpose by written notice from the applicable Loan Party Agent, (b) Permitted Acquisitions, (c) made with net proceeds of the sale or other Disposition (including by casualty or condemnation) of a capital asset reinvested in assets to the extent made within 364 days of the date of such sale or disposition (or committed to be invested within such 364 day period and invested within 180 days thereafter), (d) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets to the extent financed with (I) insurance proceeds paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced, restored or repaired, or (II) awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced, (e) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time, (f) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent neither the Parent nor any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to

 

6


provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period) to make payment for such assets, provided that (I) any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period in which such expenditure actually is made and (II) such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired or (g) that portion of interest on Indebtedness incurred for Capital Expenditures which is paid in cash and capitalized in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Lease : as applied to any Person, any lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

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

Cash Collateral : cash held in the applicable Cash Collateral Account specifically for the purpose of constituting “Cash Collateral” under this Agreement and which is subject to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of Agent or the applicable Security Trustee, and any interest or other income earned thereon.

Cash Collateral Account : the U.S. Cash Collateral Account and/or Dutch Kraton Cash Collateral Account, as the context may require.

Cash Collateralize : the delivery of Cash Collateral to the Agent or a Security Trustee, as security for the payment of Secured Obligations, in an amount equal to (a) with respect to LC Obligations, 105% of the aggregate LC Obligations, and (b) with respect to any inchoate, contingent or other Secured Obligations, the Agent’s good faith estimate of the amount that is due or could become due, including all fees and other amounts relating to such Secured Obligations. “ Cash Collateralization ” and “ Cash Collateralized ” have a correlative meaning.

Cash Dominion Event : the occurrence of any one of the following events: (a) an Event of Default under Section 11.1(a) or (g) shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) any other Event of Default under Section 11.1 shall have occurred and be continuing and the Agent or Required Lenders shall have determined (by written notice to Borrowers) to declare a Cash Dominion Event as a result of such Event of Default (until such time as such Event of Default is no longer continuing), (c) U.S. Availability shall be less than the greater of (A) 12.50% of the U.S. Line Cap and (B) $18,750,000 (and in the case of this clause (c), the Agent has notified Parent thereof); provided that, to the extent that a Cash Dominion Event has occurred as a result of clause (c)(A) above, if U.S. Availability shall have exceeded the greater of (x) 12.50% of the U.S. Line Cap and (y) $18,750,000 at all times for at least forty-five (45) consecutive days, the Cash Dominion Event shall be deemed to be over. At any time that a Cash Dominion Event shall be deemed to be over or otherwise cease to exist, the Agent shall take such actions as may reasonably be requested by a Loan Party Agent to terminate the cash sweeps and other transfers existing pursuant to Section 5.6 as a result of any notice or direction given by the Agent during the existence of a Cash Dominion Event (other than with respect to the Dutch Borrowers).

Cash Equivalents : means:

(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

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(b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any Lender or any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;

(e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a 7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and AAA by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000;

(f) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least A by S&P or Moody’s;

(g) any money market fund of which the assets are comprised of not less than 90% of the items specified in clauses (a) through (c), (e) or (f) above; and

(h) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary investments denominated in the currency of the jurisdiction in which such Person is organized which are similar to the items specified in clauses (a) through (f) above (other than the nationality of the governmental or non-governmental issuer or counterparty involved).

CERCLA : the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq .).

Change in Law : the occurrence, after the date hereof, of (a) the adoption, taking effect or phasing in of any law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof; or (c) the making, issuance or application of any request, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided , however , that “Change in Law” shall include, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued, all requests, guidelines, requirements or directives (i) under or relating to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or (ii) promulgated pursuant to Basel III by the Bank of International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any similar authority) or any other Governmental Authority.

Change in Tax Law : the enactment, promulgation, execution or ratification of, or any change in or amendment to, any law (including the Code), treaty, regulation or rule (or in the official application or interpretation of any law, treaty, regulation or rule, including a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction) relating to taxation.

Change of Control : means (a) during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of Parent ceases to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first

 

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day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) of this clause (a)  who, at the time of such election or nomination, constitute at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or a majority of any nominating committee of the board, (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of this clause (a)  who, at the time of such election or nomination, constitute at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or a majority of any nominating committee of the board, or (iv) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the Closing Date; (b) Parent shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests in KPLLC; (c) subject to the actions permitted by Section 10.2.8, KPLLC shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests in the U.S. Borrower or the Dutch Borrowers; (d) so long as any Term Debt remains outstanding, the occurrence of any “Change of Control”, as such term is defined in the Term Loan Agreement; (e) so long as any Senior Notes remain outstanding, the occurrence of any “Change of Control” as such term is defined in the Senior Notes Indenture; or (f) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Parent in contravention of this Agreement.

Claims : all claims, liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, judgments, proceedings, interest, costs and expenses (including remedial response costs, reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees which shall be limited to the fees, disbursements and other charges of one outside counsel, and if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for the Indemnitees (unless there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest or the availability of different claims or defenses in which case each such Indemnitee may retain its own counsel) and Extraordinary Expenses) at any time (including after Full Payment of the Obligations or replacement of the Agent or any Lender) incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Loan Party or other Person, in any way relating to (a) any Loans, Letters of Credit, Loan Documents, Borrower Materials, or the use thereof or transactions relating thereto, (b) any action taken or omitted in connection with any Loan Documents, (c) the existence or perfection of any Liens, or realization upon any Collateral, (d) exercise of any rights or remedies under any Loan Documents or Applicable Law, or (e) failure by any Loan Party to perform or observe any terms of any Loan Document, in each case including all costs and expenses relating to any investigation, litigation, arbitration, settlement (which settlement costs will be subject to consultation with the Borrowers) or other proceeding (including an Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceedings), whether or not the applicable Indemnitee is a party thereto.

Closing Date : as defined in Section 6.1.

Code : the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (unless as specifically provided otherwise), as amended to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter, and any successor statute.

Collateral : all Property described in Section 7.1, all Property described in any Security Document as security for any Secured Obligations, and all other Property that now or hereafter secures (or is intended to secure) any Secured Obligations.

Commitment : for any Lender, the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Borrower Group Commitments . “Commitments” means the aggregate amount of all Borrower Group Commitments (not to exceed the Maximum Facility Amount), which amount shall on the Closing Date be equal to $250,000,000 consisting of (a) $75,000,000 in respect of the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments, and (b) $175,000,000 in respect of the U.S. Revolver Commitments, in each case as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including pursuant to any applicable Revolver Commitment Increases or Allocations.

 

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Commitment Letter : the letter agreement, dated October 7, 2015, among KPLLC, the Agent, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, the Joint Lead Arrangers, et al.

Commitment Parties : as defined in the Commitment Letter.

Commodity Account : as defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

Commodity Account Control Agreement : the commodity account control agreements (whether in the form of an agreement, notice and acknowledgement or like instrument), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the applicable Loan Party, and, if required under the laws of the jurisdiction of the commodity account, executed by each financial institution or commodity intermediary maintaining a Commodity Account for such Loan Party, in favor of the Agent or a Security Trustee.

Commodity Exchange Act : the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Company Material Adverse Effect : has the meaning assigned to such term in the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement.

Compliance Certificate : a certificate, in the form of Exhibit D with such changes as may be agreed to by North American Loan Party Agent and the Agent, by which the North American Loan Party certifies to the matters set forth in Section 10.1.2(d).

Confirmation Agreement : Confirmation Agreement regarding certain Security Interests, confirming the effectiveness of the German Security Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, duly executed by Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower and Security Trustee.

Consolidated Tangible Assets : as of any date of determination, the aggregate of the assets of the Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries less goodwill and all assets properly classified as intangible assets in accordance with GAAP, in each case, on a consolidated basis, after giving effect to purchase accounting and as of the most recent Fiscal Quarter ended for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 10.1.2.

Consolidated Total Assets means, on any date, the total assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP as of the last day of the Fiscal Quarter immediately preceding the date of determination.

Contingent Obligation : as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Debt of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Debt or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such Debt or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such Debt of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such Debt or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of such Debt against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Debt in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

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Contract Rights : all rights of any Loan Party under each Contract, including, without limitation, (i) any and all rights to receive and demand payments under any or all Contracts, (ii) any and all rights to receive and compel performance under any or all Contracts and (iii) any and all other rights, interests and claims now existing or in the future arising in connection with any or all Contracts.

Contracts : all contracts between any Loan Party and one or more additional parties (including, without limitation, any hedging agreements, licensing agreements and any partnership agreements, joint venture agreements and limited liability company agreements).

Copyrights : with respect to any Loan Party, all of such Loan Party’s right, title and interest in and to the following: (i) all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyright whether published or unpublished, copyright registrations, and copyright applications; (ii) all renewals of any of the foregoing; (iii) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including, damages or payments for past or future infringements for any of the foregoing; (iv) the right to sue for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (v) all domestic rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

Credit Documents : the Loan Documents and the Secured Bank Product Documents.

Credit Party : the Agent, a Lender or any Fronting Bank; and “ Credit Parties ” means the Agent, Lenders and Fronting Banks.

Creditor Representative : under any Applicable Law, a receiver, manager, controller, interim receiver, receiver and manager, trustee (including any trustee in bankruptcy), custodian, conservator, administrator, examiner, sheriff, monitor, assignee, liquidator, provisional liquidator, sequestrator, administrative receiver, judicial manager, statutory manager or similar officer or fiduciary.

CWA : the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq .).

Debt : as applied to any Person, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) the deferred purchase price of assets or services that in accordance with GAAP would be included as liabilities on the balance sheet of such Person; (c) all reimbursement obligations in connection with letters of credit issued for the account of such Person; (d) all Disqualified Equity Interests; (e) all non-recourse Debt secured by any Lien on any property owned by such Person, whether or not such Debt has been assumed, (f) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and (g) all obligations of such Person under Hedge Agreements (but taking into account only the mark-to-market value or, if any actual amount is due as a result of the termination or close out of such transaction, that amount) and (i) all Contingent Obligations of such Person; provided that Debt shall not include (i) trade payables and accrued expenses, in each case arising in the Ordinary Course of Business, (ii) deferred or prepaid revenue, (iii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, (iv) endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the Ordinary Course of Business and (v) indemnity obligations, purchase price adjustments or earn-out obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any Specified Transaction or acquisition or disposition of assets or Equity Interests permitted under this Agreement. The Debt of a Person shall include any recourse Debt of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or joint venture except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Debt is otherwise limited and only to the extent (A) such Debt would be included in the calculation of Total Debt and (B) in the case of Parent and its Subsidiaries, such Debt does not include all intercompany Debt having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the Ordinary Course of Business. The amount of Debt of any Person for purposes of clause (e) shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Debt and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

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Default : an event or condition that, with the lapse of time or giving of notice, would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Rate : for any Obligation (including, to the extent permitted by law, interest not paid when due), 2.00% per annum plus the interest rate otherwise applicable thereto, or if such Obligation does not bear interest, a rate equal to the U.S. Base Rate plus 2.00% per annum.

Defaulting Lender : any Lender that, as reasonably determined by the Agent, (a) has failed to perform any funding obligations hereunder, and such failure is not cured within two (2) Business Days (unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied); (b) has notified the Agent or any Borrower that such Lender does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied); (c) has failed, within one (1) Business Day following written request by the Agent and/or Parent, to confirm in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agent that such Lender will comply with its funding obligations hereunder; provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt by the Agent and/or the Parent of such confirmation; or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, become the subject of an Insolvency Proceeding or taken any action in furtherance thereof; provided , however , that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of a Governmental Authority’s ownership of an Equity Interest in such Lender or parent company, so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the U.S. or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts made with such Lender.

Deposit Account : (i) any “deposit account” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC and (ii) with respect to any such Deposit Account located outside of the U.S., any bank account with a deposit function.

Deposit Account Control Agreements : the deposit account control agreements (whether in the form of an agreement, notice and acknowledgement or like instrument) (i) other than in the case of any Dutch Kraton Dominion Account, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the applicable Loan Party and executed by each lockbox servicer (if applicable) and financial institution maintaining a lockbox and/or Deposit Account for a Loan Party, in favor of the Agent or a Security Trustee, for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties and (ii) in the case of each Dutch Kraton Dominion Account in substantially the form executed and delivered by the Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower, the Dutch Security Trustee and Bank of America as account bank as a condition precedent to the making of any Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan or the issuing of any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit (or such other form as the Agent (acting reasonably) may approve).

Designated Non-Cash Consideration : the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a Disposition pursuant to Section 10.2.5(a) that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Senior Officer of the

 

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relevant Loan Party Agent, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash within 180 days following the consummation of the applicable Disposition).

Dilution Percent : the percent, determined for each applicable Borrower (and in the case of the U.S. Borrowers, determined for all U.S. Borrowers in the aggregate) for the most recent Fiscal Quarter, equal to (a) bad debt write-downs or write-offs, discounts, returns, promotions, credits, credit memos and other dilutive items with respect to the applicable Borrower’s Accounts, divided by (b) gross sales of the applicable Borrower.

Disposition : as defined in Section 10.2.5(a).

Disqualified Equity Interests : means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder of the Equity Interest), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Equity Interest, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Facility Termination Date. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Equity Interest that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because the holders of the Equity Interests have the right to require the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary to repurchase such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests if the terms of such Equity Interests provide that the Parent or Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, may not repurchase or redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 10.2.3. The amount of Disqualified Equity Interests deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Agreement will be the maximum amount that the Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Equity Interests, exclusive of accrued dividends.

Distribution : any declaration or payment of a distribution, interest or dividend (whether in cash, securities or other Property) on any Equity Interest or Equity Interest Equivalent of Parent or any Subsidiary (other than payment-in-kind); any distribution, advance or repayment of Debt to a holder of Equity Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents of Parent or any Subsidiary; or any purchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interest or Equity Interest Equivalent of Parent or any Subsidiary.

Document : as defined in (i) Article 9 of the UCC and/or (ii) with respect to any Document of a Dutch Domiciled Loan Party, a ceel or other bearer document ( stuk aan toonder of order ) within the meaning of section 7:607 of the Dutch Civil Code or any other Applicable Law, as applicable.

Dollar Equivalent : on any date, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount in Dollars, and (b) with respect to any stated amount in a lawful currency other than Dollars, the amount of Dollars that the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) would be necessary to be sold on such date at the applicable Exchange Rate to obtain the stated amount of the other currency.

Dollars and $ : lawful money of the United States.

Domain Name : all Internet domain names and associated URL addresses in or to which any Loan Party now or hereafter has any right, title or interest.

 

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Domestic Subsidiary : any Subsidiary that is organized under the Applicable Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Domestic Arizona Subsidiary : any Subsidiary of the Added U.S. Borrower that is organized under the Applicable Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Dominion Account : with respect to (a) the Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties, each Dutch Kraton Dominion Account and (b) the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties, each U.S. Dominion Account.

Dutch Borrowers : (a) the Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower and (b) each other Dutch Subsidiary that, after the date hereof, has executed a supplement or joinder to this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1.9 and has satisfied the other requirements set forth in Section 10.1.9 in order to become a Dutch Borrower.

Dutch Domiciled Loan Party : any Dutch Borrower and each Dutch Subsidiary now or hereafter party hereto as a Loan Party.

Dutch Facility Collateral : Collateral that now or hereafter secures (or is intended to secure) any of the Dutch Facility Secured Obligations, including Property of the Dutch Facility Guarantors, pledged to secure the Dutch Facility Secured Obligations.

Dutch Facility Guarantor : each U.S. Borrower, each U.S. Facility Guarantor, each Dutch Borrower and each Dutch Domiciled Loan Party, in each case who guarantees payment and performance of any Dutch Facility Secured Obligations (including pursuant to a Foreign Cross-Guarantee); provided that, no Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor hereunder that is (i) an Excluded Subsidiary (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), (ii) an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (or would be such an investment company if it were to provide or maintain a Guarantee (including a Foreign Cross-Guarantee), (iii) a Joint Venture (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), (iv) an Immaterial Subsidiary, (v) prohibited or restricted by applicable law, rule or regulation or by any contractual obligations existing on the Closing Date (or, if later, the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) from guaranteeing the Secured Obligations or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (vi) a not-for-profit Subsidiary or captive insurance company, (vii) a Subsidiary for which the providing of a guarantee could reasonably be expected to result in a violation or breach of, or conflict with, fiduciary duties of such Subsidiary’s officers, directors or managers and (viii) a Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition financed with indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Agreement as assumed indebtedness and any Restricted Subsidiary thereof that guarantees such indebtedness, in each case to the extent such secured indebtedness prohibits such subsidiary from becoming a Guarantor.

Dutch Facility Loan Party : a Dutch Borrower or a Dutch Facility Guarantor.

Dutch Facility Obligations : all Obligations of the Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and the other Foreign Facility Obligations that are the subject of a Foreign Cross-Guarantee made by the Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties.

Dutch Facility Secured Obligations : all Secured Obligations of the Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and the other Foreign Facility Secured Obligations that are the subject of a Foreign Cross-Guarantee made by the Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties.

 

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Dutch Facility Secured Parties : the Agent, any Dutch Fronting Bank, Dutch Lenders and Secured Bank Product Providers of Bank Products for the account of Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and the other Foreign Facility Secured Parties and their Subsidiaries that are the beneficiaries of a Foreign Cross-Guarantee made by the Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties.

Dutch Fronting Bank : Bank of America (London) or any Affiliate thereof that agrees to issue Dutch Letters of Credit or, if reasonably acceptable to North American Loan Party Agent, any other Dutch Lender or Affiliate thereof that agrees to issue Dutch Letters of Credit.

Dutch Fronting Bank Indemnitees : any Dutch Fronting Bank and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates and agents.

Dutch Kraton Allocated U.S. Availability : U.S. Availability designated by the North American Loan Party Agent for application to clause (d) of a Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base.

Dutch Kraton Allocated U.S. Availability Reserve : Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves established in respect of the Dutch Kraton Allocated U.S. Availability.

Dutch Kraton Availability : as of any such date of determination, (a) the lesser of (i) the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments, minus all Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves and (ii) the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base, minus , in each case (b) the sum of (i) the Dollar Equivalent of the principal balance of all Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans, and (ii) all Dutch Kraton LC Obligations.

Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves : the sum (without duplication) of (a) the Dutch Kraton Rent Reserve; (b) the Dutch Kraton Bank Product Reserve; (c) the Dutch Kraton Priority Payables Reserve; (d) the Dutch Kraton Inventory Reserve; (e) the Dutch Kraton Dilution Reserve; and (f) such additional reserves, in such amounts and with respect to such matters, as the Agent may establish in its Permitted Discretion and in accordance with the terms hereof.

Dutch Kraton Bank Product Reserve : at any time with respect to Secured Bank Product Obligations of the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the maximum amount of the then outstanding Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations of the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries owing (i) to Bank of America and its Affiliates as determined by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion and (ii) to any other Secured Bank Product Provider as set forth in the notice delivered by such Secured Bank Product Provider providing such Bank Product and the North American Loan Party Agent to the Agent in accordance with the definition of Secured Bank Product Obligations and (b) with respect to any other Secured Bank Product Obligations of the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, reserves established by the Agent from time to time in its Permitted Discretion to reflect the reasonably anticipated liabilities in respect of the then outstanding Secured Bank Product Obligations for the account of the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.

Dutch Kraton Borrowers : (a) the Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower and (b) each other Dutch Subsidiary that, after the date hereof, has executed a supplement or joinder to this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1.9 and has satisfied the other requirements set forth in Section 10.1.9 in order to become a Dutch Kraton Borrower.

Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base : at any time, with respect to the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, an amount equal to the sum (expressed in Dollars, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) of, without duplication:

 

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(a) the Value of Dutch Kraton Eligible Accounts of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower multiplied by the advance rate of 85%, plus

(b) the lesser of (i) 65% of the Value of Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory composed of finished goods of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower and (ii) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory composed of finished goods of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, plus

(c) the lesser of (i) 65% of the Value of Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory not composed of finished goods of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower and (ii) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory not composed of finished goods of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, plus

(d) Dutch Kraton Allocated U.S. Availability for such Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, minus

(e) all Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves with respect to the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, any change therein to become effective (i) immediately upon or (ii) three (3) Business Days after, in the case of Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves allocable to the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower which would cause the aggregate amount of the Dutch Kraton Revolver Exposure allocable to the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower at such time to exceed the lesser of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower’s Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower Commitment and the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower’s Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base then in effect, notification thereof to the North American Loan Party Agent by the Agent; provided that, the Agent shall have provided the North American Loan Party Agent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice of any such establishment or increase; provided further that, the Agent may only establish or increase a Dutch Kraton Availability Reserve after the date hereof based on an event, condition or other circumstance arising after the Closing Date or based on facts not known to the Agent as of the Closing Date. The amount of any Dutch Kraton Availability Reserve established by the Agent shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition, other circumstance or new fact that is the basis for the Dutch Kraton Availability Reserve. Upon delivery of such notice, the Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed Dutch Kraton Availability Reserve or increase, and the applicable Borrowers may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition, circumstance or new fact that is the basis for such Dutch Kraton Availability Reserve or increase no longer exists, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Agent in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion. In no event shall such notice and opportunity limit the right of the Agent to establish or change such Dutch Kraton Availability Reserve, unless the Agent shall have determined in its Permitted Discretion that the event, condition, other circumstance or new fact that is the basis for such new Dutch Kraton Availability Reserve or such change no longer exists or has otherwise been adequately addressed by the applicable Borrower. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves shall not duplicate amounts that are ineligible under the definition of “Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory” or amounts already deducted in or by other Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves or in connection with criteria already used to calculate the NOLV Percentage of Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory.

The Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate theretofore delivered to the Agent with such adjustments as the Agent deems appropriate in its Permitted Discretion to assure that the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base is calculated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. It is the intention of the Agent to evaluate, in its discretion, the inclusion of eligibility criteria with respect to Accounts and Inventory of the Dutch Kraton Borrower that are guaranteed by the United States of America or any instrumentality thereof in connection with an EXIM Program.

 

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Dutch Kraton Cash Collateral Account : a bank account established by the Agent at Bank of America (London) in connection with the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments that is (a) segregated, (b) for the benefit of the Dutch Kraton Facility Secured Parties, (c) subject to the Agent’s or Security Trustee’s Liens securing the Dutch Kraton Facility Secured Obligations and (d) under the exclusive control of Agent or the applicable Security Trustee.

Dutch Kraton Dilution Reserve : with respect to an Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, without duplication of any other reserves or items that are otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria, the aggregate amount of reserves, as established by the Agent from time to time, in an amount equal to the Value of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower’s Eligible Accounts multiplied by 1% for each percentage point (or portion thereof) that the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower’s Dilution Percent exceeds 5%.

Dutch Kraton Dominion Account : each special deposit account established by the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties at Bank of America (London) or another bank reasonably acceptable to the Agent (i) which is a collection account and not a disbursement account and (ii) (subject to section 8.2.4, save in respect of the Dutch Kraton Excluded Dominion Accounts) is the subject of a Deposit Account Control Agreement and a duly perfected and enforceable Lien under the Applicable Law of the location of such special deposit account.

Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Party : any Dutch Kraton Borrower and each Dutch Subsidiary of a Dutch Kraton Borrower now or hereafter party hereto as a Loan Party, and “ Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties ” means all such Persons, collectively.

Dutch Kraton Eligible Accounts : at any time, the Accounts of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower at such date except any Account:

(a) which (i) is not subject to a duly perfected and enforceable Lien in favor of the Agent or Security Trustee (as applicable) under the law where the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower is organized or (ii) in the case of Accounts owed by an account debtor organized in a Perfection Jurisdiction, are not subject to a duly perfected and enforceable Lien in favor of the Agent under the law where the account debtor is organized;

(b) which is subject to any Lien (including Liens permitted by Section 10.2.2) other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Agent, (ii) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(i) or (iii) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(j) or (m) which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Agent;

(c) (i) for each invoice with an original due date not later than thirty (30) days after the date thereof, which is unpaid for (A) more than sixty (60) days after the original due date or (B) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Agent in its discretion, more than ninety (90) days after the original invoice date; (ii) for each invoice with an original due date later than thirty (30) days after the date thereof but not later than sixty (60) days after the date thereof, which is unpaid for (A) more than sixty (60) days after the original due date or (B) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Agent in its discretion, more than 120 days after the original invoice date; (iii) for each invoice with an original due date later than sixty (60) days after the date thereof but not later than ninety (90) days after the date thereof, which is unpaid for (A) more than sixty (60) days after the original due date or (B) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Agent in its discretion, more than 150 days after the original invoice date;

(d) which is owing by an Account Debtor for which more than 50% of the Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates are ineligible pursuant to clause (c) above (in calculating the ineligible portion of Accounts under clause (c) for purposes of this clause (d), credit balances that are

 

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unapplied for more than ninety (90) days shall not reduce the amount of the Accounts ineligible thereunder); provided that Accounts that are determined not to be Dutch Kraton Eligible Accounts solely as a result of the provisions of clause (e) below, shall be excluded in calculating such percentage;

(e) which is owing by any Account Debtor to the extent the aggregate amount of otherwise Dutch Kraton Eligible Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates to the Borrowers exceeds 20% of the aggregate Dutch Kraton Eligible Accounts (or such higher percentage as the Agent may establish for the Account Debtor from time to time), only to the extent of such excess;

(f) with respect to which any covenant, representation or warranty relating to such Account contained in this Agreement or a Security Document has been materially breached or is not true in any material respect respectively (or with respect to such covenant, representation or warranty qualified by materiality, after giving effect to such qualification, in all respects);

(g) which (i) does not arise from the sale of goods or performance of services in the Ordinary Course of Business, (ii) is not evidenced by an invoice, or other similar documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing or a retention, (iv) is contingent upon the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower’s completion of any further performance, (v) represents a cash or credit card sale or a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval, consignment which is billed by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, as consignor, prior to actual sale to the end user, cash-on-delivery or any other repurchase or return basis, or (vi) represents interest or fees; provided that ineligibility as a result of this clause (vi) shall be limited to the amount of such interest and fees;

(h) for which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been loaded on a carrier for shipment to the Account Debtor or for which the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower;

(i) with respect to which any check or other instrument of payment has been returned uncollected for any reason and such Account is or should be written off of Parent’s books as uncollectible, consistent with Parent’s collection policies;

(j) which is owed by an Account Debtor in respect of which an Insolvency Proceeding has been commenced or which is otherwise a debtor or a debtor in possession under any bankruptcy law or any other federal, state or foreign (including any province or territory) receivership, insolvency relief or other law or laws for the relief of debtors, including the Dutch Bankruptcy Code ( Fallissementswet ), unless the payment of Accounts from such Account Debtor is secured by assets of, or guaranteed by, in either case, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, a Person that is reasonably acceptable to the Agent or, if the Account from such Account Debtor arises subsequent to a decree or order for relief with respect to such Account Debtor under the Dutch Bankruptcy Code ( Fallissementswet ), as now or hereafter in effect, the Agent shall have reasonably determined that the timely payment and collection of such Account will not be impaired;

(k) which is owed by an Account Debtor which has suspended or ceased doing business, is liquidating, dissolving or winding up its affairs or has declared itself as or been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be not Solvent;

(l) which is owed by an Account Debtor which is not organized or incorporated under the applicable law of an Eligible Account Debtor Jurisdiction unless (i) the Agent determines to include such Account Debtor in its Permitted Discretion or (ii) such Account is backed by a letter of credit or other credit support reasonably acceptable to the Agent; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, deem Accounts that would otherwise be ineligible as a result of this clause (l)(i) to be eligible in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

 

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(m) which is owed in any currency other than Eligible Account Currencies;

(n) which is owed by any Governmental Authority, unless such Account is backed by a letter of credit reasonably acceptable to the Agent or is otherwise acceptable to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

(o) which is owed by any Affiliate, employee, director, or officer of any Loan Party;

(p) which is owed by an Account Debtor or any Affiliate of such Account Debtor which is the holder of Debt issued or incurred by any Loan Party; provided that any such Account shall only be ineligible as to that portion of such Account which is less than or equal to the amount owed by the Loan Party to such Person;

(q) except as provided in clause (s) below, which is subject to any counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff, right of compensation or material dispute, but only to the extent of the amount of such counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff, right of compensation or material dispute unless (i) the Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, has established Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves and determines to include such Account as a Dutch Kraton Eligible Account or (ii) such Account Debtor has entered into an agreement reasonably acceptable to the Agent to waive such rights;

(r) which is evidenced by any promissory note, Chattel Paper or Instrument;

(s) with respect to which the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any reduction thereof, but only to the extent of such reduction, other than discounts and adjustments given in the Ordinary Course of Business; or

(t) which Account has been transferred pursuant to a Supplier Financing Transaction.

Subject to Section 14.1.1 and the definition of Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base, the Agent may modify the foregoing criteria and the application of the foregoing criteria to any specific Account and may determine an Account is ineligible, in each case, in its Permitted Discretion; provided that, the Agent shall have provided the North American Loan Party Agent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice of any such modification, application or determination; provided further , that upon delivery of such notice, the Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed modification, application or determination. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that any calculation of ineligibility made pursuant to more than one clause above shall be made without duplication.

Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory : at any date of determination thereof, the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of all Inventory owned by a Dutch Kraton Borrower at such date that would be Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory if it were not in transit to a location of a U.S. Borrower within the United States from a location of a Dutch Kraton Borrower. Without limiting the foregoing, no Inventory shall be Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory unless it meets, and then only for so long as it continues to meet, the Agent’s standard requirements for including in-transit Inventory in Eligible Inventory, which include, among other things, the following:

(a) title to the Inventory is in a Dutch Kraton Borrower or a U.S. Borrower, the Inventory is owned by a Dutch Kraton Borrower or a U.S. Borrower, and the Inventory is in transit from a Dutch Kraton Borrower intercompany to a U.S. Borrower to a location of a U.S. Borrower within the United States;

 

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(b) the Inventory is fully insured for not less than 100% of the invoice cost thereof, and the Agent shall have received evidence of satisfactory casualty insurance naming the Agent as loss payee and otherwise covering such risks as the Agent may reasonably request;

(c) the Inventory is subject to a first priority security interest in and Lien upon such goods in favor of the Agent (except for any possessory lien upon such goods in the possession of a freight carrier or shipping company securing only the freight charges for the transportation of such goods to the applicable destination, and the Agent shall have established Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves equal to the amount of such Lien or the Agent has received a Lien waiver in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it with respect to such Lien); and

(d) the Inventory is evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a tangible bill of lading or such other documentation of a type and in a form acceptable to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion that has been issued by a common carrier acceptable to the Agent, and if a bill of lading such bill of lading shall be in the possession of either the Agent, or a freight forwarder or customs broker in each case acting for the Agent under the terms of an Imported Goods Agreement which has been delivered to the Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (c) and (d) above, Inventory which would otherwise constitute Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory except that it is not evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a Permitted Bill of Lading shall for the purposes of this Agreement be considered Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory; provided , however , if at any time (x) the amount of the U.S. Availability is less than $50,000,000 or (y) the sum of the U.S. Availability and the Dutch Kraton Availability is less than $75,000,000, then such Inventory shall no longer constitute Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory unless such Inventory otherwise constitutes Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory pursuant to the express provisions of this definition.

Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory : at any date of determination thereof, the aggregate amount of all Inventory owned by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower at such date except any Inventory:

(a) which, in the case of Inventory located in a Perfection Jurisdiction, is not subject to a duly perfected and enforceable Lien in favor of the Agent or the applicable Security Trustee;

(b) which is subject to any Lien (including Liens permitted by Section 10.2.2) other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Agent or applicable Security Trustee or a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(gg) and (ii) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(i) but to the extent such Lien has priority over the Lien of Agent or the applicable Security Trustee, the eligibility of such Inventory shall be reduced by the amount determined by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion; (iii) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(j), provided that clauses (h) and (i) below of this definition of Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory are satisfied in the case of a Lien of a landlord, bailee, warehouseman or processor in a Perfection Jurisdiction; (iv) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(o) or (s) which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Agent; or (v) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(v) to the extent of the amount of such payable customs duties secured by such Lien;

(c) which is, in the Agent’s Permitted Discretion, slow moving (unless the Inventory component of the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower is being determined pursuant to clause (b)(ii) thereof and slow moving Inventory was taken into account in determining the NOLV Percentage), obsolete, unmerchantable, defective, unfit for sale, not salable at prices approximating at least the cost of such Inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business or unacceptable due to age, type, category and/or quantity;

 

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(d) with respect to which any covenant, representation or warranty regarding such Inventory contained in this Agreement or any Security Document has been materially breached or is not true in any material respect;

(e) which does not conform in all material respects to all standards imposed by any applicable Governmental Authority (except that any standard that is qualified as to “materiality” shall have been conformed to in all material respects);

(f) which constitutes packaging and shipping material, work in process, manufacturing supplies, display items, returned or repossessed Inventory (other than goods that are undamaged and able to be resold in the Ordinary Course of Business), goods held on consignment by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower as consignee prior to any title passing to such Dutch Kraton Borrower, as buyer, goods to be returned to the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower’s suppliers (but not held for resale) or goods which are not of a type held for sale in the Ordinary Course of Business or Inventory which is the subject of a sale on a bill and hold basis, other than to the extent such bill and hold sale would otherwise constitute a Dutch Kraton Eligible Account except for the fact that such sale is on a bill and hold basis;

(g) which is not located in a Perfection Jurisdiction or is not at a location listed on Schedule 8.5.1 (as updated from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof) other than (i) Inventory in transit between locations of the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties; and (ii) Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory;

(h) which is located in any location in a Perfection Jurisdiction leased by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, unless the lessor has delivered to the Agent a Lien Acknowledgment; provided , that the exclusion in this clause (h) shall not apply if the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower has used commercially reasonable efforts to deliver a Lien Acknowledgment to Agent (regardless of whether such Lien Acknowledgment is ultimately obtained by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower) or if such Lien Acknowledgment is not customarily delivered or obtained in the applicable jurisdiction prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default;

(i) which is located in a Perfection Jurisdiction in any third party warehouse or in the possession of a bailee or processor, unless such warehouseman, bailee or processor has delivered to the Agent a Lien Acknowledgment or such other documentation as the Agent may reasonably require; provided , that the exclusion in this clause (i) shall not apply in relation to Inventory located in the U.S. if the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower has used commercially reasonable efforts to deliver a Lien Acknowledgment to Agent (regardless of whether such Lien Acknowledgment is ultimately obtained by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower);

(j) which is evidenced by a Document, except to the extent such Inventory constitutes Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory;

(k) which is the subject of a consignment by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower as consignor (except goods held on consignment that the Agent in its Permitted Discretion allows to be Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory);

(l) [Reserved] ;

 

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(m) which constitutes movable assets as set out in section 21 paragraph 2 in conjunction with section 22 paragraph 3 of the Dutch Tax Collection Act ( Invorderingswet 1990); or

(n) which is located in any location where the aggregate Value of the Inventory is less than $2,000,000.

Subject to Section 14.1.1 and the definition of Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base, the Agent may modify the foregoing criteria and the application of the foregoing criteria to specific Inventory and may determine specific Inventory is otherwise ineligible, in each case, in its Permitted Discretion; provided that, the Agent shall have provided the North American Loan Party Agent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice of any such modification, application or determination; provided further , that upon delivery of such notice, the Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed modification, application or determination.

Dutch Kraton Excluded Dominion Accounts : the bank accounts of the Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower designated as “EUR ZBA Child Collection-only Accounts” in Milan (with account number 6641 13999011) and Madrid (with account number 6508 35706016) with Bank of America (London) (or successor accounts, in each case).

Dutch Kraton Facility Collateral : Collateral that now or hereafter secures (or is intended to secure) any of the Dutch Kraton Facility Secured Obligations, including Property of the Dutch Kraton Facility Guarantors pledged to secure the Dutch Kraton Facility Secured Obligations.

Dutch Kraton Facility Guarantor : each U.S. Borrower, each U.S. Facility Guarantor, each Dutch Borrower and each Dutch Domiciled Loan Party, in each case, who guarantees payment and performance of any Dutch Kraton Facility Secured Obligations (including pursuant to a Foreign Cross-Guarantee).

Dutch Kraton Facility Loan Party : a Dutch Kraton Borrower or a Dutch Kraton Facility Guarantor.

Dutch Kraton Facility Obligations : all Obligations of Dutch Kraton Borrowers and the other Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and the other Foreign Facility Obligations that are the subject of a Foreign Cross-Guarantee made by the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties.

Dutch Kraton Facility Secured Obligations : all Secured Obligations of the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and the other Foreign Facility Secured Obligations that are the subject of a Foreign Cross-Guarantee made by the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties.

Dutch Kraton Facility Secured Parties : the Agent, any Dutch Fronting Bank, Dutch Lenders and Secured Bank Product Providers of Bank Products for the account of Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and the other Foreign Facility Secured Parties and their Subsidiaries that are the beneficiaries of a Foreign Cross-Guarantee made by the Dutch Kraton Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties.

Dutch Kraton Inventory Reserve : the aggregate amount of reserves, as established by the Agent from time to time in its Permitted Discretion, to reflect factors that may negatively impact the value of Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory, including, without duplication of eligibility criteria, changes in salability, slow moving, obsolescence, shrinkage, theft, imbalance, change in composition or mix, markdowns and vendor chargebacks.

Dutch Kraton LC Application : an application by any Dutch Kraton Borrower on behalf of itself or any other Dutch Kraton Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to a Dutch Fronting Bank for issuance of a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Dutch Fronting Bank.

 

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Dutch Kraton LC Conditions : the following conditions necessary for issuance of a Dutch Letter of Credit: (a) each of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 being satisfied or waived; (b) after giving effect to such issuance, the total Dutch Kraton LC Obligations do not exceed the Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit Sublimit, no Dutch Kraton Overadvance exists or would result therefrom and, in the case of any Dutch Kraton Borrower, Section 2.5 is satisfied; (c) unless the applicable Dutch Fronting Bank and the Agent otherwise consent, (i) the expiration date of such Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, if it is a documentary letter of credit, is no more than thirty (30) days before the Facility Termination Date and (ii) the expiration date of such Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, if it is a standby letter of credit, is no more than the lesser of thirty (30) days before the Facility Termination Date and twelve (12) months from issuance of such standby letter of credit (or such other expiry date longer than twelve (12) months from issuance to which the Dutch Kraton Borrower, the applicable Dutch Fronting Bank and Agent shall agree); provided that each Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit which is a standby letter of credit may, upon the request of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, include a provision whereby such Letter of Credit shall be renewed automatically for additional consecutive periods of twelve (12) months or less; (d) the Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit and payments thereunder are denominated in Euros, Sterling or Dollars, or in any other currency acceptable to the Agent and the applicable Dutch Fronting Bank; (e) the form of the proposed Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the applicable Dutch Fronting Bank; and (f) the proposed use of the Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit is for a lawful purpose.

Dutch Kraton LC Documents : all documents, instruments, and agreements (including Dutch LC Requests and Dutch Kraton LC applications) delivered by any Dutch Kraton Borrower to a Dutch Fronting Bank or the Agent in connection with issuance, amendment or renewal of, or payment under, any Dutch Letter of Credit.

Dutch Kraton LC Obligations : with respect to the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, the Dollar Equivalent of the sum (without duplication) of (a) all amounts owing by such Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower for any drawings under Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit; (b) the stated amount of all outstanding Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit applied for by a Dutch Kraton Borrower and issued for the account of such Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and (c) all fees and other amounts owing with respect to such Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit.

Dutch Kraton Lenders : Bank of America (London) and each other Lender that has issued a Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment.

Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit : any standby or commercial letter of credit or documentary bankers’ acceptances, in each case, applied for by a Dutch Kraton Borrower and issued by a Dutch Fronting Bank for the account of a Dutch Kraton Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any indemnity, performance bond, guarantee, exposure transmittal memorandum or similar form of credit support issued by the Agent or a Dutch Fronting Bank for the benefit of a Dutch Kraton Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether in existence on the Closing Date or issued on or after the Closing Date.

Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit Sublimit : the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments.

Dutch Kraton Overadvance : as defined in Section 2.1.5(a).

Dutch Kraton Overadvance Loan : a Loan made to a Dutch Kraton Borrower when a Dutch Kraton Overadvance exists or is caused by the funding thereof.

 

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Dutch Kraton Overadvance Loan Balance : on any date, the Dollar Equivalent of the amount by which the aggregate Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower or all Dutch Kraton Borrowers, as the case may be, exceed the amount of the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base of such Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower on such date.

Dutch Kraton Priority Payables Reserve : on any date of determination, a reserve in such amount as the Agent may determine in its Permitted Discretion which reflects amounts secured by any Liens against the Collateral owned by a Dutch Kraton Borrower, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the Agent’s and/or the Secured Parties’ Liens and/or for amounts which may represent costs relating to the enforcement of the Agent’s or the applicable Security Trustee’s Liens.

Dutch Kraton Protective Advances : as defined in Section 2.1.6(a).

Dutch Kraton Reimbursement Date : as defined in Section 2.2.2(a).

Dutch Kraton Rent Reserve : the aggregate of (a) all past due rent and other past due charges owing by any Dutch Kraton Borrower to any landlord, bailee, warehouseman or other Person who possesses any Dutch Kraton Facility Collateral or could assert a Lien on such Dutch Kraton Facility Collateral; plus (b) a reserve in an amount equal to at least three (3) months’ rent and other charges that could be payable to any such Person, unless such Person has executed a Lien Acknowledgment which validly waives or subordinates any such Lien under any Applicable Law.

Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment : for any Dutch Kraton Lender, its obligation to make Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans and to issue Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit, in the case of any Dutch Fronting Bank, or participate in Dutch Kraton LC Obligations, in the case of the other Dutch Kraton Lenders, to the Dutch Kraton Borrowers up to the maximum principal amount shown on Schedule 2.1.1(a) , or as hereafter determined pursuant to each Assignment and Acceptance to which it is a party, as such Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.1.4, 2.1.7 or 11.2. “ Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments ” means the aggregate amount of such commitments of all Dutch Kraton Lenders.

Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Increase : as defined in Section 2.1.7(a).

Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date : the earliest of (a) the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date (without regard to the reason therefor), (b) the date on which the North American Loan Party Agent terminates or reduces to zero all of the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments pursuant to Section 2.1.4, and (c) the date on which the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 11.2, in each case, such date being a Business Day. From and after the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, the Dutch Kraton Borrowers shall no longer be entitled to request a Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Increase pursuant to Section 2.1.7 hereof.

Dutch Kraton Revolver Exposure : on any date, the Dollar Equivalent of an amount equal to the sum of (a) the Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans outstanding on such date and (b) the Dutch Kraton LC Obligations on such date.

Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan : a Revolver Loan made by Dutch Kraton Lenders to a Dutch Kraton Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.1, which Revolver Loan shall, if denominated in Euros, Sterling or Dollars, be a European Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan, in each case as selected by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, and including any Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan, Dutch Kraton Overadvance Loan or Dutch Kraton Protective Advance.

 

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Dutch Kraton Revolver Notes : the promissory notes, if any, executed by Dutch Kraton Borrowers in favor of each Dutch Kraton Lender to evidence the Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans funded from time to time by such Dutch Kraton Lender, which shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit C-3 to this Agreement, together with any replacement or successor notes therefor.

Dutch Kraton Swingline Lender : Bank of America (London) or an Affiliate of Bank of America (London).

Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan : a Swingline Loan made by the Dutch Kraton Swingline Lender to a Dutch Kraton Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.8(a), which Swingline Loan shall, if denominated in Euros, Sterling or Dollars, be a European Base Rate Loan.

Dutch Kraton Swingline Sublimit : 10% of the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments.

Dutch LC Documents : all documents, instruments and agreements (including Dutch LC Requests and Dutch Kraton LC Applications) delivered by any Dutch Borrower to a Dutch Fronting Bank or the Agent in connection with issuance, amendment or renewal of, or payment under, any Dutch Letter of Credit.

Dutch LC Request : a request for issuance of a Dutch Letter of Credit, to be provided by a Dutch Borrower to a Dutch Fronting Bank, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and such Dutch Fronting Bank.

Dutch Letter of Credit : any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit.

Dutch Lenders : Bank of America (London) and each other Lender that has issued a Dutch Revolver Commitment.

Dutch Overadvances : the Dutch Kraton Overadvances.

Dutch Protective Advances : the Dutch Kraton Protective Advances.

Dutch Revolver Commitment : the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment.

Dutch Revolver Exposure : the Dutch Kraton Revolver Exposure.

Dutch Revolver Loan : a Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan.

Dutch Security Agreement : each pledge (including, without limitation, each pledge over movable assets (undisclosed and non-possessory) and each pledge of receivables) or security agreement governed by Dutch law among any Dutch Domiciled Loan Party and the applicable Security Trustee.

Dutch Security Trustee : Bank of America in its capacity as Agent and security trustee for the Lenders under the Foreign Security Agreements.

Dutch Subsidiary : Each Subsidiary of Parent incorporated or organized under the laws of the Netherlands.

Dutch Swingline Lender : a Dutch Kraton Swingline Lender.

Dutch Swingline Loan : a Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan.

 

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EBITDA : means, for any period, for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to the Net Income for such period:

(a) increased (without duplication) by and to the extent deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such a period:

(i) the amount of depreciation and amortization, as determined in accordance with GAAP; plus

(ii) total Interest Expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total Interest Expense, the sum of (A) premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses incurred in connection with Borrowed Money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets plus (B) the portion of rent expense with respect to such period under Capital Leases that is treated as Interest Expense in accordance with GAAP plus (C) the implied interest component of synthetic leases with respect to such period plus (D) any losses on hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such hedging obligations or such derivative instruments plus (E) bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus (F) any commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges; plus

(iii) provision for Taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, provincial, franchise, excise and similar Taxes and foreign withholding Taxes (including any future Taxes or other levies which replace or are intended to be in lieu of such Taxes and any penalties and interest related to such Taxes or arising from tax examinations); plus

(iv) negative effects of purchase accounting; plus

(v) all extraordinary, nonrecurring or one-time charges; plus

(vi) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies related to any acquisition and other specified actions, any restructuring, cost saving initiative or other initiative projected by the Borrowers in good faith to be realized as a result of actions (including the Arizona Chemical Acquisition) taken, committed to be taken or planned to be taken, in each case on or prior to the date that is 24 months after the end of the relevant period (including actions initiated prior to the Closing Date) (which cost savings shall be added to EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable; plus

(vii) all non-cash charges; provided , that for any such non-cash charges resulting in a cash payment or cash outlay in a subsequent period, EBITDA will be reduced by the amount of the cash payment or cash outlay in the period made; plus

(viii) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of Hedge Agreements pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815—“Derivatives and Hedging”; plus

(ix) (A) the amount of any restructuring provisions, restructuring charges, restructuring accruals or restructuring reserves, (B) cost initiative charges embedded in cost of goods sold (cash and non-cash charges) and (C) cost initiative charges embedded in selling, general and administrative expenses (cash and non-cash charges); plus

 

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(x) non-recurring operating location exit charges; provided no amounts pursuant to this clause (x) may be added if such amount was added in a prior period; plus

(xi) actual plant turnaround costs and expenses to the extent deducted in calculating Net Income in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7,500,000 in such period; plus

(xii) losses on sales of assets, disposals or abandonments other than in the ordinary course of business (cash and non-cash); plus

(xiii) Transaction Costs and any fees, costs and expenses payable by Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any offering of Equity Interests of Parent, Permitted Acquisitions, joint ventures or other Investments permitted hereunder (whether consummated or unsuccessful and other than Investments made in the ordinary course of business and other than Investments in Subsidiaries) expensed or amortized in such period; plus

(xiv) Pro Forma EBITDA;

(b) decreased (without duplication) by and to the extent included in arriving at such Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) gains on sales of assets other than in the ordinary course of business (cash and non-cash); minus

(ii) any non-cash gains attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of Hedge Agreements pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815—“Derivatives and Hedging”;

(c) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any effects of Inventory Revaluation; and

(d) to the extent included in Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency re-measurements of assets or liabilities (including the net loss or gain resulting from hedging agreements for currency exchange risk and revaluations of intercompany balances).

Elastomers : Elastomers Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Eligible Account Currencies : Dollars, Euros, Sterling, Yen and such other currencies determined by the Agent in its discretion.

Eligible Account Debtor Jurisdictions : (i) Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., and the U.S. (together with any state or province thereof, as applicable), (ii) as long as no Cash Dominion Event has occurred, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (together, in each case, with any state or province thereof, as applicable); provided , however , that during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Event, any such jurisdiction shall continue to be an Eligible Account Debtor Jurisdiction solely to the extent that the Agent determines, in its Permitted Discretion, that Agent or a Security Trustee has a duly perfected and enforceable Lien in the Accounts of

 

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Accounts Debtors organized or located in such jurisdiction under the Applicable Law of such jurisdiction, and (iii) such other jurisdictions as shall be acceptable to Agent, in its sole discretion; provided , however , that, in the case of this clause (iii), the Agent shall in no event determine such jurisdiction to be an “Eligible Account Debtor Jurisdiction” unless Agent determines, in its Permitted Discretion, that Agent or a Security Trustee has a duly perfected and enforceable Lien in the applicable Accounts of Account Debtors organized or located in such jurisdiction under the Applicable Law of such jurisdiction.

Eligible Accounts : the (a) Dutch Kraton Eligible Accounts and/or (b) U.S. Eligible Accounts, as the context requires.

Eligible Assignee : subject to the requirements of Section 13.3.3, a Person that is (a) a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; (b) any other financial institution approved by the Agent and North American Loan Party Agent (which approval by North American Loan Party Agent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and shall be deemed given if no objection is made within ten (10) Business Days after delivery of written notice of the proposed assignment to the North American Loan Party Agent and which approval shall not be required during any Event of Default under Section 11.1(a) or, solely with respect to the Parent or any Borrower, Section 11.1(g)), that is organized, registered or incorporated under the laws of a Participating Member State, the United Kingdom or the United States or any state, province or district thereof, and extends asset-based lending facilities in its Ordinary Course of Business and whose becoming an assignee would not constitute a prohibited transaction under Section 4975 of the Code or any other Applicable Law and would not immediately following any such assignment, result in additional increased costs payable by the Loan Parties pursuant to Section 3.7; and (c) during any Event of Default under Section 11.1(a) or, solely with respect to the Parent or any Borrower, Section 11.1(g), any Person reasonably acceptable to the Agent in its discretion.

Eligible Inventory : the (a) Dutch Kraton Eligible Inventory and/or (b) U.S. Eligible Inventory, as the context requires.

Enforcement Action : any commercially reasonable action to enforce any Obligations or Loan Documents or to exercise any rights or remedies relating to any Collateral (whether by judicial action, self-help, notification of Account Debtors, exercise of setoff or recoupment, exercise of any right to act in Loan Party’s Insolvency Proceeding or to credit bid Obligations, or otherwise).

Enhanced Reporting Trigger : the occurrence of any one of the following events: (a) Excess Availability shall be less than the greater of (i) 27.5% of the Total Line Cap and (ii) $68,750,000 or (b) U.S. Availability shall be less than the greater of (i) 27.5% of the U.S. Line Cap and (ii) $41,250,000; provided that, to the extent that the Enhanced Reporting Trigger has occurred due to clause (a) of this definition, if Excess Availability shall have exceeded the greater of (w) 27.5% of the Total Line Cap and (x) $68,750,000 at all times for at least forty-five (45) consecutive days, the Enhanced Reporting Trigger shall be deemed to have ended; provided , further , that to the extent that the Enhanced Reporting Trigger has occurred due to clause (b) of this definition, if U.S. Availability shall have exceeded the greater of (y) 27.5% of the U.S. Line Cap and (z) $41,250,000 at all times for at least forty-five (45) consecutive days, the Enhanced Reporting Trigger shall be deemed to have ended.

Environmental Laws : all Applicable Laws (including all applicable, legally binding programs, permits and guidance promulgated by regulatory agencies), relating to public health (but excluding occupational safety and health, to the extent regulated by OSHA) or the protection or pollution of the environment, including CERCLA, RCRA and CWA.

 

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Environmental Notice : a notice (whether written or oral) from any Governmental Authority or other Person of any potential noncompliance with, investigation of a potential violation of, litigation relating to, or potential fine or liability under any Environmental Law, or with respect to any Environmental Release, environmental pollution or hazardous materials, including any complaint, summons, citation, order, claim, demand or request for correction, remediation or otherwise.

Environmental Release : a release as defined in CERCLA or, with respect to hazardous materials, under any other Environmental Law.

Equity Interest : all Pledged Stock, Pledged LLC Interests, Pledged Partnership Interests, Pledged Trust Interests and any other participation or interests in any equity or profits of any business entity, including any trust and all management rights relating to any entity whose equity interests are included as Equity Interests.

Equity Interest Equivalents : all securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase or subscribe for any Equity Interests, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable or exercisable.

ERISA : the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (unless as specifically provided otherwise, as amended to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter and any successor statute).

ERISA Affiliate : any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with a Loan Party or treated as a single employer with a Loan Party, in each case within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA.

ERISA Event : (a) any Reportable Event; (b) the failure of a U.S. Employee Plan to meet the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA (determined without regard to any waiver of the funding provisions therein or in Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any U.S. Employee Plan; (d) the incurrence by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any U.S. Employee Plan (including any liability in connection with the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a U.S. Employee Plan or the treatment of a U.S. Employee Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA); (e) any event or condition that results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan pursuant to 4041A of ERISA; (f) the filing of a notice of intent or the commencement by the PBGC of proceeding to terminate any U.S. Employee Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any U.S. Employee Plan or the occurrence of any other event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any U.S. Employee Plan; (g) the incurrence by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Section 4062(e) of ERISA or with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any U.S. Employee Plan (including as a “substantial employer,” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or Multiemployer Plan (including the incurrence by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any Withdrawal Liability); (h) a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA, or insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; or (i) imposition of any material liability under Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA that are not past due.

Euro and € : the lawful single currency of the Participating Member States which have adopted the euro unit as their single currency pursuant to the Treaty of Rome of March 25, 1957, establishing the European Community.

 

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European Base Rate : with respect to Euros, Sterling and Dollars outside of the U.S. and Canada, as applicable, a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the rate of interest in effect for such day as announced from time to time by the European Central Bank and used by the local branch of Bank of America in the jurisdiction in which such currency is funded as its “base rate” with respect to such currency. Any change in such rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day of such change. In no event shall the European Base Rate be less than zero.

European Base Rate Loan : a Dutch Revolver Loan, or portion thereof, funded in Sterling, Dollars or Euros and bearing interest calculated by reference to the European Base Rate.

Event of Default : as defined in Section 11.1.

Excess Availability : as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the lesser of (i) the Commitments, minus Reserves and (ii) the Total Borrowing Base, minus (b) the sum of (i) the Dollar Equivalent of the principal balance of all Revolver Loans and (ii) all LC Obligations.

Excess Cash Flow : as defined in the Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.

Exchange Rate : the exchange rate, as of any date, as determined by the Agent (or, solely, for the purposes of Section 1.5(b), the North American Loan Party Agent), applicable to conversion of a currency into Dollars that is (a) the exchange rate reported by Bloomberg (or other commercially available source designated by the Agent) as of the end of the preceding Business Day in the financial market for such currency; or (b) if such report is unavailable for any reason, the spot rate for the purchase of such currency with Dollars through the Agent’s principal foreign exchange trading office for the currency during such office’s preceding Business Day.

Excluded Accounts : (a) Deposit Accounts that are zero balance disbursement accounts; (b) Deposit Accounts used solely to fund payroll, payroll Taxes and similar employment Taxes or employee benefits in the Ordinary Course of Business; (c) other Deposit Accounts with an amount on deposit of less than $1,000,000 at any time in the aggregate for all such Deposit Accounts; (d) Deposit Accounts used to secure lease or tax obligations; and (e) Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts holding proceeds from the sale of Property that is not Collateral.

Excluded Assets : any asset of any Loan Party excluded from the Collateral pursuant to Section 7.1.3, but only to the extent, and for so long as, so excluded thereunder.

Excluded Swap Obligation : means, with respect to any U.S. Guarantor, any Swap Obligation arising under a swap transaction entered into after the date hereof if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason not to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor becomes effective with respect to such related Swap Obligation.

Excluded Tax : with respect to any Recipient (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (however denominated), and franchise Taxes imposed on it (i) by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such Recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such Recipient has a branch; (c) in the case of a Foreign

 

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Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to Section 3.9), any withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to laws in force at the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender (or designates a new Lending Office) hereunder, or any additional withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to a Foreign Lender after the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender (or designates a new Lending Office) hereunder, except that Taxes in this clause (c) shall not include (i) additional withholding Tax that may be imposed on amounts payable to a Foreign Lender after the date such Foreign Lender becomes a party to the Agreement (or designates a new Lending Office), as a result of a Change in Tax Law after such time and (ii) any withholding Tax to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was previously entitled to receive additional amounts in respect thereof pursuant to Section 5.8 of this Agreement, at the time such Foreign Lender designates a new Lending Office (or on the date of the assignment), if any; (d) any U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed under FATCA; or (e) any Tax that is attributable to such Recipient’s failure or inability to comply with Section 5.9.

EXIM : the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

EXIM Program : foreign trade insurance or guarantee program which (a) is provided to a Borrower by EXIM; (b) is in form and substance acceptable to Agent; and (c) as to which Agent has been named the beneficiary or loss payee (or similar designation) thereof pursuant to an assignment, endorsement, or similar writing in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.

Existing Credit Agreement : that certain Loan, Security and Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 27, 2013 among the Initial U.S. Borrower, the Initial Kraton Borrower, Parent, KPLLC, certain subsidiaries of KPLLC, Agent, as administrative agent, and the lenders named therein, as amended, and as may be further amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time through the date hereof.

Extraordinary Expenses : all costs, expenses or advances that the Agent and any Security Trustee may incur during an Event of Default, or during the pendency of any Insolvency Proceeding of Parent or any Subsidiary, including those relating to (a) any audit, inspection, repossession, storage, repair, appraisal, insurance, manufacture, preparation or advertising for sale, sale, collection, or other preservation of or realization upon any Collateral; (b) any action, arbitration or other proceeding (whether instituted by or against the Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank, any Lender, any Loan Party, any representative of creditors of any Loan Party or any other Person) in any way relating to any Collateral (including the validity, perfection, priority or avoidability of the Agent’s or any Security Trustee’s Liens with respect to any Collateral), Loan Documents, Letters of Credit or Obligations, including any lender liability or other Claims; (c) the exercise, protection or enforcement of any rights or remedies of the Agent or any Security Trustee in, or the monitoring of, any Insolvency Proceeding; (d) settlement or satisfaction of any Taxes, charges or Liens with respect to any Collateral; (e) any Enforcement Action; (f) negotiation and documentation of any modification, waiver, workout, restructuring or forbearance with respect to any Loan Documents or Obligations; and (g) Protective Advances. Such costs, expenses and advances include transfer fees, Other Taxes, storage fees, insurance costs, permit fees, utility reservation and standby fees, appraisal fees, brokers’ fees and commissions, auctioneers’ fees and commissions, accountants’ fees, environmental study fees, wages and salaries paid to employees of any Loan Party or independent contractors in liquidating any Collateral, travel expenses, receivers’ and managers’ fees and legal fees.

Facility Termination Date : January 6, 2021, or such earlier date on which the Commitments are terminated in whole pursuant to the provisions hereof, or, solely with respect to the Extended Commitments of each Lender, such later date as shall be agreed to pursuant to the provisions of Section 14.1.1(f) hereof.

 

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Fair Market Value : the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, and, in the case of any transaction involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000,000, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Parent.

FATCA : Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended version to the extent substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any intergovernmental agreements in force with respect thereto, and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code.

FCCR Test Event : the occurrence of any one of the following events: (a) Excess Availability shall be less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Total Line Cap and (ii) $31,250,000 or (b) U.S. Availability shall be less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the U.S. Line Cap and (ii) $18,750,000; provided that, to the extent that the FCCR Test Event has occurred due to clause (a) of this definition, if Excess Availability shall have exceeded the greater of (w) 12.5% of the Total Line Cap and (x) $31,250,000 at all times for at least forty-five (45) consecutive days, the FCCR Test Event shall be deemed to have ended; provided , further , that to the extent that the FCCR Test Event has occurred due to clause (b) of this definition, if U.S. Availability shall have exceeded the greater of (y) 12.5% of the U.S. Line Cap and (z) $18,750,000 at all times for at least forty-five (45) consecutive days, the FCCR Test Event shall be deemed to have ended.

Federal Funds Rate : (a) the weighted average of interest rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on the applicable Business Day (or on the preceding Business Day, if the applicable day is not a Business Day), as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next Business Day; or (b) if no such rate is published on the next Business Day, the average rate (rounded up, if necessary, to the nearest 1/8 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on the applicable day on such transactions, as determined by the Agent.

Fee Letter : the amended and restated letter agreement, dated October 7, 2015, among Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Nomura Securities International, Inc., Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, Deutsche Bank AG Cayman Islands Branch, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Bank of America, N.A., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and KPLLC.

Fiscal Quarter : each period of three calendar months, commencing on the first day of a Fiscal Year.

Fiscal Year : the twelve (12) month fiscal period of Parent and its Subsidiaries for accounting and Tax purposes, ending on December 31 of each calendar year.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio : the ratio, determined as of the end of the last Fiscal Quarter of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the Test Period then ended, of (a) (i) EBITDA minus (ii) the sum of Capital Expenditures plus or minus Pro Forma CAPEX (in each case, except those financed with Debt other than Revolver Loans) minus (iii) Taxes paid in cash (net of refunds received in cash, but not less than $0) to (b) the sum of cash Interest Expense plus scheduled principal payments on Borrowed Money (after giving effect to any reductions in scheduled principal payments attributable to any optional or mandatory prepayment and excluding payments in respect of intercompany debt owed among the Loan Parties) plus Distributions paid in cash (other than Distributions made pursuant to Sections 10.2.3(b)(ii), (e), (f), (g), (h) or (j) or Permitted Payments described in clause (a) of the definition thereof), all calculated for such period, without duplication, for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

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FLSA : the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

Foreign Borrower Group : a group consisting of (a) the Dutch Kraton Borrowers or (b) any Additional Foreign Borrowers, as the context requires.

Foreign Borrowers : the Dutch Borrowers and Additional Foreign Borrowers.

Foreign Cross-Guarantee : as defined in Section 5.10.4.

Foreign Domiciled Loan Party : the Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties and any other Foreign Subsidiary now or hereafter party hereto as a Loan Party, and “Foreign Domiciled Loan Parties” means all such Persons, collectively.

Foreign Facility Obligations : the Dutch Facility Obligations and similar Obligations of other Foreign Domiciled Loan Parties.

Foreign Facility Secured Obligations : the Dutch Facility Secured Obligations and similar secured obligations of other Foreign Domiciled Loan Parties.

Foreign Facility Secured Parties : Dutch Facility Secured Parties and Secured Bank Product Providers of Bank Products to Foreign Domiciled Loan Parties.

Foreign Guarantor : the Dutch Facility Guarantor and any other Person that guarantees any Foreign Facility Secured Obligations in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

Foreign Lender : (a) with respect to each Borrower that is a U.S. Person, each Lender or Fronting Bank that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) with respect to each Borrower that is not a U.S. Person, each Lender or Fronting Bank that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for Tax purposes.

Foreign Loan Party Agent : as defined in Section 4.4.2.

Foreign Plan : any material pension plan maintained or contributed to by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to employees employed outside of the United States or Canada, other than any state social security arrangements.

Foreign Revolver Commitments : the Dutch Revolver Commitment and other Commitments to other Foreign Borrowers as provided hereunder from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Foreign Security Agreements : the Dutch Security Agreements, the French Security Agreements, the Belgian Security Agreements, the German Security Agreements, the UK Security Agreements and each other pledge or security agreement governed by the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America and executed by a Dutch Domiciled Loan Party in favor of a Security Trustee with respect to the Dutch Facility Secured Obligations and the Deposit Account Control Agreements with respect to such jurisdictions.

Foreign Subsidiary : a Subsidiary of Parent that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

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French Security Agreements : each pledge or security agreement governed by French law among any Dutch Domiciled Loan Party and the Dutch Security Trustee.

Fronting Bank : (a) a Dutch Fronting Bank and/or (b) a U.S. Fronting Bank, as the context requires.

Fronting Bank Indemnitees : (a) Dutch Fronting Bank Indemnitees and/or (b) U.S. Fronting Bank Indemnitees, as the context requires.

Full Payment : with respect to any Obligations or Secured Obligations (other than unasserted contingent indemnity claims), (a) the full cash payment thereof in the applicable currency required hereunder, including any interest and documented fees and other charges accruing during an Insolvency Proceeding (whether or not allowed in the proceeding); and (b) if such Obligations or Secured Obligations are LC Obligations, Secured Bank Product Debt or inchoate or contingent in nature, Cash Collateralization thereof (or delivery of a standby letter of credit acceptable to the Agent in its discretion, in the amount of required Cash Collateral). No Loans shall be deemed to have been paid in full until all Commitments related to such Loans have expired or been terminated.

GAAP : generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States, from time to time, applied consistently, subject to Section 1.2 hereof.

General Intangibles : as defined in the UCC (and/or with respect to any or any other Applicable Law, as applicable).

German Security Agreements : each pledge or security agreement governed by German law among any Dutch Domiciled Loan Party and the Dutch Security Trustee.

Global Intercompany Note : a promissory note evidencing all Debt of any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary owed to any other Loan Party in a form approved by the Agent.

Governmental Approvals : all authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and required reports to, all Governmental Authorities.

Governmental Authority : any federal, state, provincial, municipal, foreign or other governmental department, agency, commission, board, bureau, court, tribunal, instrumentality, political subdivision, authority, corporation or body, regulatory or self-regulatory organization or other entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, statutory, regulatory or administrative functions for or pertaining to any government or court (including any supranational bodies such as the European Union), in each case whether it is or is not associated with the Netherlands or the United States or any state, province, district or territory thereof, or any other foreign entity or government.

Guarantee : each guarantee agreement (including this Agreement) executed by a Guarantor in favor of the Agent guaranteeing all or any portion of the Secured Obligations.

Guarantor Payment : as defined in Section 5.10.3(b).

Guarantors : (a) With respect to any Dutch Facility Obligations, the Dutch Facility Guarantors and any other Person who guarantees payment or performance of such Dutch Facility Obligations and (b) with respect to any Secured Obligations, the U.S. Facility Guarantors, and each other Person who guarantees payment or performance of such Secured Obligations.

 

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Hedge Agreement : any swap, cap, collar, forward purchase or similar agreements or arrangements dealing with interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices, either generally or under specific contingencies entered into for the purpose of hedging Parent’s or any Subsidiary of Parent’s exposure to interest or exchange rates, loan credit exchanges, security or currency valuations or commodity prices not for speculative purposes.

Historical Financial Statements : as of the Closing Date, (a) (i) the audited consolidated financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014, and (ii) the unaudited consolidated statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015, and September 30, 2015 and (b) (i) the audited consolidated financial statements of AZC Holding Company LLC and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2014, and (ii) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of AZC Holding Company LLC and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015.

HSBC Asian Production Facility : Kraton Formosa Polymers Corporation, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the Republic of China, or any other Asian production facility the North American Loan Party Agent may choose to pursue.

Immaterial Subsidiary : at any date of determination, any one or more Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Borrower) whose (a) total tangible assets, on the last day of the most recent Test Period for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to clause (a) or (b) of Section 10.1.2 were less than 5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets, and (b) total revenues for such Test Period ending on such date were less than 5% of total revenues of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Imported Goods Agreement : each agreement that is mutually acceptable to Agent, the applicable Borrower, and the applicable freight forwarding company, customs brokerage house or other handler, as the case may be, with respect to the transport of, access to and control of Eligible Inventory as set forth therein.

Inactive Subsidiary : Polymers Holdings Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Increase Date : as defined in Section 2.1.7(c).

Increased Reporting Trigger : the occurrence of:

(a) any one of the following events for five (5) consecutive Business Days:

(i) Excess Availability shall be less than the greater of (A) 15% of the Total Line Cap and (B) $37,500,000, or

(ii) U.S. Availability shall be less than the greater of (A) 15% of the U.S. Line Cap and (B) $22,500,000;

provided that, to the extent that the Increased Reporting Trigger has occurred due to clause (a)(i) of this definition, if Excess Availability shall have exceeded the greater of (A) 15% of the Total Line Cap and (B) $37,500,000 at all times for at least forty-five (45) consecutive days, the Increased Reporting Trigger shall be deemed to have ended;

 

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provided , further , that to the extent that the Increased Reporting Trigger has occurred due to clause (a)(ii) of this definition, if U.S. Availability shall have exceeded the greater of (A) 15% of the U.S. Line Cap and (B) $22,500,000 at all times for at least forty-five (45) consecutive days, the Increased Reporting Trigger shall be deemed to have ended; and/or

(b) a FCCR Test Event.

Indemnified Taxes : Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.

Indemnitees : Agent Indemnitees, Lender Indemnitees, Fronting Bank Indemnitees and Bank of America Indemnitees.

Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower : as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Initial U.S. Borrowers : as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Insolvency Proceeding : any case or proceeding, application, meeting convened, resolution passed, proposal, corporate action or any other proceeding commenced by or against a Person under any state, provincial, federal or foreign law for, or any agreement of such Person to, (a) the entry of an order for relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, or any other insolvency, debtor relief, bankruptcy, receivership, debt adjustment law or other similar law (whether state, provincial, federal or foreign), including the Dutch Bankruptcy Act ( Faillissementswet ); (b) the appointment of a Creditor Representative or other custodian for such Person or any part of its Property; (c) an assignment or trust mortgage for the benefit of creditors; (d) the winding up or strike off the Person (other than in connection with a solvent reorganization permitted by Section 10.2.8); (e) the proposal or implementation of a scheme of arrangement; (f) a suspension of payment, moratorium of any debts, official assignment, composition or arrangement with a Person’s creditors; or (g) in the case of a Dutch Domiciled Loan Party, any (provisional) suspension of payment (( voorlopige ) ( surseance van betaling ), bankruptcy ( faillissement ), dissolution or winding up ( ontbinding ).

Insolvency Regulation : the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1346/2000 29 May 2000 on Insolvency Proceedings.

Intellectual Property : the rights in and to (i) all inventions and discoveries (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all patents, patent applications and patent disclosures, together with all reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions and reexaminations thereof, (ii) all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names and corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations thereof and including all goodwill associated therewith, (iii) all copyrightable works, all copyrights and all applications, registrations and renewals in connection therewith, (iv) all know-how, trade secrets and confidential business information, whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice (including ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, compositions and manufacturing and production process and techniques, technical data, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals), (v) designs, (vi) all computer software (including data and related documentation), (vii) all other proprietary rights and (viii) all licenses and agreements in connection therewith.

Intellectual Property Claim : any claim or assertion (whether in writing, by suit or otherwise) that the Parent’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s ownership, use, marketing, sale or distribution of any Inventory, Equipment, Intellectual Property or other Property violates another Person’s Intellectual Property.

 

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Interest Expense : means, with reference to any period, total interest expense payable in cash (including that attributable to capital lease obligations) of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Borrowed Money of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Hedge Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP), calculated on a consolidated basis for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period in accordance with GAAP but excluding (a) amortization of deferred financing costs and any other amounts of non-cash interest and (b) the accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities during such period to the extent not paid in cash.

Interest Period : as defined in Section 3.1.3.

Inventory : as defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

Inventory Appraisal : (a) in connection with the Transactions, the appraisals prepared by HILCO Appraisal Services LLC dated July 16, 2015, as to Initial U.S. Borrower and Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower, and December 3, 2015, as to Added U.S. Borrower and (b) thereafter the most recent inventory appraisal conducted by an independent appraisal firm and delivered pursuant to Section 10.1.1 hereof.

Inventory Revaluation : an adjustment (positive or negative) to EBITDA equal to the difference of (a) EBITDA as determined in accordance with the “first-in-first-out” method of accounting minus (b) EBITDA as determined in accordance with the “replacement cost” method of accounting, computed by adjusting cost of sales to reflect the cost of raw material prices during the applicable period.

Investment : for any Person: (a) the purchase or acquisition (whether for cash, property, services or securities or otherwise) of Equity Interests, Equity Interest Equivalents, Debt or other securities of any other Person (including any capital contribution); (b) the making of any deposit with, or advance, loan or other extension of credit to, any other Person (including the purchase of property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such property to such Person); or (c) the entering into of any guarantee of, or other Contingent Obligation with respect to, Debt of any other Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

IRS : the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Joint Lead Arrangers : Bank of America, N.A., Credit Suisse AG, Nomura Securities International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

KPCC : Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

KPLLC : Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

LC Document : any of the Dutch LC Documents and/or the U.S. LC Documents, as the context requires.

LC Obligations : the Dutch LC Obligations and/or the U.S. LC Obligations, as the context requires.

Lender Indemnitees : Lenders, Affiliates of Lenders and their respective officers, directors, members, partners, employees and agents.

 

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Lenders : as defined in the preamble to this Agreement, including (a) Bank of America and its Affiliates in their respective capacities as the Dutch Swingline Lender and the U.S. Swingline Lender, (b) the Dutch Lenders, (c) the U.S. Lenders and (d) their respective permitted successors and assigns and, where applicable, any Fronting Bank, and any other Person who hereafter becomes a “Lender” pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.

Lending Office : the office designated as such by the Applicable Lender at the time it becomes party to this Agreement or thereafter by notice to the Agent and the relevant Loan Party Agent.

Letter-of-Credit Right : as defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

Letters of Credit : the Dutch Letters of Credit and/or the U.S. Letters of Credit, as the context requires.

LIBOR : the per annum rate of interest (rounded up to the nearest 1/8th of 1% and in no event less than zero ) determined by Agent at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to an interest period, for a term equivalent to such interest period, equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or comparable or successor rate approved by Agent, as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or other commercially available source designated by Agent from time to time); provided , that any comparable or successor rate shall be applied by Agent, if administratively feasible, in a manner consistent with market practice.

LIBOR Loan : each set of LIBOR Revolver Loans having a common currency, length and commencement of Interest Period.

LIBOR Revolver Loan : a Revolver Loan that bears interest based on LIBOR; provided , however , that a European Base Rate Loan bearing interest as set forth in the definition of European Base Rate, or a U.S. Base Rate Loan bearing interest as set forth in clause (c) of the definition of U.S. Base Rate, shall not constitute a LIBOR Revolver Loan.

License : with respect to any Loan Party, all of such Loan Party’s right, title, and interest in and to (a) any and all written licensing agreements or similar arrangements in (i) Patents, (ii) Copyrights, (iii) Trademarks, (iv) Trade Secrets or (v) Software, and (b) all rights to sue for past, present, and future breaches thereof.

Lien : any mortgage, pledge (including, without limitation, disclosed, undisclosed, possessory and non-possessory), security interest, hypothecation, assignment, statutory trust, deemed trust, privilege, lien, charge, bailment or similar encumbrance, whether statutory, based on common law, contract or otherwise, and including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale, any retention of title or any other title retention agreement, or any lease in the nature thereof.

Lien Acknowledgment : an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably and in light of (A) the requirements of Applicable Law to provide a valid and enforceable Lien over the relevant Inventory and (B) the ability of the Agent or any Security Trustee to carry out an orderly enforcement of its Liens over that Inventory following an Event of Default), by which for any Eligible Inventory (a) located on leased premises or (b) held by a warehouseman, such lessor or warehouseman is notified of the Agent’s or Security Trustee’s Lien and, if required for perfection under the Applicable Law of such jurisdiction and customary in such jurisdiction (i) acknowledges the Agent’s or Security Trustee’s Lien on any such Eligible Inventory located on the premises and (ii) agrees to permit the Agent or a Security Trustee to, upon an Event of Default and for a reasonable time thereafter, (A) enter upon the premises, (B) remove, store or dispose of such Collateral, (C) have the Collateral delivered to the Agent upon the Agent’s instructions, or (D) in the case of warehouseman agrees to hold the Goods as agent for the Agent, or such other documentation to which the Agent may reasonably agree.

 

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Loan : a Revolver Loan.

Loan Account : as defined in Section 5.7.1.

Loan Documents : this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Security Documents.

Loan Parties : the Dutch Facility Loan Parties and the U.S. Facility Loan Parties, collectively, and “ Loan Party ” means any of the Loan Parties, individually.

Loan Party Agent : the Foreign Loan Party Agent and/or the North American Loan Party Agent, as the context requires.

Loan Party Group : a group consisting of (a) the Dutch Facility Loan Parties or (b) the U.S. Facility Loan Parties, as the context requires.

Loan Party Group Obligations : with respect to (a) the Dutch Facility Loan Parties, the Dutch Facility Obligations and (b) the U.S. Facility Loan Parties, U.S. Facility Obligations.

Local Time : with respect to (a) U.S. Revolver Loans, Dallas, Texas time in the United States and (b) Dutch Revolver Loans, prevailing time in London, England.

Margin Stock : as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors as in effect from time to time.

Material Adverse Effect : (a) a material adverse effect on, the operations, business, assets, properties or financial condition of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Agent, any Secured Trustee or any Lender under any Loan Documents; (c) a material impairment of the ability of (i) the U.S. Borrowers and the U.S. Facility Guarantors, taken as a whole, to perform any of their material obligations under any Loan Document or (ii) the Borrowers and the Guarantors, taken as a whole, to perform any of their material obligations under any Loan Document; or (d) a material adverse effect upon a material portion of the Collateral or the validity or priority of the Agent’s or any Security Trustee’s Liens thereon.

Material Contract : any agreement or arrangement to which any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary is party (other than the Loan Documents) (a) that is deemed to be a material contract under any securities law applicable to such Person, including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (b) for which breach, termination, nonperformance or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (c) that relates to Material Debt.

Material Debt : Debt (other than the Obligations and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedge Agreements, of any one or more of the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $50,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Debt, the “obligations” of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Hedge Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedge Agreement were terminated at such time.

Maximum Facility Amount : $350,000,000.

 

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Mohawk Final Judgement : a final judgement in that certain case styled “Mohawk Industries, Inc. and Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Plaintiffs v. Arizona Chemical Company, LLC, Defendant”.

Mohawk Availability Reserve : as defined in clause (d) of the definition of “U.S. Borrowing Base”.

Moody’s : Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

Mortgage : a second-priority mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt in which a Loan Party grants a Lien on Mortgaged Property to Agent, as security for the Obligations, in each case substantially similar in form and substance to the corresponding “Mortgage” (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) against such Mortgaged Property granted by such Loan Party for the benefit of the Term Loan Lenders (except with respect to priority).

Mortgaged Property : as defined in the Term Loan Agreement.

Multiemployer Plan : any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and subject to Title IV of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five (5) plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Income : means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Parent or is merged into or consolidated with Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of Parent) in which Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions, (c) the undistributed earnings of any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Applicable Law and (d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period to the extent included in Net Income.

New Lender : each Lender that becomes a party to this Agreement after the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

New Loan Party : any Person that executes a supplement or joinder to this Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G and becomes a Loan Party under this Agreement pursuant to Sections 10.1.9 or 10.2.8(b).

NOLV Percentage : the net orderly liquidation value of Inventory (determined in accordance with the appraisal prepared in connection with the Transactions or by any later such appraisal), expressed as a percentage, net of all liquidation expenses, as determined from the most recent Inventory Appraisal approved by the Agent.

Non-Consenting Lender : as defined in Section 13.3.4.

North American Loan Party Agent : as defined in Section 4.4.1.

 

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Notice of Borrowing : a Notice of Borrowing to be provided by the relevant Loan Party Agent to request a Borrowing of Loans, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E or otherwise in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and such Loan Party Agent.

Notice of Conversion/Continuation : a Notice of Conversion/Continuation to be provided by the relevant Loan Party Agent to request a conversion or continuation of any Loans as LIBOR Loans, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F or otherwise in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and such Loan Party Agent.

Obligations : all (a) principal of and premium, if any, on the Loans, (b) LC Obligations and other obligations of the Loan Parties with respect to Letters of Credit, (c) interest, expenses, fees, indemnification obligations, Extraordinary Expenses and other amounts payable by the Loan Parties from time to time under the Loan Documents and (d) other Debt, obligations and liabilities of any kind owing by the Loan Parties pursuant to the Loan Documents, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether evidenced by a note or other writing, whether allowed in any Insolvency Proceeding, whether arising from an extension of credit, issuance of a letter of credit, acceptance, loan, guarantee, indemnification or otherwise, and whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, primary or secondary, or joint or several, including, without limitation, Secured Bank Product Obligations but (e) shall exclude Excluded Swap Obligations.

Ordinary Course of Business : with respect to any Person, the ordinary course of business of such Person, consistent with past practices or, with respect to actions taken by such Person for which no past practice exists, consistent with past practices of similarly situated companies, and, in each case, undertaken in good faith.

Organization Documents : (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction), (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

OSHA : the Occupational Safety and Hazard Act of 1970.

Other Agreement : each Revolver Note, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, LC Document, Fee Letter, Lien Acknowledgment, Borrowing Base Certificate, Compliance Certificate, Borrower Materials, or other document, instrument, certificate, notice, report or agreement (other than this Agreement or a Security Document) now or hereafter delivered by or on behalf of a Loan Party to the Agent, a Security Trustee, a Fronting Bank or a Lender in connection with any transactions relating hereto.

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

 

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Other Taxes : all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, 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 pursuant to Section 3.9).

Overadvance : a Dutch Overadvance or a U.S. Overadvance, as the context requires.

Overadvance Loan : a Dutch Overadvance Loan and/or a U.S. Overadvance Loan, as the context requires.

Parent : as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Patents : with respect to any Loan Party, all of such Loan Party’s right, title, and interest in and to: (i) any and all patents and patent applications; (ii) all inventions claimed therein; (iii) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, and continuations-in-part thereof; (iv) all income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including damages and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (v) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements thereof; and (vi) all domestic rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

Participant : as defined in Section 13.2.

Participant Register : as defined in Section 13.2.

Participating Member State : any member state of the European Communities that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with the legislation of the European Community relating to the Economic and Monetary Union.

Patriot Act : USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

Payment Conditions : for Distributions, Acquisitions, Investments and Debt payments, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and either of the following:

(i) Excess Availability shall be at least 25.0% of the Total Line Cap on a pro forma basis for each day (A) during the consecutive thirty (30) day period immediately preceding such Distribution, Acquisition, Investment or Debt payment and (B) during the consecutive thirty (30)-day period after giving effect thereto; or

(ii) (A) the Pro Forma Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries after giving effect to such Distribution, Acquisition, Investment or Debt payment shall be greater than 1.10 to 1.00 for the most recently completed Test Period reported under Section 10.1.2 (calculated on a pro forma basis in a manner acceptable to the Agent) as if a FCCR Test Event was in effect and (B) Excess Availability shall be at least 17.5% of the Total Line Cap, in the case of subclause (B), on a pro forma basis for each day (1) during the consecutive thirty (30)-day period immediately preceding such Distribution, Acquisition, Investment or Debt payment and (2) during the consecutive thirty (30)-day period after giving effect thereto.

For purposes of the foregoing paragraph, pro forma basis shall be determined by the North American Loan Party Agent in good faith with respect to such Distribution, Acquisition, Investment or Debt Payment, as of the date such payment is made; provided that (i) any Distribution for the purpose of making a dividend to Parent shareholders may be determined solely as of the date of declaration thereof

 

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so long as such dividend is actually made within sixty (60) days, (ii) any Acquisition or Investment may be determined solely as of the date of entry into definitive documentation with respect thereto, (iii) any Debt Payment may be determined solely as of the date of any required notice of redemption or prepayment notice; provided further that an officer’s certificate of the North American Loan Party Agent delivered to the Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to such date of determination stating that the North American Loan Party Agent has determined in good faith that the foregoing requirements have been satisfied shall be conclusive evidence that the foregoing requirements have been satisfied unless the Agent notifies the Parent, as the case may be, within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

Payment Item : each check, draft or other item of payment payable to a Loan Party, including those constituting proceeds of any Collateral.

PBGC : the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Perfection Certificate : a certificate disclosing information regarding the Loan Parties in a form approved by the Agent.

Perfection Jurisdiction : each of Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, UK and U.S.

Permitted Acquisition : any Acquisition by a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction that satisfies each of the following requirements:

(a) an Acquisition of the Equity Interests or assets of another Person approved by the board of directors (or other comparable governing body) of such other Person;

(b) the business or assets acquired in connection with such Acquisition is not engaged, directly or indirectly, in any line of business other than the businesses in which the Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the Closing Date and any line of businesses or business activities that are substantially similar, related, or incidental thereto;

(c) if the North American Loan Party Agent elects to include the Accounts and Inventory acquired in connection with such Acquisition in the determination of the applicable Borrowing Base, prior to such inclusion, the Agent shall have conducted an audit and field examination and, to the extent required by the Agent, an appraisal of such Inventory to its satisfaction, any applicable Reserves have been established, and all appropriate lien filings and collateral documentation, including Lien Acknowledgments (if capable of being obtained using commercially reasonable efforts), have been duly completed, executed and delivered to the Agent;

(d) [Reserved] ;

(e) in connection with an Acquisition of the Equity Interests in any Person, all Liens on property of such Person shall be terminated unless permitted pursuant to the Loan Documents, and in connection with an Acquisition of the assets of any Person, all Liens on such assets shall be terminated unless permitted pursuant to the Loan Documents; and

(f) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom.

Permitted Bill of Lading : a tangible negotiable bill of lading, of a type and in a form acceptable to the Agent (as determined in the Agent’s Permitted Discretion), which bill of lading is (i) issued by a common carrier acceptable to the Agent and (ii) in the possession of either the Agent or a freight forwarder or customs broker, as applicable, acting for the Agent, in each case, under the terms of an Imported Goods Agreement which has been delivered to the Agent.

 

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Permitted Contingent Obligations : Contingent Obligations (a) arising from Hedge Agreements permitted hereunder; (b) existing on the Closing Date, and any extension or renewal thereof that does not increase the amount of such Contingent Obligation when extended or renewed; (c) take-or-pay obligations in supply agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business; (d) arising under the Loan Documents, (e) arising with respect to Debt incurred pursuant to Section 10.2.1(u) or (f) arising under the Senior Notes Documents.

Permitted Discretion : a determination made in good faith by the Agent and in the exercise of reasonable credit judgment (from the perspective of a secured, asset-based lender similarly situated).

Permitted Lien : as defined in Section 10.2.2.

Permitted Payments : without duplication as to amounts:

(a) Distributions by any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent to pay reasonable accounting, legal and administrative expenses and general corporate operating and overhead costs and expenses when due, to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership and operation of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(b) Distributions by KPLLC to Parent in amounts required for Parent to pay federal, state and local income and similar taxes attributable to the income of the KPLLC and its Subsidiaries; provided that the amount of such payments in any Fiscal Year does not exceed the amount that KPLLC and its Subsidiaries would be required to pay in respect of foreign, federal, state and local taxes for such Fiscal Year were KPLLC and its Subsidiaries to pay such taxes separately from Parent.

Permitted Purchase Money Debt : Purchase Money Debt of Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries that is unsecured or secured only by a Purchase Money Lien, as long as the aggregate amount does not exceed the greater of 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets or $150,000,000 at any time.

Person : any individual, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, land trust, business trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.

PHCC : Polymer Holdings Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Pledged Equity Interests : all Pledged Stock, Pledged LLC Interests, Pledged Partnership Interests, Pledged Trust Interests and any other participation or interests in any equity or profits of any business entity, including any trust and all management rights relating to any entity whose equity interests are included as Pledged Equity Interests.

Pledged LLC Interests : all interests now owned or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party in any limited liability company and each series thereof, including all limited liability company interests set forth on Schedule B to the Perfection Certificate, and the certificates, if any, representing such limited liability company interests and any interest of any Loan Party on the books and records of such limited liability company or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interest and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such limited liability company interests and all rights as a member of the related limited liability company.

 

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Pledged Partnership Interests : all interests now owned or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party in any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other partnership, including all partnership interests set forth on Schedule B to the Perfection Certificate, and the certificates, if any, representing such partnership interests and any interests of any Loan Party on the books and records of such partnership or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interests and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for a portion of or all of such partnership interests and all rights as a partner of the related partnership.

Pledged Stock : all shares of capital stock now owned or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party, including all shares of capital stock set forth on Schedule B to the Perfection Certificate, and the certificates, if any, representing such shares and any interest of any Loan Party in the entries on the books of the issuer of such shares or on the books of any securities intermediary pertaining to such shares and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such shares.

Pledged Trust Interests : all interests now owned or hereafter acquired in a Delaware business trust or other trust including, without limitation, all trust interests listed on Schedule B to the Perfection Certificate, and the certificates, if any, representing such trust interests and any interest of any Loan Party on the books and records of such trust or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interest and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such trust interests.

Pro Forma Basis : for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio under Section 10.3 (including Pro Forma CAPEX and Pro Forma EBITDA) for any period during which one or more Specified Transactions occurs, such Specified Transaction (and all other Specified Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the most recent four Fiscal Quarter period of measurement and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Property or Person disposed of in a Specified Disposition shall be excluded and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Property or Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition shall be included; provided that the foregoing pro forma adjustments may include anticipated cost savings and synergies solely to the extent that such adjustments are factually supportable and identifiable and reasonably expected to be realized within twelve (12) months of such Specified Transaction as set forth in reasonable detail on a certificate of a Senior Officer of the North American Loan Party Agent delivered to the Agent; provided , further , that the foregoing pro forma adjustment shall be without duplication of any cost savings or additional costs that are already included in the calculation of EBITDA.

Pro Forma CAPEX : with respect to any Specified Transaction for any period, the amount for such period of Capital Expenditures calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Specified Transaction.

Pro Forma EBITDA : with respect to any Specified Transaction for any period, the amount for such period of EBITDA calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Specified Transaction.

Pro Forma Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio : for any period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for such period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, provided that clause (b) of the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall include all Distributions paid in cash (other than Distributions solely to Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries).

 

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Pro Rata : (a) when used with reference to a Lender’s (i) share on any date of the total Borrower Group Commitments to a Borrower Group, (ii) participating interest in LC Obligations (if applicable) to the members of such Borrower Group, (iii) share of payments made by the members of such Borrower Group with respect to such Borrower Group’s Obligations, (iv) increases or reductions to the Borrower Group Commitments pursuant to Section 2.1.4 or 2.1.7, and (v) obligation to pay or reimburse the Agent for Extraordinary Expenses owed by or in respect of such Borrower Group or to indemnify any Indemnitees for Claims relating to such Borrower Group, a percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded to the ninth decimal place) derived by dividing the amount of the Borrower Group Commitment of such Lender to such Borrower Group on such date by the aggregate amount of the Borrower Group Commitments of all Lenders to such Borrower Group on such date (or if such Borrower Group Commitments have been terminated, by reference to the respective Borrower Group Commitments as in effect immediately prior to the termination thereof) or (b) when used for any other reason, a percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded to the ninth decimal place) derived by dividing the aggregate amount of the Lender’s Commitments on such date by the aggregate amount of the Commitments of all Lenders on such date (or if any such Commitments have been terminated, such Commitments as in effect immediately prior to the termination thereof).

Properly Contested : with respect to any obligation of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary, (a) the obligation is subject to a bona fide dispute regarding amount or the Loan Party’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s liability to pay; (b) the obligation is being properly contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently pursued; (c) appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (d) non-payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than a Permitted Lien), nor reasonably be expected to result in forfeiture or sale of any Collateral of the Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary; (e) no Lien is imposed on assets of the Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, unless bonded and stayed to the satisfaction of the Agent; and (f) if the obligation results from entry of a judgment or other order, such judgment or order is stayed pending appeal or other judicial review.

Property : any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real (immovable), personal (movable) or mixed, or tangible (corporeal) or intangible (incorporeal).

Protective Advances : Dutch Protective Advances and/or U.S. Protective Advances, as the context requires.

Purchase Money Debt : (a) Debt (other than the Obligations) incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Debt assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets; provided that such Debt is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days before or after acquisition or completion of such construction or improvement; and (b) any renewals, extensions or refinancings (but not increases) thereof.

Purchase Money Lien : a Lien that secures Purchase Money Debt, encumbering only the fixed or capital assets acquired or financed with such Debt and constituting a Capital Lease or a purchase money security interest under the UCC; provided that Purchase Money Debt provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other Purchase Money Debt provided solely by such lender.

Qualified ECP Guarantor : means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time such Swap Obligation is incurred or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations : Secured Bank Product Obligations with respect to Hedge Agreements.

RCRA : the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 6991-6991i).

Real Estate : all right, title and interest (whether as owner, lessor or lessee) in any real Property or any buildings, structures, parking areas or other improvements thereon.

Receivables : the Accounts, Payment Intangibles, Chattel Paper and any other rights or claims to receive money that are General Intangibles or that are otherwise included as Collateral.

Recipient : any Agent, any Lender, any Fronting Bank, any Security Trustee or any other recipient of a payment to be made by or on behalf of any Loan Party on account of any Obligations under any Loan Document.

Records : as defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

Refinancing Conditions : the following conditions for Refinancing Debt: (a) it is in an aggregate principal amount that does not exceed the principal amount of the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced (plus fees, expenses and accrued interest); (b) it has a final maturity no sooner than, and a weighted average life no less than, the Debt being modified, extended, renewed, refunded, substituted, replaced or refinanced; (c) if the initial Debt is junior Debt, such Refinancing Debt shall be 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 Debt being modified, extended, renewed, refunded, substituted, replaced or refinanced; (d) the terms and conditions of such Refinancing Debt are no more restrictive than the debt being refinanced in any material respect and taken as a whole or not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect (excluding as to interest rate, fees, funding discount and prepayment or redemption premium); (e) the Liens to secure it shall not encumber any additional property other than property securing the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; and (f) no additional Person is obligated on such Debt; provided that an officer’s certificate of the North American Loan Party Agent delivered to the Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Debt, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Debt or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the North American Loan Party Agent has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Agent notifies the Parent, as the case may be, within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

Refinancing Debt : Borrowed Money that is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Debt) in exchange for, or as a modification, extension, renewal, refunding, substitution, replacement or refinancing, in whole or in part, of existing Debt (or unused commitments).

Register : as defined in Section 13.1.

Report : as defined in Section 12.3.4.

 

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Reportable Event : the occurrence of any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA and regulations thereunder with respect to a U.S. Employee Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30)-day notice period is waived).

Required Borrower Group Lenders : at any date of determination thereof, Lenders having Borrower Group Commitments to a Borrower Group representing more than 50% of the aggregate Borrower Group Commitments to such Borrower Group at such time; provided , however , that if and for so long as any such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, the term “Required Borrower Group Lenders” shall mean Lenders (excluding such Defaulting Lender) having Borrower Group Commitments to such Borrower Group representing more than 50% of the aggregate Borrower Group Commitments to such Borrower Group (excluding the Borrower Group Commitments of each Defaulting Lender) at such time; provided further , however , that if all of the Borrower Group Commitments to such Borrower Group have been terminated, the term “Required Borrower Group Lenders” shall mean Lenders to such Borrower Group holding Revolver Loans to, and (if applicable) participating interest in LC Obligations owing by, such Borrower Group representing more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolver Loans and (if applicable) LC Obligations owing by such Borrower Group at such time.

Required Lenders : at any date of determination thereof, Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the aggregate Commitments at such time; provided , however , that for so long as any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, the term “Required Lenders” shall mean Lenders (excluding such Defaulting Lender) having Commitments representing more than 50% of the aggregate Commitments (excluding the Commitments of each Defaulting Lender) at such time; provided further , however , that if any of the Commitments have been terminated, the term “Required Lenders” shall be calculated based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof using (a) in lieu of such Lender’s terminated Commitment, the outstanding principal amount of the Revolver Loans by such Lender to, and (if applicable) participation interests in LC Obligations owing by, all Borrowers and (b) in lieu of the aggregate Commitments to all Borrowers, the aggregate outstanding Revolver Loans to, and (if applicable) LC Obligations owing by all Borrowers.

Reserves : Dutch Kraton Availability Reserves and/or U.S. Availability Reserves, as the context requires.

Restricted Subsidiary : any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Restrictive Agreement : an agreement (other than a Loan Document) that conditions or restricts the right of any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary to incur or repay Borrowed Money, to grant Liens on any material asset, to declare or make Distributions, to modify, extend or renew any agreement evidencing Borrowed Money, or to repay any intercompany Debt.

Revolver Commitment Increase and Revolver Commitment Increases : as defined in Section 2.1.7(b).

Revolver Commitment Termination Date : the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date and/or the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, as the context requires.

Revolver Facilities : the facilities established pursuant to this Agreement under the U.S. Revolver Commitments and the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments, and “Revolver Facility” means any one of such Revolver Facilities.

 

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Revolver Loan : a loan made pursuant to Section 2.1.1, and any Overadvance Loan, Swingline Loan or Protective Advance.

Revolver Notes : collectively, the Dutch Kraton Revolver Notes and the U.S. Revolver Notes.

Royalties : all royalties, fees, expense reimbursement and other amounts payable by a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary under a License.

S&P : Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Sanctions : any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the European Union or other relevant sanctions authority.

SEC : the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding thereto.

Secured Bank Product Document : any agreement, instrument or other document entered into in connection with any Secured Bank Product Obligations.

Secured Bank Product Obligations : Bank Product Debt owing to a Secured Bank Product Provider (whether relating to Bank Products originally extended by such Secured Bank Product Provider or Bank Product Debt assigned to such Secured Bank Product Provider) and evidenced by one or more Secured Bank Product Documents and, in the case of any Secured Bank Product Provider other than Bank of America and its Affiliates, up to the maximum amount specified in writing to the Agent pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Secured Bank Product Provider, which amount may be established and increased or decreased by further written notice from such provider and a Loan Party Agent to the Agent from time to time.

Secured Bank Product Provider : (a) Bank of America or any of its Affiliates and (b) any other Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that is providing a Bank Product, provided that such other provider and a Loan Party Agent shall deliver a written notice to the Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, by, as to each such Bank Product in existence on the Closing Date (including any Bank Product that was entered into on or prior to the Closing Date), thirty (30) Business Days after the Closing Date, and as to all other such Bank Products, thirty (30) Business Days (or such later time as the Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) following the later of the creation of the Bank Product or such Secured Bank Product Provider (or its Affiliate) becoming a Lender hereunder, (i) reasonably specifying the key economic terms of the Bank Product and requesting that such Bank Product Debt thereunder be treated as Secured Bank Product Obligations, (ii) setting forth the amount of the related Secured Bank Product Obligations (and, if all or any portion of such Secured Bank Product Obligations are to constitute Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations, the amount of such Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations) to be secured by the Collateral which amounts may be revised from time to time by written notice to Agent from such provider and such Loan Party Agent, and (iii) if such provider is not a Lender, agreeing to be bound by Section 12.14.

Secured Obligations : Obligations and Secured Bank Product Obligations (other than Excluded Swap Obligations), including in each case those under all Loan Documents.

Secured Parties : Dutch Facility Secured Parties, U.S. Facility Secured Parties and Secured Bank Product Providers.

 

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Securities Account Control Agreement : the securities account control agreements (whether in the form of an agreement, notice and acknowledgment or like instrument), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the applicable Loan Party and, if required and customary under the laws of the jurisdiction of the securities account, executed by each financial institution maintaining a Securities Account for such Loan Party, in favor of the Agent or a Security Trustee.

Securities Account : as defined in Article 8 of the UCC.

Security Documents : this Agreement, the Guarantees, the Foreign Security Agreements, the Confirmation Agreement, the Commodity Account Control Agreements, the Deposit Account Control Agreements, the Securities Account Control Agreements, the Mortgages, and all other documents, instruments and agreements now or hereafter securing (or given with the intent to secure) any Secured Obligations.

Security Trustee : the Dutch Security Trustee, and/or any other security trustee appointed by the Agent from time to time, as the context requires.

Senior Notes : The 10.50% unsecured Senior Notes of Kraton Polymers LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation issued pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture and any additional notes issued thereunder from time to time, as any such notes may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Senior Notes Documents : The Senior Notes Indenture and each other material document, instrument or material agreement which Parent, any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries is or may hereafter become a party pertaining to the Senior Notes.

Senior Notes Indenture : means the indenture, dated as of the date hereof, with the Initial U.S. Borrower, as issuer, the subsidiary guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the Senior Notes, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Senior Officer : the president, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, managing director ( bestuurder ), the treasurer, the controller or any other senior officer of a Person designated as such in writing to the Agent by such Person, or in the case of a Dutch Domiciled Loan Party, a director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior Officer” also means any member of the Management Board of any of the Dutch Borrowers and any person who has been appointed an authorized representative by a power of attorney, so long as such power of attorney remains in effect.

Settlement Report : a report delivered by the Agent to the Applicable Lenders summarizing the Revolver Loans and, if applicable, participations in LC Obligations of the applicable Borrower Group outstanding as of a given settlement date, allocated to the Applicable Lenders on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with their Commitments.

Software : computer programs, source code, object code and supporting documentation including “software” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, as well as computer programs that may be construed as included in the definition of Goods.

Solvent : as it relates to (a) the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, (i) are adequately capitalized with working capital to pay their debts as they become due and (ii) have not incurred (by way of assumption or otherwise) any obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise), or made any conveyance in connection therewith, in each case, with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of

 

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such Persons or any of their Affiliates; and (b) (i) as to any other Person, such Person (1) owns Property whose fair salable value is greater than the amount required to pay all of its debts (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities); (2) owns Property whose present fair salable value (as defined below) is greater than the probable total liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person as they become absolute and matured; (3) is able to pay all of its debts as they mature or fall due in the normal course of business; (4) has capital that is not unreasonably small for its business and is sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and all business and transactions in which it is about to engage; (5) is not “insolvent” within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; and (6) has not incurred (by way of assumption or otherwise) any obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) or made any conveyance in connection therewith, with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of such Person or any of its Affiliates, (ii) as to any other Person incorporated or organized under the laws of the Netherlands, (1) is able to pay all of its debts as they mature or fall due in the normal course of business; and (2) is not in a situation that it has ceased to pay within the meaning of section 1 paragraph 1 of the Dutch Bankruptcy Act. “ Fair salable value ” means the amount that could be obtained for assets within a reasonable time, either through collection or through sale under ordinary selling conditions by a capable and diligent seller to an interested buyer who is willing (but under no compulsion) to purchase. 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 expected to become an actual or matured liability. For the purposes of the foregoing, Debt shall be deemed due as of its stated maturity date unless and until such maturity is accelerated.

Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations : means the representations and warranties made by Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation in the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Initial U.S. Borrower or any of its Affiliates has the right to terminate its obligations under the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement or not be obligated to consummate the acquisition thereunder as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties in the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects.

Specified Disposition : any disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent or any division, business unit, product line or line of business of such Restricted Subsidiary or Parent.

Specified Representations : means the representations and warranties of the Initial U.S. Borrower, the Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower, and to the extent applicable the Guarantors set forth in Section 9.1.2 and Section 9.1.3 (in each case with respect to the entering into and performance of the Loan Documents), the last sentence of Section 9.1.5, the last sentence of Section 9.1.7 (as of the Closing Date), Section 9.1.21,Section 9.1.22, Section 9.1.28 and the first sentence of Section 10.1.12 of this Agreement.

Specified Transaction : (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition and (c) the incurrence or repayment of any Debt.

Sterling and £ : the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

Subordinated Debt : Debt incurred by a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary that is expressly subordinate and junior in right of payment to Full Payment of all or any portion of Obligations, and is on terms (including maturity, interest, fees, repayment, covenants and subordination) reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

 

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Subsidiary : with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose Equity Interests of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time Equity Interests of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50% equity interest at the time. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent.

Successor Borrower : as defined in Section 10.2.8(a).

Successor Parent : as defined in Section 10.2.8(f).

Super-Majority Lenders : at any date of determination thereof, Lenders having Commitments representing more than 66  2 3 % of the aggregate Commitments at such time; provided , however , that for so long as any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, the term “Super-Majority Lenders” shall mean Lenders (excluding such Defaulting Lender) having Commitments representing more than 66  2 3 % of the aggregate Commitments (excluding the Commitments of each Defaulting Lender) at such time; provided further , however , that if any of the Commitments have been terminated, the term “Super-Majority Lenders” shall be calculated based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof using (a) in lieu of such Lender’s terminated Commitment, the outstanding principal amount of the Revolver Loans by such Lender to, and (if applicable) participation interests in LC Obligations owing by, all Borrowers and (b) in lieu of the aggregate Commitments to all Borrowers, the aggregate outstanding Revolver Loans to, and (if applicable) LC Obligations owing by all Borrowers.

Supplier Financing Transaction : means, any transaction in which the Borrowers may, from time to time, transfer right, title and interest in certain Accounts to a special purpose vehicle (each such special purpose vehicle, a “Kraton SPV”) for an amount equal to the market value of such Accounts, which Kraton SPV will promptly (a) sell to a bank buyer such Accounts and (b) transfer any and all consideration received for such Accounts back to the applicable Borrower, in each case on a non-recourse and true sale basis.

Supporting Obligations : as defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

Swap Obligation : means, 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.

Swingline Lender : Dutch Swingline Lender and/or the U.S. Swingline Lender, as the context requires.

Swingline Loan : a loan made pursuant to Section 2.1.8.

TARGET Day : any day on which the Trans-European Automated Realtime Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) determined by the Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

Tax Credit : a credit against, relief or remission for, or refund or repayment of, any Taxes.

 

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Tax Deduction : a deduction or withholding for or on account of Taxes (other than Excluded Taxes) from a payment under any Loan Document.

Tax Payment : either the increase in a payment made by a Loan Party to any Recipient under Section 5.8.2(a) or any payment made by a Loan Party to any Recipient under Section 5.8.2(b) or Section 5.8.2(d).

Taxes : all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other similar charges imposed in the nature of taxation by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term Agent : has the meaning set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Debt : all Borrowed Money owed to the Term Loan Lenders.

Term Debt Documents : means (i) the Term Loan Agreement and (ii) each of the other material agreements, instruments, and other material documents with respect to the Term Debt, all as in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Debt Priority Collateral : the “Fixed Asset Priority Collateral” as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Debt Priority Collateral Release Date : as defined in Section 12.3.1.

Term Loan Agreement : means that certain Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Initial U.S. Borrower, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Kraton Polymers LLC as guarantors, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other agents party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder, as the same may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time in one or more agreements (in each case with the same or new lenders, institutional investors or agents), including any agreement extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Debt thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof, in each case as and to the extent permitted by this Agreement and the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Loan Lenders : each “Lender” as defined in the Term Loan Agreement.

Test Period : for any determination under this Agreement, the most recent period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of Parent ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements for each quarter or Fiscal Year in such period have been or are required to be delivered. A Test Period may be designated by reference to the last day thereof (i.e., the “May 31, 2013 Test Period” refers to the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Parent ended May 31, 2013, and a Test Period shall be deemed to end on the last day thereof).

Third Party Bank Product Debt : Bank Product Debt owing by a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Person that is neither a Lender nor an Affiliate of a Lender.

Total Borrowing Base : the sum of the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base and the U.S. Borrowing Base.

 

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Total Debt : as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Debt for Borrowed Money of the Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date excluding Contingent Obligations, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of such Debt resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with any Permitted Acquisition), minus (b) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents held in accounts on the consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Total Line Cap : as of any date of determination, the lesser of (i) the Commitments as of such date of determination and (ii) the Total Borrowing Base as of such date of determination.

Total Revolver Exposure : as of any date of determination the sum of the Dutch Revolver Exposure and the U.S. Revolver Exposure on such date of determination.

Trademarks : with respect to any Loan Party, all of such Loan Party’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (i) all trademarks (including service marks), trade names, trade dress, and logos, slogans and other similar indicia of origin and the registrations and applications for registration thereof and the goodwill of the business symbolized by the foregoing; (ii) all renewals of the foregoing; (iii) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims, and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (iv) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing; and (v) all domestic rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

Trade Secrets : with respect to any Loan Party, all of such Loan Party’s right, title and interest in and to the following: (i) trade secrets or other confidential information, including unpatented inventions, invention disclosures, engineering or other data, production procedures, know-how, financial data, customer lists, supplier lists, business and marketing plans, processes, schematics, algorithms, techniques, analyses, proposals, source code, and data collections; (iii) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (iii) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of the foregoing; and (iv) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

Transaction Costs : the fees, costs and expenses payable by the Loan Parties in connection with the Transactions, including any premiums in connection therewith and amounts payable to the Agent and the Lenders.

Transactions : collectively, (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents to which they are a party and the making of the Borrowings hereunder, (b) the repayment of all amounts due or outstanding under or in respect of the Existing Credit Agreement, (c) the payment of all related fees and expenses, (d) consummation of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition, (e) closing and funding of Term Debt, and (f) closing and funding of the Senior Notes.

Transfer : as defined in Section 2.1.6(d).

Transfer Date : as defined in Section 2.1.6(d).

Transferee : any actual or potential Eligible Assignee, Participant or other Person acquiring an interest in any Obligations.

Treasury Management Services : any services provided from time to time by any Lender or any of its Affiliates to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with operating, collections,

 

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payroll, trust or other depository or disbursement accounts, including automated clearinghouse, e-payable, electronic funds transfer, wire transfer, controlled disbursement, overdraft, depository, information reporting, lockbox and stop payment services.

Type : any type of a Loan (i.e., Base Rate Loan, LIBOR Loan or European Base Rate Loan, etc.) and which shall be either a LIBOR Loan or a Base Rate Loan.

UCC : the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York or, when the laws of any other U.S. state or territory govern the creation, perfection, priority or enforcement of any Lien, the Uniform Commercial Code of such state or territory.

UK or United Kingdom : the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

UK Debenture : that certain Debenture in respect of the assets of the Initial Dutch Borrower located in the UK, governed by English law, dated April 29, 2013, among the Initial Dutch Borrower and the Dutch Security Trustee, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

UK Security Agreements : the UK Debenture and each other debenture or security agreement governed by the laws of the United Kingdom among any Dutch Domiciled Loan Party and the Agent or the Dutch Security Trustee.

Unrestricted Subsidiary : (a) each Subsidiary of the Parent that has been designated following the Closing Date as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 10.1.17 and (b) each Subsidiary of a Subsidiary specified in clause (a) of this definition.

U.S. : the United States of America.

U.S. Assignment of Claims Act : Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, 31 U.S.C. § 3727, 41 U.S.C. § 15, as amended.

U.S. Availability : as of any such date of determination, (a) the lesser of (i) the U.S. Revolver Commitments minus all U.S. Availability Reserves and (ii) the U.S. Borrowing Base, minus , in each case (b) the sum of (i) the principal balance of all U.S. Revolver Loan, and (ii) all U.S. LC Obligations.

U.S. Availability Reserves : the sum (without duplication) of (a) the U.S. Rent Reserve; (b) the U.S. Bank Product Reserve; (c) the U.S. Inventory Reserve; (d) the U.S. Dilution Reserve, (e) the Dutch Kraton Overadvance Loan Balance, (f) the Dutch Kraton Allocated U.S. Availability Reserve and (g) such additional reserves, in such amounts and with respect to such matters, as the Agent may establish in its Permitted Discretion and in accordance with the terms hereof.

U.S. Bank Product Reserve : at any time with respect to Secured Bank Product Obligation for the accounts of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the maximum amount of the then outstanding Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations for the accounts of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries owing (i) to Bank of America and its Affiliates as determined by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion and (ii) to any other Secured Bank Product Provider as set forth in the notice delivered by such Secured Bank Product Provider providing such Bank Product and the North American Loan Party Agent to the Agent in accordance with the definition of Secured Bank Product Provider and (b) with respect to any other Secured Bank Product Obligations for the account of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, reserves established by the Agent from time to time in its Permitted Discretion to reflect the reasonably anticipated liabilities in respect for the account of the then outstanding Secured Bank Product Obligations of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.

 

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U.S. Bankruptcy Code : Title 11 of the United States Code.

U.S. Barge In-Transit Inventory : at any date of determination, all Inventory of the Initial U.S. Borrower which is in-transit by river on barges from the location of the relevant third-party seller within the United States to the Initial U.S. Borrower’s plant located in Belpre, Ohio; provided , that at any date of determination, the amount of U.S. Barge In-Transit Inventory which may be included in U.S. Eligible Inventory may not exceed $15,000,000.

U.S. Base Rate : for any day, a per annum rate equal to the greatest of (a) the U.S. Prime Rate for such day; (b) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%; or (c) Dollar LIBOR for a 30 day interest period as determined on such day, plus 1.0%. In no event shall the U.S. Base Rate be less than zero.

U.S. Base Rate Loan : any Loan that bears interest based on the U.S. Base Rate.

U.S. Borrowers : (a) the Initial U.S. Borrower, (b) the Added U.S. Borrower and (c) each other U.S. Subsidiary that, after the date hereof, has executed a supplement or joinder to this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1.9 specifying that it wishes to be a U.S. Borrower.

U.S. Borrowing Base : at any time, an amount equal to the sum (expressed in Dollars) of, without duplication:

(a) the Value of U.S. Eligible Accounts multiplied by the advance rate of 85%, plus

(b) the lesser of (i) 65% of the Value of U.S. Eligible Inventory composed of finished goods and (ii) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of U.S. Eligible Inventory composed of finished goods, plus

(c) the lesser of (i) 65% of the Value of U.S. Eligible Inventory not composed of finished goods and (ii) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of U.S. Eligible Inventory not composed of finished goods, minus

(d) all U.S. Availability Reserves, any change therein to become effective (i) immediately upon or (ii) three (3) Business Days after, in the case of U.S. Availability Reserves which would cause the aggregate amount of the U.S. Revolver Loans at such time to exceed the lesser of the U.S. Revolver Commitments and the U.S. Borrowing Base then in effect, notification thereof to the North American Loan Party Agent by the Agent ( provided that the Dutch Kraton Allocated U.S. Availability Reserve will be effective immediately without notice to North American Loan Party Agent); provided that, the Agent shall have provided the North American Loan Party Agent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice of any such establishment or increase; provided further that, the Agent may only establish or increase a U.S. Availability Reserve after the date hereof based on an event, condition or other circumstance arising after the Closing Date or based on facts not known to the Agent as of the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, establish U.S. Availability Reserves in connection with the Mohawk Final Judgment (the “ Mohawk Availability Reserve ”) if any of the plaintiffs or any assignees of or successors to the plaintiffs thereunder become a Lien Creditor pursuant to Section 9-102 of the UCC and obtain priority over future advances under this Agreement pursuant to Section 9-323 of the UCC, or take any action to enforce any Lien such Person may have on any Collateral with priority superior to the Liens securing the Obligations. The amount of any U.S. Availability Reserve established by the Agent shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition,

 

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other circumstance or new fact that is the basis for the U.S. Availability Reserve. Upon delivery of such notice, the Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed U.S. Availability Reserve or increase, and the applicable Borrowers may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition, circumstance or new fact that is the basis for such U.S. Availability Reserve or increase no longer exists, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Agent in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion. In no event shall such notice and opportunity limit the right of the Agent to establish or change such U.S. Availability Reserve, unless the Agent shall have determined in its Permitted Discretion that the event, condition, other circumstance or new fact that is the basis for such new U.S. Availability Reserve or such change no longer exists or has otherwise been adequately addressed by the applicable Borrower. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary U.S. Availability Reserves shall not duplicate amounts already deducted in or by other Availability Reserves or in connection with criteria already used to calculate the NOLV Percentage of U.S. Eligible Inventory. As to the Mohawk Availability Reserve (i) no such Mohawk Availability Reserve shall be instituted as long as the Mohawk Final Judgment and enforcement of any Lien relating thereto continues to be stayed pending appeal or other judicial review or bonded pending approval and (ii) the Mohawk Availability Reserve shall be automatically released concurrently upon the Mohawk Final Judgment (together with any related court recording charges) being paid off in full or otherwise satisfied, discharged or vacated (and for the avoidance of doubt, the imposition of such Mohawk Availability Reserve shall not, in and of itself, prevent the U.S. Borrowers from borrowing the full amount available under the U.S. Borrowing Base in the form of a U.S. Revolving Loan while such Mohawk Availability Reserve is in effect for the sole purposes of satisfying the Mohawk Final Judgment).

The U.S. Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate theretofore delivered to the Agent with such adjustments as the Agent deems appropriate in its Permitted Discretion to assure that the U.S. Borrowing Base is calculated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, until the date of completion of the Added U.S. Borrower Field Exam and Inventory Appraisal and the results thereof are satisfactory to the Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, (A) the advance rate against the Value of U.S. Eligible Accounts of the Added U.S. Borrower shall be (1) 75% for the period beginning with the Closing Date and continuing through the 59 th day after the Closing Date, (2) 70% for the period beginning on the 60 th day after the Closing Date and continuing through the 89 th day after the Closing Date, and (3) 0% thereafter; provided , however , the advance rate against the Value of U.S. Eligible Accounts of the Added U.S. Borrower shall immediately become 85% upon the actual date of completion of such satisfactory Added U.S. Borrower Field Exam and Inventory Appraisal, and (B) the advance rate against the Value of U.S. Eligible Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower relevant to clauses (b)(i) and (c)(i) of the definition of “U.S. Borrowing Base” shall be (1) 45% for the period beginning with the Closing Date and continuing through the 59 th day after the Closing Date, (2) 40% for the period beginning on the 60 th day after the Closing Date and continuing through the 89 th day after the Closing Date, and (3) 0% thereafter; provided , however , the advance rate against the Value of U.S. Eligible Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower relevant to clauses (b)(i) and (c)(i) of the definition of “U.S. Borrowing Base” shall immediately become 65% upon the actual date of completion of such satisfactory Added U.S. Borrower Field Exam and Inventory Appraisal.

U.S. Cash Collateral Account : a bank account established by the Agent at Bank of America in connection with the U.S. Revolver Commitments that is (a) segregated, (b) for the benefit of the U.S. Facility Secured Parties, (c) subject to the Agent’s Liens securing the Secured Obligations and (d) under the exclusive control of Agent.

U.S. Dilution Reserve : with respect to an Applicable U.S. Borrower, without duplication of any other reserves or items that are otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria, the aggregate

 

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amount of reserves, as established by the Agent from time to time, in an amount equal to the Value of the U.S. Eligible Accounts multiplied by 1% for each percentage point (or portion thereof) that the U.S. Borrowers’ Dilution Percent exceeds 5%.

U.S. Domiciled Loan Party : any U.S. Borrower and each U.S. Facility Guarantor, and “ U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties ” means all such Persons, collectively.

U.S. Dominion Account : each special deposit account established by the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties, without duplication of any other reserves or items that are otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria, at Bank of America or another bank reasonably acceptable to the Agent, over which the Agent has control and over which, upon the commencement of an activation period (which the Agent may trigger after a Cash Dominion Event hereunder), the Agent may exercise exclusive control, which deposit account is a collection account and not a disbursement account.

U.S. Eligible Accounts : at any time, the Accounts of the U.S. Borrowers at such date except any Account):

(a) which is not subject to a duly perfected and enforceable security interest in favor of the Agent under U.S. law;

(b) which is subject to any Lien (including Liens permitted by Section 10.2.2) other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Agent, (ii) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.1(i) or (iii) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(j), (m) or (hh) which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Agent;

(c) (i) for each invoice with an original due date not later than thirty (30) days after the date thereof, which is unpaid for (A) more than sixty (60) days after the original due date or (B) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Agent in its discretion, more than ninety (90) days after the original invoice date; (ii) for each invoice with an original due date later than thirty (30) days after the date thereof but not later than sixty (60) days after the date thereof, which is unpaid for (A) more than sixty (60) days after the original due date or (B) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Agent in its discretion, more than 120 days after the original invoice date; (iii) for each invoice with an original due date later than sixty (60) days after the date thereof but not later than ninety (90) days after the date thereof, which is unpaid for (A) more than sixty (60) days after the original due date or (B) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Agent in its discretion, more than 150 days after the original invoice date;

(d) which is owing by an Account Debtor for which more than 50% of the Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates are ineligible pursuant to clause (c) above (in calculating the ineligible portion of Accounts under clause (c) for purposes of this clause (d), credit balances that are unapplied for more than ninety (90) days shall not reduce the amount of the Accounts ineligible thereunder); provided that Accounts that are determined not to be U.S. Eligible Accounts solely as a result of the provisions of clause (e) below, shall be excluded in calculating such percentage;

(e) which is owing by an Account Debtor to the extent the aggregate amount of otherwise Eligible Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates to the Borrowers exceeds 20% of the aggregate Eligible Accounts (or such higher percentage as the Agent may establish for the Account Debtor from time to time), in each case, only to the extent of such excess;

(f) with respect to which any covenant, representation, or warranty relating to such Account contained in this Agreement has been materially breached or is not true in any material respect, respectively (or with respect to such covenant, representation or warranty qualified by materiality, after giving effect to such qualification in all respects);

 

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(g) which (i) does not arise from the sale of goods or performance of services in the Ordinary Course of Business, (ii) is not evidenced by an invoice, or other similar documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing, (iv) represents contract retention, (v) is contingent upon such U.S. Borrower’s completion of any further performance, (vi) represents a cash or credit card sale, (vii) represents a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval, consignment which is billed by the Applicable U.S. Borrower, as consignor, prior to the actual sale to the end user, cash-on-delivery or any other repurchase or return basis; provided that, regardless of the foregoing, up to $15,000,000 at any time outstanding of Accounts representing bill-and-hold transactions (documented to the reasonable satisfaction of Agent, in its Permitted Discretion) will be deemed U.S. Eligible Accounts for the period beginning October 1 of each calendar year and ending on April 30 of the immediately following calendar year; or (viii) represents interest or fees; provided that ineligibility as a result of this clause (viii) shall be limited to the amount of such interest and fees;

(h) for which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been loaded on a carrier for shipment to the Account Debtor (other than goods for which title has passed to the Account Debtor pursuant to bill-and-hold transactions described in the proviso to subclause (vii) of clause (g) above in the definition of U.S. Eligible Accounts) or for which the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by such U.S. Borrower;

(i) with respect to which any check or other instrument of payment has been returned uncollected for any reason and such Account is or should be written off of Parent’s books as uncollectible, consistent with Parent’s collection policies;

(j) which is owed by an Account Debtor in respect of which an Insolvency Proceeding has been commenced or which is otherwise a debtor or a debtor in possession under any bankruptcy law or any other federal, state or foreign (including any province or territory) receivership, insolvency relief or other law or laws for the relief of debtors, including the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, unless the payment of Accounts from such Account Debtor is secured by assets of, or guaranteed by, in either case in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, a Person that is reasonably acceptable to the Agent or, if the Account from such Account Debtor arises subsequent to a decree or order for relief with respect to such Account Debtor under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, as now or hereafter in effect, the Agent shall have reasonably determined that the timely payment and collection of such Account will not be impaired;

(k) which is owed by an Account Debtor which has suspended or ceased doing business, is liquidating, dissolving or winding up its affairs or has declared itself or has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be, not Solvent;

(l) which is owed by an Account Debtor which is not organized or incorporated under the applicable law of an Eligible Account Debtor Jurisdiction unless (i) the Agent determines to include such Account Debtor in its Permitted Discretion or (ii) such Account is backed by a letter of credit or other credit support reasonably acceptable to the Agent; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of Accounts made eligible by Agent as a result of subclause (i) of this clause (l) shall not exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate at any time;

(m) which is owed in any currency other than an Eligible Account Currency;

(n) which is owed by any Governmental Authority, unless (i) the Account Debtor is the United States or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, and the Account has been assigned to the Agent in compliance with the U.S. Assignment of Claims Act, and any other steps necessary to perfect the Lien of the Agent in such Account have been complied with to the Agent’s reasonable

 

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satisfaction, (ii) the Account Debtor is the government of Canada or a province or territory thereof, and the Account has been assigned to the Agent in compliance with the Financial Administration Act (or similar Applicable Law of such province or territory), and any other steps necessary to perfect the Lien of the Agent in such Account have been complied with to the Agent’s reasonable satisfaction, or (iii) such Account is backed by a letter of credit reasonably acceptable to the Agent and which is in the possession of the Agent or is otherwise acceptable to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

(o) which is owed by any Affiliate, employee, director, or officer of any Loan Party;

(p) which is owed by an Account Debtor or any Affiliate of such Account Debtor which is the holder of Debt issued or incurred by any Loan Party; provided that any such Account shall only be ineligible as to that portion of such Account which is less than or equal to the amount owed by the Loan Party to such Person;

(q) except as provided in clause (t) below, which is subject to any counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or material dispute, but only to the extent of the amount of such counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute, unless (i) the Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, has established appropriate U.S. Availability Reserves and determines to include such Account as a U.S. Eligible Account or (ii) such Account Debtor has entered into an agreement reasonably acceptable to the Agent to waive such rights;

(r) which is evidenced by any promissory note, Chattel Paper, or Instrument;

(s) which is owed by an Account Debtor located in any State of the U.S. to the extent such jurisdiction requires, as a condition to access to the courts of such jurisdiction, that a creditor qualify to transact business, file a business activities report or other report or form, or take one or more other actions, unless such U.S. Borrower has so qualified, filed such reports or forms, or taken such actions (and, in each case, paid any required fees or other charges), except to the extent such U.S. Borrower may qualify subsequently as a foreign entity authorized to transact business in such state or jurisdiction and gain access to such courts, without incurring any cost or penalty reasonably viewed by the Agent to be material in amount, and such later qualification cures any access to such courts to enforce payment of such Account;

(t) with respect to which such U.S. Borrower has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any reduction thereof, but only to the extent of such reduction, other than discounts and adjustments given in the Ordinary Course of Business; or

(u) which Account has been transferred pursuant to a Supplier Financing Transaction.

Subject to Section 14.1.1 and the definition of U.S. Borrowing Base, the Agent may modify the foregoing criteria and the application of the foregoing criteria to any specific Account and may determine an Account is ineligible, in each case, in its Permitted Discretion; provided that, the Agent shall have provided the North American Loan Party Agent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice of any such modification, application or determination; provided further , that upon delivery of such notice, the Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed modification, application or determination. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that any calculation of ineligibility made pursuant to more than one clause above shall be made without duplication.

U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory : at any date of determination, the U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Initial U.S. Borrower plus the U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower.

 

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U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower : at any date of determination thereof, (a) the lesser of (i) $5,000,000 and (ii) the aggregate amount of all Inventory owned by Added U.S. Borrower at such date that would be U.S. Eligible Inventory if it were not in transit from a foreign location to a location of Added U.S. Borrower within the United States (the “ Added U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory ”) and (b) the lesser of (i) $20,000,000 and (ii) aggregate amount of all Inventory owned by Added U.S. Borrower at such date that would be U.S. Eligible Inventory if it were not in transit from a location of Added U.S. Borrower within the United States to a location of a Dutch Borrower within the Netherlands, Belgium, the U.K., France or Germany (“ Added U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory ”). Without limiting the foregoing, no Inventory shall be U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower unless it meets, and then only for so long as it continues to meet, the Agent’s standard requirements for including in-transit Inventory in Eligible Inventory, which include, among other things, the following:

(a) title to the Inventory is in Added U.S. Borrower and the Inventory is owned by Added U.S. Borrower (except that in the cases of Added U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory that is in transit intercompany and Added U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory, title to the Inventory may be in Added U.S. Borrower or a Dutch Borrower and the Inventory may be owned by Added U.S. Borrower or a Dutch Borrower);

(b) in the case of Added U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory, the Inventory is in transit to Added U.S. Borrower to a location of Added U.S. Borrower within in the United States;

(c) in the case of Added U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory, the Inventory is in transit intercompany from Added U.S. Borrower to a Dutch Borrower to a location of the Dutch Borrower in the Netherlands, Belgium, the U.K., France or Germany;

(d) the Inventory is fully insured for not less than 100% of the invoice cost thereof, and the Agent shall have received evidence of satisfactory casualty insurance naming the Agent as loss payee and otherwise covering such risks as the Agent may reasonably request;

(e) the Inventory is subject to a first priority security interest in and Lien upon such goods in favor of the Agent (except for any possessory Lien upon such goods in the possession of a freight carrier or shipping company securing only the freight charges for the transportation of such goods to the applicable destination, and the Agent shall have established U.S. Availability Reserves equal to the amount of such lien or the Agent has received a Lien waiver in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it with respect to such Lien);

(f) in the case of Added U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory that is not in transit intercompany, the Inventory is evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a tangible bill of lading of a type and in a form acceptable to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion that has been issued by a common carrier acceptable to the Agent, and such bill of lading shall be in the possession of either the Agent or a freight forwarder or customs broker in each case acting for the Agent under the terms of an Imported Goods Agreement which has been delivered to the Agent; and

(g) in the cases of Added U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory that is in transit intercompany and Added U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory, the Inventory is evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a tangible bill of lading or such other documentation of a type and in a form acceptable to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion that has been issued by a common carrier acceptable to the Agent, and if a bill of lading such bill of lading shall be in the possession of either the Agent or a freight forwarder or customs broker in each case acting for the Agent under the terms of an Imported Goods Agreement which has been delivered to the Agent.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (e) and (g) above, Added U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory which would otherwise constitute U.S. Borrower Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower except that it is not evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a Permitted Bill of Lading shall for the purposes of this Agreement be considered U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower; provided , however , if at any time (x) the amount of the U.S. Availability is less than $50,000,000 or (y) the sum of the U.S. Availability and the Dutch Kraton Availability is less than $75,000,000, then such Added U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory shall no longer constitute U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower unless such Added U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory otherwise constitutes U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Added U.S. Borrower pursuant to the express provisions of this definition.

U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Initial U.S. Borrower : at any date of determination thereof, (a) the lesser of (i) $30,000,000 and (ii) the aggregate amount of all Inventory owned by Initial U.S. Borrower at such date that would be U.S. Eligible Inventory if it were not in transit from a foreign location to a location of Initial U.S. Borrower within the United States (the “ Initial U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory ”) and (b) the lesser of (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) aggregate amount of all Inventory owned by Initial U.S. Borrower at such date that would be U.S. Eligible Inventory if it were not in transit from a location of Initial U.S. Borrower within the United States to a location of a Dutch Borrower within the Netherlands, Belgium, the U.K., France or Germany (“ Initial U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory ”). Without limiting the foregoing, no Inventory shall be U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Initial U.S. Borrower unless it meets, and then only for so long as it continues to meet, the Agent’s standard requirements for including in-transit Inventory in Eligible Inventory, which include, among other things, the following:

(a) title to the Inventory is in Initial U.S. Borrower and the Inventory is owned by Initial U.S. Borrower (except that in the cases of Initial U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory that is in transit intercompany and Initial U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory, title to the Inventory may be in Initial U.S. Borrower or a Dutch Borrower and the Inventory may be owned by Initial U.S. Borrower or a Dutch Borrower);

(b) in the case of Initial U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory, the Inventory is in transit to Initial U.S. Borrower to a location of Initial U.S. Borrower within in the United States;

(c) in the case of Initial U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory, the Inventory is in transit intercompany from Initial U.S. Borrower to a Dutch Borrower to a location of the Dutch Borrower in the Netherlands, Belgium, the U.K., France or Germany;

(d) the Inventory is fully insured for not less than 100% of the invoice cost thereof, and the Agent shall have received evidence of satisfactory casualty insurance naming the Agent as loss payee and otherwise covering such risks as the Agent may reasonably request;

(e) the Inventory is subject to a first priority security interest in and Lien upon such goods in favor of the Agent (except for any possessory Lien upon such goods in the possession of a freight carrier or shipping company securing only the freight charges for the transportation of such goods to the applicable destination, and the Agent shall have established U.S. Availability Reserves equal to the amount of such lien or the Agent has received a Lien waiver in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it with respect to such Lien);

(f) in the case of Initial U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory that is not in transit intercompany, the Inventory is evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a tangible bill of lading of a type and in a form acceptable to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion that has been issued by a common

 

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carrier acceptable to the Agent, and such bill of lading shall be in the possession of either the Agent or a freight forwarder or customs broker in each case acting for the Agent under the terms of an Imported Goods Agreement which has been delivered to the Agent; and

(g) in the cases of Initial U.S. Borrower In-Bound In-Transit Inventory that is in transit intercompany and Initial U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory, the Inventory is evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a tangible bill of lading or such other documentation of a type and in a form acceptable to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion that has been issued by a common carrier acceptable to the Agent, and if a bill of lading such bill of lading shall be in the possession of either the Agent or a freight forwarder or customs broker in each case acting for the Agent under the terms of an Imported Goods Agreement which has been delivered to the Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (e) and (g) above, Initial U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory which would otherwise constitute U.S. Borrower Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Initial U.S. Borrower except that it is not evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a Permitted Bill of Lading shall for the purposes of this Agreement be considered U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Initial U.S. Borrower; provided , however , if at any time (x) the amount of the U.S. Availability is less than $50,000,000 or (y) the sum of the U.S. Availability and the Dutch Kraton Availability is less than $75,000,000, then such Initial U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory shall no longer constitute U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Initial U.S. Borrower unless such Initial U.S. Borrower Out-Bound In-Transit Inventory otherwise constitutes U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of Initial U.S. Borrower pursuant to the express provisions of this definition.

U.S. Eligible Inventory : at any date of determination thereof, the aggregate amount of all Inventory owned by U.S. Borrowers at such date except any Inventory:

(a) which is not subject to a duly perfected security interest in favor of the Agent;

(b) which is subject to any Lien (including Liens permitted by Section 10.2.2) other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Agent, (ii) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(i), but to the extent it has priority over the Lien of Agent or the applicable Security Trustee, the eligibility of such Inventory shall be reduced by the amount determined by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion; (iii) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(c) or (hh) which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Agent, (iv) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(j); provided that clauses (h) and (i) below of this definition of U.S. Eligible Inventory are satisfied in the case of a Lien of a landlord, bailee, warehouseman or processor in the U.S.; (v) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(o) or (s) which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Agent; or (vi) a Lien permitted under Section 10.2.2(v) to the extent of the amount of such payable customs duties secured by such Lien;

(c) which is, in the Agent’s Permitted Discretion, slow moving (unless the Inventory component of the U.S. Borrowing Base is being determined pursuant to clause (b)(ii) thereof and slow moving Inventory was taken into account in determining the NOLV Percentage), obsolete, unmerchantable, defective, unfit for sale, not salable at prices approximating at least the cost of such Inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business unacceptable due to age, type, category and/or quantity;

(d) with respect to which any covenant, representation or warranty regarding such Inventory contained in this Agreement has been materially breached or is not true in any material respect;

(e) which does not conform in all material respects to all standards imposed by any applicable Governmental Authority (except that any standard that is qualified as to “materiality” shall have been conformed to in all material respects);

 

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(f) which constitutes packaging and shipping material, work in process, manufacturing supplies, display items, returned or repossessed Inventory (other than goods that are undamaged and able to be resold in the Ordinary Course of Business), Inventory held on consignment by the Applicable U.S. Borrower as consignee prior to any title passing to such U.S. Borrower, as buyer, Inventory to be returned to such U.S. Borrower’s suppliers (but not held for resale) or goods which are not of a type held for sale in the Ordinary Course of Business or Inventory which is the subject of a sale on a bill and hold basis other than to the extent (i) such bill and hold sale does not create a U.S. Eligible Account pursuant to clause (g)(v) of the definition of U.S. Eligible Account and (ii) such bill and hold sale would otherwise constitute a U.S. Eligible Account except for the fact that such sale is on a bill and hold basis;

(g) which is not located in the United States or Canada or is not at a location listed on Schedule 8.5.1 (as updated from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof) other than (i) Inventory in transit between locations of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties, (ii) U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory; and (iii) during the sixty (60) day period immediately following the Closing Date (or such longer period as determined by the Agent in its sole discretion), Inventory which would otherwise qualify as U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory except for the satisfaction of clauses (d), (e) and (f) contained in the definition of U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory of U.S. Added Borrower;

(h) which is located in any location in the United States or Canada leased by such U.S. Borrower, unless the lessor has delivered to the Agent a Lien Acknowledgment; provided , that the exclusion in this clause (h) shall not apply if such U.S. Borrower has used commercially reasonable efforts to deliver a Lien Acknowledgment to Agent (regardless of whether such Lien Acknowledgment is ultimately obtained by such U.S. Borrower) or if in Canada such Lien Acknowledgment is not customarily delivered or obtained prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default and (ii) for ninety (90) days after the Closing Date (or such longer period with the prior consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld));

(i) which is located in any third party warehouse or is in the possession of a bailee or processor unless (i) such warehouseman, bailee, processor or other Person has delivered to the Agent a Lien Acknowledgment and/or such other documentation as the Agent may reasonably require; provided , that the exclusion in this clause (i) shall not apply (i) if such U.S. Borrower has used commercially reasonable efforts to deliver a Lien Acknowledgment to Agent (regardless of whether such Lien Acknowledgment is ultimately obtained by such U.S. Borrower) or if in Canada such Lien Acknowledgment is not customarily delivered or obtained prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default and (ii) if such U.S. Borrower is Added U.S. Borrower, for ninety (90) days after the Closing Date (or such longer period with the prior consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld));

(j) which is evidenced by a Document, except to the extent such Inventory constitutes U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory unless delivered to the Agent;

(k) which is the subject of a consignment by such U.S. Borrower as consignor (except goods held on consignment that the Agent in its Permitted Discretion allows to be U.S. Eligible Inventory);

(l) [Reserved] ; or

(m) which is located in any location where the aggregate Value at such location is less than $2,000,000.

Subject to Section 14.1.1 and the definition of U.S. Borrowing Base, the Agent may modify the foregoing criteria or the application of the foregoing criteria to specific items of Inventory and may determine

 

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Inventory is ineligible, in each case, in its Permitted Discretion; provided that, the Agent shall have provided the North American Loan Party Agent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice of any such modification, application or determination; provided further , that upon delivery of such notice, the Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed modification, application or determination.

Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (g) above, (A) U.S. Barge In-Transit Inventory which otherwise would constitute U.S. Eligible Inventory except that it is not evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a Permitted Bill of Lading shall for purposes of this Agreement be considered U.S. Eligible Inventory; provided , however , if at any time (x) the amount of the U.S. Availability is less than $50,000,000 or (y) the sum of the U.S. Availability and the Dutch Kraton Availability is less than $75,000,000, such U.S. Barge In-Transit Inventory shall no longer constitute U.S. Eligible Inventory unless such U.S. Barge In-Transit Inventory otherwise constitutes U.S. Eligible Inventory pursuant to the express provisions of this definition; provided , further , that clause (g) of the definition of U.S. Eligible Inventory shall not apply if such Inventory is evidenced by a Permitted Bill of Lading, and (B) U.S. Rail In-Transit Inventory which otherwise would constitute U.S. Eligible Inventory except that it is not evidenced by and deliverable pursuant to a Permitted Bill of Lading shall for purposes of this Agreement be considered U.S. Eligible Inventory; provided , however , if at any time (x) the amount of the U.S. Availability is less than $50,000,000 or (y) the sum of the U.S. Availability and the Dutch Kraton Availability is less than $75,000,000, such U.S. Rail In-Transit Inventory shall no longer constitute U.S. Eligible Inventory unless such U.S. Rail In-Transit Inventory otherwise constitutes U.S. Eligible Inventory pursuant to the express provisions of this definition; provided , further , that clause (g) of the definition of U.S. Eligible Inventory shall not apply if such Inventory is evidenced by a Permitted Bill of Lading.

U.S. Employee Plan : any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan), and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064 of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

U.S. Facility Collateral : Collateral that now or hereafter secures (or is intended to secure) any of the U.S. Facility Secured Obligations.

U.S. Facility Guarantor : Parent, KPLLC, Elastomers, KPCC, Arizona Chemical Holdings, AZ Chem Intermediate Inc., AZ Chem U.S. Holdings, Inc., AZ Chem US Inc. each U.S. Borrower and each U.S. Subsidiary that, after the date hereof, has executed a supplement or joinder to this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1.9 specifying that it is a U.S. Facility Guarantor; provided no Excluded Subsidiary (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) shall be (or shall be required to become) a U.S. Facility Guarantor hereunder.

U.S. Facility Loan Party : a U.S. Borrower or a U.S. Facility Guarantor.

U.S. Facility Obligations : all Obligations of the U.S. Facility Loan Parties (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Obligations of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties as guarantors of the Foreign Facility Obligations).

U.S. Facility Secured Obligations : all Secured Obligations of the U.S. Facility Loan Parties (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Secured Obligations of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties as guarantors of the Foreign Facility Secured Obligations).

 

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U.S. Facility Secured Parties : the Agent, any U.S. Fronting Bank, U.S. Lenders and Secured Bank Product Providers of Bank Products for the account of U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.

U.S. Fronting Bank : Bank of America or any Affiliate thereof that agrees to issue U.S. Letters of Credit or, if reasonably acceptable to North American Loan Party Agent, any other U.S. Lender or Affiliate thereof that agrees to issue U.S. Letters of Credit.

U.S. Fronting Bank Indemnitees : any U.S. Fronting Bank and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates and agents.

U.S. Inventory Reserve : the aggregate amount of reserves, as established by the Agent from time to time in its Permitted Discretion, to reflect factors that may negatively impact the value of U.S. Eligible Inventory, including, without duplication of eligibility criteria, changes in salability, slow moving, obsolescence, shrinkage, theft, imbalance, change in composition or mix, markdowns and vendor chargebacks.

U.S. LC Application : an application by North American Loan Party Agent on behalf of a U.S. Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to a U.S. Fronting Bank for issuance of a U.S. Letter of Credit, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such U.S. Fronting Bank.

U.S. LC Conditions : the following conditions necessary for issuance of a U.S. Letter of Credit: (a) each of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 being satisfied or waived; (b) after giving effect to such issuance, total U.S. LC Obligations do not exceed the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit and no U.S. Overadvance exists or would result therefrom; (c) after giving effect to such issuance, total U.S. LC Obligations denominated in currencies other than Dollars do not exceed the U.S. Letter of Credit Foreign Currency Sublimit; (d) unless the applicable U.S. Fronting Bank and the Agent otherwise consent, the expiration date of such U.S. Letter of Credit is no more than the lesser of (A) thirty (30) days before the Facility Termination Date and (B) twelve (12) months from issuance with respect to U.S. Letters of Credit other than documentary U.S. Letters of Credit; provided that each standby U.S. Letter of Credit may, upon the request of the applicable U.S. Borrower, include a provision whereby such Letter of Credit shall be renewed automatically for additional consecutive periods of twelve (12) months or less; (e) the U.S. Letter of Credit and payments thereunder are denominated in Dollars or such other currency as may be agreed to by the applicable U.S. Fronting Bank; (f) the form of the proposed U.S. Letter of Credit is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the applicable U.S. Fronting Bank; and (g) the proposed use of the U.S. Letter of Credit is for a lawful purpose.

U.S. LC Documents : all documents, instruments and agreements (including U.S. LC Requests and U.S. LC Applications) delivered by North American Loan Party Agent on behalf a U.S. Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to a U.S. Fronting Bank or the Agent in connection with issuance, amendment or renewal of, or payment under, any U.S. Letter of Credit.

U.S. LC Obligations : the Dollar Equivalent of the sum (without duplication) of (a) all amounts owing for any drawings under U.S. Letters of Credit; (b) the stated amount of all outstanding U.S. Letters of Credit; and (c) all fees and other amounts owing with respect to U.S. Letters of Credit.

U.S. LC Request : a request for issuance of a U.S. Letter of Credit, to be provided by North American Loan Party Agent on behalf of a U.S. Borrower to a U.S. Fronting Bank, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and such U.S. Fronting Bank.

 

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U.S. Lenders : Bank of America and each other Lender that has provided a U.S. Revolver Commitment.

U.S. Letter of Credit : any standby or commercial letter of credit or documentary bankers’ acceptances, in each case, issued by a U.S. Fronting Bank for the account of a U.S. Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether in existence on the Closing Date or issued on or after the Closing Date.

U.S. Letter of Credit Foreign Currency Sublimit : $15,000,000.

U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit : $30,000,000.

U.S. Line Cap : as of any date of determination, the lesser of (i) the U.S. Revolver Commitments as of such date of determination and (ii) the U.S. Borrowing Base as of such date of determination.

U.S. Overadvance : as defined in Section 2.1.5(b).

U.S. Overadvance Loan : a U.S. Base Rate Loan made to a U.S. Borrower when a U.S. Overadvance exists or is caused by the funding thereof.

U.S. Past Due Rent : as defined in the definition “U.S. Rent Reserve”.

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

U.S. Prime Rate : the rate of interest announced by Bank of America from time to time as its prime rate. Such rate is set by Bank of America on the basis of various factors, including its costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above or below such rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

U.S. Protective Advances : as defined in Section 2.1.6(b).

U.S. Rail In-Transit Inventory : at any date of determination, all Inventory of the Added U.S. Borrower which is in-transit within the United States by rail from the location of the relevant third party seller within the United States to any of the plants or distribution centers of the Added U.S. Borrower located within the United States; provided , that at any date of determination, the amount of U.S. Rail In-Transit Inventory which may be included in U.S. Eligible Inventory may not exceed $12,000,000.

U.S. Reimbursement Date : as defined in Section 2.3.2(a).

U.S. Rent Reserve : the aggregate of (a) all past due rent and other past due charges owing by any U.S. Borrower to any landlord, bailee, warehouseman or other Person who possesses any U.S. Facility Collateral or could assert a Lien on any U.S. Facility Collateral (such past due amount, the “ U.S. Past Due Rent ”); plus (b) a reserve in an amount equal to at least three (3) months’ rent and other charges that could be payable to any such Person, unless such Person has executed a Lien Acknowledgment.

U.S. Revolver Commitment : for any U.S. Lender, its obligation to make U.S. Revolver Loans and to issue U.S. Letters of Credit, in the case of any U.S. Fronting Bank, or participate in U.S. LC Obligations, in the case of the other U.S. Lenders, to the U.S. Borrowers up to the maximum principal amount, in each case, shown on Schedule 2.1.1(b) , or as hereafter determined pursuant to each

 

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Assignment and Acceptance to which it is a party, as such U.S. Revolver Commitment may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1.4, 2.1.7 or 11.2. “ U.S. Revolver Commitments ” means the aggregate amount of such commitments of all U.S. Lenders.

U.S. Revolver Commitment Increase : as defined in Section 2.1.7(b).

U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date : the earliest of (a) the Facility Termination Date, (b) the date on which the North American Loan Party Agent terminates or reduces to zero the U.S. Revolver Commitments pursuant to Section 2.1.4, and (c) the date on which the U.S. Revolver Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 11.2.

U.S. Revolver Exposure : on any date, an amount equal to the sum of the (a) U.S. Revolver Loans outstanding on such date and (b) U.S. LC Obligations on such date.

U.S. Revolver Loan : a Revolver Loan made by a U.S. Lender to a U.S. Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.1(b) which Loan shall be denominated in Dollars and shall be either a U.S. Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan, in each case as selected by North American Loan Party Agent, and including any U.S. Swingline Loan, U.S. Overadvance Loan or U.S. Protective Advance.

U.S. Revolver Notes : the promissory notes, if any, executed by U.S. Borrowers in favor of each U.S. Lender to evidence the U.S. Revolver Loans funded from time to time by such U.S. Lender, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 to this Agreement, together with any replacement or successor notes therefor.

U.S. Subsidiary : each Subsidiary of Parent that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

U.S. Swingline Lender : Bank of America or an Affiliate of Bank of America.

U.S. Swingline Loan : a Swingline Loan made by the U.S. Swingline Lender to a U.S. Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.8(b), which Swingline Loan shall be denominated in Dollars and shall be a U.S. Base Rate Loan.

U.S. Swingline Sublimit : 10% of the U.S. Revolver Commitments.

U.S. Tax Certificate : as defined in Section 5.9.2.

Value : (a) for Inventory composed of raw materials, its value determined on the basis of the lower of weighted average cost or market and excluding any portion of cost attributable to intercompany profit among Borrowers and their Affiliates; (b) for Inventory composed of finished goods, its value determined on the basis of the lower of weighted average cost or market and excluding any portion of cost attributable to intercompany profit among Borrowers and their Affiliates; and (c) for an Account, its book value.

VAT :

(a) any Tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added Tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and

 

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(b) any other Tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such Tax referred to in paragraph (a) above, or imposed elsewhere.

Withdrawal Liability : any liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Title IV of ERISA.

1.2. Accounting Terms . Under the Loan Documents (except as otherwise specified herein), all accounting terms shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations shall be made, and all financial statements shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited financial statements of the Loan Parties delivered to the Agent before the Closing Date. In the event that any “Accounting Changes” (as defined below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then at the North American Loan Party Agent’s request, the Agent and the Lenders shall enter into negotiations in good faith with such Loan Party Agent in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the financial condition of the Loan Parties shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Loan Parties, the Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred. Any (i) change in GAAP occurring after the date hereof or (ii) application of guidance promulgated by EITF No. 01-08, in each case that would require operating leases to be treated as capital leases shall be disregarded for purposes of determining Debt and any financial ratio or compliance requirement contained in any Loan Document. “ Accounting Changes ” refers to changes in accounting principles required by GAAP.

1.3. Uniform Commercial Code . As used herein, the following terms are defined in accordance with the UCC in effect in the State of New York from time to time: “Chattel Paper”, “Commercial Tort Claim”, “Lien Creditor”, “Electronic Chattel Paper”, “Equipment”, “Fixture”, “Goods”, “Instrument”, “Investment Property”, “Payment Intangibles”, “Proceeds”, “Tangible Chattel Paper”. In addition, other terms relating to Collateral used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the UCC shall have the meanings set forth in the UCC and as the context requires.

1.4. Certain Matters of Construction . The terms “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision. Any pronoun used shall be deemed to cover all genders. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, “from” means “from and including,” and “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding.” The terms “including” and “include” shall mean “including, without limitation” and, for purposes of each Loan Document, the parties agree that the rule of ejusdem generis shall not be applicable to limit any provision. Section titles appear as a matter of convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of any Loan Document. All references to (a) laws or statutes include all related rules, regulations, interpretations, amendments and successor provisions; (b) any reference to any Loan Document shall be deemed to include any amendments, restatements, waivers and other modifications, extensions or supplements to, or renewals of, such Loan Document; (c) section means, unless the context otherwise requires, a section of this Agreement; (d) any exhibits or schedules mean, unless the context otherwise requires, exhibits and schedules attached hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference; (e) any Person includes successors, permitted transferees and permitted assigns of such Person; (f) time of day means time of day in Dallas, Texas (Central Time) unless otherwise specified herein; (g) discretion of the Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank or any Lender means the sole and absolute discretion of such Person exercised in a manner consistent with its duties of good faith and fair dealing; or (h) “property” or “asset” includes any real or personal, present or future,

 

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tangible or intangible property or asset and any right, interest, revenue or benefit in, under or derived from the property or asset. To the extent not otherwise specified herein, Borrowing Base calculations for each Borrower shall be consistent with historical methods of valuation and calculation for such Borrower’s Borrowing Base, and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (and not necessarily calculated in accordance with GAAP). Loan Parties shall have the burden of establishing any alleged negligence, misconduct or lack of good faith by the Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank or any Lender under any Loan Documents. No provision of any Loan Documents shall be construed against any party by reason of such party having, or being deemed to have, drafted the provision. A reference to a Loan Party’s “knowledge” or similar concept means actual knowledge of a Senior Officer, or knowledge that a Senior Officer would have obtained if he or she had engaged in due inquiry. Whenever any payment, certificate, notice or other delivery shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, the due date for such payment or delivery shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or fees, as the case may be; provided , however , that if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of any LIBOR Loan to be made in the next calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

1.5. Currency Calculations.

(a) All references in the Loan Documents to Loans, Letters of Credit, Obligations and other amounts shall be denominated in Dollars, unless expressly provided otherwise. The Dollar Equivalent of any amounts denominated or reported under a Loan Document with respect to the components of the Total Borrowing Base in a currency other than Dollars shall be determined by the Agent on a daily basis based on the current Exchange Rate, with all other amounts determined and reported in Dollars in accordance with GAAP. Each Borrower shall report Value and other Borrowing Base components to the Agent in the currency invoiced by such Borrower or shown in such Borrower’s financial records, and unless expressly provided otherwise, Parent shall deliver consolidated financial statements and calculate financial covenants in Dollars. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any Obligation is funded and expressly denominated in a currency other than Dollars, Borrowers shall repay such Obligation in such other currency.

(b) For purposes of determining compliance with Section 10.2 with respect to any Dollar denominated restriction on Debt, Investments, Liens or Distributions, the dollar equivalent of such Debt, Investment, Lien or Distribution, as applicable, denominated in a currency other than Dollars shall be calculated based on the relevant currency Exchange Rate (as determined by the North American Loan Party Agent) in effect on the date such Debt, Investment, Lien or Distribution, as applicable, was first committed or incurred and, no Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Debt or Investment is incurred; provided that if such Debt is incurred to refinance other Debt denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Debt does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced; provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.5(b) shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Debt or Investment may be incurred at any time under such Sections.

 

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SECTION 2. CREDIT FACILITIES

2.1. Commitment

2.1.1. Revolver Loans .

(a) Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans . Each Dutch Kraton Lender agrees, severally and not jointly with the other Dutch Kraton Lenders, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to make Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans to any of the Dutch Kraton Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, not to exceed in aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), together with such Dutch Kraton Lender’s portion of the Dutch Kraton LC Obligations, such Dutch Kraton Lender’s Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment at such time, which Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that Dutch Kraton Lenders shall have no obligation to the Dutch Kraton Borrowers whatsoever to honor any request for a Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan (i) on or after the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date or (ii) if the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the proposed Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan exceeds Dutch Kraton Availability on the proposed funding date for such Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan or, in the case of any Dutch Kraton Borrower, the limit contained in Section 2.5. Each Borrowing of Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans shall be funded by Dutch Kraton Lenders on a Pro Rata basis. The Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans shall bear interest as set forth in Section 3.1. Each Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan shall, at the option of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, be made or continued as, or converted into, part of one or more Borrowings that, unless specifically provided herein, shall consist entirely of European Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans if denominated in Sterling, European Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans if denominated in Euros, or European Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans if denominated in Dollars. The Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and shall be secured by all of the Dutch Facility Collateral. Each Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan shall be funded in Euros or, at the option of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, Dollars or Sterling and repaid in the same currency as the underlying Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan was made.

(b) U.S. Revolver Loans to U.S. Borrowers . Each U.S. Lender agrees, severally and not jointly with the other U.S. Lenders, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to make U.S. Revolver Loans to any of the U.S. Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, not to exceed in aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time, together with such U.S. Lender’s portion of the U.S. LC Obligations, such U.S. Lender’s U.S. Revolver Commitment at such time, which U.S. Revolver Loans may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that such U.S. Lenders shall have no obligation to U.S. Borrowers whatsoever to honor any request for a U.S. Revolver Loan (i) on or after the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date or (ii) if the amount of the proposed U.S. Revolver Loan exceeds U.S. Availability on the proposed funding date for such U.S. Revolver Loan. Each Borrowing of U.S. Revolver Loans shall be funded by U.S. Lenders on a Pro Rata basis. The U.S. Revolver Loans shall bear interest as set forth in Section 3.1. Each U.S. Revolver Loan shall, at the option of the North American Loan Party Agent, be made or continued as, or converted into, part of one or more Borrowings that, unless specifically provided herein, shall consist entirely of U.S. Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans. The U.S. Revolver Loans shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and shall be secured by all of the U.S. Facility Collateral. U.S. Borrowers shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all of the U.S. Revolver Loans. Each U.S. Revolver Loan shall be funded and repaid in Dollars.

(c) Cap on Total Revolver Exposure . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.1.1, in no event shall any Borrower be entitled to receive a Revolver Loan if at the time of the proposed funding of such Loan (and after giving effect thereto and all pending requests for Loans), the Total Revolver Exposure exceeds (or would exceed) the aggregate amount of the Commitments at such time.

 

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2.1.2. Revolver Notes . The Revolver Loans made by each Lender and interest accruing thereon shall be evidenced by the records of the Agent and such Lender. At the request of any Lender, the Borrowers within the Borrower Group to which such Lender has extended Commitments shall deliver a Revolver Note to such Lender in the amount of such Lender’s Commitment to such Borrower Group, provided such request is made at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

2.1.3. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of Revolver Loans shall be used by Borrowers solely (a) to refinance the Existing Credit Agreement; (b) to pay fees and expenses associated with the Transaction; and (c) for other lawful, general corporate purposes of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.

2.1.4. Reduction or Termination of Commitments .

(a) Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments . Unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Agreement, the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments shall terminate on the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date. Upon at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Agent from the North American Loan Party Agent, Dutch Kraton Borrowers may, at their option, terminate the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments in full without premium or penalty (other than funding losses payable pursuant to Section 3.10). On the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, the Dutch Kraton Facility Loan Parties shall make Full Payment of all Dutch Kraton Facility Obligations.

(b) U.S. Revolver Commitments . Unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Agreement, the U.S. Revolver Commitments shall terminate on the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date. Upon at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Agent from the North American Loan Party Agent, U.S. Borrowers may, at their option, terminate the U.S. Revolver Commitments in full without premium or penalty (other than funding losses payable pursuant to Section 3.10). If the U.S. Borrowers elect to permanently reduce to zero or terminate the U.S. Revolver Commitments pursuant to the previous sentence, the Foreign Revolver Commitments shall automatically terminate concurrently with the termination of the U.S. Revolver Commitments. On the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, the U.S. Facility Loan Parties shall make Full Payment of all U.S. Facility Obligations.

(c) Partial Reductions . So long as no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom and after giving effect thereto, a Loan Party Agent may permanently and irrevocably reduce the Commitments by giving the Agent at least 10 Business Days’ prior irrevocable written notice thereof from a Senior Officer of such Loan Party Agent, which notice shall (i) specify the date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of such reduction (which shall, in the case of the U.S. Revolver Commitments, be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and, in the case of a Foreign Revolver Commitment, be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof), and (ii) specify the allocation of such reduction to, and the corresponding reductions of, each Foreign Revolver Commitment and/or the U.S. Revolver Commitment (each of which shall be allocated to the Lenders among the affected Borrower Groups on a Pro Rata basis at the time of such reduction); provided that in no event may any reduction of a Borrower Group Commitment be made pursuant to this Section 2.1.4(c), if after giving effect thereto, the U.S. Revolver Commitments would be less than sixty percent (60%) of the Commitment. Without limiting the foregoing, (A) each reduction in the U.S. Revolver Commitments may not exceed U.S. Availability, and (B) each reduction in the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments may not exceed Dutch Kraton Availability.

(d) Notices Irrevocable . Any notice of termination or partial reduction given pursuant to this Section 2.1.4 shall be irrevocable; provided , however , that notice of termination of the

 

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Commitments in full may be contingent on the occurrence of a financing or refinancing or the consummation of a sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of assets or the occurrence of a Change of Control and may be revoked or the termination date deferred if the financing or refinancing or sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of assets or Change of Control does not occur.

2.1.5. Overadvances .

(a) Dutch Kraton Overadvance . If at any time the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal balance of all Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans owing by a Dutch Kraton Borrower exceeds the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base of such Dutch Kraton Borrower (a “ Dutch Kraton Overadvance ”), the excess amount shall, subject to Section 5.2(b), be payable by the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower on demand by the Agent; provided however that if such excess is a result of fluctuations in the Exchange Rate, the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower shall have three (3) Business Days to prepay such excess pursuant to Section 1.5 of this Agreement before the Agent makes such Dutch Kraton Overadvance; provided further that , no new Loans (including, without limitation, Dutch Kraton Overadvances) will be made during such period. All Dutch Kraton Overadvance Loans shall constitute Dutch Kraton Facility Obligations secured by the Dutch Facility Collateral and shall be entitled to all benefits of the Loan Documents.

(b) U.S. Overadvance . If at any time the aggregate principal balance of all U.S. Revolver Loans exceeds the U.S. Borrowing Base (a “ U.S. Overadvance ”), the excess amount shall, subject to Section 5.2, be payable by the U.S. Borrowers on demand by the Agent; provided however that if such excess is a result of fluctuations in the Exchange Rate, the Applicable U.S. Borrower shall have three (3) Business Days to prepay such excess pursuant to Section 1.5 of this Agreement before the Agent makes such U.S. Overadvance; provided further that , no new Loans (including, without limitation, U.S. Overadvances) will be made during such period. All U.S. Overadvance Loans shall constitute U.S. Facility Obligations secured by the U.S. Facility Collateral and shall be entitled to all benefits of the Loan Documents.

(c) Funding of Overadvance Loans . The Agent may require Applicable Lenders to honor requests for Overadvance Loans and to forbear from requiring the applicable Borrower(s) to cure an Overadvance as long as (i) such Overadvance does not continue for more than 30 consecutive days, (ii) the aggregate amount of Overadvances existing at any time do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the Commitments then in effect and (iii) the aggregate amount of the Overadvances existing at any time, together with the Protective Advances outstanding at any time pursuant to Section 2.1.6 below, do not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Commitments then in effect. Required Lenders may at any time revoke the Agent’s authority to make further Overadvance Loans to any or all Borrowers by written notice to the Agent. In no event shall Overadvance Loans be required that would cause (A) the U.S. Revolver Exposure to exceed the aggregate U.S. Revolver Commitments or (B) the Dutch Kraton Revolver Exposure to exceed the aggregate Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments. Any funding of an Overadvance Loan or sufferance of an Overadvance shall not constitute an Event of Default unless the relevant Borrower fails to pay such Overadvance within the time period provided in Sections 2.1.5(a) and 2.1.5(b), as applicable, or a waiver by the Agent or Lenders of the Default caused thereby. In no event shall any Borrower or other Loan Party be deemed a beneficiary of this Section 2.1.5(c) nor authorized to enforce any of its terms.

2.1.6. Protective Advances .

(a) Dutch Kraton Protective Advances . The Agent shall be authorized by each Dutch Kraton Borrower and the Dutch Kraton Lenders, from time to time in the Agent’s discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), to make European Base Rate Loans to any Dutch Kraton

 

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Borrower on behalf of the Dutch Kraton Lenders (any of such Loans are herein referred to as “Dutch Kraton Protective Advances”) which the Agent in its Permitted Discretion deems necessary or desirable to (i) preserve or protect Dutch Kraton Facility Collateral or any portion thereof or (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans and other Dutch Kraton Facility Obligations; provided that no Dutch Kraton Protective Advance shall cause the aggregate amount of the Dutch Kraton Revolver Exposure at such time to exceed the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments then in effect. All Dutch Kraton Protective Advances made by the Agent with respect to each Dutch Domiciled Loan Party shall be Dutch Facility Obligations of such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party, secured by the applicable Dutch Facility Collateral and, if denominated in Euros, shall be treated for all purposes as a European Base Rate Loan or, if denominated in Dollars, shall be treated for all purposes as a European Base Rate Loan or if denominated in Sterling, shall be treated for all purposes as a European Base Rate Loan.

(b) U.S. Protective Advances . The Agent shall be authorized by each U.S. Borrower and the U.S. Lenders, from time to time in the Agent’s discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), to make U.S. Base Rate Loans to the U.S. Borrowers on behalf of the U.S. Lenders (any of such Loans are herein referred to as “ U.S. Protective Advances ”) which the Agent in its Permitted Discretion deems necessary or desirable to (i) preserve or protect U.S. Facility Collateral or any portion thereof or (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the U.S. Revolver Loans and other U.S. Facility Obligations; provided that no U.S. Protective Advance shall cause the aggregate amount of the U.S. Revolver Exposure at such time to exceed the U.S. Revolver Commitments then in effect. All U.S. Protective Advances made by the Agent with respect to U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties shall be U.S. Facility Obligations, secured by the U.S. Facility Collateral and shall be treated for all purposes as U.S. Base Rate Loans.

(c) Limitations on Protective Advances . The aggregate amount of Protective Advances outstanding at any time pursuant to this Section 2.1.6 shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the Commitments then in effect. Protective Advances may be made even if the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 have not been satisfied. Each Applicable Lender shall participate in each Protective Advance on a Pro Rata basis. Required Lenders may at any time revoke the Agent’s authority to make further Protective Advances to any or all Borrowers by written notice to the Agent. Absent such revocation, the Agent’s determination that funding of a Protective Advance is appropriate shall be conclusive. At any time that there is sufficient Availability for the applicable Borrower Group and the conditions precedent set forth in Section 6 have been satisfied, the Agent may request the Applicable Lenders to make a Revolver Loan to repay a Protective Advance. At any other time, the Agent may require the Applicable Lenders to fund their risk participations described in Section 2.1.6(d).

(d) Transfers . Upon the making of a Protective Advance by the Agent (whether before or after the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default), each Applicable Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the Agent without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Protective Advance in proportion to its Pro Rata share of such Protective Advance. Each Applicable Lender shall transfer (a “ Transfer ”) the amount of such Applicable Lender’s Pro Rata share of the outstanding principal amount of the applicable Protective Advance with respect to such purchased interest and participation promptly when requested to the Agent, to such account of the Agent as the Agent may designate, but in any case not later than 3:00 p.m. (Local Time) on the Business Day notified (if notice is provided by the Agent prior to 12:00 p.m. (Local Time) and otherwise on the immediately following Business Day (the “ Transfer Date ”). Transfers may occur during the existence of a Default or Event of Default and whether or not the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 6 have then been satisfied. Such amounts transferred to the Agent shall be applied against the amount of the Protective Advance and, together with Applicable Lender’s Pro Rata share of such Protective Advance, shall constitute Loans of such

 

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Applicable Lenders, respectively. If any such amount is not transferred to the Agent by any Applicable Lender on such Transfer Date, the Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Applicable Lender together with interest thereon as specified in Section 3.1. From and after the date, if any, on which any Applicable Lender is required to fund, and funds, its participation in any Protective Advance purchased hereunder, the Agent shall promptly distribute to such Applicable Lender, such Applicable Lender’s Pro Rata share of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Agent in respect of such Protective Advance.

2.1.7. Increase in Revolver Commitments; Reallocations .

(a) Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Increase . The North American Loan Party Agent may by written notice to the Agent request an increase in the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments then in effect (a “ Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Increase ”) by increasing the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment of a Dutch Kraton Lender (with the consent of such Dutch Kraton Lender) or by causing a Person that constitutes an Eligible Assignee and at such time is not a Dutch Kraton Lender to become a Dutch Kraton Lender (an “ Additional Dutch Kraton Lender ”). After giving effect to any Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Increase, the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment of each Dutch Kraton Lender (and the percentage of each Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan that each Participant must purchase a Dutch Kraton Revolver Loan participation in) shall be equal to such Dutch Kraton Lender’s (or such Participant’s) Pro Rata share of the amount of the increased Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments.

(b) U.S. Revolver Commitment Increase . The North American Loan Party Agent may by written notice to the Agent elect to increase the U.S. Revolver Commitments then in effect (a “ U.S. Revolver Commitment Increase ” and together with any Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Increase, “ Revolver Commitment Increases ”) by increasing the U.S. Revolver Commitment of a U.S. Lender (with the consent of such U.S. Lender) or by causing a Person that constitutes an Eligible Assignee and at such time is not a U.S. Lender to become a U.S. Lender (an “ Additional U.S. Lender ” and together with any Additional Dutch Lender, “ Additional Lenders ”). After giving effect to any U.S. Revolver Commitment Increase, the U.S. Revolver Commitment of each U.S. Lender (and the percentage of each U.S. Revolver Loan that each Participant must purchase a U.S. Revolver Loan participation in) shall be equal to such U.S. Lender’s (or such Participant’s) Pro Rata share of the amount of the increased U.S. Revolver Commitments.

(c) Terms of Revolver Commitment Increases . Each notice of an increase in any Borrower Group Commitment shall specify the proposed date (each, an “Increase Date”) for the effectiveness of the Revolver Commitment Increase, which date shall be not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Agent. Any such increase shall be subject to the following additional conditions: (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing as of the date of such notice or both immediately before and after giving effect to such Revolver Commitment Increase as of the Increase Date; (ii) after giving effect to the proposed increase, the U.S. Revolver Commitment shall be at least sixty percent (60%) of the Commitments, (iii) no Lender shall be obligated to participate in the Revolver Commitment Increase by increasing its Commitment; (iv) the Revolver Commitment Increase shall be on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, except with respect to closing fees; (v) the Revolver Commitment Increase, to the extent arising from the admission of an Additional Lender, shall be effected pursuant to one or more joinder agreements executed and delivered by the Applicable Borrowers, the Additional Lender(s) and the Agent, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; (vi) the relevant Loan Party Agent shall deliver or cause to be delivered any officers’ certificates, board resolutions, legal opinions or other documents reasonably requested by the Agent in connection with the Revolver Commitment Increase; (vii) the Borrowers shall pay all reasonable and documented fees and expenses in connection with the Revolver Commitment Increase, including payments required pursuant to Section 3.10 in connection with

 

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the Revolver Commitment Increase and any applicable arrangement fees; (viii) the Agent shall have consented in writing to such Revolver Commitment Increase (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and (ix) such increase shall be in a minimum amount of $25,000,000 in the case of the U.S. Revolver Commitments or in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 in the case of each of the Foreign Revolver Commitments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the aggregate amount of all Revolver Commitment Increases made under this Section 2.1.7 exceed the sum of $100,000,000.

(d) Increases Generally . The Agent shall promptly inform the Lenders of any request for a Revolver Commitment Increase made by a Loan Party Agent. If the conditions set forth in clause (c) above are not satisfied on the applicable Increase Date (or, to the extent such conditions relate to an earlier date, such earlier date), the Agent shall notify such Loan Party Agent in writing that the requested Revolver Commitment Increase will not be effectuated. On each Increase Date, the Agent shall notify the Lenders and the relevant Loan Party Agent, on or before 3:00 p.m. (Local Time), by facsimile, e-mail or other electronic means, of the occurrence of the Revolver Commitment Increase to be effected on such Increase Date, the amount of Revolver Loans held by each Lender as a result thereof, the amount of the Commitment of each Lender (and the percentage of each Revolver Loan, if any, that each Participant must purchase a participation interest in) as a result thereof.

(e) Reallocation Mechanism . Subject to the terms and conditions of Section 2.1.7(e) and (f), the North American Loan Party Agent may, effective as of the first day of a specified Fiscal Quarter, effective for such Fiscal Quarter, require that the Lenders to certain Borrower Groups (and such Lenders shall be deemed to agree to) change the then current allocation of each such Lender’s (and, if applicable, its affiliate’s) Commitment among the Borrower Group Commitments in order to effect an increase or decrease in particular Borrower Group Commitments, with any such increase or decrease in a Borrower Group Commitment to be accompanied by a concurrent and equal decrease or increase, respectively, in another Borrower Group Commitment (each, a “ Reallocation ”). In addition to the conditions set forth in Section 2.1.7(f), any such Reallocation shall be subject to the following conditions: (i) the North American Loan Party Agent shall have provided to the Agent a written notice (in reasonable detail) at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the requested effective date therefor (which effective date must be the first day of a Fiscal Quarter) (the “ Reallocation Date ”) setting forth the Reallocation Date and the amounts of the proposed Borrower Group Commitment reallocations to be effected, (ii) any such Reallocation shall increase or decrease the applicable Borrower Group Commitments in an amount equal to $5,000,000 and in increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) after giving effect to any such Reallocation, the U.S. Revolver Commitments shall be at least 60% of the Commitments, (iv) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either as of the date of such notice or on the Reallocation Date (both immediately before and after giving effect to such Reallocation), (v) any increase in a Borrower Group Commitment shall result in a dollar-for-dollar decrease in another Borrower Group Commitment, (vi) in no event shall the sum of all the Borrower Group Commitments exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments then in effect, (vii) after giving effect to such Reallocation, no Overadvance would exist or would result therefrom, and (viii) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Reallocation Date, a Senior Officer of the North American Loan Party Agent shall have delivered to the Agent a certificate certifying as to compliance with preceding clauses (iv), (vi) and (vii) and demonstrating (in reasonable detail) the calculations, if any, required in connection therewith, which certificate shall be deemed recertified to the Agent by a Senior Officer of the North American Loan Party Agent on and as of the Reallocation Date.

(f) Reallocations Generally . The Agent shall promptly inform the Lenders of the affected Borrower Groups of any notice of a Reallocation. If the conditions set forth in Section 2.1.7(e) and (f) are not satisfied on the applicable Reallocation Date (or, to the extent such conditions relate to an earlier date, such earlier date), the Agent shall notify the North American Loan Party Agent in writing that the requested Reallocation will not be effectuated; provided that the Agent shall in all cases be

 

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entitled to rely (without liability) on the certificate delivered by the North American Loan Party Agent pursuant to Section 2.1.7(viii) in making its determination as to the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in Section 2.1.7(e). On each Reallocation Date, the Agent shall notify the Lenders of the affected Borrower Groups and the North American Loan Party Agent, on or before 3:00 p.m. by facsimile, e-mail or other electronic means, of the occurrence of the Reallocation to be effected on such Reallocation Date, the amount of the Loans held by each such Lender as a result thereof and the amount of the affected Borrower Group Commitments of each such Lender as a result thereof. To the extent necessary where a Lender in one Borrower Group and its separate affiliate that is a Lender in another Borrower Group are participating in a Reallocation, the Reallocation among such Persons shall be deemed to have been consummated pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance. The respective Pro Rata shares of the Lenders shall thereafter, to the extent applicable, be determined based on such reallocated amounts (subject to any subsequent changes thereto), and the Agent and the affected Lenders shall make such adjustments as the Agent shall deem necessary so that the outstanding Loans and LC Obligations of each Lender equals its Pro Rata share thereafter giving effect to the Reallocation.

2.1.8. Swingline Loans .

(a) Dutch Kraton Swingline Loans to Dutch Kraton Borrowers . The Dutch Kraton Swingline Lender will, in the Dutch Kraton Swingline Lender’s discretion, make Dutch Kraton Swingline Loans to any of the Dutch Kraton Borrowers on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, not to exceed the Dutch Kraton Swingline Sublimit in aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), which Dutch Kraton Swingline Loans may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that the Dutch Kraton Swingline Lender shall not honor any request for a Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan (i) on or after the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, (ii) if the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the proposed Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan exceeds Dutch Kraton Availability on the proposed funding date for such Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan, (iii) if the requirements of Section 2.5 are not satisfied or (iv) if the Dutch Kraton Swingline Lender has knowledge that any of the conditions in Section 6.2 are not satisfied. The Dutch Kraton Swingline Loans shall be European Base Rate Loans if denominated in Euros and European Base Rate Loans if denominated in Dollars and bear interest as set forth in Section 3.1. Each Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan shall constitute a Revolver Loan for all purposes except that payments thereon shall be made to the Dutch Kraton Swingline Lender for its own account. The Dutch Kraton Swingline Loans of each Dutch Kraton Borrower shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and shall be secured by all of the Dutch Facility Collateral of such Dutch Kraton Borrower. Each Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan shall be funded in Euros or, at the option of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, Dollars or Sterling and repaid in the same currency as the underlying Dutch Kraton Swingline Loan was made.

(b) U.S. Swingline Loans to U.S. Borrowers . The U.S. Swingline Lender will, in the U.S. Swingline Lender’s discretion, make U.S. Swingline Loans to any of the U.S. Borrowers on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, not to exceed the U.S. Swingline Sublimit in aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time, which U.S. Swingline Loans may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that the U.S. Swingline Lender shall not honor any request for a U.S. Swingline Loan (i) on or after the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, (ii) if the amount of the proposed U.S. Swingline Loan exceeds U.S. Availability on the proposed funding date for such U.S. Swingline Loan or (iii) if the U.S. Swingline Lender has knowledge that any of the conditions in Section 6.2 are not satisfied. The U.S. Swingline Loans shall be U.S. Base Rate Loans and bear interest as set forth in Section 3.1. Each U.S. Swingline Loan shall constitute a Revolver Loan for all purposes except that payments thereon shall be made to the U.S. Swingline Lender for its own account. The U.S.

 

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Swingline Loans shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and shall be secured by all of the U.S. Facility Collateral. The U.S. Borrowers shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all of the U.S. Swingline Loans. Each U.S. Swingline Loan shall be funded and repaid in Dollars.

(c) Swinglines Generally . The Swingline Loans made by each Swingline Lender and interest accruing thereon shall be evidenced by the records of the Agent and such Swingline Lender and need not be evidenced by any promissory note.

2.2. Dutch Letters of Credit .

2.2.1. Issuance of Dutch Letters of Credit .

(a) Issuance of Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit . Each Dutch Fronting Bank agrees to issue Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit for the account of any Dutch Kraton Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time until the Facility Termination Date (or until the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, if earlier), in Euros or, at the option of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower, Dollars or Sterling, or in any other currency acceptable to the Agent or Dutch Fronting Bank, on the terms set forth herein, including the following:

(i) Each Dutch Kraton Borrower acknowledges that each Dutch Fronting Bank’s willingness to issue any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit is conditioned upon such Dutch Fronting Bank’s receipt of a Dutch Kraton LC Application with respect to the requested Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, as well as such other instruments and agreements as such Dutch Fronting Bank may customarily require for issuance of a letter of credit of similar type and amount. No Dutch Fronting Bank shall have any obligation to issue any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit unless (A) such Dutch Fronting Bank and the Agent receive a Dutch Kraton LC Request and Dutch Kraton LC Application at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance; (B) each Dutch Kraton LC Condition is satisfied; and (C) if a Defaulting Lender that is a Dutch Kraton Lender exists, such Lender or Dutch Kraton Borrowers have entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and such Dutch Fronting Bank to eliminate any funding risk associated with such Defaulting Lender. If a Dutch Fronting Bank receives written notice from a Dutch Kraton Lender at least three (3) Business Days before issuance of a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit that any Dutch Kraton LC Condition has not been satisfied, such Dutch Fronting Bank shall have no obligation to issue the requested Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit (or any other) until such notice is withdrawn in writing by the Required Borrower Group Lenders or until the Required Borrower Group Lenders have waived such condition in accordance with this Agreement. Prior to receipt of any such notice, a Dutch Fronting Bank shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any failure of Dutch Kraton LC Conditions.

(ii) Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit may be requested by the North American Loan Party Agent or the Foreign Loan Party Agent to support obligations incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business, or as otherwise approved by Agent. The renewal or extension of any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit shall be treated as the issuance of a new Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, except that delivery of a new Dutch Kraton LC Application shall be required at the discretion of the applicable Dutch Fronting Bank. No Dutch Fronting Bank shall renew or extend any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit if it receives written notice from the Agent or the Required Borrower Group Lenders of the existence of a Default or Event of Default.

(iii) Dutch Kraton Borrowers assume all risks of the acts, omissions or misuses of any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit by the beneficiary. In connection with issuance of any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, none of the Agent, any Dutch Fronting Bank or any Lender

 

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shall be responsible for the existence, character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of any goods purported to be represented by any Documents; any differences or variation in the character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of any goods from that expressed in any Documents; the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any Documents or of any endorsements thereon; the time, place, manner or order in which shipment of goods is made; partial or incomplete shipment of, or failure to ship, any goods referred to in a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit or Documents; any deviation from instructions, delay, default or fraud by any shipper or other Person in connection with any goods, shipment or delivery; any breach of contract between a shipper or vendor and a Dutch Kraton Borrower; errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex, telecopy, e-mail, telephone or otherwise; errors in interpretation of technical terms; the misapplication by a beneficiary of any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof; or any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of any Dutch Fronting Bank, the Agent or any Dutch Kraton Lender, including any act or omission of a Governmental Authority. The rights and remedies of each Dutch Fronting Bank under the Loan Documents shall be cumulative. Each Dutch Fronting Bank shall be fully subrogated to the rights and remedies of each beneficiary whose claims against Borrowers are discharged with proceeds of any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit issued by such Dutch Fronting Bank.

(iv) In connection with its administration of and enforcement of rights or remedies under any Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit or Dutch Kraton LC Documents, each Dutch Fronting Bank shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully protected in acting, upon any certification, documentation or communication in whatever form believed by such Dutch Fronting Bank, in good faith, to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by a proper Person. Each Dutch Fronting Bank may consult with and employ legal counsel, accountants and other experts to advise it concerning its obligations, rights and remedies, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in any action taken in good faith reliance upon, any advice given by such experts. Each Dutch Fronting Bank may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact in connection with any matter relating to Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit or Dutch Kraton LC Documents, and shall not be liable for the gross negligence or misconduct of agents and attorneys-in-fact selected with reasonable care.

2.2.2. Dutch Kraton LC Reimbursement; Dutch Kraton LC Participations .

(a) If a Dutch Fronting Bank honors any request for payment under a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower shall pay to such Dutch Fronting Bank, on the same day (“ Dutch Kraton Reimbursement Date ”), the amount paid by such Dutch Fronting Bank under such Letter of Credit, together with interest at the interest rate for European Base Rate Loans from the Dutch Kraton Reimbursement Date until payment by Dutch Kraton Borrower. The obligation of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower to reimburse each Dutch Fronting Bank for any payment made under a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit issued by such Dutch Fronting Bank shall be absolute, unconditional, irrevocable, and shall be paid without regard to any lack of validity or enforceability of any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit or the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right that the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower or Loan Parties may have at any time against the beneficiary. Whether or not the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower submits a Notice of Borrowing, the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of European Base Rate Loans, as applicable, in an amount necessary to pay all amounts due to a Dutch Fronting Bank in the currency in which the underlying Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit was issued on any Dutch Kraton Reimbursement Date and each Dutch Kraton Lender agrees to fund its Pro Rata share of such Borrowing whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or is created thereby, or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied.

 

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(b) Upon issuance of a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, each Dutch Kraton Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased from the Dutch Fronting Bank that issued such Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, without recourse or warranty, an undivided Pro Rata interest and participation in all Dutch Kraton LC Obligations relating to the Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit. If the applicable Dutch Fronting Bank makes any payment under a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit and the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower does not reimburse such payment on the Dutch Kraton Reimbursement Date, the Agent shall promptly notify Dutch Kraton Lenders and each Dutch Kraton Lender shall promptly (within one Business Day) and unconditionally pay to the Agent in the currency of the payment made under such Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit, for the benefit of the Dutch Fronting Bank, the Dutch Kraton Lender’s Pro Rata share of such payment. Upon request by a Dutch Kraton Lender, the applicable Dutch Fronting Bank shall furnish copies of any Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit and Dutch Kraton LC Documents in its possession at such time.

(c) The obligation of each Dutch Kraton Lender to make payments to the Agent for the account of the applicable Dutch Fronting Bank in connection with such Dutch Fronting Bank’s payment under a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, not subject to any counterclaim, setoff, qualification or exception whatsoever, and shall be made in accordance with this Agreement under all circumstances, irrespective of any lack of validity or unenforceability of any Loan Documents; any draft, certificate or other document presented under a Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit having been determined to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or the existence of any setoff or defense that any Loan Party may have with respect to any Obligations. No Dutch Fronting Bank assumes any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by any Dutch Kraton Borrower or other Person of any obligations under any Dutch Kraton LC Documents. No Dutch Fronting Bank makes any express or implied warranty, representation or guarantee to Dutch Kraton Lenders with respect to the Dutch Facility Collateral, Dutch Kraton LC Documents or any Dutch Facility Loan Party. No Dutch Fronting Bank shall be responsible to any Dutch Lender for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in, or for the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any Dutch Kraton LC Documents; the validity, genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value or sufficiency of any Dutch Facility Collateral or the perfection of any Lien therein; or the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any Dutch Facility Loan Party.

(d) No Dutch Fronting Bank Indemnitee shall be liable to any Loan Party or other Person for any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with any Dutch Kraton LC Documents except as a result of such Dutch Fronting Bank’s actual gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, as determined by a final, nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. No Dutch Fronting Bank shall have any liability to any Lender if such Dutch Fronting Bank refrains from any action under any Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit or Dutch Kraton LC Documents until it receives written instructions from Required Borrower Group Lenders.

2.2.3. Dutch Kraton LC Cash Collateral . If any Dutch Kraton LC Obligations, whether or not then due or payable, shall for any reason be outstanding at any time (a) that an Event of Default exists, (b) that a Dutch Kraton Overadvance exists, (c) after the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, or (d) within 20 Business Days prior to the Facility Termination Date, then Dutch Kraton Borrowers shall, within three (3) Business Days of the Dutch Fronting Bank’s or the Agent’s request, Cash Collateralize the stated amount of all outstanding Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit and pay to each Dutch Fronting Bank the amount of all other Dutch Kraton LC Obligations to such Dutch Fronting Bank. If the reallocation described in Section 4.2.1 cannot, or can only be partially effected, the Dutch Kraton Borrowers shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Dutch Fronting Bank or the Agent from time to time, Cash Collateralize the LC Obligations of any Defaulting Lender that is a

 

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Dutch Kraton Lender. If as a result of fluctuations in Exchange Rates or otherwise the Dollar Equivalent of the Dutch Kraton LC Obligations exceeds the Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit Sublimit, the excess amount shall be payable by the Dutch Kraton Borrowers within three (3) Business Days following demand by the Agent or the Dutch Fronting Bank. If Dutch Kraton Borrowers fail to provide any Cash Collateral as required hereunder, Dutch Kraton Lenders may (and shall upon direction of the Agent) advance, as Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans, the amount of the Cash Collateral required (whether or not the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments have terminated, any Dutch Kraton Overadvance exists or would result therefrom or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied).

2.3. U.S. Letters of Credit .

2.3.1. Issuance of U.S. Letters of Credit . Each U.S. Fronting Bank agrees to issue U.S. Letters of Credit for the account of any U.S. Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary; ( provided that each U.S. Borrower agrees that it is jointly and severally liable with respect to, and guarantees payment under Section 5.10.1 with respect to, any U.S. Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a U.S. Borrower from time to time until the Facility Termination Date (or until the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, if earlier), on the terms set forth herein, including the following:

(a) Each U.S. Borrower acknowledges that each U.S. Fronting Bank’s willingness to issue any U.S. Letter of Credit is conditioned upon such U.S. Fronting Bank’s receipt of a U.S. LC Application with respect to the requested U.S. Letter of Credit, as well as such other instruments and agreements as such U.S. Fronting Bank may customarily require for issuance of a letter of credit of similar type and amount. No U.S. Fronting Bank shall have any obligation to issue any U.S. Letter of Credit unless (i) such U.S. Fronting Bank and the Bank of America (London) Agent receive a U.S. LC Request and U.S. LC Application at least two (2) Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance; (ii) each U.S. LC Condition is satisfied; and (iii) if a Defaulting Lender that is a U.S. Lender exists, U.S. Borrowers have entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and such U.S. Fronting Bank to eliminate any funding risk associated with such Defaulting Lender. If a U.S. Fronting Bank receives written notice from a U.S. Lender at least two (2) Business Days before issuance of a U.S. Letter of Credit that any U.S. LC Condition has not been satisfied, such U.S. Fronting Bank shall have no obligation to issue the requested U.S. Letter of Credit (or any other) until such notice is withdrawn in writing by the Required Borrower Group Lenders or until the Required Borrower Group Lenders have waived such condition in accordance with this Agreement. Prior to receipt of any such notice, a U.S. Fronting Bank shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any failure of U.S. LC Conditions.

(b) Letters of Credit may be requested by the North American Loan Party Agent to support obligations incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business, or as otherwise approved by Agent. The renewal or extension of any U.S. Letter of Credit shall be treated as the issuance of a new U.S. Letter of Credit, except that delivery of a new U.S. LC Application shall be required at the discretion of the applicable U.S. Fronting Bank. No U.S. Fronting Bank shall renew or extend any U.S. Letter of Credit if it receives written notice from the Agent or the Required Borrower Group Lenders of the existence of a Default or Event of Default.

(c) U.S. Borrowers assume all risks of the acts, omissions or misuses of any U.S. Letter of Credit by the beneficiary. In connection with issuance of any U.S. Letter of Credit, none of the Agent, any U.S. Fronting Bank or any Lender shall be responsible for the existence, character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of any goods purported to be represented by any Documents; any differences or variation in the character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of any goods from that expressed in any Documents; the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any Documents or of any endorsements thereon; the time, place, manner or

 

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order in which shipment of goods is made; partial or incomplete shipment of, or failure to ship, any goods referred to in a U.S. Letter of Credit or Documents; any deviation from instructions, delay, default or fraud by any shipper or other Person in connection with any goods, shipment or delivery; any breach of contract between a shipper or vendor and a U.S. Borrower; errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex, telecopy, e-mail, telephone or otherwise; errors in interpretation of technical terms; the misapplication by a beneficiary of any U.S. Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof; or any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of any U.S. Fronting Bank, the Agent or any U.S. Lender, including any act or omission of a Governmental Authority. The rights and remedies of each U.S. Fronting Bank under the Loan Documents shall be cumulative. Each U.S. Fronting Bank shall be fully subrogated to the rights and remedies of each beneficiary whose claims against Borrowers are discharged with proceeds of any U.S. Letter of Credit issued by such U.S. Fronting Bank.

(d) In connection with its administration of and enforcement of rights or remedies under any U.S. Letters of Credit or U.S. LC Documents, each U.S. Fronting Bank shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully protected in acting, upon any certification, documentation or communication in whatever form believed by such U.S. Fronting Bank, in good faith, to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by a proper Person. Each U.S. Fronting Bank may consult with and employ legal counsel, accountants and other experts to advise it concerning its obligations, rights and remedies, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in any action taken in good faith reliance upon, any advice given by such experts. Each U.S. Fronting Bank may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact in connection with any matter relating to U.S. Letters of Credit or U.S. LC Documents, and shall not be liable for the gross negligence or misconduct of agents and attorneys-in-fact selected with reasonable care.

2.3.2. U.S. LC Reimbursement; U.S. LC Participations .

(a) If a U.S. Fronting Bank honors any request for payment under a U.S. Letter of Credit, U.S. Borrowers shall pay to such U.S. Fronting Bank, on the same day (“ U.S. Reimbursement Date ”), the amount paid by such U.S. Fronting Bank under such U.S. Letter of Credit, together with interest at the interest rate for U.S. Base Rate Loans from the U.S. Reimbursement Date until payment by U.S. Borrowers. The obligation of U.S. Borrowers to reimburse each U.S. Fronting Bank for any payment made under a U.S. Letter of Credit issued by such U.S. Fronting Bank shall be absolute, unconditional, irrevocable, and joint and several among U.S. Borrowers, and shall be paid without regard to any lack of validity or enforceability of any U.S. Letter of Credit or the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right that U.S. Borrowers or Loan Parties may have at any time against the beneficiary. Whether or not the North American Loan Party Agent submits a Notice of Borrowing, U.S. Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of U.S. Base Rate Loans in an amount necessary (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) to pay all amounts due to a U.S. Fronting Bank on any U.S. Reimbursement Date and each U.S. Lender agrees to fund its Pro Rata share of such Borrowing whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or is created thereby, or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied.

(b) Upon issuance of a U.S. Letter of Credit, each U.S. Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased from the U.S. Fronting Bank that issued such U.S. Letter of Credit, without recourse or warranty, an undivided Pro Rata interest and participation in all U.S. LC Obligations relating to the U.S. Letter of Credit. If the applicable U.S. Fronting Bank makes any payment under a U.S. Letter of Credit and U.S. Borrowers do not reimburse such payment on the U.S. Reimbursement Date, the Agent shall promptly notify U.S. Lenders and each U.S. Lender shall promptly (within one Business Day) and unconditionally pay to the Agent in Dollars, for the benefit of U.S. Fronting Bank, the U.S. Lender’s Pro Rata share of such payment (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof). Upon request by a U.S. Lender, the applicable U.S. Fronting Bank shall furnish copies of any U.S. Letters of Credit and U.S. LC Documents in its possession at such time.

 

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(c) The obligation of each U.S. Lender to make payments to the Agent for the account of the applicable U.S. Fronting Bank in connection with such U.S. Fronting Bank’s payment under a U.S. Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, not subject to any counterclaim, setoff, qualification or exception whatsoever, and shall be made in accordance with this Agreement under all circumstances, irrespective of any lack of validity or unenforceability of any Loan Documents; any draft, certificate or other document presented under a U.S. Letter of Credit having been determined to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or the existence of any setoff or defense that any Loan Party may have with respect to any Obligations. No U.S. Fronting Bank assumes any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by any U.S. Borrower or other Person of any obligations under any U.S. LC Documents. No U.S. Fronting Bank makes any express or implied warranty, representation or guarantee to U.S. Lenders with respect to the U.S. Facility Collateral, U.S. LC Documents or any U.S. Facility Loan Party. No U.S. Fronting Bank shall be responsible to any U.S. Lender for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in, or for the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any U.S. LC Documents; the validity, genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value or sufficiency of any U.S. Facility Collateral or the perfection of any Lien therein; or the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any U.S. Facility Loan Party.

(d) No U.S. Fronting Bank Indemnitee shall be liable to any Loan Party or other Person for any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with any U.S. LC Documents except as a result of each U.S. Fronting Bank’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, as determined by a final, nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. No U.S. Fronting Bank shall have any liability to any Lender if such U.S. Fronting Bank refrains from any action under any U.S. Letter of Credit or U.S. LC Documents until it receives written instructions from Required Borrower Group Lenders of the Borrower Group consisting of U.S. Borrowers.

2.3.3. U.S. LC Cash Collateral . If any U.S. LC Obligations, whether or not then due or payable, shall for any reason be outstanding at any time (a) that an Event of Default exists, (b) that a U.S. Overadvance exists, (c) after the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, or (d) within five Business Days prior to the Facility Termination Date, then U.S. Borrowers shall, within one Business Day of U.S. Fronting Bank’s or the Agent’s request, Cash Collateralize the stated amount of all outstanding U.S. Letters of Credit (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) and pay to each U.S. Fronting Bank the amount of all other U.S. LC Obligations to such U.S. Fronting Bank. If the reallocation described in Section 4.2.1 cannot, or can only partially be effected, the U.S. Borrowers shall, within one Business Day of demand by U.S. Fronting Bank’s or the Agent, Cash Collateralize the U.S. LC Obligations of any Defaulting Lender that is a U.S. Lender. If as a result of fluctuations in Exchange Rates or otherwise the Dollar Equivalent of the U.S. LC Obligations exceeds the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit, the excess amount shall be payable by the U.S. Borrowers within three (3) Business Days following demand by the Agent or the U.S. Fronting Bank. If U.S. Borrowers fail to provide any Cash Collateral as required hereunder, Lenders may (and shall upon direction of the Agent) advance, as U.S. Revolver Loans, the amount of the Cash Collateral required (whether or not the U.S. Revolver Commitments have terminated, any U.S. Overadvance exists or would result therefrom or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied).

2.4. Resignation of Fronting Banks . A Fronting Bank may resign at any time upon notice to the Agent and the applicable Loan Party Agent. On and after the effective date of such resignation, such Fronting Bank shall have no obligation to issue, amend, renew, extend or otherwise modify any Letter of Credit, but shall continue to have all rights and other obligations of a Fronting Bank hereunder relating to

 

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any Letter of Credit issued by it prior to such date. The Agent shall promptly appoint a replacement Fronting Bank as soon as practicable, which, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, shall be reasonably acceptable to the relevant Loan Party Agent.

2.5. Applicable Foreign Borrower Sublimits . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2, in no event shall any Applicable Foreign Borrower be entitled to receive a Revolver Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit (and no Lender shall be required to make or support the same) if at the time of the proposed funding of such Revolver Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit (and after giving effect thereto and all pending requests for Revolver Loans and Letters of Credit by or on behalf of such Borrower), the sum of (a) the Dollar Equivalent of the outstanding amount of all Revolver Loans made to such Borrower on such date and (b) the LC Obligations of such Borrower on such date exceeds the lesser of such Borrower’s individual Borrowing Base or the Applicable Foreign Borrower Commitment. If as a result of fluctuations in Exchange Rates or otherwise the Dollar Equivalent of the sum of all outstanding Revolver Loans made to an Applicable Foreign Borrower and the LC Obligations of such Borrower exceed such Borrower’s Applicable Foreign Borrower Commitment, the excess amount shall be payable by the Applicable Foreign Borrower within three (3) Business Days following written demand by the Agent. In no event shall the aggregate Applicable Foreign Borrower Commitments for all members of a Foreign Borrower Group exceed the Foreign Revolver Commitments for such Foreign Borrower Group.

SECTION 3. INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES

3.1. Interest .

3.1.1. Rates and Payment of Interest .

(a) The Obligations shall bear interest as follows:

(i) in the case of a U.S. Base Rate Loan, at the U.S. Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin for such U.S. Base Rate Loan;

(ii) in the case of a European Base Rate Loan, at the European Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin for European Base Rate Loans;

(iii) in the case of a LIBOR Base Loan, at LIBOR for the applicable Interest Period, plus the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans;

(iv) in the case of any other Dutch Facility Obligation (other than Secured Bank Product Obligations) that is then due and payable (including, to the extent permitted by law, interest not paid when due), at the European Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin for European Rate Loans; and

(v) in the case of any other U.S. Facility Obligation (other than Secured Bank Product Obligations) that is then due and payable (including, to the extent permitted by law, interest not paid when due), at the U.S. Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin for the related U.S. Base Rate Loans.

Interest shall accrue from the date the Loan is advanced or the Obligation becomes payable, until paid by the Applicable Borrower(s). If a Loan is repaid on the same day made, one Business Day’s interest shall accrue.

 

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(b) Interest on the Revolver Loans shall be payable in the currency of the underlying Revolver Loan.

(c) If all or a portion of (i) the principal amount of any Loan, (ii) any interest payable thereon or (iii) following notice from the Agent, any other amounts payable hereunder, in each case, shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest (including post-petition interest during the pendency of any Insolvency Proceeding) at a rate per annum that is (x) in the case of overdue principal, the Default Rate or (y) in the case of any overdue interest, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Default Rate, from and including the date of such non-payment to but excluding the date on which such amount is paid in full (after as well as before judgment). Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this Section 3.1.1(c) is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the Agent, any Security Trustee or any Lender.

(d) Interest accrued on the Loans shall be due and payable in arrears, (i) for any Base Rate Loan or on the first day of each month; (ii) for any LIBOR Loan, on the last day of its Interest Period (and, if its Interest Period exceeds three months, at the end of each period of three months) and (iii) on any date of prepayment, with respect to the principal amount of Loans being prepaid. In addition, interest accrued on the (1) U.S. Revolver Loans shall be due and payable on the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date and (2) Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans shall be due and payable on the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date. Interest accrued on any other Obligations shall be due and payable as provided in the Loan Documents and, if no payment date is specified, shall be due and payable on demand. Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest accrued at the Default Rate shall be due and payable on demand.

3.1.2. Application of LIBOR to Outstanding Loans .

(a) Borrowers may on any Business Day, subject to delivery of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation and the other terms hereof, elect to convert any portion of any Base Rate Loan funded in Dollars, Euros or Sterling (as applicable) to, or to continue any LIBOR Loan at the end of its Interest Period as, a LIBOR Loan. During any Event of Default, the Agent may (and shall at the direction of Required Lenders) declare that no Loan may be made, converted or continued as a LIBOR Loan.

(b) Whenever Borrowers within a Borrower Group desire to convert or continue Loans as LIBOR Loans, the relevant Loan Party Agent shall give the Agent (and in the case of any such request by Dutch Borrowers Bank of America (London)) a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, no later than 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) or 1:00 pm (local time) in the case of a request on behalf of U.S. Borrowers at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested conversion or continuation date. Promptly after receiving any such notice, the Agent shall notify each Applicable Lender thereof. Each Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable, and shall specify the amount of Loans to be converted or continued, the conversion or continuation date (which shall be a Business Day), and the duration of the Interest Period (which shall be deemed to be thirty (30) days if not specified). If, upon the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any LIBOR Loans, the relevant Loan Party Agent shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation with respect thereto as required above, Borrowers shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Loans into Base Rate Loans.

3.1.3. Interest Periods . In connection with the making, conversion or continuation of any LIBOR Loans, the relevant Loan Party Agent, on behalf of the applicable Borrower(s), shall select an interest period to apply (the “ Interest Period ”), which interest period shall be a one, two, three, six (or if available to all Applicable Lenders as determined by such Applicable Lenders in good faith based upon prevailing market conditions) twelve month period; provided , however , that:

(a) the Interest Period shall commence on the date the Loan is made or continued as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan, and shall expire on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at its end;

 

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(b) if any Interest Period commences on a day for which there is no corresponding day in the calendar month at its end or if such corresponding day falls after the last Business Day of such month, then the Interest Period shall expire on the last Business Day of such month;

(c) if any Interest Period would expire on a day that is not a Business Day, the period shall expire on the next Business Day; and

(d) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Facility Termination Date (or, in the case of any Loan owing by (i) any U.S. Borrower, the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, or (ii) any Dutch Kraton Borrower, the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, in each case if earlier).

3.2. Fees .

3.2.1. Unused Line Fee .

(a) Dutch Unused Line Fee . Dutch Kraton Borrowers shall pay to the Agent for the Pro Rata benefit of Dutch Kraton Lenders, a fee equal to 0.375% per annum times the average daily amount by which the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitments exceed the Dutch Kraton Revolver Exposure during any month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, outstanding Dutch Kraton Swingline Loans shall not be taken into account when determining Dutch Kraton Revolver Exposure for purposes of this Section 3.2.1(a). Such fee shall be payable in arrears, on the first day of each month and on the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date.

(b) U.S. Unused Line Fee . U.S. Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of U.S. Lenders, a fee equal to 0.375% per annum times the average daily amount by which the U.S. Revolver Commitments exceed the U.S. Revolver Exposure during any month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, outstanding U.S. Swingline Loans shall not be taken into account when determining U.S. Revolver Exposure for purposes of this Section 3.2.1(b). Such fee shall be payable in arrears, on the first day of each month and on the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date.

3.2.2. Dutch Letters of Credit Fees . Each Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower shall pay (i) to the Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Dutch Kraton Lenders, a fee equal to the per annum rate of the Applicable Margin in effect for Letter of Credit Fees times the average daily stated amount of such Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower’s Dutch Letters of Credit, which fee shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the first day of each month; (ii) to each Dutch Fronting Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum on the stated amount of each Dutch Kraton Letter of Credit issued by it, which fee shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the first day of each month; and (iii) to each Dutch Fronting Bank, for its own account, all customary charges associated with the issuance, amending, negotiating, payment, processing, transfer and administration of Dutch Kraton Letters of Credit issued by it, which charges shall be paid as and when incurred.

 

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3.2.3. U.S. Letters of Credit Fees . U.S. Borrowers shall pay (i) to the Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of U.S. Lenders, a fee equal to the per annum rate of the Applicable Margin in effect for Letter of Credit Fees times the average daily stated amount of U.S. Letters of Credit (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), which fee shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the first day of each month; (ii) to each U.S. Fronting Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum on the stated amount of each U.S. Letter of Credit issued by it, which fee shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the first day of each month; and (iii) to each U.S. Fronting Bank, for its own account, all customary charges associated with the issuance, amending, negotiating, payment, processing, transfer and administration of U.S. Letters of Credit issued by it, which charges shall be paid as and when incurred.

3.2.4. Other Fees . The Borrowers shall pay such other fees as described in the Fee Letters.

3.3. Computation of Interest and Fees . All interest, as well as fees and other charges calculated on a per annum basis, shall be computed for the actual days elapsed, based on a year of 360 days, or, in the case of interest on U.S. Base Rate Loans (unless U.S. Base Rate is being determined based on clause (c) of the definition thereof) or Loans denominated in Sterling, on the basis of a 365 day year. Each determination by the Agent of any interest, fees or interest rate hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. All fees shall be fully earned when due and shall not be subject to rebate, refund or proration. All fees payable under Section 3.2 are compensation for services and are not, and shall not be deemed to be, interest or any other charge for the use, forbearance or detention of money, except to the extent such treatment is inconsistent with any Applicable Law. A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail amounts payable by any Borrower under Section 3.4, 3.7or 3.10 and the basis therefor, submitted to a Loan Party Agent by the Agent or the affected Lender or Fronting Bank shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and Borrowers shall pay such amounts to the appropriate party within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of the certificate.

3.4. Reimbursement Obligations . Borrowers shall reimburse the Agent and Security Trustees for all Extraordinary Expenses. In addition to such Extraordinary Expenses, Borrowers shall also reimburse the Agent and Security Trustees for all reasonable and documented legal, accounting, appraisal and other reasonable and documented fees, costs and expenses, without duplication, incurred by them in connection with (a) negotiation and preparation of any Loan Documents, including any amendment or other modification thereof; (b) administration of and actions relating to any Collateral, Loan Documents and transactions contemplated thereby, including any actions taken to perfect or maintain priority of the Agent’s or any Security Trustee’s Liens on any such Collateral, to maintain any insurance required hereunder or to verify such Collateral; and (c) each inspection, field exam, audit or appraisal with respect to any Loan Party or Collateral, whether prepared by the Agent’s personnel or a third party (subject to the limitations of Section 10.1.1). All reasonable and documented legal and accounting fees incurred by Agent Professionals or any applicable Security Trustee shall be charged to Borrowers at the actual rate charged by such Agent Professionals or such Security Trustee; provided that Borrower’s obligation to reimburse Agent and Security Trustees for legal fees shall be limited to the reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses of Holland & Knight LLP, U.S. counsel to the Agent, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, as foreign counsel to the Agent and Security Trustees, and if necessary, of one local counsel in each other relevant jurisdiction (which may include a local counsel acting in each of multiple jurisdictions, so long as no Event of Default then exists, with the written consent of Parent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). In addition to the Extraordinary Expenses of Agent and Security Trustees, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event Default, Borrowers shall reimburse Fronting Banks and Lenders for the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel (and if necessary, of one local counsel in each other relevant jurisdiction (which may include a local counsel acting in each of multiple jurisdictions)) for the Fronting Banks and

 

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Lenders, as a whole, in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of their respective rights under the Loan Documents, including all such expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or Insolvency Proceeding; provided , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event that there is a conflict of interest amongst the Lenders on the one hand or the Agent and the Lenders on the other hand, the Lenders may engage and be reimbursed for one additional counsel, subject to the foregoing limitations. If, for any reason (including inaccurate reporting on financial statements), it is determined that a higher Applicable Margin should have applied to a period than was actually applied, then the proper margin shall be applied retroactively and Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders, an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest and fees that would have accrued using the proper margin and the amount actually paid. All amounts payable by Borrowers under this Section 3.4 shall be due and payable within ten (10) Business Days of demand.

3.5. Illegality . If any Lender in good faith determines that any Applicable Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund LIBOR Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the European Base Rate, LIBOR, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell bills of exchange denominated in, or to take deposits of, a currency in the London interbank market, or then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Agent and Parent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue affected LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to affected LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Agent that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon delivery of such notice, Borrowers of the affected Borrower Group may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of any Loans and shall upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all affected LIBOR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or promptly, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, Borrowers of the affected Borrower Group shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. If any Lender invokes this Section 3.5, such Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify a Loan Party Agent and the Agent when the conditions giving rise to such action no longer exists, provided , however , that such Lender shall have no liability to Borrowers or to any other Person for its failure to provide such notice. Each Lender (solely to the extent having multiple Lending Offices) agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

3.6. Inability to Determine Rates . If Required Lenders notify the Agent for any reason in connection with a request for a Borrowing of, or conversion to or continuation of, an LIBOR Loan that (a) deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank market, for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining LIBOR, for the requested Interest Period, or (c) LIBOR for the requested Interest Period does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, then the Agent will promptly so notify a Loan Party Agent and each Applicable Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Applicable Lenders to make or maintain affected LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until the Agent (upon instruction by Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, a Loan Party Agent may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of an LIBOR Loan or, failing that, will be deemed to have submitted a request for a Base Rate Loan. If any Lender invokes this Section 3.6, such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to notify the relevant Loan Party Agent and the Agent when the conditions giving rise to such action no longer exists, provided , however , that such Lender shall have no liability to Borrowers or to any other Person for its failure to provide such notice.

 

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3.7. Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy .

3.7.1. Change in Law . If any Change in Law shall:

(a) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, liquidity, 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 LIBOR) or Fronting Bank;

(b) subject any Lender or Fronting Bank to any Taxes (other than (i) Indemnified Taxes, which shall be covered solely by Section 5.8.1, (ii) Excluded Taxes, (iii) Other Taxes, which shall be covered solely by Section 5.8.1, or (iv) Taxes described in Section 5.8.2(b)(ii)) on its Loans, Letters of Credit, Commitments or other Obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

(c) impose on any Lender or Fronting Bank or the London interbank market or any other condition, cost or expense affecting any Loan, Loan Document, Letter of Credit or participation in LC Obligations;

and the result thereof shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting or continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or Fronting Bank 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 or Fronting Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or Fronting Bank, the Borrower Group to which such Lender or Fronting Bank has a Commitment shall pay to such Lender or Fronting Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Fronting Bank for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided , further , however, that the Borrowers will only be required to pay such additional amounts as a result of a Change in Law if it is the general policy or practice of such Lender or Fronting Bank to pass on such costs to similarly situated borrowers under similar credit facilities (to the extent such Lender or such Fronting Bank has the right under such similar credit facilities to do so).

3.7.2. Capital Adequacy . If any Lender or Fronting Bank determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or Fronting Bank or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or Fronting Bank’s holding company, if any, regarding capital, liquidity or leverage requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s, Fronting Bank’s or holding company’s capital as a consequence of this Agreement, or such Lender’s or Fronting Bank’s Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or participations in LC Obligations to a level below that which such Lender, Fronting Bank or holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s, Fronting Bank’s and holding company’s policies with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower Group to which such Lender or Fronting Bank has a Commitment will pay to such Lender or Fronting Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate it or its holding company for any such reduction suffered, in each case, in accordance with Section 3.3 provided , further , however , that the Borrowers will only be required to pay such additional amounts as a result of a Change in Law if it is the general policy or practice of such Lender or Fronting Bank to pass on such costs to similarly situated borrowers under similar credit facilities (to the extent such Lender or such Fronting Bank has the right under such similar credit facilities to do so).

3.7.3. Compensation . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Fronting Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall not constitute a waiver of its right to demand such compensation, but Borrowers of a Borrower Group shall not be required to compensate a Lender to

 

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such Borrower Group or Fronting Bank for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six (6) months prior to the date that the Lender or Fronting Bank notifies a Loan Party Agent of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Fronting Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six (6) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

3.8. [Reserved] .

3.9. Mitigation . If any Lender gives a notice under Section 3.5 or requests compensation under Section 3.7, or if any Borrower is required to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments with respect to a Lender under Section 5.8, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (a) would eliminate the need for such notice or reduce amounts payable or to be withheld in the future, as applicable; and (b) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or unlawful. The Borrower or Borrowers of each affected Borrower Group shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender that has issued a Commitment to such Borrower Group in connection with any such designation or assignment.

3.10. Funding Losses . Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Agent), which demand shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense reasonably incurred if for any reason (other than a default by a Lender) (a) any Borrowing of, or conversion to or continuation of, an LIBOR Loan does not occur on the date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation (whether or not withdrawn), (b) any repayment or conversion of an LIBOR Loan occurs on a day other than the end of its Interest Period, or (c) any Borrower of any Borrower Group fails to repay an LIBOR Loan when required hereunder, then Borrowers of such Borrower Group shall pay to the Agent its customary administrative charge and to each Lender all losses and expenses that it sustains as a consequence thereof, including any loss or expense arising from liquidation or redeployment of funds or from fees payable to terminate deposits of matching funds, but excluding loss of margin. All amounts payable by Borrowers under this Section 3.10 shall be due and payable in accordance with Section 3.3. Lenders shall not be required to purchase deposits in the London interbank market or any other applicable market to fund any LIBOR Loan, but the provisions hereof shall be deemed to apply as if each Lender had purchased such deposits to fund such Loans.

3.11. Maximum Interest . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by Applicable Law (“ maximum rate ”). If the Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the maximum rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Obligations of the Borrower Group to which such excess interest relates or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to such Borrower Group. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged or received by the Agent or a Lender exceeds the maximum rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee or premium rather than interest; (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof; and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

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SECTION 4. LOAN ADMINISTRATION

4.1. Manner of Borrowing and Funding Loans .

4.1.1. Notice of Borrowing .

(a) U.S. Revolver Loans . Whenever any U.S. Borrower desires funding of a Borrowing of Revolver Loans, the North American Loan Party Agent shall give the Agent a Notice of Borrowing. Such notice must be received by the Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) (i) on the Business Day of the requested funding date, in the case of Base Rate Loans and (ii) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested funding date, in the case of LIBOR Loans. Notices received after 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) the amount of the Borrowing, (B) the requested funding date (which must be a Business Day), (C) whether the Borrowing is to be made as a U.S. Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Revolver Loan, in the case of a U.S. Borrower, (D) in the case of LIBOR Loans, the duration of the applicable Interest Period (which shall be deemed to be one (1) month if not specified) and (E) the Borrower Group Commitment under which such Borrowing is proposed to be made.

(b) Dutch Kraton Revolver Loans . Whenever any Dutch Kraton Borrower desires funding of a Borrowing of Revolver Loans, the Foreign Loan Party Agent shall give the Agent and Bank of America (London) a Notice of Borrowing. Such notice must be received by the Agent and Bank of America (London) no later than 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) (i) at least two (2) Business Days prior to the requested funding date, in the case of Base Rate Loans; provided that a Notice of Borrowing that requests a Revolver Loan denominated other than in Euros must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested funding date (or such shorter time as may be agreed to by the Agent and Dutch Kraton Lenders) and (ii) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested funding date in the case of LIBOR Loans. Notices received after 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (u) the amount of the Borrowing, (v) the requested funding date (which must be a Business Day), (w) whether the Borrowing is to be made as a European Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan, (x) in the case of LIBOR Loans, the duration of the applicable Interest Period (which shall be deemed to be one month if not specified), (y) the name of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower and (z) the currency in which such Loan will be denominated (which must be a currency permitted under this Agreement for such Loan).

(c) Dutch Kraton Swingline Loans . Whenever any Dutch Kraton Borrower desires funding of a Borrowing of Swingline Loans, the Foreign Loan Party Agent shall give the Agent and Bank of America (London) a Notice of Borrowing. Such notice must be received by the Agent and Bank of America (London) no later than 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) on the Business Day of the requested funding date provided that a Notice of Borrowing that requests a Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars or Sterling must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested funding date (or such shorter time as may be agreed to by the Agent). Notices received after 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) the amount of the Borrowing, (B) the requested funding date (which must be a Business Day), (C) the name of the Applicable Dutch Kraton Borrower and (D) the currency in which such Loan will be denominated (which must be a currency permitted under this Agreement for such Loan).

(d) U.S. Swingline Loans . Whenever any U.S. Borrower desires funding of a Borrowing of Swingline Loans, the North American Loan Party Agent shall give the Agent a Notice of Borrowing. Such notice must be received by the Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) on the Business Day of the requested funding date. Notices received after 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) shall be

 

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deemed received on the next Business Day. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) the amount of the Borrowing and (B) the requested funding date (which must be a Business Day).

(e) Deemed Requests for Revolver Loans . Unless payment is otherwise timely made by each Borrower within a Borrower Group, the becoming due of any amount required to be paid with respect to any of the Obligations of the Loan Party Group to which such Borrower Group belongs (whether principal, interest, fees or other charges, including unused line fees payable under Section 3.2.1, Extraordinary Expenses, LC Obligations and Cash Collateral) shall be deemed to be a request for Revolver Loans by such Borrower Group on the due date in the amount of such Obligations and shall bear interest at the per annum rate applicable hereunder to Base Rate Loans, in the case of such Obligations (other than Secured Bank Product Obligations) owing by any Loan Party. The proceeds of such Revolver Loans shall be disbursed as direct payment of the relevant Obligation.

(f) Controlled Disbursement Accounts . If any Borrower within a Borrower Group establishes a controlled disbursement account with Bank of America or any branch or Affiliate of Bank of America, then the presentation for payment of any check, ACH or electronic debit or other payment item drawn on such account at a time when there are insufficient funds to cover it shall be deemed to be a request for Revolver Loans by such Borrower Group on the date of such presentation, in the amount of such payment item, and shall bear interest at the per annum rate applicable hereunder to Base Rate Loans, in the case of insufficient funds owing by any Loan Party. The proceeds of such Revolver Loans may be disbursed directly to the controlled disbursement account or other appropriate account.

4.1.2. Fundings by Lenders; Settlement .

(a) Each Applicable Lender shall timely honor its Borrower Group Commitment by funding its Pro Rata share of each Borrowing of Revolver Loans under such Borrower Group Commitment that is properly requested hereunder. The Agent shall endeavor to notify the Applicable Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing (or deemed request for a Borrowing) by (i) 12:00 noon (Local Time) on the proposed funding date for Base Rate Loans to U.S. Borrowers, (ii) 12:00 noon (Local Time) two (2) Business Days before any proposed funding date for Base Rate Loans to Foreign Borrowers, or (iii) 12:00 noon (Local Time) at least two (2) Business Days before any proposed funding of LIBOR Loans. Each Applicable Lender shall fund to the Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata share of the Borrowing to the account specified by the Agent in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. (Local Time) on the requested funding date, unless the Agent’s notice is received after the times provided above, in which event each Applicable Lender shall fund its Pro Rata share by 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) on the next Business Day. Subject to its receipt of such amounts from the Applicable Lenders, the Agent shall disburse the proceeds of the Revolver Loans as directed by the applicable Loan Party Agent. Unless the Agent shall have received (in sufficient time to act) written notice from an Applicable Lender that it does not intend to fund its Pro Rata share of a Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Applicable Lender has deposited or promptly will deposit its share with the Agent, and the Agent may disburse a corresponding amount to the Borrower or Borrowers within such Borrower Group. If an Applicable Lender’s share of any Borrowing is not received by the Agent, then the Borrower or Borrowers within the Borrower Group jointly and severally agree to repay to the Agent on demand the amount of such share, together with interest thereon from the date disbursed until repaid, at the rate applicable to such Borrowing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agent may, in its discretion, fund any request for a Borrowing of Revolver Loans as Swingline Loans. Each Applicable Lender at its option may make any LIBOR Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Applicable Lender to make such LIBOR Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the applicable Borrowers to repay such LIBOR Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(b) To facilitate administration of the Revolver Loans, the Lenders, the Swingline Lenders and the Agent agree (which agreement is solely among them, and not for the benefit of or enforceable by any Borrower or any other Loan Party) that settlement among them with respect to Swingline Loans and other Revolver Loans may take place on a date determined from time to time by the Agent, which shall occur at least once every (i) five (5) Business Days with respect to U.S. Swingline Loans and any other Revolver Loans and (ii) ten (10) Business Days with respect to Dutch Swingline Loans. On each settlement date, settlement shall be made with each Lender in accordance with the Settlement Report delivered by the Agent to the Lenders. Between settlement dates, the Agent may in its discretion (but is not obligated to) apply payments on Revolver Loans to Swingline Loans, regardless of any designation by a Loan Party Agent or any Borrower or any provision herein to the contrary. Each Lender’s obligation to make settlements with the Agent is absolute and unconditional, without offset, counterclaim or other defense, and whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied. If, due to an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to any Borrower or any other Loan Party or otherwise, any Swingline Loan may not be settled among the Lenders hereunder, then each Applicable Lender shall be deemed to have purchased from the applicable Swingline Lender a Pro Rata participation in each unpaid Swingline Loan and shall transfer the amount of such participation to the applicable Swingline Lender, in immediately available funds, within one Business Day after the Agent’s request therefor.

4.1.3. Notices . Each Borrower authorizes the Agent and Lenders to extend Loans, convert or continue Revolver Loans, effect selections of interest rates, and transfer funds to or on behalf of applicable Borrowers based on telephonic or e-mailed instructions by Loan Party Agents to the Agent. Each Loan Party Agent shall confirm each such request by prompt delivery to the Agent of a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, if applicable, but if it differs in any material respect from the action taken by the Agent or Lenders, the records of the Agent and Lenders shall govern. Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any liability for any loss suffered by a Borrower as a result of the Agent or any Lender acting upon its understanding of telephonic or e-mailed instructions from a person believed in good faith by the Agent or any Lender to be a person authorized to give such instructions on a Loan Party Agent’s behalf.

4.2. Defaulting Lender .

4.2.1. Reallocation of Pro Rata Share; Amendments . For purposes of determining Lenders’ obligations to fund or participate in Loans or Letters of Credit, the Agent may exclude the Commitments and Loans of any Defaulting Lender from the calculation of Pro Rata shares. If any Loan or Letter of Credit is outstanding at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then all or any part of such Loan or Letter of Credit shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares, but only to the extent that such reallocation would not cause such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Dutch Revolver Loan Exposure or U.S. Revolver Loan Exposure, as applicable, to exceed such non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment. A Defaulting Lender shall have no right to vote on any amendment, waiver or other modification of a Loan Document, except as provided in Section 14.1.1(c).

4.2.2. Payments; Fees . The Agent may, in its discretion, receive and retain any amounts payable to a Defaulting Lender under the Loan Documents, and a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have assigned to the Agent such amounts until all Obligations owing to the Agent, non-Defaulting Lenders and other Secured Parties have been paid in full. The Agent may apply such amounts to the Defaulting Lender’s defaulted obligations, use the funds to Cash Collateralize such Lender’s LC Obligations, or readvance the amounts to Borrowers hereunder. A Lender shall not be entitled to receive any fees accruing hereunder during the period in which it is a Defaulting Lender, and the unfunded portion of its Commitment shall be disregarded for purposes of calculating the unused line fee under

 

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Section 3.2.1. If any LC Obligations owing to a Defaulting Lender are reallocated to other Lenders, fees attributable to such LC Obligations under Sections 3.2.2 or 3.2.3 shall be paid to such Lenders. The Agent shall be paid all fees attributable to LC Obligations that are not reallocated.

4.2.3. Cure . Borrowers, the Agent and each Fronting Bank may agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender. At such time, Pro Rata shares shall be reallocated without exclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and Loans, and all outstanding Revolver Loans, LC Obligations and other exposures under the Commitments shall be reallocated among Lenders and settled by the Agent (with appropriate payments by the reinstated Lender) in accordance with the readjusted Pro Rata shares. Unless expressly agreed by Borrowers, the Agent and each Fronting Bank, no reinstatement of a Defaulting Lender shall constitute a waiver or release of claims against such Lender. The failure of any Lender to fund a Loan, to make a payment in respect of LC Obligations or otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations, and no Lender shall be responsible for default by another Lender.

4.3. Number and Amount of LIBOR Loans; Determination of Rate . For ease of administration, all LIBOR Loans of the same Type to a Borrower Group having the same length and beginning date of their Interest Periods and the same currency shall be aggregated together, and such Loans shall be allocated among the Applicable Lenders on a Pro Rata basis. With respect to any Borrower Group, no more than six (6) Borrowings of LIBOR Loans may be outstanding at any time, and each Borrowing of LIBOR Loans when made, continued or converted shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000, or an increment of $100,000 in excess thereof. Upon determining LIBOR for any Interest Period requested by Borrowers within a Borrower Group, the Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Loan Party Agent thereof by telephone or electronically and, if requested by such Loan Party Agent, shall confirm any telephonic notice in writing.

4 .4. Loan Party Agents .

4.4.1. North American Loan Party Agent . Each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party hereby designates Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC (“ North American Loan Party Agent ”) as its representative and agent for all purposes under the Loan Documents, including requests for Loans and Letters of Credit, designation of interest rates, delivery or receipt of communications, preparation and delivery of any Borrowing Base and financial reports, receipt and payment of Obligations, requests for waivers, amendments or other accommodations, actions under the Loan Documents (including in respect of compliance with covenants), and all other dealings with the Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Lender. North American Loan Party Agent hereby accepts such appointment.

4.4.2. Foreign Loan Party Agent . Each Dutch Domiciled Loan Party hereby designates each of Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC and Kraton Polymers Nederland B.V. (each, a “ Foreign Loan Party Agent ”) as its representative and agent for all purposes under the Loan Documents, including requests for Loans and Letters of Credit, designation of interest rates, delivery or receipt of communications, preparation and delivery of any Borrowing Base and financial reports, receipt and payment of Obligations, requests for waivers, amendments or other accommodations, actions under the Loan Documents (including in respect of compliance with covenants), and all other dealings with the Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank or any Lender. Each Foreign Loan Party Agent hereby accepts such appointment.

4.4.3. Loan Party Agents Generally . The Agent, each Security Trustee, each Fronting Bank and each Lender shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any notice or communication (including any Notice of Borrowing) delivered by a Loan Party Agent on behalf of any Loan Party. The Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank and any Lender may give

 

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any notice or communication with a Loan Party hereunder to a Loan Party Agent on behalf of such Loan Party. Each of the Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank and any Lender shall have the right, in its discretion, to deal exclusively with a Loan Party Agent for any or all purposes under the Loan Documents. Each Loan Party agrees that any notice, election, communication, representation, agreement or undertaking made on its behalf by the applicable Loan Party Agent shall be binding upon and enforceable against it.

4.5. One Obligation . Without in any way limiting any Guarantee of the Secured Obligations, (a) the U.S. Facility Secured Obligations owing by each U.S. Facility Loan Party shall constitute one general obligation of the U.S. Facility Loan Parties and (unless otherwise expressly provided in any Loan Document) shall be secured by the Agent’s Lien upon all Collateral of each U.S. Facility Loan Party, provided that each Credit Party shall be deemed to be a creditor of, and the holder of a separate claim against, each U.S. Facility Loan Party to the extent of any U.S. Facility Secured Obligations owed by such U.S. Facility Loan Party to such Credit Party and (b) the Dutch Facility Secured Obligations owing by each Dutch Facility Loan Party shall constitute one general obligation of the Dutch Facility Loan Parties and (unless otherwise expressly provided in any Loan Document) shall be secured by the Agent’s Lien upon all Collateral of each Dutch Facility Loan Party, provided that each Credit Party shall be deemed to be a creditor of, and the holder of a separate claim against, each Dutch Facility Loan Party to the extent of any Dutch Facility Secured Obligations owed by such Dutch Facility Loan Party to such Credit Party.

4.6. Effect of Termination . On the effective date of termination of the Commitments, all Obligations shall be immediately due and payable, and any Lender may terminate its and its Affiliates’ Secured Bank Product Obligations (including, only with the consent of the Agent, any Treasury Management Services). All undertakings of Loan Parties contained in the Loan Documents shall survive, and the Agent and Security Trustees shall retain their Liens in the Collateral and all of their rights and remedies under the Loan Documents until Full Payment of the Secured Obligations. Notwithstanding Full Payment of the Secured Obligations, the Agent and Security Trustees shall not be required to terminate their Liens in any Collateral unless, with respect to any damages the Agent may incur as a result of the dishonor or return of Payment Items applied to Secured Obligations, the Agent receives (a) a written agreement, executed by the relevant Loan Party Agent and any Person whose advances are used in whole or in part to satisfy the Secured Obligations, indemnifying the Agent and Lenders from any such damages; or (b) such Cash Collateral as the Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, deems necessary to protect against any such damages. Sections 2.2, 2.3, 3.4, 3.7, 3.10, 5.4, 5.8, 5.9, 12, 14.2 and this Section 4.6, and the obligation of each Loan Party and Lender with respect to each indemnity given by it in any Loan Document, shall survive Full Payment of the Secured Obligations and any release relating to this credit facility.

SECTION 5. PAYMENTS

5.1. General Payment Provisions . All payments of Obligations shall be made without offset, counterclaim or defense of any kind, (other than for Taxes, as to which Section 5.8 applies), and in immediately available funds, not later than 1:00 p.m. (Local Time) on the due date. Any payment after such time shall be deemed made on the next Business Day. If any payment under the Loan Documents shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, the due date shall be extended to the next Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in any computation of interest and fees. Any payment of an LIBOR Loan prior to the end of its Interest Period shall be accompanied by all amounts due under Section 3.10. Any prepayment of Loans made by a Borrower Group shall be applied first to costs and expenses of the Agent and Security Trustees (including any Extraordinary Expenses) relating to such Borrower Group, second to Base Rate Loans (and the Agent may, in its discretion, apply such prepayment to Swingline Loans before other Revolver Loans) of such Borrower Group, and then to

 

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LIBOR Loans of such Borrower Group; provided , however , that as long as no Default or Event of Default exists, prepayments of LIBOR Loans may, at the option of Borrowers of the applicable Borrower Group and the Agent, be held by the Agent as Cash Collateral and applied to such Loans at the end of their Interest Periods (in which case no compensation under Section 3.10 hereof shall be payable with respect to such prepayment). All payments with respect to any U.S. Facility Obligations shall be made in Dollars and all payments with respect to any other Obligation shall be made in the currency of the underlying Obligation. Any payment made contrary to the requirements of the preceding sentence shall be subject to the terms of Section 5.11.

5.2. Repayment of Obligations .

(a) All (i) U.S. Facility Obligations shall be immediately due and payable in full on the U.S. Revolver Commitment Termination Date, and (ii) Dutch Kraton Facility Obligations shall be immediately due and payable in full on the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment Termination Date, in each case, unless payment of such Obligations is sooner required hereunder. Revolver Loans may be prepaid from time to time, without penalty or premium, subject to, in the case of LIBOR Loans, the payment of costs set forth in Section 3.10 (except to the extent provided in Section 5.1).

(b) If any Disposition in excess of $5,000,000 is comprised of proceeds from any U.S. Facility Collateral which is ABL Priority Collateral not in the Ordinary Course of Business, then 100% of the Net Proceeds of such Disposition of such U.S. Facility Collateral, shall be either applied to the U.S. Revolver Loans or used to Cash Collateralize the U.S. Letters of Credit, provided , that, such application to the U.S. Revolver Loans shall only occur in the event U.S. Availability (after giving pro forma effect to such proposed Disposition) is less than 15% of the U.S. Line Cap; provided , further , that the consideration for the U.S. Facility Collateral shall be 100% in cash. If any Disposition is comprised of proceeds from any Dutch Facility Collateral not in the Ordinary Course of Business, then 100% of the Net Proceeds of such Disposition shall be either applied to the Dutch Revolver Loans or used to Cash Collateralize the Dutch Letters of Credit. Revolver Loans may be prepaid from time to time without penalty or premium. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an Overadvance exists, Borrowers of the Borrower Group owing such Overadvance shall, on the sooner of the Agent’s demand or the first Business Day after any Borrower of such Borrower Group has knowledge thereof (or, in the event such Overadvance is the result of fluctuations in Exchange Rates, within three (3) Business Days of the Agent’s demand or of any Borrower of such Borrower Group’s knowledge thereof), repay the outstanding Loans in an amount sufficient to reduce the principal balance of the related Overadvance Loan to zero. If as a result of fluctuations in Exchange Rates or otherwise the sum of all outstanding U.S. Revolver Loans and U.S. LC Obligations exceeds the U.S. Revolver Commitments, the excess amount shall be payable by the U.S. Borrowers within three (3) Business Days following demand by the Agent.

5.3. Payment of Other Obligations . Obligations other than Loans, including LC Obligations and Extraordinary Expenses, shall be paid by Borrowers as provided in the Loan Documents, or, if no payment date is specified, within ten (10) Business Days of demand therefor by Agent.

5.4. Marshaling; Payments Set Aside . None of the Agent, Security Trustees, Fronting Banks or Lenders shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Loan Party or against any Secured Obligations. If any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower or Borrowers is made to the Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank, or any Lender, or the Agent, any applicable Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank or any Lender exercises a right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Agent, such Security Trustee, such Fronting Bank or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a Creditor Representative or any other Person, then to the extent of such recovery, the Secured Obligation originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies relating thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred.

 

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5.5. Post-Default Allocation of Payments .

5.5.1. Allocation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during an Event of Default, monies to be applied to the Secured Obligations, whether arising from payments by or on behalf of any Loan Party, realization on Collateral, setoff or otherwise, shall be allocated as follows:

(a) with respect to monies, payments, Property or Collateral of or from the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties, together with any allocations pursuant to subclause (a)(ix) of any other clause of this Section 5.5.1:

(i) first, to all costs and expenses, including Extraordinary Expenses, owing to the Agent or any Security Trustee, to the extent owing by any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party;

(ii) second, to all amounts owing to U.S. Swingline Lender on U.S. Swingline Loans;

(iii) third, to all amounts owing to any U.S. Fronting Bank on U.S. LC Obligations;

(iv) fourth, to all U.S. Facility Obligations constituting fees owing by the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties (exclusive of any Foreign Facility Secured Obligations which are guaranteed by the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties);

(v) fifth, to all U.S. Facility Obligations constituting interest owing by the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties (exclusive of any Foreign Facility Secured Obligations which are guaranteed by the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties);

(vi) sixth, to Cash Collateralization of U.S. LC Obligations;

(vii) seventh, to the principal amount of all U.S. Revolver Loans and all Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations of any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party (exclusive of any Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations which are guaranteed by the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties as guarantors of the Foreign Facility Obligations) to the extent a U.S. Bank Product Reserve has been established with respect thereto up to and including (with respect to Secured Bank Product Providers other than Bank of America and its Affiliates) the amount most recently specified to the Agent pursuant to the terms hereof;

(viii) eighth, to all other U.S. Facility Secured Obligations (exclusive of any Foreign Facility Secured Obligations which are guaranteed by the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties); and

(ix) ninth, to be applied to clause (b) below, to the extent there are insufficient funds for the Full Payment of all Secured Obligations under such clause.

 

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(b) with respect to monies, payments, Property or Collateral of or from any Dutch Domiciled Loan Party, together with any allocations pursuant to subclause (ix) of any clause of this Section 5.5.1:

(i) first, to all costs and expenses, including Extraordinary Expenses, owing to the Agent and the Security Trustees, to the extent owing by such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party;

(ii) second, to all amounts owing to Dutch Swingline Lender on Dutch Swingline Loans to such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party;

(iii) third, to all amounts owing by such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party to any Dutch Fronting Bank on Dutch LC Obligations of such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party;

(iv) fourth, to all Dutch Facility Obligations of such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party constituting fees (exclusive of any other Foreign Facility Obligations which are guaranteed by such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party);

(v) fifth, to all Dutch Facility Obligations of such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party constituting interest (exclusive of any other Foreign Facility Obligations which are guaranteed by such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party);

(vi) sixth, to Cash Collateralization of Dutch LC Obligations of such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party;

(vii) seventh, to the principal amount of all Dutch Revolver Loans and all Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations of such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party (exclusive of any Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations which are guaranteed by such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party) to the extent a Dutch Bank Product Reserve has been established with respect thereto up to and including (with respect to Secured Bank Product Providers other than Bank of America and its Affiliates) the amount most recently specified to the Agent pursuant to the terms hereof;

(viii) eighth, to all other Dutch Facility Secured Obligations of such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party (exclusive of any other Foreign Facility Secured Obligations which are guaranteed by such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party); and

(ix) ninth, to be applied ratably to the Secured Obligations of other Loan Parties that are the subject of a Guarantee by such Dutch Domiciled Loan Party in accordance with this Section 5.5.1 to the extent there are insufficient funds for the Full Payment of all such Secured Obligations.

Amounts shall be applied to each category of Secured Obligations set forth within subsection (a) through (b) above, as applicable, until Full Payment thereof and then to the next category. If amounts are insufficient to satisfy a category, they shall be applied on a pro rata basis among the Secured Obligations in the category. Amounts distributed with respect to any Secured Bank Product Obligations or Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations shall be the lesser of the Secured Bank Product Obligations or Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations, as the case may be, last reported to the Agent or the actual Secured Bank Product Obligations or Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations, as the case may be, as calculated by the Secured Bank Product Provider and reported to the Agent for determining the amount due. The Agent shall have no obligation to calculate the amount to be distributed with respect to any Secured Bank Product Obligations or Qualified Secured Bank Product Obligations, and may request a reasonably detailed calculation of such amount from the applicable Secured Party. If a Secured Party fails to deliver such calculation within five (5) Business Days following request by the Agent, the Agent may assume the amount to be distributed is zero (0). The allocations set forth in this Section 5.5.1 are solely to determine the rights and priorities of the Agent and Secured Parties as among themselves, and any allocation within subsection (a) through (b) of proceeds of the realization of Collateral may be changed by agreement among them without the consent of any Loan Party. This Section 5.5.1 is not for the benefit of or enforceable by any Borrower.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) above, Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or, for the avoidance of doubt, with proceeds of any Collateral pledged by such Guarantor, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section 5.5.1.

5.5.2. Erroneous Application . The Agent shall not be liable for any application of amounts made by it in good faith and, if any such application is subsequently determined to have been made in error, the sole recourse of any Lender or other Person to which such amount should have been made shall be to recover the amount from the Person that actually received it (and, if such amount was received by any Lender, such Lender hereby agrees to return it).

5.6. Application of Payments . The ledger balance in the Dominion Accounts of each Borrower Group as of the end of a Business Day shall be applied to the Loan Party Group Obligations of such Borrower Group at the beginning of the next Business Day during the existence of any Cash Dominion Event; provided that the Agent may, in its discretion, either apply the ledger balance in any Dominion Account of any Dutch Borrower to the respective Loan Party Group Obligations of such Borrower Group or direct such balances to an operating account of a member of such Borrower Group, whether or not a Cash Dominion Event exists. If, as a result of such application, a credit balance exists, the balance shall not accrue interest in favor of Borrowers and shall be made available to Borrowers of the applicable Borrower Group as long as no Event of Default exists. If application thereof is not otherwise specified herein or in any other Loan Documents, each Borrower irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of any payments or Collateral proceeds, and agrees that the Agent shall have the continuing, exclusive right to apply and reapply same against the Obligations, in such manner as the Agent deems advisable; provided , however , that, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or otherwise directed by a Loan Party Agent, the Agent shall not apply any payments to any LIBOR Loans prior to the last day of the applicable Interest Period.

5.7. Loan Account; Account Stated .

5.7.1. Loan Account . The Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual and customary practices an account or accounts (“ Loan Account ”) evidencing the Obligations of Borrowers within each Borrower Group resulting from each Loan made to such Borrowers or issuance of a Letter of Credit for the account of Borrowers from time to time. Any failure of the Agent to record anything in the Loan Account, or any error in doing so, shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of any Borrower to pay any amount owing hereunder. With respect to U.S. Borrowers, the Agent may maintain a single Loan Account in the name of the North American Loan Party Agent, and each U.S. Borrower confirms that such arrangement shall have no effect on the joint and several character of its liability for the Secured Obligations including its guarantee of the Secured Obligations of the Foreign Borrowers.

5.7.2. Entries Binding . Entries made in the Loan Account shall constitute presumptive evidence of the information contained therein. If any information contained in the Loan Account is provided to or inspected by any Person, then such information shall be conclusive and binding on such Person for all purposes absent manifest error, except to the extent such Person notifies the Agent in writing within forty-five (45) days after receipt or inspection that specific information is subject to dispute.

 

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5.8. Taxes .

5.8.1. U.S. Tax Matters .

(a) Payments Free of Taxes . All payments of any U.S. Facility Obligation by or on behalf of any U.S. Facility Loan Party shall be free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, unless required by Applicable Law. If Applicable Law requires any U.S. Facility Loan Party or the Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax (including backup withholding or withholding Tax) from any payment in respect of the U.S. Facility Obligations, the U.S. Facility Loan Party or the Agent shall pay the amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law. If the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable U.S. Facility Loan Party shall be increased so that the applicable Credit Parties and Security Trustees receive an amount equal to the sum they would have received if no such withholding or deduction (including deductions for Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.8.1) had been made. Without limiting the foregoing, U.S. Borrowers shall timely pay all Other Taxes imposed in respect of the U.S. Facility to the relevant Governmental Authorities.

(b) Payment . The U.S. Facility Loan Parties shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse (within ten (10) days after demand therefor) each Credit Party and each Security Trustee for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including those attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by any U.S. Facility Loan Party or the Agent, or paid by such Credit Party or such Security Trustee, with respect to any U.S. Facility Obligations, whether or not such Taxes were properly asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority, and including all reasonable expenses relating thereto. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to a Loan Party Agent by a Credit Party or Security Trustee (with a copy to the Agent), shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by a Borrower, the relevant Loan Party Agent shall deliver to the Agent a receipt from the Governmental Authority or other evidence of payment reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

(c) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If any party hereto 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 5.8.1 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.8.1(c)), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (c) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (c), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

5.8.2. Dutch and Foreign Domiciled Loan Party Tax Matters . For the purposes of this Section 5.8.2 a “Relevant Borrower” shall mean the Dutch Borrowers and any other Foreign Domiciled Loan Party that is required to make a Tax Deduction in accordance with Applicable Law.

 

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(a) Tax Gross-Up .

(i) All payments of any Foreign Facility Obligation by or on behalf of any Foreign Domiciled Loan Party shall be made without any Tax Deduction, unless required by Applicable Law.

(ii) The Dutch Borrowers shall promptly upon becoming aware that a Foreign Domiciled Loan Party is required by Applicable Law to make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment made payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Dutch Borrowers and that Foreign Domiciled Loan Party.

(iii) If a Tax Deduction is required by Applicable Law to be made by a Foreign Domiciled Loan Party, the amount of the payment due from that Foreign Domiciled Loan Party shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required.

(b) Tax Indemnity .

(i) The Relevant Borrowers shall (within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a Lender an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Lender determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Taxes by that Lender in respect of a Loan Document.

(ii) Clause (b)(i) above shall not apply:

(A) with respect to any Taxes assessed on a Lender:

(1) under the law of the jurisdiction in which such Lender is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which such Lender is treated as resident for tax purposes; or

(2) under the law of the jurisdiction in which such Lender’s Lending Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in such jurisdiction,

if such Taxes are imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable by such Lender; or

(B) to a loss, liability or cost that is compensated for by an increased payment under clause 5.8.2(a) above, or would have been compensated for by such an increased payment, but was not so compensated solely because the Lender failed to comply with Section 5.9; or

(C) any United States federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA.

(iii) A Lender making, or intending to make a claim under Section 5.8.2(b)(i) above shall promptly notify Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which Agent shall notify the Borrowers.

 

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(iv) A Lender shall, on receiving a payment from the Relevant Borrowers under this Section 5.8.2(b), notify Agent.

(c) Tax Credit . If a Relevant Borrower makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Lender determines that:

(i) a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, or to that Tax Payment; and

(ii) that Lender has obtained, utilized and retained that Tax Credit,

the Lender shall promptly following receipt of such Tax Credit pay an amount to the Relevant Borrower which that Lender determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Relevant Borrower.

(d) Value Added Tax .

(i) All amounts set out or expressed in a Loan Document to be payable by any party to any Lender which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to clause (ii) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Lender to any party under a Loan Document, that party shall pay to the Lender (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and such Lender shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such party).

(ii) If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Lender (the “ Supplier ”) to any other Lender (the “ Recipient ”) under a Loan Document, and any party other than the Recipient (the “ Relevant Party ”) is required by the terms of any Loan Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse the Recipient in respect of that consideration),

(A) (where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT), the Relevant Party must also pay to the Supplier (at the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of VAT; the Recipient must (where this subsection (ii)(A) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Recipient receives from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and

(B) (where the Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT), the Relevant Party must promptly, following demand from the Recipient, pay to the Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply. The Recipient must (where this subsection (ii)(B) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply.

(iii) Where a Loan Document requires any party to reimburse or indemnify a Lender for any cost or expense incurred in connection with such Loan Document, the

 

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reimbursement or indemnity (as the case may be) shall be for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

(iv) Any reference in this Section 5.8.2(d) to any party shall, at any time when such party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (the term “representative member” to have the same meaning as in the Dutch Value Added Tax Code).

(v) In relation to any supply made by a Lender to any party under a Loan Document, if reasonably requested by such Lender, that party must as promptly as reasonably practicable provide such Lender with details of that party’s VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably requested in connection with such Lender’s VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply.

(e) Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 5.8.2, a reference to “determines” or “determined” in connection with tax provisions contained in Section 5.8.2 means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination, acting reasonably.

5.9. Lender Tax Information . For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term “Lender” includes any Fronting Bank.

5.9.1. Generally . Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which a relevant Loan Party is resident for Tax purposes, or under any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Agent and the relevant Loan Party Agent, at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Agent or the relevant Loan Party Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation or such other evidence as prescribed by Applicable Law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition and only to the extent applicable, any Lender, if requested by the Agent or a Loan Party Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Agent or such Loan Party Agent as will enable the Agent and such Loan Party 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 5.9.2) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

5.9.2. U.S. Borrowers . If a Borrower is a U.S. Person, (a) any Recipient that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Agent and North American Loan Party Agent IRS Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Agent or North American Loan Party Agent to determine whether such Recipient is subject to information reporting requirements and to establish that such Recipient is not subject to backup withholding and (b) any Recipient that is not a U.S. Person shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Agent and the North American Loan Party Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased) on or before the date it becomes a party hereunder (or, in the case of any Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation), whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) in the case of a Recipient claiming the benefits of an applicable treaty to which the United States is a party (A) with respect to payments of interest (or amounts deemed to be payments interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes) 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 treaty and (B) 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 treaty;

 

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

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

(iv) to the extent a Recipient 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 H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if such Recipient is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Recipient are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Recipient may provide a U.S. Tax Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner.

In addition, upon request of the North American Loan Party Agent, each Recipient shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence, expiration, or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Recipient. Each Recipient shall promptly notify the North American Loan Party Agent at any time it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the North American Loan Party Agent (or any other form of certification adopted by the U.S. taxing authorities for such purpose).

5.9.3. FATCA . If a payment made to a Recipient under any Loan Document would be subject to United States federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Recipient were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA, such Recipient shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Agent at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Recipient has complied with its obligations under FATCA, or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 5.9.3, “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

5.10. Guarantees .

5.10.1. Joint and Several Liability of U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties . Each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Agent and the other Secured Parties the prompt payment and performance of, all Secured Obligations and all agreements of each other Loan Party under the Loan Documents. Each U.S.

 

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Domiciled Loan Party agrees that its guarantee obligations as a Guarantor of the Secured Obligations hereunder constitute a continuing guarantee of payment and not of collection, that such guarantee obligations shall not be discharged until Full Payment of the Secured Obligations, and that such guarantee obligations are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of (a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability, subordination or any future modification of, or change in, any Secured Obligations or Loan Document, or any other document, instrument or agreement to which any Loan Party is or may become a party or be bound; (b) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement (including this Section 5.10) or any other Loan Document, or any waiver, consent or indulgence of any kind by the Agent or any other Secured Party with respect thereto; (c) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect a Lien or to preserve rights against, any security or guarantee for the Secured Obligations or any action, or the absence of any action, by the Agent or any other Secured Party in respect thereof (including the release of any security or guarantee); (d) the insolvency of any Loan Party; (e) any election by the Agent or any other Secured Party in an Insolvency Proceeding for the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; (f) any borrowing or grant of a Lien by any other Loan Party, as debtor-in-possession under Section 364 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or otherwise; (g) the disallowance of any claims of the Agent or any other Secured Party against any Loan Party for the repayment of any Secured Obligations under Section 502 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or otherwise; or (h) any other action or circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, except Full Payment of all Secured Obligations.

5.10.2. Waivers by U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties .

(a) Each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party hereby expressly waives all rights that it may have now or in the future under any statute, at common law, in equity or otherwise, to compel the Agent or the other Secured Parties to marshal assets or to proceed against any Loan Party, other Person or security for the payment or performance of any Secured Obligations before, or as a condition to, proceeding against such Loan Party. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party waives all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor other than Full Payment of all Secured Obligations. It is agreed among each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party, the Agent and the other Secured Parties that the provisions of this Section 5.10 are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents and that, but for such provisions, the Agent, Fronting Banks and Lenders would decline to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit. Each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party acknowledges that its guarantee pursuant to this Section 5.10 is necessary to the conduct and promotion of its business, and can be expected to benefit such business.

(b) The Agent and the other Secured Parties may, in their discretion, pursue such rights and remedies as they deem appropriate, including realization upon the Collateral of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties by judicial foreclosure or non-judicial sale or enforcement, without affecting any rights and remedies under this Section 5.10. If, in taking any action in connection with the exercise of any rights or remedies, the Agent or any other Secured Party shall forfeit any other rights or remedies, including the right to enter a deficiency judgment against any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party or other Person, whether because of any Applicable Laws pertaining to “election of remedies” or otherwise, each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party consents to such action and, to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, waives any claim based upon it, even if the action may result in loss of any rights of subrogation that any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party might otherwise have had. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law, any election of remedies that results in denial or impairment of the right of the Agent or any other Secured Party to seek a deficiency judgment against any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party shall not impair any other U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s obligation to pay the full amount of the Secured Obligations. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law, each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies, such as nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to any security for the Secured Obligations, even though that election of remedies destroys such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s rights of

 

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subrogation against any other Person. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law, the Agent may bid all or a portion of the Secured Obligations at any foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale, and the amount of such bid need not be paid by the Agent but shall be credited against the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

5.10.3. Extent of Liability of U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties; Contribution; Keepwell .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s liability under this Section 5.10 shall be limited to the greater of (i) all amounts for which such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party is primarily liable, as described below, and (ii) such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s Allocable Amount.

(b) If any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party makes a payment under this Section 5.10 of any Secured Obligations (other than amounts for which such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party is primarily liable) (a “ Guarantor Payment ”) that, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments previously or concurrently made by any other U.S. Domiciled Loan Party, exceeds the amount that such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party would otherwise have paid if each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party had paid the aggregate Secured Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payments in the same proportion that such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s Allocable Amount bore to the total Allocable Amounts of all U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties, then such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and to be reimbursed by, each other U.S. Domiciled Loan Party for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment. The “ Allocable Amount ” for any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party shall be the maximum amount that could then be recovered from such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party under this Section 5.10 without rendering such payment voidable under Section 548 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state fraudulent transfer or conveyance act, or similar statute or common law.

(c) Nothing contained in this Section 5.10 shall limit the liability of any Loan Party to pay Loans made directly or indirectly to that Loan Party (including Loans advanced to any other Loan Party and then re-loaned or otherwise transferred to, or for the benefit of, such Loan Party), LC Obligations relating to Letters of Credit issued to support such Loan Party’s business, and all accrued interest, fees, expenses and other related Secured Obligations with respect thereto, for which such Loan Party shall be primarily liable for all purposes hereunder.

(d) Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other U.S. Domiciled Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under this Guarantee in respect of Swap Obligations provided , however , that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 5.10.3 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 5.10.3, or otherwise under this Guarantee, as it relates to such other U.S. Domiciled Loan Party, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount. The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until a Full Payment. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 5.10.3 constitute, and this Section 5.10.3 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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5.10.4. Joint and Several Liability of Foreign Domiciled Loan Parties .

(a) Each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Agent and the other Foreign Facility Secured Parties the prompt payment and performance of, all Foreign Facility Secured Obligations and all agreements of each other Foreign Domiciled Loan Party under the Loan Documents (but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any U.S. Facility Secured Obligations) (the “ Foreign Cross-Guarantee ”). Each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party agrees that its guarantee obligations as a Guarantor of the Foreign Facility Secured Obligations of other Foreign Domiciled Loan Parties hereunder constitute a continuing guarantee of payment and not of collection, that such guarantee obligations shall not be discharged until Full Payment of the Foreign Facility Secured Obligations, and that such guarantee obligations are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of (i) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability, subordination or any future modification of, or change in, any Foreign Facility Secured Obligations or Loan Document, or any other document, instrument or agreement to which any Loan Party is or may become a party or be bound; (ii) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement (including this Section 5.10) or any other Loan Document, or any waiver, consent or indulgence of any kind by the Agent or any other Foreign Facility Secured Party with respect thereto; (iii) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect, register, stamp or terminate a Lien or to preserve rights against, any security or guarantee for the Foreign Facility Secured Obligations or any action, or the absence of any action, by the Agent or any other Foreign Facility Secured Party in respect thereof (including the release, variation or discharge (except upon Full Payment of all Foreign Facility Secured Obligations) of any security or guarantee of, or the release of, any Foreign Domiciled Loan Party or any other Person (other than a release of such Foreign Domiciled Loan Party) whether under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any Foreign Domiciled Loan Party or any other Person or otherwise); (iv) the insolvency of any Loan Party or any Insolvency Proceeding in relation to any Loan Party; (v) any election by the Agent or any other Secured Party in an Insolvency Proceeding for the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (or the equivalent under any other Applicable Law); (vi) any borrowing or grant of a Lien by any other Loan Party, as debtor-in-possession under Section 364 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (or the equivalent under any other Applicable Law) or otherwise; (vii) the disallowance of any claims of the Agent or any other Secured Party against any Loan Party for the repayment of any Secured Obligations under Section 502 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (or the equivalent under any other Applicable Law) or otherwise; (viii) any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of, or dissolution or change in the members or status of, any Foreign Domiciled Loan Party or any other Person; or (ix) any other action or circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, except Full Payment of all Foreign Facility Secured Obligations.

(b) Without prejudice to the generality of Section 5.10.4(a) above, each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party expressly confirms that it intends that the guarantee created by this Section 5.10.4 shall extend from time to time to any (however fundamental) variation, increase, extension or addition of or to any of the Loan Documents and/or any facility or amount made available under any of the Loan Documents for the purposes of or in connection with (i) acquisitions of any nature; (ii) increasing working capital; (iii) enabling investor distributions to be made; (iv) carrying out restructurings; (v) refinancing existing credit facilities; (vi) refinancing any other Debt; (vii) making credit available to new Borrowers; (viii) any other variation or extension of the purposes for which any such facility or amount might be made available from time to time; and (ix) any fees, costs and/or expenses associated with any of the foregoing.

 

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5.10.5. Waivers by Foreign Domiciled Loan Parties .

(a) Each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party hereby expressly waives all rights that it may have now or in the future under any statute, at common law, in equity or otherwise, to compel the Agent or the other Foreign Facility Secured Parties to marshal assets or to proceed against any Loan Party, other Person or security for the payment or performance of any Foreign Facility Secured Obligations before, or as a condition to, proceeding against such Loan Party. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party waives all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor other than Full Payment of all Foreign Facility Secured Obligations. It is agreed among each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party, the Agent and the other Foreign Facility Secured Parties that the provisions of this Section 5.10 are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents and that, but for such provisions, the Agent, Fronting Banks and Lenders (as applicable) would decline to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit to Foreign Domiciled Loan Parties. Each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party acknowledges that its guarantee pursuant to this Section 5.10 is necessary to the conduct and promotion of its business and those of its direct or indirect holding companies, and can be expected to benefit such business.

(b) The Agent and the other Foreign Facility Secured Parties may, in their discretion, pursue such rights and remedies as they deem appropriate, including realization upon the Collateral by judicial foreclosure or non-judicial sale or enforcement, to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, without affecting any rights and remedies under this Section 5.10. If, in taking any action in connection with the exercise of any rights or remedies, the Agent or any other Foreign Facility Secured Party shall forfeit any other rights or remedies, including the right to enter a deficiency judgment against any Foreign Domiciled Loan Party or other Person, whether because of any Applicable Laws pertaining to “election of remedies” or otherwise, each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party consents to such action and waives, to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, any claim based upon it, even if the action may result in loss of any rights of subrogation that any Foreign Domiciled Loan Party might otherwise have had. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law, any election of remedies that results in denial or impairment of the right of the Agent or any other Foreign Facility Secured Party to seek a deficiency judgment against any Foreign Domiciled Loan Party shall not impair any other Foreign Domiciled Loan Party’s obligation to pay the full amount of the Foreign Facility Secured Obligations. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law, each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party, waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies, such as nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to any security for the Foreign Facility Secured Obligations, even though that election of remedies destroys such Foreign Domiciled Loan Party’s rights of subrogation against any other Person. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law, the Agent may bid all or a portion of the Foreign Facility Secured Obligations at any foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale or sale as a result of an enforcement action, and the amount of such bid need not be paid by the Agent but shall be credited against the Foreign Facility Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

5.10.6. [Reserved] .

5.10.7. U.S. Limitations . To the extent that an adverse Tax consequence would result, the Foreign Cross-Guarantee shall not require any Foreign Domiciled Loan Party (that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code) or any Subsidiary of any such Foreign Domiciled Loan Party to guarantee any Secured Obligations of any other Foreign Domiciled Loan Party that is disregarded as an entity separate from any U.S. Subsidiary for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.

5.10.8. [Reserved] .

5.10.9. Subordination . Each Loan Party hereby subordinates any claims, including any rights at law or in equity to payment, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or set off, that it may have at any time against any other Loan Party, howsoever arising, to the Full Payment of all Secured Obligations.

 

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5.11. Currency Matters . Dollars are the currency of account and payment for each and every sum at any time due from Borrowers hereunder unless otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise agreed to by the Agent; provided that:

(a) each repayment of a Revolver Loan, LC Obligation or a part thereof shall be made in the currency in which such Revolver Loan or LC Obligation is denominated at the time of that repayment;

(b) each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the principal or other sum in respect of which such interest is denominated;

(c) (i) each payment of fees pursuant to Section 3.2.1(a) shall be in Dollars, Euros or Sterling, as applicable, which payment currency shall be at the option of the North American Loan Party Agent, and the amount of any such payment made in a currency other than Dollars determined by the Agent based on the Exchange Rate, and (ii) each payment of fees pursuant to 3.2.1(b) shall be in Dollars;

(d) each payment of fees pursuant to Sections 3.2.2 through 3.2.3 (other than Section 3.2.3(e)) shall be in the currency of the underlying Letter of Credit; and

(e) each payment in respect of Extraordinary Expenses and any other costs, expenses and indemnities shall be made in the currency in which the same were incurred by the party to whom payment is to be made.

No payment to any Credit Party or any Security Trustee (whether under any judgment or court order or otherwise) shall discharge the obligation or liability of the Loan Party in respect of which it was made unless and until such Credit Party or such Security Trustee shall have received Full Payment in the currency in which such obligation or liability is payable pursuant to the above provisions of this Section 5.11. The Agent has the right, at the expense of the applicable Loan Party, to convert any payment made in an incorrect currency into the applicable currency required under this Agreement. To the extent that the amount of any such payment shall, on actual conversion into such currency, fall short of such obligation or liability actual or contingent expressed in that currency, such Loan Party (together with the other Loan Parties within its Loan Party Group or other obligors pursuant to any Guarantee of the Obligations of such Loan Party Group) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless such Credit Party or such Security Trustee, with respect to the amount of the shortfall with respect to amounts payable by such Loan Party hereunder, with such indemnity surviving the termination of this Agreement and any legal proceeding, judgment or court order pursuant to which the original payment was made which resulted in the shortfall. To the extent that the amount of any such payment to a Credit Party or a Security Trustee shall, upon an actual conversion into such currency, exceed such obligation or liability, actual or contingent, expressed in that currency, such Credit Party or such Security Trustee shall return such excess to the members of the affected Borrower Group.

 

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SECTION 6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

6.1. Conditions Precedent to Loans on the Closing Date . The Lenders and Fronting Banks shall not be required to fund any requested Loan, issue any Letter of Credit, or otherwise extend credit to Borrowers hereunder, until the date (“ Closing Date ”) on which each of the following conditions has been satisfied (or waived by the Agent) and with respect to deliveries of Loan Documents, each such delivery shall be fully-executed (where applicable) and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel:

(a) Loan Documents . Each Loan Document to which a Loan Party is a party (other than any Foreign Security Agreements, Deposit Account Control Agreement, Commodity Account Control Agreement, Securities Account Control Agreement, and Lien Acknowledgment that is permitted to be delivered on a post-closing basis pursuant to Section 8.4 or 10.1.18 (and in the latter case, is described on Schedule 10.1.18 hereof) shall have been duly executed (where applicable) by each of the signatories thereto and delivered to the Agent, and each Loan Party shall be in compliance with all terms thereof.

(b) Confirmation Agreement . The Agent shall have received the Confirmation Agreement, duly executed by Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower.

(c) Perfected First-Priority Liens . The Agent shall have received (i) subject to Section 10.1.18, reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Agent and/or Security Trustees shall have a valid and perfected first priority (except as otherwise permitted hereunder) Lien, security interest and hypothecation in the U.S. Facility Collateral (including acknowledgments of all filings or recordations necessary to perfect its Liens in the U.S. Facility Collateral) in each case under the law of the applicable U.S. state and (ii) releases, satisfactions and payoff letters terminating all Liens on the Collateral not permitted under Section 10.2.2. The Agent shall have received a termination and release of the U.S. Pledge Agreement, dated March 27, 2013, among the Initial U.S. Borrower, Parent, the other pledgors party thereto and the Agent.

(d) Closing Certificates . The Agent shall have received a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, executed by a Senior Officer of such Loan Party, and attaching the documents referred to in Section 6.1(e).

(e) Organization Documents; Incumbency . The Agent shall have received a copy of (i) each Organization Document of each Loan Party certified, to the extent applicable, as of a recent date by the applicable Governmental Authority, (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the Senior Officers of each Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party; (iii) resolutions of the board of directors or similar governing body of each Loan Party (A) approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and (B) in the case of each Borrower, the extensions of credit contemplated hereunder, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary or an assistant secretary as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment; and (iv) a good standing certificate (or other similar instrument) from the applicable Governmental Authority of each Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (to the extent a good standing certificate or similar instrument may be obtained in such jurisdiction).

(f) Fees . (i) The Agent shall have received the fees to be paid on the Closing Date set forth in the Fee Letter; (ii) the Lenders shall have received the fees to be paid on the Closing Date set forth in the Fee Letter; and (iii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses of the Agent and Security Trustees (including the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel (which shall be limited to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal fees and expenses of Holland & Knight LLP, U.S. counsel to the Agent and Security Trustees, Norton Rose Fulbright, foreign counsel to the Agent and Security Trustees, and, if necessary, of one local counsel in each other relevant jurisdiction) for which invoices have been presented at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

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(g) Certificates . On the Closing Date, the Agent shall have received (i) a certificate from a Senior Officer of the North American Loan Party Agent certifying that as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, (A) the Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations are true and correct to the extent required by the Closing Date Conditions Provisions (as defined in the Commitment Letter), (B) the Specified Representations are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of any Specified Representation which expressly relates to a given date or period, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the respective date or for the respective period, as the case may be) and (C) no part of the proceeds of the Loans made on the Closing Date will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of applicable Sanctions, and (ii) a Solvency Certificate from a Senior Officer of the Initial U.S. Borrower in the form of Exhibit J attached hereto.

(h) Historical Financial Statements . Lenders shall have received the Historical Financial Statements.

(i) Pro Forma Financial Statements . The Agent shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at a date of the most recent consolidated balance sheet delivered pursuant to the preceding paragraph (i) and a pro forma statement of income for the four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended for which financial statements were delivered to the Agent pursuant to the preceding paragraph (k), in each case adjusted to give effect to the consummation of the Transactions and the financings contemplated hereby as if such transactions, with respect to the pro forma balance sheet, had occurred on such date or with respect to the pro forma statements of income, had occurred on the first day of such period, prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Regulation S-X”) (subject to exceptions customary for any offering under Rule 144A, unless the Senior Notes are proposed to be offered and sold in a registered offering.

(j) Borrowing Base Certificate . The Agent shall have received (i) Borrowing Base Certificate with respect to the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base, effective as of November 30, 2015, and (ii) a certificate (or if desired by North American Loan Party, certificates) duly executed by a Senior Officer of North American Loan Party setting forth the U.S. Borrowing Base; provided , however , for the purposes of this Section 6.1(j), the U.S. Borrowing Base shall be broken down as to the specific assets of Initial U.S. Borrower in the U.S. Borrowing Base effective as of November 30, 2015, and as to the specific assets of Added U.S. Borrower in the U.S. Borrowing Base, effective as September 30, 2015.

(k) Perfection Certificate . Each Loan Party shall deliver to the Agent a completed Perfection Certificate, executed and delivered by a Senior Officer of such Loan Party, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.

(l) Arizona Chemical Acquisition . The Arizona Chemical Acquisition shall have been consummated or substantially simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance with the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement without giving effect to any waivers, consents, amendments, supplements or modifications that are in any respect materially adverse to the Commitment Parties (which, for purposes of this paragraph (m) shall include the Initial Lenders (as defined in the Commitment Letter) and the Lead Arrangers (as defined in the Commitment Letter) without approval of the Commitment Parties (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

(m) Legal Opinions . The Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York counsel to the Loan Parties, customary for transactions of this type (which shall cover, among other things, authority, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the Loan Documents and the creation and perfection of Liens in the Collateral) and of Delaware counsel.

 

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(n) Payment of Existing Debt . The Refinancing (as defined in the Commitment Letter) shall have been consummated or will be consummated substantially simultaneously with the Closing Date.

(o) Know Your Customer . The Agent and the Commitment Parties (as defined in the Commitment Letter) shall have received, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT ACT, to the extent reasonably requested at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

(p) No Company Material Adverse Effect . Except as contemplated by the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 4.22 thereto, (i) since December 31, 2014 until and through the date of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement, there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect and (ii) since the date of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement, there shall not have been any Company Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Closing and Funding of Term Loan Debt . The Term Loan Agreement shall have been executed and the term loans thereunder funded substantially concurrently with the initial funding on the Closing Date.

(r) ABL Intercreditor Agreement . The Agent shall have received the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, duly executed by all the parties thereto.

(s) Closing and Funding of The Senior Notes . The Senior Notes shall have been issued or shall be issued substantially concurrently with the initial funding on the Closing Date.

For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 6.1, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted, or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable to a Lender or the Agent unless the Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

6.2. Conditions Precedent to All Subsequent Credit Extensions . The Agent, Fronting Banks and Lenders shall not be required to fund any Loans, arrange for issuance of any Letters of Credit or grant any other accommodation to or for the benefit of Borrowers (including the initial Loans on the Closing Date), unless the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) No Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time of, or result from, such funding, issuance or grant;

(b) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, with respect to representations and warranties qualified by materiality, in all respects) on the date of, and upon giving effect to, such funding, issuance or grant (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to an earlier date);

(c) Availability of not less than the amount of the proposed Borrowing shall exist;

(d) [Reserved]

(e) With respect to the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the applicable LC Conditions shall be satisfied; and

 

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(f) With respect to the funding of any Revolver Loan or arrangement for issuance of any Letter of Credit to a Foreign Borrower, or grant of any other accommodation to or for the benefit of any Foreign Borrower, the requirements of Section 2.5 are satisfied.

Each request (or any deemed request, except a deemed request in connection with a Protective Advance or pursuant to Sections 2.2.2(a) or 2.3.2(a)) by a Loan Party Agent or any Borrower for funding of a Loan, issuance of a Letter of Credit or grant of an accommodation shall constitute a representation by all Borrowers that the foregoing conditions are satisfied on the date of such request and on the date of such funding, issuance or grant.

SECTION 7. COLLATERAL

7.1. Grant of Security Interest .

7.1.1. Grant of Security Interest by U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties . As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Secured Obligations when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s right, title and interest in,, to and under all personal property of such Loan Party, including all of such Loan Party’s right, title and interest in, to and under any and all of the following assets, in each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired and wherever located:

(a) Until the Term Debt Priority Collateral Release Date :

(i) Accounts and Payment Intangibles;

(ii) Chattel Paper (including Tangible Chattel Paper and Electronic Chattel Paper);

(iii) Commercial Tort Claims now or hereafter described on Schedule 7.1.1;

(iv) Contracts, together with all Contract Rights arising thereunder;

(v) Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Trade Secrets;

(vi) Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts, and Commodity Accounts;

(vii) Documents;

(viii) Domain Names;

(ix) Equipment

(x) Fixtures;

(xi) General Intangibles;

(xii) Instruments;

(xiii) Inventory;

(xiv) Investment Property;

 

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(xv) letters of credit and Letter-of-Credit Rights;

(xvi) Licenses;

(xvii) Money, cash and cash equivalents;

(xviii) Pledged Equity Interests;

(xix) Receivables;

(xx) Software and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording;

(xxi) Goods not otherwise described above;

(xxii) Supporting Obligations relating to any of the foregoing;

(xxiii) to the extent not otherwise included above, all personal property of any kind, including, without limitation, any other contract rights or rights to the payment of money, insurance claims and proceeds and tort claims relating to the foregoing; and

(xxiv) to the extent not otherwise included above, all Proceeds, products, accessions, rents and profits of or in respect of any of the foregoing, together with all books and records, ledger cards, customer lists, credit files, computer files, programs, printouts and other computer materials and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.

(b) Beginning with the Term Debt Priority Collateral Release Date and thereafter :

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Inventory;

(iii) all Chattel Paper, including electronic chattel paper, in each case, to the extent relating to Accounts or Inventory;

(iv) all Instruments to the extent relating to Accounts or Inventory;

(v) all letters of credit (as defined in the UCC) and all Letter-of-Credit Rights, in each case, to the extent relating to Accounts or Inventory;

(vi) all Documents, customs receipts, insurance certificates, shipping documents and other written materials related to the purchase or import of any Inventory;

(vii) all Investment Property to the extent (i) consisting of Equity Interests in any Borrower or Guarantor, subject to the limitation set forth below in Section 7.1.3 as to such pledge of Equity Interests in a Foreign Subsidiary or (ii) purchased with the proceeds of any of the above-described Collateral;

 

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(viii) all General Intangibles (other than Intellectual Property) and all rights under Hedge Agreements and other Secured Bank Product Documents, in each case, to the extent relating to Accounts or Inventory;

(ix) all Commodity Accounts, Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts, including all cash, checks and other evidences of payment, marketable securities, securities entitlements, financial assets and other funds or Property held in or on deposit in any of the foregoing, in each case if any of the proceeds of the above-described Collateral are deposited therein;

(x) all Records, Supporting Obligations and related letters of credit (as defined in the UCC), in each case to the extent related to the foregoing;

(xi) the proceeds of business interruption insurance;

(xii) all monies, cash and deposits, whether or not in the possession or under the control of the Agent, a Lender, or a bailee or Affiliate of the Agent or a Lender, including any Cash Collateral to the extent related to the foregoing; and

(xiii) all accessions to, substitutions for, and all replacements, products, and cash and non-cash proceeds of the foregoing, including proceeds of and unearned premiums with respect to insurance policies, and claims against any Person for loss, damage or destruction of any Collateral.

The parties hereto agree that nothing above is intended, nor shall it be construed, to affect, replace, impair or extinguish the creation, attachment, perfection or priority of the security interests in, and other Liens on, any Collateral covered both under Section 7.1.1(a) and Section 7.1.1(b).

7.1.2. Grant of Security Interest by Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties . To secure the prompt payment and performance of all Dutch Facility Secured Obligations, each Dutch Domiciled Loan Party hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Dutch Facility Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in and Lien upon all of the following Property of such Loan Party, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and wherever located:

(a) all Accounts;

(b) all Inventory;

(c) all Chattel Paper, including electronic chattel paper, in each case, to the extent relating to Accounts or Inventory;

(d) all Instruments to the extent relating to Accounts or Inventory;

(e) all letters of credit (as defined in the UCC) and all Letter-of-Credit Rights, in each case, to the extent relating to Accounts or Inventory;

(f) all Documents, customs receipts, insurance certificates, shipping documents and other written materials related to the purchase or import of any Inventory;

(g) all Investment Property to the extent (i) consisting of Equity Interests in any Borrower or Guarantor, subject to the limitation set forth below in Section 7.1.3 as to such pledge of Equity Interests in a Foreign Subsidiary or (ii) purchased with the proceeds of any of the above-described Collateral;

 

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(h) all General Intangibles (other than Intellectual Property) and all rights under Hedge Agreements and other Secured Bank Product Documents, in each case, to the extent relating to Accounts or Inventory;

(i) all Commodity Accounts, Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts, including all cash, checks and other evidences of payment, marketable securities, securities entitlements, financial assets and other funds or Property held in or on deposit in any of the foregoing, in each case, if any of the proceeds of the above-described Collateral are deposited therein;

(j) all Records, Supporting Obligations and related letters of credit (as defined in the UCC), in each case to the extent related to the foregoing;

(k) the proceeds of business interruption insurance;

(l) all monies, cash and deposits, whether or not in the possession or under the control of the Agent, a Lender, or a bailee or Affiliate of the Agent or a Lender, including any Cash Collateral to the extent related to the foregoing; and

(m) all accessions to, substitutions for, and all replacements, products, and cash and non-cash proceeds of the foregoing, including proceeds of and unearned premiums with respect to insurance policies, and claims against any Person for loss, damage or destruction of any Collateral.

7.1.3. Excluded Collateral . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Collateral subject to this Agreement include or the security interest or lien granted under Section 7.1.1 or Section 7.1.2 attach to (a) any of the outstanding voting capital stock of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code (or in any Subsidiary that is classified as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income Tax purposes and that holds directly, or through other disregarded entities, Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code) in excess of 65% of the voting power of all classes of capital stock of such Foreign Subsidiary entitled to vote; provided that immediately upon the amendment of the Internal Revenue Code to allow the pledge of a greater percentage of the voting power of capital stock in such a Foreign Subsidiary without adverse tax consequences to Parent and its Subsidiaries, the Collateral shall include, and such security interest and lien shall attach to, such greater percentage of capital stock of each such Foreign Subsidiary, (b) all Commercial Tort Claims in an individual amount of less than or equal to $10,000,000, (c) Margin Stock, (d) any asset to the extent and for so long as the grant of a security interest therein would be prohibited by Applicable Law or would require any Governmental Approval (other than to the extent that any such prohibition or requirement would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the anti-non-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable law), (e) Equity Interests in any Person other than the Loan Parties to the extent not permitted by the terms of such Person’s organizational or joint venture documents (other than to the extent that any such restriction would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the anti-non- assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable law), (f) Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (g) in the case of assets consisting of Licenses, leases, agreements or other contracts or assets that are subject to Purchase Money Debt or Capital Leases, to the extent and for so long as the grant of security therein is prohibited or restricted by any Applicable Law or by the terms of such License, lease, agreement or other contract (including anti-assignment provisions of any such contract) or would require the consent of a Governmental Authority or a third party that is party to such contract (unless such consent has already been received or the applicable third party has agreed to cooperate with the establishment of any secured

 

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financing) or would trigger termination of (or a right to terminate) any such contract pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provision or the ability for any third party to amend any rights, benefits and/or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of those assets, or which would require any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to take any action materially adverse to the interests of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary (in each case, to the extent applicable and other than to the extent that any of the foregoing would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the anti-non-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable law), (h) any other asset to the extent that the cost, burden, difficulty or consequence (including any effect on the ability of the relevant Loan Party to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course) of obtaining or perfecting a security interest therein outweighs the benefit of the security afforded thereby, as reasonably determined by the applicable Borrower and the Agent (it being acknowledged that the maximum guaranteed or secured amount may be limited to minimize stamp duty, notarization, registration or other applicable fees, taxes and duties where the applicable Borrower and the Agent reasonably determine that the benefit to the Lenders of increasing the guaranteed or secured amount is disproportionate to the level of such fee, taxes and duties), (i) any asset to the extent that the grant of a security interest therein would result in materially adverse tax consequences to Parent and its Subsidiaries, as reasonably determined by the Borrowers in consultation with the Agent, (j) any “intent-to-use” trademark applications prior to the accepted filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” and any other Intellectual Property in any jurisdiction where, with respect thereto, the grant of a security interest therein would cause the invalidation or abandonment or unenforceability of such Intellectual Property under applicable law, (k) Property that is sold or subjected to a Lien pursuant to a Supplier Financing Transaction; (l) Property described on Schedule 7.1.3 ; (m) any asset upon which a Lien is granted by way of any Dutch Security Agreement and (n) until the earlier to occur of (x) January 31, 2016 (or such later date as the Agent may agree in its Permitted Discretion), and (y) the date on which a Dutch Security Agreement is entered into in respect of the Equity Interests in Arizona Chemical Aktiebolag, the Equity Interests in Arizona Chemical Aktiebolag; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, as of the date in (x) or (y), as applicable, such security interest and lien shall attach to the Equity Interests in Arizona Chemical Aktiebolag subject to the other clauses of this Section 7.1; provided, however , that any Proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Assets shall not constitute Excluded Assets unless such Proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would themselves constitute Excluded Assets.

Further, (a) no foreign Intellectual Property filings or searches shall be required and (b) no actions shall be required to perfect the grant of the security interest in vehicles and any other assets subject to certificates of title or ownership, commercial tort claims and letter of credit rights, in each case except to the extent perfection of a security interest therein may be accomplished by the filing of financing statements under the UCC.

7.2. Cash Collateral . Any Cash Collateral may be invested, at the Agent’s discretion (and with the consent of the applicable Loan Party Agent, as long as no Event of Default exists), but the Agent shall have no duty to do so, regardless of any agreement or course of dealing with any Loan Party, and shall have no responsibility for any investment or loss. To further secure the prompt payment and performance of all (a) Secured Obligations, each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties and (b) Dutch Facility Secured Obligations, each Dutch Domiciled Loan Party hereby grants to the Agent and the Security Trustee, for the benefit of the Dutch Facility Secured Parties, in each case, a continuing security interest and Lien on all Cash Collateral of such Loan Party from time to time and all proceeds thereof, whether such Cash Collateral is held in a Cash Collateral Account or otherwise. Loan Parties organized or incorporated outside of the U.S. shall grant Liens to the applicable Security Trustee on Cash Collateral pursuant to the relevant Security Documents. The Agent and each Security Trustee may apply Cash Collateral of (i) a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party to the payment of any Secured Obligations and (ii) a Dutch Domiciled Loan Party to the payment of any Dutch Facility Secured Obligations, in each case, in accordance with Section 5.5.1, as they become due and payable.

 

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Each Cash Collateral Account and all Cash Collateral shall be under the sole dominion and control of the Agent and the Security Trustees. No U.S. Domiciled Loan Party or other Person claiming through or on behalf of any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party shall have any right to any Cash Collateral, until Full Payment of all Secured Obligations. No Dutch Domiciled Loan Party or other Person claiming through or on behalf of any Dutch Domiciled Loan Party shall have any right to any Cash Collateral, until Full Payment of all Dutch Facility Secured Obligations.

7.3. Administration .

7.3.1. After-Acquired Collateral . If after the Closing Date, any Loan Party acquires an interest with a Value in excess of $2,000,000 in (a) Chattel Paper (other than pre-buy agreements or in the Ordinary Course of Business), (b) negotiable Documents (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business), (c) Investment Property, (d) Letter-of-Credit Rights (that are not Supporting Obligations), (e) promissory notes (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business) and other Instruments (in each case, other than checks or other Instruments provided for in the ordinary course of business), in each case constituting Collateral, the applicable Loan Party Agent will notify the Agent in writing within thirty (30) days of such acquisition. Upon the Agent’s request, such Loan Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as the Agent or its Security Trustee reasonably deems appropriate to effect a duly perfected, first priority Lien upon such Collateral, including obtaining any appropriate possession or control agreement, as appropriate, and/or executing such additional Security Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Agent or a Security Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7.3.1 shall require any Loan Party to effectuate a security interest in any after-acquired Collateral if such security interest would violate Section 14.20 of this Agreement.

7.3.2. Commodity Account, Deposit Account or Securities Account . If after the Closing Date, any Loan Party opens or closes a Commodity Account, Deposit Account or Securities Account (in each case, other than any Excluded Account) in a Perfection Jurisdiction, in each case constituting or holding Collateral, the applicable Loan Party Agent shall notify the Agent or Security Trustee in writing within forty-five (45) days thereof and amend Schedule 8.4 to reflect the same. Upon the Agent’s or Security Trustee’s request, the Loan Party shall deliver a fully-executed Deposit Account Control Agreement, Securities Account Control Agreement or Commodity Account Control Agreement (as applicable) within forty-five (45) days (or such longer period with the prior consent of the Agent or Security Trustee (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld)) of the Agent’s or Security Trustee’s request and amend Schedule 8.4 to reflect the same; provided that with respect to Securities Accounts or Commodity Accounts, any such control agreement shall only be requested by Agent or the Security Trustee for Securities Accounts or Commodity Accounts, in each case, with an average monthly balance or Value in excess of $2,000,000.

7.3.3. Collateral in Possession of a Third Party . If, after the Closing Date, any Collateral constituting Inventory in a Perfection Jurisdiction with an aggregate Value exceeding $2,000,000 is in the possession of a warehouse or bailee, such Loan Party shall notify the Agent within ninety (90) days of such warehouse or bailee obtaining possession of such Inventory.

7.4. No Assumption of Liability . The Lien on Collateral granted hereunder is given as security only and shall not subject the Agent, any Security Trustee or any Lender to, or in any way modify, any obligation or liability of Loan Parties relating to any Collateral.

7.5. Further Assurances . Each Loan Party will promptly execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements, title certificates, assignments and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Agent, any Security Trustee or the

 

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Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents, or otherwise to give effect to the intent of this Agreement, all at the expense of the Loan Parties. Each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party authorizes the Agent to file any financing statement that accurately describes the Collateral.

7.6. Termination of Security Interest .

7.6.1. All security interests granted hereby shall automatically terminate upon the Full Payment of the Secured Obligations; provided that with respect to the LC Obligations, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under any Letters of Credit has been reduced to zero (or the applicable Fronting Bank has consented to the termination as a result of the Cash Collateralization of the Letters of Credit or other arrangement satisfactory to the applicable Fronting Bank) and no Fronting Bank has any further obligation to issue or amend Letters of Credit under this Agreement.

7.6.2. All security interests granted hereby shall also terminate and be released at the time or times and in the manner set forth in Section 12.3.1 of this Agreement.

7.6.3. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to Sections 7.6.1 or 7.6.2, the Agent or Security Trustee shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release so long as the applicable Loan Party shall have provided the Agent such certifications or documents as the Agent shall reasonably request in order to demonstrate compliance with this Section 7.6. The covenants contained in this Section 7.6 shall survive the Full Payment of the Secured Obligations.

7.7. Real Estate Collateral

7.7.1. In accordance with the timing and procedures set forth in Section 7.7.2 below, the Obligations shall also be secured by Mortgages upon all Mortgaged Property. The Mortgages shall be duly recorded at U.S. Borrowers’ expense, in each office where such recording is required to constitute a fully perfected second-priority Lien on the Mortgaged Property covered thereby.

7.7.2. Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of any “Mortgage” (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) against any Mortgaged Property for the benefit of Term Loan Lenders, the relevant Loan Party shall execute and deliver to Agent a Mortgage against such Mortgaged Property, substantially in the same form and substance as such “Mortgage” (except with respect to priority). In addition, such Loan Party shall timely deliver to Agent upon request by Agent, such information and materials necessary in order for federally regulated U.S. lenders to comply with the requirements of the Flood Program (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) and if the Mortgaged Property is in a Flood Zone (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), shall deliver evidence to Agent that such Loan Party has obtained a policy of flood insurance relating to such Mortgaged Property that is in compliance with applicable regulations.

SECTION 8. COLLATERAL ADMINISTRATION

8.1. Borrowing Base Certificates . As soon as available but in any event within twenty (20) days after the end of each calendar month (or such longer period as the Agent may agree in its Permitted Discretion), the Loan Party Agents shall deliver to the Agent Borrowing Base Certificates covering each Borrowing Base and supporting information in connection therewith (including information regarding any retention of title from vendors to any Dutch Borrower), provided that (a) the Loan Party Agents will be required to furnish Borrowing Base Certificates for each calendar week and supporting information in

 

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connection therewith within two (2) Business Days after the end of each such calendar week after an Increased Reporting Trigger, and (b) within five (5) Business Days after consummation of any sale or disposition of Accounts or Inventory that are a part of the Collateral not in the Ordinary Course of Business resulting in net proceeds exceeding $5,000,000 (individually or in the aggregate for all such sales and dispositions since the date of the most recent Borrowing Base Certificates), the Loan Party Agents shall deliver an updated Borrowing Base Certificate giving effect to any such sale or disposition. Borrowing Base Certificates for Foreign Borrowers shall calculate an individual Borrowing Base for each Foreign Borrower on a stand-alone basis. All calculations of Availability in any Borrowing Base Certificate shall originally be made by the Borrowers and certified by a Senior Officer of the applicable Loan Party Agent, provided that the Agent may from time to time review and adjust any such calculation (x) to reflect its reasonable estimate of declines in value of any Collateral, due to collections received in the Dominion Account or otherwise; (y) to adjust advance rates and to impose additional reserves in its Permitted Discretion to reflect changes in dilution, quality, mix and other factors affecting Collateral; and (z) to the extent the calculation is not made in accordance with this Agreement or does not accurately reflect the Reserves.

8.2. Administration of Accounts .

8.2.1. Records and Schedules of Accounts . Each Borrower shall keep accurate and complete records of its Accounts, including all payments and collections thereon, and shall submit to the Agent sales, collection, reconciliation and other reports in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, on such periodic basis as the Agent may request. Each Borrower shall provide to the Agent, on or before the 20th day of each month, a detailed aged trial balance of all Accounts as of the end of the preceding month, specifying each Account’s Account Debtor name and address, amount, invoice date and due date, and, upon request by the Agent during the existence of an Event of Default, showing any discount, allowance, credit, authorized return or dispute, and including such proof of delivery, copies of invoices and invoice registers, copies of related documents, repayment histories, status reports and other information as the Agent may reasonably request. If Accounts of a Borrower in an aggregate face amount of $5,000,000 or more cease to be Eligible Accounts, then such Borrower or a Loan Party Agent shall notify the Agent of such occurrence promptly (and in any event within five (5) Business Days) after such Borrower or Loan Party Agent has knowledge thereof.

8.2.2. Taxes . If an Account of any Borrower includes a charge for any Taxes, the Agent is authorized, in its discretion, if such Borrower has not paid such Taxes when due, to pay the amount thereof to the proper Governmental Authority for the account of such Borrower and to charge the Loan Parties therefor; provided , however , that neither the Agent nor any other Secured Party shall be liable for any Taxes that may be due from the Loan Parties or with respect to any Collateral.

8.2.3. Account Verification . During the continuance of an Event of Default the Agent shall have the right at any time, in the name of the Agent, any designee of the Agent or any Borrower, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Accounts of the Borrowers by mail, telephone or otherwise. Loan Parties shall cooperate fully with the Agent in an effort to facilitate and promptly conclude any such verification process.

8.2.4. Maintenance of Dominion Accounts . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8.2.4, (a) the Loan Parties shall maintain Dominion Accounts pursuant to lockbox or other arrangements reasonably acceptable to the Agent, (b) other than (until required in accordance with the other provisions of this Section 8.2.4) in relation to the Dutch Kraton Excluded Dominion Accounts, the Loan Parties shall obtain a Deposit Account Control Agreement from each lockbox servicer (if applicable) and Dominion Account bank, establishing the Agent’s (or a Security Trustee’s) control over and Lien on the lockbox or Dominion Account, requiring prompt deposit of all remittances received in the

 

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lockbox (or otherwise) to a Dominion Account and waiving offset rights of such servicer or bank, except for customary administrative and other charges and returned items, (c) other than (until required in accordance with the other provisions of this Section 8.2.4) in relation to the Dutch Kraton Excluded Dominion Accounts, the Dutch Kraton Dominion Accounts shall be under the sole dominion and exclusive control of the Agent (or its Security Trustee) whether or not a Cash Dominion Event exists; provided that collected funds will, in the discretion of Agent, either be disbursed from such Dominion Accounts to an operating account of one of such Loan Parties or be applied to the Loans of such Loan Parties, (d) at any time after the occurrence of a Cash Dominion Event, and while the same is continuing, the Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower shall (i) execute and deliver a duly perfected and enforceable Lien over each Dutch Kraton Excluded Dominion Account in accordance with the relevant Applicable Law and (ii) ensure that each Dutch Kraton Excluded Dominion Account is the subject of a Deposit Account Control Agreement, (e) if, with the prior consent of the Agent, a Dutch Kraton Dominion Account is not maintained with Bank of America, the applicable Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties, whether or not a Cash Dominion Event exists, shall ensure that such account is the subject of a Deposit Account Control Agreement which provides for all cash receipts in any such account to be swept on a daily basis to a Dominion Account maintained with Bank of America, and (f) if a U.S. Dominion Account is not maintained with Bank of America, the Agent (or its Security Trustee) may, during the existence of any Cash Dominion Event, require immediate transfer of all cash receipts in such account to a Dominion Account maintained with Bank of America. The Agent, Security Trustees and Lenders assume no responsibility to Loan Parties for any lockbox arrangement or Dominion Account, including any claim of accord and satisfaction or release with respect to any Payment Items accepted by any bank.

8.2.5. Proceeds of Collateral . Loan Parties shall request in writing and otherwise take all necessary steps to instruct that all payments on Accounts or otherwise relating to Collateral of Account Debtors in any Eligible Account Debtor Jurisdiction are made directly to a Dominion Account (or a lockbox relating to a Dominion Account). If any Loan Party receives cash or Payment Items with respect to any Collateral, it shall hold same in trust for the Agent and the Security Trustees and within five (5) Business Days deposit same into a Dominion Account.

8.3. Administration of Inventory .

8.3.1. Records and Reports of Inventory . Each Borrower shall keep accurate and complete records of its Inventory, and, when submitting a Borrowing Base Certificate to the Agent, shall submit to the Agent inventory and reconciliation reports in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, on such periodic basis as the Agent may reasonably request. Each Borrower shall conduct periodic cycle counts consistent with historical practices, and shall provide to the Agent a copy of any report produced based on such count, together with supporting information, in each case, as the Agent may reasonably request. The Agent may observe each physical count at its own expense or as part of an inspection, audit or field exam under Section 10.1.1.

8.3.2. Returns of Inventory . No Borrower shall return any Inventory to a supplier, vendor or other Person, whether for cash, credit or otherwise during the existence of a Cash Dominion Event, unless (a) such return is a return of defective Inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business or (b) the aggregate Value of all such returned Inventory does not exceed during any calendar month (i) $10,000,000 so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) $5,000,000 at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

8.3.3. Acquisition, Sale and Maintenance . No Borrower shall acquire or accept any Inventory on consignment or approval, except in the Ordinary Course of Business, and shall take all steps to assure that all Inventory is produced in accordance with the FLSA and otherwise in all material respects with Applicable Law. No Borrower shall sell any Inventory on consignment or approval or any

 

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other basis under which the customer may return or require a Borrower to repurchase such Inventory, except in the Ordinary Course of Business. Borrowers shall use, store and maintain all Inventory with reasonable care and caution, in the Ordinary Course of Business and in conformity in all material respects with all Applicable Law, and shall make current rent payments (within applicable grace periods provided for in leases) at all locations where any Collateral is located.

8.4. Administration of Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodity Accounts . Schedule 8.4 sets forth all Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodity Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) in a Perfection Jurisdiction maintained by the Loan Parties as of the Closing Date, including all Dominion Accounts. Each such U.S. Loan Party shall take commercially reasonable steps to establish the Agent’s or its Security Trustee’s control of each such Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account through a Deposit Account Control Agreement, Securities Account Control Agreement or Commodity Account Control Agreement, as applicable, within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date; provided , that with respect to Securities Accounts or Commodity Accounts, such control agreements should only be required for Securities Accounts or Commodity Accounts, in each case, with an average monthly balance or Value in excess of $2,000,000. A Loan Party Agent shall notify the Agent of any opening or closing of a Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account in accordance with Section 7.3.2 and will amend Schedule 8.4 to reflect the same.

8.5. General Provisions .

8.5.1. Location of Collateral . All Inventory with an aggregate Value exceeding $2,000,000 located at a location in a Perfection Jurisdiction and constituting Collateral (other than such Inventory in transit) is kept by the Loan Parties at the locations set forth in Schedule 8.5.1 . Upon providing any notice required under Section 7.3.3, such Loan Party or the applicable Loan Party Agent shall amend Schedule 8.5.1 to reflect the same.

8.5.2. Certain Organizational Changes . No Loan Party may change its name, charter or other organizational number, form or jurisdiction of organization without at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the Agent (or such shorter period to which the Agent may agree) and taking such actions (including entering into supplemental documentation) as the Agent may reasonably request to maintain the perfection and priority of its security interest in the Collateral.

8.5.3. [Reserved] .

8.5.4. Protection of Collateral . All reasonable expenses of protecting, storing, warehousing, insuring, handling, maintaining and shipping any Collateral of a Loan Party Group, all Taxes payable with respect to any Collateral of a Loan Party Group (including any sale thereof), and all other reasonable payments required to be made by the Agent or a Security Trustee to any Person to realize upon any Collateral of a Loan Party Group, shall be borne and paid by Loan Parties of such Loan Party Group. Neither the Agent nor any Security Trustee shall be liable or responsible in any way for the safekeeping of any Collateral, for any loss or damage thereto (except for reasonable care in its custody while Collateral is in the Agent’s or such Security Trustee’s actual possession), for any diminution in the value thereof, or for any act or default of any warehouseman, carrier, forwarding agency or other Person whatsoever, but the same shall be at Loan Parties’ sole risk.

8.5.5. Defense of Title to Collateral . Each Loan Party shall at all times defend its title to Collateral (if such defense is required by Agent or the applicable Security Trustee in its Permitted Discretion) and the Agent’s or Security Trustees’ Liens therein against all Persons, claims and demands whatsoever, except Permitted Liens.

 

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8.6. Power of Attorney . Each of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Agent (and all Persons designated by the Agent) as such Loan Party’s true and lawful attorney (and agent-in-fact), coupled with an interest, for the purposes provided in this Section. The Agent, or the Agent’s designee, may, without notice and in either its or such U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s name, but at the cost and expense of such Loan Parties within such Loan Party’s Loan Party Group:

(a) Endorse a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s name on any Payment Item or other proceeds of Collateral (including proceeds of insurance) that come into the Agent’s possession or control; and

(b) During the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) notify any Account Debtors of a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party of the assignment of their Accounts, demand and enforce payment of such Accounts by legal proceedings or otherwise, and generally exercise any rights and remedies with respect to such Accounts; (ii) settle, adjust, modify, compromise, discharge or release any Accounts or other Collateral of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties, or any legal proceedings brought to collect Accounts or Collateral of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties; (iii) sell or assign any Accounts and other Collateral of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties upon such terms, for such amounts and at such times as the Agent deems advisable; (iv) collect, liquidate and receive balances in Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties which constitute or contain the proceeds of Collateral, and take control, in any manner, of proceeds of Collateral of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties; (v) prepare, file and sign a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s name to a proof of claim or other document in a bankruptcy of an Account Debtor, or to any notice, assignment or satisfaction of Lien or similar document; (vi) receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party, and notify postal authorities to deliver any such mail to an address designated by the Agent; (vii) endorse any Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, bill of lading, or other document or agreement relating to any Accounts, Inventory or other Collateral of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties; (viii) use a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s stationery and sign its name to verifications of Accounts and notices to Account Debtors of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties; (ix) use information contained in any data processing, electronic or information systems relating to Collateral of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties; (x) make and adjust claims under insurance policies of the U.S. Domiciled Loan Parties; (xi) take any action as may be necessary or appropriate to obtain payment under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or other instrument for which a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party is a beneficiary; and (xii) take all other actions as the Agent reasonably deems appropriate to fulfill any U.S. Domiciled Loan Party’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

SECTION 9. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

9.1. General Representations and Warranties . In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement, to make the Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit as provided for herein, each Loan Party (with respect to itself and its Restricted Subsidiaries) makes the following representations and warranties to, and agreements with, the Lenders, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit:

9.1.1. Organization and Qualification . Each of the Loan Parties and its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is a duly organized or incorporated and validly existing corporation or other entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation (to the extent such jurisdiction provides for the designation of entities organized or incorporated thereunder as existing in good standing) and has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged and (b) has duly qualified and is authorized to do business and in good standing in all jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified, except, in each case, where the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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9.1.2. Power and Authority . Each Loan Party is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform under the Loan Documents to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not (a) require the consent or approval of any holders of Equity Interests in any Loan Party, except for such consents as have been obtained and are in full force and effect; (b) contravene the Organization Documents of any Loan Party; (c) violate or cause a default under any Applicable Law or Material Contract or (d) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (i) any contractual obligation to which such Person is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, except in each case referred to in clauses (b), (c) or (d), where such violation or default could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.3. Enforceability . Each Loan Document is a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

9.1.4. Subsidiaries; Capital Structure . Schedule 9.1.4 lists each Subsidiary of Parent (and the direct and indirect ownership interest of Parent therein), in each case existing on the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 9.1.4 shows, for each Loan Party, its name, jurisdiction of organization and issued Equity Interests. Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.4 , in the five years preceding the Closing Date, no Loan Party has acquired any substantial assets from any other Person nor been the surviving entity in a merger or combination. As of the Closing Date, each Loan Party has good title to its Equity Interests in its Subsidiaries, and all such Equity Interests are duly issued, fully paid and non-assessable to the extent applicable. As of the Closing Date, except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.4 , there are no outstanding purchase options, warrants, subscription rights, agreements to issue or sell, convertible interests, phantom rights or powers of attorney relating to Equity Interests of any Loan Party or Subsidiary.

9.1.5. Title to Properties; Priority of Liens . Each of the Loan Parties and its Restricted Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to (or valid leasehold interests in) all of its Real Estate, and good title to all of its personal Property, including all Property reflected in any financial statements delivered to the Agent or Lenders, in each case free of Liens except Permitted Liens and except where the failure to have such good title or such leasehold interest could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Loan Parties and its Restricted Subsidiaries has paid and discharged all material lawful claims that, if unpaid, are being Properly Contested or that, could become a Lien on its Properties, other than Permitted Liens, except where the failure to have such good title or such leasehold interest could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or as otherwise set forth in Section 9.1.6 or 9.1.29, as applicable. All Liens of the Agent in the Collateral in a Perfection Jurisdiction are duly perfected, first priority Liens subject only to Permitted Liens; provided that no such representation is given with respect to any such Collateral that requires a notice to or agreement of a third party that is not required to be obtained hereunder.

9.1.6. Accounts . The Agent may rely, in determining which Accounts are Eligible Accounts, on all statements and representations made by Borrowers in writing with respect thereto. Each Borrower warrants with respect to each of its Accounts at the time it is shown as an Eligible Account in a Borrowing Base Certificate that to such Borrower’s knowledge in all material respects:

(a) it is genuine and what it purports to be, and is not evidenced by a judgment;

 

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(b) it arises out of a completed, bona fide sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services in the Ordinary Course of Business, and substantially in accordance with any purchase order, contract or other document relating thereto;

(c) it is for a sum certain, maturing as stated in the invoice covering such sale or rendition of services, a copy of which has been furnished or is available to the Agent on request;

(d) it is not subject to any offset, Lien (other than the Agent’s or Security Trustee’s Liens and Liens permitted under the definition of Dutch Kraton Eligible Accounts or U.S. Eligible Accounts hereto), deduction, defense, dispute, counterclaim or other adverse condition except as arising in the Ordinary Course of Business; and it is otherwise absolutely owing by the Account Debtor, without contingency in any respect;

(e) no purchase order, agreement, document or Applicable Law restricts assignment of the Account to the Agent or a Security Trustee unless (i) under the UCC, other Applicable Law or public policy, the restriction is ineffective or (ii) such restriction does not prevent any Loan Party from granting a security interest in such Account under the UCC or any Applicable Law, and the applicable Borrower is the sole payee or remittance party shown on the invoice;

(f) no extension, compromise, settlement, modification, credit, deduction or return has been authorized with respect to the Account, except discounts or allowances granted in the Ordinary Course of Business for prompt payment that are reflected in the reports submitted to the Agent hereunder; and

(g) (i) there are no facts or circumstances that are reasonably likely to impair the enforceability or collectability of such Account; (ii) the Account Debtor, to the applicable Loan Party’s knowledge, had the capacity to contract when the Account arose, continues to meet the applicable Borrower’s customary credit standards, is, to the applicable Loan Party’s knowledge, Solvent and, to the applicable Loan Party’s knowledge, has not failed, or suspended or ceased doing business; and (iii) to the applicable Loan Party’s knowledge, there are no proceedings or actions pending against any Account Debtor that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Account Debtor’s financial condition.

9.1.7. Financial Statements . The consolidated balance sheets, and related statements of income, cash flow and shareholder’s equity, of Parent and its Subsidiaries that have been and are hereafter delivered to the Agent and Lenders in accordance with Section 6.1 and clauses (a) and (b) of Section 10.1.2, are prepared in accordance with GAAP (except with respect to Section 10.1.2(c)), and fairly present in all material respects the financial position and results of operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods indicated, and for unaudited financial statements, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes. As of the date of delivery thereof, all projections delivered from time to time to the Agent and Lenders have been prepared in good faith, based on reasonable assumptions in light of the circumstances at such time. Since December 31, 2014, there has been no change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of any Loan Party or Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Party is Solvent on a consolidated basis.

9.1.8. Supplier Financing Transaction . As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary is party to any Supplier Financing Transaction, except those listed on Schedule 9.1.8 .

 

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9.1.9. Taxes . Each of the Loan Parties and its Restricted Subsidiaries has filed all material federal, state and other Tax returns and other material tax reports that it is required by law to file, and has paid, or made reasonably adequate provision for the payment of, all Taxes upon it, its income and its Properties that are shown due and payable on such returns, except to the extent being Properly Contested.

9.1.10. [Reserved] .

9.1.11. Intellectual Property . To the knowledge of each Loan Party, the conduct of the business as currently conducted of each of the Loan Parties and its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe or misappropriate any third party Intellectual Property of any third party, except where such infringement or misappropriation could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Intellectual Property written Claim with respect to any Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their Property (including any Intellectual Property). To the knowledge of each Loan Party, except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.11 , no Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary pays or owes any Royalty or other compensation to any Person with respect to any Intellectual Property. All material registered and applied for Intellectual Property owned by, or otherwise subject to any interests of, any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary and all material Intellectual Property Licenses which License any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary has the right to use Intellectual Property owned by a third party on the Closing Date is shown on Schedule 9.1.11 .

9.1.12. Governmental Approvals . Each of the Loan Parties has, is in compliance with, and is in good standing with respect to, all Governmental Approvals necessary to conduct its business and to own, lease and operate its Properties, except as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All necessary import, export or other licenses, permits or certificates for the import or handling of any Inventory or other Collateral have been procured and are in effect, and Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries have complied with all foreign and domestic laws with respect to the shipment and importation of any Inventory or Collateral, except where the noncompliance or failure to procure or maintain in effect could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.13. Compliance with Laws . Each of the Loan Parties and its Restricted Subsidiaries has duly complied, and its Properties and business operations are in compliance with all Applicable Law, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There have been no citations, notices or orders of material noncompliance issued to any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary under any Applicable Law, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.14. Compliance with Environmental Laws . Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.14 , as of the Closing Date to the knowledge of each Loan Party, neither such Loan Party’s nor any Restricted Subsidiary’s past or present operations, Real Estate or other Properties are subject to any federal, state or local investigation to determine whether any remedial action is needed to address any environmental pollution, hazardous material or environmental clean-up. Except as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party or Subsidiary has received any Environmental Notice. No Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary has any material contingent liability with respect to any Environmental Release, environmental pollution or hazardous material on any Real Estate now or previously owned, leased or operated by it that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.15. Restrictive Agreements . As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary is party or subject to any Restrictive Agreement, except as shown on Schedule 9.1.15 .

 

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9.1.16. Litigation . Except as shown on Schedule 9.1.16 , there are no material proceedings or investigations pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, or any of their businesses, operations, Properties, prospects or conditions, that (a) relate to any Loan Documents or transactions contemplated thereby; or (b) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if determined adversely to any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary. No Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary is in default with respect to any order, injunction or judgment of any Governmental Authority, except where such default could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.17. Insurance . The insurance coverage of the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect on the Closing Date in excess of $10,000,000 is outlined as to carrier, policy number, type and deductible on Schedule 9.1.17 . As of the Closing Date, all premiums due and payable in respect insurance covering a material portion of the Collateral have been paid.

9.1.18. No Defaults . No event or circumstance has occurred and is continuing or exists that constitutes a Default or Event of Default. No Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary is in default, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute a default, under and with respect to any Material Contract (excluding Material Debt), except where such default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.19. Employee Benefit Plans .

(a) ERISA . No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, after the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan, which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Party and each ERISA Affiliate (i) has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each U.S. Employee Plan and (ii) is in compliance with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and any Applicable Law with respect to each “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan) maintained or contributed to for employees in the United States and in respect of which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate could reasonably be expected to have liability, except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as has not or could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has failed to make any required contribution or payment to any U.S. Employee Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or made any amendment to any U.S. Employee Plan that has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Code. No Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in any non-exempt prohibited transaction, as that term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, except as has not or could not reasonably be expected to results in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Foreign Plans . All Foreign Plans are in compliance with, and have been established, administered and operated in accordance with, the terms of such Foreign Plans and applicable law, except for any failure to so comply, establish, administer or operate the Foreign Plans as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All required contributions or other payments which are due with respect to each Foreign Plan have been or will timely be made in full and there are no funding deficiencies thereunder, except to the extent any such events would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(c) Except as disclosed on the Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as promulgated by the SEC, or any successor form thereof, no Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate maintains or is required to contribute to any plan which provides health, accident, or life insurance benefits to former employees, their spouses or dependents, other than in accordance with Code Section 4980B.

9.1.20. Labor Relations . Except as described on Schedule 9.1.20 , as of the Closing Date, no Loan Party or Subsidiary is party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement. There are no material grievances, disputes or controversies with any union or other organization of any Loan Party’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s employees, or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, any asserted or threatened strikes, work stoppages or demands for collective bargaining within the last five (5) years, except as could not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.21. Investment Company Act . No Borrower is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

9.1.22. Margin Stock . No Loan Party nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock (within the meaning of Regulation U).

9.1.23. Inactive Subsidiaries . No Inactive Subsidiary (i) owns or holds any material assets, (ii) has any material liabilities, and (iii) conducts any business operations, and will not do any of the foregoing after the Closing Date without the prior written consent of Agent.

9.1.24. Centre of Main Interests and Establishments . For the purposes of the Insolvency Regulation, each of the Dutch Domiciled Loan Parties’ centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) is situated in its jurisdiction of incorporation and none of them have an “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(h) of the Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction.

9.1.25. Pari Passu Ranking . Each Dutch Borrower’s payment obligations under the Loan Documents rank at least pari passu under the laws of the Netherlands or other applicable jurisdictions with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.

9.1.26. Ranking . Each Foreign Security Agreement has or will have the ranking in priority which it is expressed to have in the relevant Security Document and, other than as permitted under or contemplated by the Loan Documents, it is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Lien.

9.1.27. OFAC . No Loan Party (a) is a Person whose Property or interest in Property is blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)), (b) engages in any dealings or transactions prohibited by Section 2 of such executive order, or is otherwise associated with any such Person in any manner violative of Section 2, or (c) is a Person on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or subject to the limitations or prohibitions under any other U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control regulation or executive order.

9.1.28. Patriot Act . Each Loan Party is in compliance, in all material respects, with (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling

 

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legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (b) the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001). No part of the proceeds of the Loans 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.

9.1.29. Eligible Inventory . As to each item of Inventory that is identified as Eligible Inventory in a Borrowing Base Certificate submitted to the Agent, as of the date of such Borrowing Base Certificate, such Inventory is (a) to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, of good and merchantable quality, free from known defects, and (b) to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, not excluded as ineligible by virtue of one or more of the excluding criteria (other than any such criteria requiring Agent’s discretion) set forth in the relevant definitions of Eligible Inventory (and in the case of U.S. Eligible In-Transit Inventory or Dutch Kraton Eligible In-Transit Inventory, as applicable, after giving effect to any exclusions therefrom specified in the related definitions therefor).

9.2. Complete Disclosure . The factual information and data (taken as a whole) furnished by or on behalf of the Parent or its Subsidiaries in writing to the Agent and/or any Lender (including information and data included in the Loan Documents) in connection with the Transactions does not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were or are made, not misleading as of the date any such information and data was furnished and as updated from time to time, it being understood and agreed that for purposes of this Section 9.2, such information and data shall not include any financial information forecast or projection.

SECTION 10. COVENANTS AND CONTINUING AGREEMENTS

10.1. Affirmative Covenants . The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, hereby covenant and agree that on the Closing Date and thereafter until the Commitments have terminated and Full Payment of all Obligations has occurred:

10.1.1. Inspections; Field Examinations and Appraisals .

(a) The Loan Parties will permit the Agent (including, without limitation, the Agent’s employees, agents and designated representatives) from time to time at the Loan Parties’ reasonable expense, subject (except when a Default or Event of Default exists) to reasonable advance notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, to visit and inspect the Properties of any Loan Party, inspect, audit and make extracts from any Loan Party’s books and records, and discuss with its officers, employees, agents, advisors and independent accountants such Loan Party’s business, financial condition, assets, prospects and results of operations; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Agent and the Lenders under this Section 10.1.1(a) and the Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two (2) times during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default and only one (1) such time shall be at the Parent’s expense; provided further that when an Event of Default exists, the Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Parent at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Agent or any Lender from exercising such inspection rights more often at their own expense; provided however that any such additional inspections must be during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any

 

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duty to any Loan Party to make any inspection, nor to share any results of any inspection, appraisal or report with any Loan Party. Loan Parties acknowledge that all inspections, appraisals and reports are prepared by the Agent and Lenders for their purposes, and Loan Parties shall not be entitled to rely upon them.

(b) The Borrowers will permit Agent (including the Agent’s employees, agents and designated representatives reasonably acceptable to Parent) to conduct, and will reimburse the Agent for all reasonable and documented charges, costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with (i) examinations of any Loan Party’s books and records or any other financial or Collateral matters as the Agent deems appropriate; and (ii) appraisals of Inventory; provided , however , that if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, only one such appraisal and one such examination per Fiscal Year shall be conducted at the Borrowers’ expense (exclusive of any appraisals and field examinations conducted pursuant to Section 10.1.9); provided , further , that during an Enhanced Reporting Trigger, one additional appraisal and one additional examination per Fiscal Year may be conducted at the Borrowers’ expense (exclusive of any appraisals and field examinations conducted pursuant to Section 10.1.9); provided , further , that after an Increased Reporting Trigger, a total of up to three (3) such examinations per Fiscal Year may be conducted at the Borrowers’ expense (exclusive of any appraisals and field examinations conducted pursuant to Section 10.1.9). The foregoing shall not limit the Agent’s ability to perform additional appraisals or examinations at the sole expense of the Borrowers upon the occurrence and continuance of a Default or Event of Default (or if a Default or Event of Default was in existence at the time such appraisal or examination was initiated). Subject to the limitations set forth herein, Borrowers agree to pay the Agent’s then standard charges for examination and appraisal activities, including the standard charges of the Agent’s internal examination and appraisal groups, as well as the reasonable and documented charges of any third party used for such purposes. Regardless of the limitations set forth above, the Added U.S. Borrower Field Exam and Inventory Appraisal will not be subject to limitations set forth above nor count toward the appraisals and examination limits set forth above. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.1.1, none of the Parent or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (i) in respect of which disclosure to the Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Applicable Law or any binding agreement or (ii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.

10.1.2. Financial and Other Information . Each Loan Party will, and will cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep adequate records and books of account with respect to its business activities, in which proper entries are made in accordance with GAAP reflecting all financial transactions; and will furnish to the Agent and Lenders:

(a) as soon as available and in any event on or before the date on which such financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on or before the date that is ninety (90) days after the end of each such Fiscal Year), the consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flow and shareholders’ equity for such Fiscal Year, on a consolidated basis for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which consolidated statements shall be audited and certified (without qualification other than a qualification with respect to Debt under this Agreement becoming due and payable by its terms within one year of such opinion with regard to the opinion for Fiscal Year 2019) by a firm of independent certified public accountants of recognized standing selected by Parent and acceptable to the Agent, and shall set forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and other information acceptable to the Agent;

 

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(b) as soon as available, and in any event within forty-five (45) days (or ninety (90) days, for the Fiscal Quarter Ending December 31 st ) after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of Parent, an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related statements of income and cash flow for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Fiscal Year then elapsed, on a consolidated basis for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, setting forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and certified by the chief financial officer of Parent as prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly presenting the financial position and results of operations for such Fiscal Quarter and period, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) as soon as available, and in any event within thirty (30) days after the end of each month (other than the third, sixth, ninth and last months of each Fiscal Year), consolidated management unaudited financial statements consisting of a balance sheet, income statement and cash flows without footnotes as of the end of such month and for the portion of the Fiscal Year then elapsed, for Parent and its Subsidiaries, setting forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year which financial statements are not required to be in conformity with GAAP;

(d) concurrently with delivery of financial statements under clauses (a) and (b) above, a Compliance Certificate executed by a Senior Officer of the North American Loan Party Agent;

(e) [Reserved];

(f) not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of each Fiscal Year, projections of Parent’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, cash flow, budgets and Availability for the next Fiscal Year, month by month;

(g) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of any regular, periodic and special reports or registration statements or prospectuses that Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary files with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority, or any securities exchange (it being agreed by the parties hereto filings of a Form 10-K or 10-Q as promulgated by the SEC and in accordance with Applicable Laws will satisfy the requirements of Sections 10.1.2(a) and 10.1.2(b), respectively, if filed with the SEC in the time periods for each set forth therein);

(h) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of any annual information report (including all actuarial reports and other schedules and attachments thereto) required to be filed with a Governmental Authority in connection with each U.S. Employee Plan or any Foreign Plan that is required by Applicable Law to be funded; promptly upon receipt, copies of any notice, demand, inquiry or subpoena received in connection with any U.S. Employee Plan from a Governmental Authority (other than routine inquiries in the course of application for a favorable IRS determination letter); and at the Agent’s request, copies of any annual report required to be filed with a Governmental Authority in connection with any other U.S. Employee Plan; and

(i) such other reports and information (financial or otherwise) as the Agent may reasonably request from time to time in connection with any Collateral or Parent’s, any Loan Party’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s financial condition or business.

10.1.3. Notices . The Loan Parties will notify the Agent in writing, promptly after a Loan Party’s obtaining knowledge thereof, of any of the following that affects a Loan Party: (a) the threat or commencement of any proceeding, lawsuit or investigation, whether or not covered by insurance that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) any pending or threatened labor dispute, strike or walkout, or the expiration of any material labor contract; (c) any default under or termination of a Material Contract that has not been cured; (d) the existence of any Default or Event of

 

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Default; (e) any judgment in an amount exceeding $5,000,000; (f) any violation or asserted violation of any Applicable Law (including ERISA, OSHA, FLSA, or any Environmental Laws), that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (g) any default notices received under or with respect to any material leased location or material public warehouse or storage yard where Collateral is located; (h) any opening of a new office holding Eligible Inventory in an amount exceeding $2,000,000 in Value at the time of delivery of the next Borrowing Base Certificate; and (i) any casualty or other physical loss of Collateral with a fair market value of $10,000,000 or more.

10.1.4. Landlord and Storage Agreements . Each Loan Party will, upon reasonable request of the Agent, provide the Agent with copies of all existing agreements, and upon Agent’s reasonable request, provide the Agent with copies of all future agreements, between such Loan Party and any landlord, warehouseman, processor, shipper, bailee or other Person that owns any premises at which any Collateral may be kept or that otherwise may possess or handle any Collateral.

10.1.5. Compliance with Laws . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all Applicable Laws, including ERISA, Environmental Laws, OSHA, Anti-Terrorism Laws (in each case to the extent applicable), and laws regarding collection and payment of Taxes, and maintain all Governmental Approvals necessary to the ownership of its Properties or conduct of its business, unless (a) such requirement of Applicable Law is being Properly Contested or (b) failure to comply (other than failure to comply with Anti-Terrorism Laws) or maintain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any Environmental Release occurs at or on any Properties of any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, it shall act promptly and diligently to investigate and report to all appropriate Governmental Authorities (and in the case of a material Environmental Release, the Agent) the extent of, and to take appropriate remedial action to eliminate, such Environmental Release to the extent required by Environmental Laws, whether or not directed to do so by any Governmental Authority.

10.1.6. Taxes . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge all material Taxes prior to the date on which they become delinquent or penalties attach, unless such Taxes are being Properly Contested.

10.1.7. Insurance . Each Loan Party will, and will cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or reinsurance with respect to any captive insurance, in each case with respect to the Properties and business of Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries of such type (including business interruption, product liability, workers’ compensation and casualty), in such amounts, and with such coverages and deductibles as are customary for companies similarly situated, as to insurance covering Collateral, will cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent or the Security Trustee, as applicable, (a) certificates of insurance evidencing the existence of insurance to be maintained by the Loan Parties pursuant to this Section 10.1.7, (b) an additional insured endorsement with respect to the Loan Parties’ liability insurance with a coverage amount in excess of $10,000,000 naming Collateral Agent or Security Trustee, as applicable as an additional insured thereunder, and (c) lender loss payable endorsement naming Collateral Agent or Security Trustee, as applicable, as lender loss payee with respect to Loan Parties’ casualty insurance with a coverage amount in excess of $10,000,000, in each case, in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and Security Trustee.

10.1.8. Licenses . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep each License affecting any Collateral (including the manufacture, distribution or disposition of Inventory) of such Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries in full force and effect; (other than the expiration or termination of Licenses in the Ordinary Course of Business that do not materially adversely affect the manufacture, distribution or disposition of Inventory) and pay all Royalties when due with respect thereto except to the extent being contested by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been set aside.

 

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10.1.9. Additional Loan Parties . (a) Any Subsidiary (other than Arizona Chemical B.V. which is covered below by clause (b) of this Section 10.1.9) may, at the election of the North American Loan Party Agent or the Foreign Loan Party Agent, as applicable, become a Borrower hereunder within the applicable Borrower Group for its jurisdiction of organization (and if its jurisdiction of organization is the Netherlands, as a Dutch Borrower) upon (i) the execution and delivery to the Agent and/or Security Trustees (A) by such Subsidiary of a supplement or joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit G, (B) by such Subsidiary of Security Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the relevant Security Trustee as may be required for the relevant jurisdiction; provided that any such new Security Document shall be in substantially the same form as the comparable Security Documents to which the existing Loan Parties of the Loan Party Group of the New Loan Party (if any) are party, (C) by a Senior Officer of the applicable Loan Party Agent for such Subsidiary of a (i) Borrowing Base Certificate for such Subsidiary effective as of not more than sixty (60) days preceding the date on which such Subsidiary becomes a Foreign Borrower and (B) written notice of such Subsidiary’s Applicable Foreign Borrower Commitment and (D) by such Subsidiary of a certificate (including delivery of related attachments) of the type described in Section 6.1(g) and such other documents, instruments and agreements as Agent may reasonably require, and (ii) the completion of the Agent’s and each applicable Lender’s due diligence to its reasonable satisfaction and of compliance procedures for applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules; provided that, prior to permitting such Subsidiary to borrow any Revolver Loans or obtain the issuance of any Letters of Credit hereunder, the Agent, in its discretion, shall have the right to conduct an appraisal and field examination with respect to such Subsidiary, including, without limitation, of (x) such Subsidiary’s practices in the computation of its Borrowing Base and (y) the assets included in such Subsidiary’s Borrowing Base and related financial information such as, but not limited to, sales, gross margins, payables, accruals and reserves, in each case, prepared on a basis reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and at the sole expense of such Subsidiary, and (b) Arizona Chemical B.V. may, at the election of Foreign Loan Party Agent and pursuant to the documentation and conditions precedent hereinafter specified (A) become a Dutch Borrower hereunder and be its own Borrower Group and have its own Foreign Revolver Commitment, separate from the Dutch Kraton Revolver Commitment, in the amount specified in writing to Agent (provided that such Foreign Revolver Commitment as to Arizona Chemical B.V. shall not increase the then aggregate amount of the Commitments and the U.S. Revolver Commitments must equal at least 60% of the aggregate Commitments) and have its own Borrowing Base, separate from the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base, provided that the components of and advance rates relating to the Arizona Chemical B.V. Borrowing Base, including eligibility provisions as to Accounts and Inventory, relevant Eligible Account Debtor Jurisdictions and relevant Perfection Jurisdictions, shall be substantially the same as those relating to the Dutch Kraton Borrowing Base, and be subject to the increase in Revolver Commitments and reallocation in Revolver Commitments described in Section 2.1.7 hereof, upon (i) the execution and delivery to the Agent and/or Security Trustees (A) by Arizona Chemical B.V., the Loan Parties and Agent of a joinder-amendment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K to this Agreement (and each Lender hereby consents to the amendments to this Agreement contemplated in Exhibit K and each Lender hereby authorizes Agent to execute such a joinder–amendment agreement on behalf of Lenders), (B) by Arizona Chemical B.V. of (1) a Dutch share pledge, (2) a Dutch omnibus pledge agreement (covering the pledge of bank account rights, moveables and receivables), and (3) a completed Perfection Certificate, executed and delivered by a Senior Officer of Arizona Chemical B.V., together with all attachments contemplated thereby, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the relevant Security Trustee as may be required for the relevant jurisdiction; provided that any such new documents shall be in substantially the same form as the comparable documents to which Initial Dutch Kraton Borrower is party (but subject to such changes as shall be reasonably required by Agent’s foreign counsel), (C) by a Senior Officer of the Foreign Loan Party Agent

 

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for Arizona Chemical B.V. of a (1) Borrowing Base Certificate for Arizona Chemical B.V. effective as of the date on which Arizona Chemical B.V. becomes a Foreign Borrower and (2) written notice of Arizona Chemical B.V.’s Applicable Foreign Borrower Commitment and (D) by Arizona Chemical B.V. of a certificate (including delivery of related attachments) of the type described in Section 6.1(g) and such other documents, instruments and agreements as Agent may reasonably require, and (ii) the completion of the Agent’s and each Lender’s compliance procedures for applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules; provided that, prior to permitting Arizona Chemical B.V. to borrow any Revolver Loans or obtain the issuance of any Letters of Credit hereunder, the Agent shall have conducted an appraisal and field examination with respect to Arizona Chemical B.V., including, without limitation, of (A) Arizona Chemical B.V.’s practices in the computation of its Borrowing Base and (B) the assets included in such Borrowing Base and related financial information such as, but not limited to, sales, gross margins, payables, accruals and reserves, in each case, prepared on a basis reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and at the sole expense of Arizona Chemical B.V., and (iii) the Agent shall have received satisfactory opinions of Dutch counsel (and, if reasonably required and requested by Agent, of French, English, Belgian, and German counsel) to Arizona Chemical B.V. or the Agent, in each case, customary for transactions of this type (which shall cover, among other thing, authority, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the creation and perfection of Liens in the Collateral).

10.1.10. ERISA . The North American Loan Party Agent will deliver to each Lender (i) promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence of any ERISA Event a written notice signed by a Senior Officer of the North American Loan Party Agent specifying the nature thereof, what action the Loan Party or the ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken or proposed by the IRS, the Department of Labor, the PBGC or other Governmental Authority with respect thereto, and (ii) promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of any notice of the PBGC’s intention to terminate or to have a trustee appointed to administer any U.S. Employee Plan or Multiemployer Plan. The Loan Parties will timely pay an amount at least equal to the quarterly minimum funding requirement in accordance with Applicable Law and the IRS, the Department of Labor, the PBGC or other applicable Governmental Authority with respect thereto.

10.1.11. Dutch Pension Plans . Each Dutch Borrower will comply with all laws and regulations in respect of all its pension liabilities.

10.1.12. Use of Proceeds . The Borrowers will use the proceeds of all Revolver Loans solely (a) to refinance the Existing Credit Agreement; (b) to pay fees and transaction expenses associated with the Transactions; (c) to issue Letters of Credit; (d) to finance Capital Expenditures and ongoing working capital needs; and (e) for other lawful corporate purposes of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries permitted hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent the Mohawk Availability Reserve has been instituted and is continuing and, after the establishment of such Mohawk Availability Reserve a U.S. Revolver Loan has been advanced to the U.S. Borrowers, then the U.S. Borrowers shall, no later than three (3) Business Days after the making of such U.S. Revolver Loan, use the proceeds of such U.S. Revolver Loan to satisfy the Mohawk Final Judgment (together with any related court recording charges).

10.1.13. Preservation of Existence . Each Loan Party will do, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, corporate rights and authority under the Applicable Law of the jurisdiction of its organization; provided , however , that any Loan Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted under Section 10.2.5 and 10.2.8.

 

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10.1.14. Maintenance of Properties . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, subject to ordinary wear and tear, casualty and condemnation, and except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

10.1.15. Payment of Obligations . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, pay or discharge all Material Debt and all other material liabilities and obligations, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where the validity or amount thereof is being Properly Contested.

10.1.16. Material Contracts . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply in all respects with each term, condition and provision of all Material Contracts, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

10.1.17. Designations with Respect to Subsidiary .

(a) Subject to clause (c) below, any Subsidiary of Parent that is formed or acquired after the Closing Date shall be deemed a Restricted Subsidiary unless at such time (or promptly thereafter) the North American Loan Party Agent designates such Subsidiary an Unrestricted Subsidiary in a written notice to the Agent.

(b) Subject to clause (c) below, the North American Loan Party Agent may designate any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Borrower or any parent company of a Borrower) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by a written notice to the Agent.

(c) Neither the Parent nor any Restricted Subsidiary may form or acquire any new Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, nor may the North American Loan Party Agent designate any existing Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, unless each of the following conditions is satisfied in connection with such acquisition or formation or such designation (as applicable):

(i) any Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary is permitted under Section 10.2.4(u);

(ii) except as permitted by Section 10.2.15, the Subsidiary being formed, acquired or designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, as applicable, is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of Parent;

(iii) the Subsidiary being formed, acquired or designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, as applicable, is a Person with respect to which none of the Parent or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (A) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (B) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

(iv) No Default or Event of Default shall result and be continuing from such acquisition, formation or designation (as applicable).

(d) Any designation or re-designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Investment on the date of such designation or re-designation in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the outstanding Investments of Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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(e) The North American Loan Party Agent may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary by a written notice to the Agent, provided that no Default or Event of Default would result from such designation. An Unrestricted Subsidiary which has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary may not be subsequently redesignated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Debt or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

(f) All “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” designated in this Agreement and under the applicable provisions of the Term Loan Agreement must be the same persons.

(g) All “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” designated under this Agreement and under the applicable provisions of the Senior Notes Indenture must be the same Persons.

10.1.18. Post-Closing . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, complete each of the actions applicable to it that is described in Schedule 10.1.18 as soon as commercially reasonable, but in any event no later than the date set forth in Schedule 10.1.18 with respect to such action, or such later date as the Agent may agree.

10.2. Negative Covenants . The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, hereby covenant and agree that on the Closing Date and thereafter until the Commitments have terminated and Full Payment of all Obligations has occurred:

10.2.1. Permitted Debt . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, guarantee or suffer to exist any Debt, except:

(a) the Obligations;

(b) Guarantees by a Borrower of Debt of a Loan Party to the extent such Debt is otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Agreement;

(c) Debt existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 10.2.1(c) and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied;

(d) Permitted Purchase Money Debt;

(e) (i) Debt arising under Capital Leases entered into in connection with sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section 10.2.6 and (ii) Debt arising under Capital Leases other than those entered into pursuant to subclause (i) of this clause (e) or those existing on the date hereof and, in each case, any Refinancing Debt thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Debt at any one time outstanding pursuant to this clause (e) shall not exceed the greater of $150,000,000 and 5% of Consolidated Total Assets;

(f) Permitted Contingent Obligations;

(g) without duplication, Refinancing Debt as long as each Refinancing Condition is satisfied;

 

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(h) Debt of any Loan Party and any Restricted Subsidiary to any other Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) all such Debt of any Loan Party owed to any other Loan Party shall be evidenced by the Global Intercompany Note except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 10.2.1(h) , (ii) all such Debt of any Loan Party to any Restricted Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party shall be Subordinated Debt, (iii) all such Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party owed to any Loan Party shall be evidenced by a promissory note (which may be the Global Intercompany Note) pledged to the Agent or a Security Trustee except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 10.2.1(h) and (iv) such Debt is permitted by Section 10.2.4;

(i) the Term Debt, subject to the limitations, if any, set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied;

(j) Debt with respect to Bank Products incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business, including Debt arising from time to time by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, but only to the extent such Debt on account of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds is repaid within three (3) Business Days;

(k) Contingent Obligations by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary of Debt of any other Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred under another clause of this Section 10.2.1 (both as to the obligor thereunder and as if the guarantor had incurred such Debt directly); provided that if the Debt being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Obligations, then the guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu , as applicable, to the same extent as the Debt guaranteed;

(l) Debt constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations, in each case provided in the Ordinary Course of Business and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied;

(m) Debt owed to any Person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person or insurance premium financing provided by such Person, in each case incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(n) Debt (other than the Foreign Facility Obligations) of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of $100,000,000 and 5% of Consolidated Total Assets at any time outstanding, and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied;

(o) Debt in connection with the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of Equity Interests held by any current or former officer, director or employee of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement is permitted by Section 10.2.3, and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied;

(p) Debt of Persons that are acquired by the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary as part of a Permitted Acquisition in an aggregate principal amount, not to exceed the greater of $150,000,000 and 5% of Consolidated Total Assets at any time outstanding; provided that (i) such Debt exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such merger or such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii) no other Loan Party becomes liable for any such Debt;

 

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(q) Debt arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnout or other similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Restricted Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Debt incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(r) all premiums (if any), fees, expenses, charges and interest on Debt incurred in compliance with this Section 10.2.1;

(s) Debt and any guarantees thereof with respect to the HSBC Asian Production Facility not to exceed $200,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(t) Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties arising under Hedge Agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(u) to the extent not included in any of the other clauses of this Section 10.2.1, unsecured Debt and guarantees thereof permitted by the provisions of the Term Loan Agreement, as such provisions are in effect as of the Closing Date, and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied;

(v) Third Party Bank Product Debt (excluding such Debt that is Secured Bank Product Obligations), solely to the extent not secured in nature;

(w) earnest money deposits required in connection with a purchase agreement, letter of intent, or other acquisitions to the extent not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement;

(x) Debt in respect of any EXIM Program;

(y) Debt in respect of the Senior Notes and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied;

(z) to the extent not included in any of the other clauses of this Section 10.2.1, secured Debt and guarantees thereof permitted by the provisions of the Term Loan Agreement, as such provisions are in effect as of the Closing Date and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each of the Refinancing Conditions is satisfied; provided , however , such Debt shall not be secured by Liens against ABL Priority Collateral unless such Liens are subordinated to the Liens of Agent in a manner and pursuant to documentation satisfactory to Agent, including an intercreditor agreement on the same terms as the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, and any Refinancing Debt in respect thereof, so long as each Refinancing Conditions is satisfied; and

(aa) Debt that is not included in any of the preceding clauses of this Section 10.2.1 in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $150,000,000 and 5.5% of Consolidated Total Assets.

 

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10.2.2. Permitted Liens . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of their Restricted Subsidiaries to, create or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property, except the following (collectively, “ Permitted Liens ”):

(a) Liens created pursuant to any Credit Documents;

(b) [Reserved];

(c) Liens in favor of a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(d) Liens on Property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent and securing Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1(p); provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of, and were not incurred in contemplation of, such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those the Person merged into or consolidated with the Parent or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(e) Liens on Property existing at the time of acquisition of the Property by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent and securing Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1(p); provided that such Liens were in existence prior to, and were not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition;

(f) Liens in respect of performance bonds, surety bonds or like obligations in respect of performance guarantees or similar commitments of the Parent or Restricted Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(g) Purchase Money Liens securing Permitted Purchase Money Debt;

(h) any Lien on any Property of any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary existing on the date hereof that is not otherwise permitted by this Section 10.2.2 and set forth in Schedule 10.2.2 ; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other Property of such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary (or Property of any other Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary) after the date hereof and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof and is otherwise permitted under Section 10.2.1(g);

(i) Liens for Taxes not yet due or being Properly Contested;

(j) statutory Liens (other than Liens for Taxes or imposed under ERISA) arising in the Ordinary Course of Business (including carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanic’s, materialman’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law), but only if payment of the obligations secured thereby is not yet due or is being Properly Contested;

(k) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants or other agreements of record, and other similar charges or encumbrances on Real Estate, that do not secure any monetary obligation and do not interfere with the Ordinary Course of Business and, with respect to any Real Estate located in Canada, the qualifications, limitations, reservations and provisos contained in the original grant from the Crown, as varied by statutes;

(l) Liens arising by virtue of a judgment or judicial order against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, or any Property of a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, not giving rise to an Event of Default;

 

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(m) Liens upon specific items of Inventory or other goods and proceeds of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances and trade 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;

(n) Liens on the Properties (other than Collateral) of Foreign Subsidiaries securing Debt of such Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.2.1(n) provided that such Liens do not attach to any Collateral unless the Agent in its discretion obtains a satisfactory intercreditor agreement with respect thereto;

(o) any provision for the retention of title to an asset by the vendor or transferor of such asset (including any lessor) which asset is acquired by the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(p) any extension, renewal or replacement in whole or in part of any Lien described in clauses (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h); provided that (i) any such extension, renewal or replacement is no more restrictive in any material respect than the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced and does not extend to any additional Property and (ii) the Debt secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the outstanding principal amount of the Debt described under such clauses (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h) at such time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien;

(q) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses (including with respect to Intellectual Property) granted to others in the Ordinary Course of Business that do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Parent or the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) secure any Debt;

(r) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection, and (ii) that are contractual rights of setoff (A) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Debt, (B) relating to sweep accounts of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations and other cash management activities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business or (C) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(s) Liens arising from UCC financing statements filed regarding (i) operating leases entered into by the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary in the Ordinary Course of Business and (ii) goods consigned or entrusted to or bailed to a Person in connection with the processing, reprocessing, recycling or tolling of such goods;

(t) Liens encumbering customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business and not for speculative purposes;

(u) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued in the Ordinary Course of Business or pledges and deposits in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other similar reimbursement-type obligations permitted under Section 10.2.1(l) or (m) respectively; provided that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances such obligations are reimbursed and extinguished within thirty (30) days following drawing;

(v) Liens in favor of customs or revenue authorities to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

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(w) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Agreement;

(x) Liens on insurance policies and proceeds thereof, or other deposits, to secure insurance premium financings or to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(y) Liens on cash, cash equivalents or other Property arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Debt otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(z) Liens constituting customary restrictions on assets pursuant to merger agreements, stock or asset purchase agreements and similar agreements in respect of the disposition of such assets otherwise permitted under this Agreement for so long as such agreements are in effect;

(aa) Liens arising on any Real Estate as a result of eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings against such Property;

(bb) any provisions in joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, limited liability company operating agreements and other similar agreements which (i) are customary or (ii) do not materially and adversely affect the Parent’s or the Restricted Subsidiaries’ ability to make payments with respect to the Obligations when due;

(cc) ground leases in respect of Real Estate on which facilities owned or leased by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

(dd) Liens securing Hedge Agreements permitted hereunder that do not attach to any Collateral;

(ee) Liens arising out of (i) Capital Leases permitted by Section 10.2.1(e)(ii) and (ii) sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section 10.2.6;

(ff) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 10.2.4;

(gg) Liens securing an EXIM Program; provided that such Liens with respect to any Collateral are junior to the Lien of the Agent hereunder and are subject to a subordination agreement satisfactory to the Agent;

(hh) Liens securing the Debt that is permitted under Section 10.2.1(i);

(ii) Liens securing the Debt that is permitted under Section 10.2.1(z), provided that such Liens are at all times subject to the terms of an intercreditor agreement on the same terms as the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion; and

(jj) Liens that are not included in any of the preceding clauses of this Section 10.2.2 that do not attach to any Collateral securing Debt and other obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) 2.75% of Consolidated Total Assets and (y) $82,500,000 at any one time outstanding; provided that, to the extent such Liens relate to Collateral, the Agent, in its discretion, obtains a satisfactory intercreditor agreement with respect thereto.

 

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10.2.3. Limitation on Distributions . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of their Restricted Subsidiaries to, declare or pay any Distributions or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, the Equity Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents of any direct or indirect parent now or hereafter outstanding, or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, except:

(a) Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Distributions payable solely in their respective Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests);

(b) Parent may make any Distribution (i) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) in exchange for Equity Interests of Parent (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) and (ii) out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of Parent) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) or from the substantially concurrent cash contributions of common equity capital to Parent;

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent may pay any dividend (or in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) to the holders of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) on a pro rata basis;

(d) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary may repurchase, redeem, acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary held by any current or former officer, director or employee of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’ agreement or other agreement (or may make Distributions to permit any direct or indirect parent thereof to do so); provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests and Equity Interest Equivalents may not exceed the sum of (i) $10,000,000 in any twelve-month period (plus the net cash proceeds from the issuance of Equity Interests to officers, directors or employees) (with unused amounts in any twelve-month period being carried over to succeeding twelve-month periods and added to such amount and (ii) the net cash proceeds of “key-man” life insurance policies on officers, directors or employees received by the Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the date hereof;

(e) Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Distributions constituting the payment of dividends or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration of the dividend or the giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, such Distribution would have complied with and been permitted pursuant to the other provisions of this Section 10.2.3;

(f) Parent may make Distributions constituting the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or other similar stock-based awards under equity plans of Parent to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options, warrants or other similar stock-based awards under equity plans of Parent or made in lieu of withholding Taxes resulting from the exercise or exchange of options, warrants, other rights to purchase or acquire Equity Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents;

(g) Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Distributions constituting cash payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of Equity Interest Equivalents;

(h) Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Permitted Payments;

 

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(i) Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary may make further payments directly or indirectly to AZC Holding Company LLC on account of earn-outs, “true-up” or purchase price adjustments pursuant to the terms of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition Agreement;

(j) provided that the Payment Conditions are satisfied, Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary may make other Distributions; and

(k) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would not result therefrom, Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Distributions not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 10.2.3 not to exceed the greater of $127,500,000 and 4.25% of Consolidated Total Assets in the aggregate since the date of this Agreement.

10.2.4. Limitation on Investments . Each Loan Party will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any advance, loan, extensions of credit or capital contribution to, or purchase any stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of or any assets of, or make any other Investment in, any Person, except:

(a) (i) any Investment by a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party in any other U.S. Domiciled Loan Party (other than Parent), (ii) any Investment by a Foreign Domiciled Loan Party in any other Foreign Domiciled Loan Party, (iii) any Investment by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (iv) any Investment by a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party in a Foreign Domiciled Loan Party if, immediately prior to and after giving effect thereto, no (A) Default or Event of Default exists or has or would result from such Investment and (B) Excess Availability shall be at least 25.0% of the Total Line Cap on a pro forma basis for each day during the consecutive thirty (30)-day period immediately preceding such Investment and (v) any Investment by a Foreign Domiciled Loan Party in a U.S. Domiciled Loan Party;

(b) extensions of trade credit and asset purchases in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(c) any Cash Equivalents;

(d) to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed $15,000,000;

(e) Investments existing on, or contemplated as of, the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 10.2.4 and any extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof, so long as the amount of any such Investment pursuant to this clause (e) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing on the date hereof, unless such increase is otherwise permitted by this Section 10.2.4;

(f) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers or customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers arising in the Ordinary Course of Business or upon foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(g) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Equity Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Parent;

(h) Provided that the Payment Conditions are satisfied, Permitted Acquisitions; provided , however , notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the Loan Parties may consummate Acquisitions when the Payment Conditions are not satisfied in an aggregate amount not to exceed $75,000,000 in any calendar year;

 

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(i) Investments constituting non-cash proceeds of sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets to the extent permitted by Section 10.2.5;

(j) Investments permitted under Section 10.2.3;

(k) Investments represented by Hedge Agreements entered into in compliance with Section 10.2.13;

(l) Loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of any Loan Party in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of, Distributions to the extent permitted to be made to such parent in accordance with Section 10.2.3;

(m) Investments in the Ordinary Course of Business consisting of UCC Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit;

(n) Contingent Obligations of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Capital Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Debt, in each case entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(o) Investments constituting Contingent Obligations in respect of Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1 that could have been incurred by such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary;

(p) pledges and deposits made in the Ordinary Course of Business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations or letters of credit or guarantees issued in lieu thereof;

(q) pledges or deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds, utilities and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the Ordinary Course of Business or letters of credit or guarantees issued in lieu thereof;

(r) any Investment to the extent that payment for such Investment is made solely with the proceeds of any equity investments in Parent by Persons who are not Loan Parties (other than Disqualified Equity Interests), provided that such proceeds are used substantially contemporaneously to make such Investment and designated as being for the purpose of making such Investment by written notice to the Agent;

(s) Investments of any Person existing at such time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party or consolidates or merges with a Loan Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries so long as such Investments were not made in contemplation thereof;

(t) Investments with respect to Supplier Financing Transactions permitted pursuant to Section 10.2.5(i);

(u) provided that the Payment Conditions are satisfied, other Investments not otherwise permitted by this Section 10.2.4;

 

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(v) provided that no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom Investments in the HSBC Asian Production Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $125,000,000 at any time; and

(w) Investments having an aggregate fair market value, not to exceed the greater of $165,000,000 and 5.5% of Consolidated Total Assets.

10.2.5. Asset Sales . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any Property, including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will any Loan Party permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interest or Equity Interest Equivalent in such Restricted Subsidiary (other than to another Loan Party or another Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 10.2.4), except:

(a) sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets that are not permitted by any other paragraph of this Section (each a “ Disposition ”) for fair value, provided that (i) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (a) for a purchase price in excess of $25,000,000, Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary shall receive not less than 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that for the purposes of this clause (i), (A) any liabilities (as shown on Parent’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the payment in cash of the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable Disposition and for which Parent and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing, (B) any securities received by Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition, and (C) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 10.2.5(a) that is at that time outstanding, not in excess of the greater of $82,500,000 and 2.75% of Consolidated Tangible Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, shall in each case under this clause (i) be deemed to be cash; and (ii) after giving effect to any such sale, transfer or disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(b) sales, transfers and dispositions of (i) Inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business, (ii) cash and Cash Equivalents in the Ordinary Course of Business, (iii) used, obsolete, worn out or surplus Property or the abandonment of Intellectual Property rights in the Ordinary Course of Business and (iv) Collateral outside the Ordinary Course of Business in accordance with Section 5.2(b);

(c) sales, transfers and dispositions to another Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such sales, transfers or dispositions shall be made in compliance with Section 10.2.15 unless such transactions are solely among members of a Loan Party Group and no other Person; provided further that all such sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions shall be made for fair value and 75% of such consideration will be in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(d) sales, transfers and dispositions of delinquent Accounts in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof;

(e) any transactions permitted by Sections 10.2.2, 10.2.3, 10.2.4, 10.2.6 or 10.2.8;

 

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(f) dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any Property of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(g) sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets that are not permitted by any other paragraph of this Section, provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this paragraph (g) shall not exceed the greater of $300,000,000 and 10% of Consolidated Total Assets during any Fiscal Year of the Parent;

(h) non-exclusive licensing agreements for any Intellectual Property, leases or subleases, in each case in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(i) a sale or other disposition of Accounts in connection with a Supplier Financing Transaction upon prior written notice to the Agent for each such Supplier Financing Transaction (or series of Supplier Financing Transactions) with a corresponding account debtor; provided that at the time of such sale or other disposition and having given effect thereto, no Cash Dominion Event shall have occurred and continue to exist unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Agent, and provided further Liens on receivables disposed of and paid for in full by the applicable account debtor to the applicable Kraton SPV pursuant to and accordance with this Agreement and this Section 10.2.5(i) shall be automatically and unconditionally released as provided in this Agreement and evidenced by a release confirmation letter substantially the form of Exhibit I with blanks appropriately completed in conformity with the terms of each such Supplier Financing Transaction, which confirmation letter shall be executed by the Collateral Agent, the Borrower and the applicable Investor (as defined in Exhibit I )); provided further that that (x) if any such Lien release made pursuant to this Section 10.2.5(i) is evidenced by the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code amendment, such Uniform Commercial Code amendment shall be in a form previously provided and reasonably acceptable to the Agent and (y) for the avoidance of doubt, upon entry into any Supplier Financing Transaction, the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that such Supplier Financing Transaction and any Dispositions in connection therewith are made in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including this Section 10.2.5(i)); and

(j) sales, transfers and dispositions of Term Loan Priority Collateral provided such sales, transfers and dispositions are authorized pursuant to the provisions of the Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date and comply with the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

10.2.6. Sale and Leaseback Transactions . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any Property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such Property or other Property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair value of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 270 days after such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset.

10.2.7. Restrictions on Payment of Certain Debt . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other Property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Debt, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other Property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Debt, except:

 

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(a) payment of Debt created under the Credit Documents;

(b) payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments (including earnouts or similar obligations) and mandatory prepayments (including prepayments under the Term Loan Agreement in respect of Excess Cash Flow) as and when due in respect of any Debt permitted by Section 10.2.1, other than payments in respect of Subordinated Debt prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;

(c) extensions, refinancings, refundings, substitutions, replacements and renewals of (x) the Term Debt, (y) the Senior Notes and (z) other Debt to the extent permitted by Section 10.2.1(g);

(d) payment of secured Debt that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the Property securing such Debt;

(e) provided that the Payment Conditions are satisfied, other prepayments of Debt (including optional prepayment of Debt) (it being understood and agreed that, if an irrevocable notice or contractual obligations is given in, made or arises in respect of any payment of Debt, the foregoing conditions only need to be satisfied at the time of the giving of such irrevocable notice or entering into (or effectiveness of) any such contractual obligation);

(f) payment of Debt of any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary to any other Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, if such Debt is owed by a Loan Party to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, no Default or Event of Default has occurred which is continuing or would result after giving effect to such payment;

(g) optional prepayment of Debt (in addition to any prepayment permitted by clause (e)) in exchange for or from (x) the net cash proceeds of Equity Interests of Parent or (y) the proceeds of any issuance of Equity Interests of Parent (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) or capital contribution in respect of Equity Interests of Parent from Persons who are not Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (i) no Default has occurred which is continuing or would result after giving effect to such prepayment, (ii) both immediately prior to and after giving effect to such prepayment, no FCCR Test Event shall be in effect and (iii) such prepayment is made substantially simultaneous with the receipt of the proceeds of such Equity Interests or capital contribution;

(h) payments with respect to the Debt incurred pursuant to Section 10.2.1(u) and 10.2.1(z); and

(i) other payments on Debt after the Closing Date not to exceed the aggregate amount of $50,000,000.

10.2.8. Fundamental Changes . Each Loan Party will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), except:

(a) so long as no Default or Event of Default would result therefrom, any Subsidiary of Parent or any other Person may be merged or consolidated with or into a Borrower, provided that (i) a Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving entity or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not a Borrower (such Person, the “ Successor Borrower ”), (A)the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the country in which the non-surviving Borrower was organized or existing or the laws of any state or province thereof, (B) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of a Borrower under this Agreement and

 

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the other Loan Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, (C) each applicable Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, shall have by a supplement hereto confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (D) each U.S. Domiciled Loan Party and each Foreign Domiciled Loan Party, as applicable, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to this Agreement confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, and (E) such Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent (1) an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and such supplements to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Documents and (2) if reasonably requested by the Agent, an opinion of counsel to the effect that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation does not violate this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and provided , further , that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Borrower under this Agreement;

(b) any Subsidiary of Parent (other than a Borrower) or any other Person may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into any one or more Subsidiaries of Parent, provided that (i) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) a Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving entity or (B) Parent shall take all steps necessary to cause the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Restricted Subsidiary) to become a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Guarantors, a Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Guarantor) shall execute a supplement or joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit G , in order to become a Guarantor under Section 5.10 and a grantor under Section 7.1 (or in the case of a Guarantor not organized in the U.S. enter into other Security Documents) to the extent required under Section 10.1.9, (iii) no Default or Event of Default would result from the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and (iv) such Guarantor(s) shall have delivered to the Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and such supplements and/or joinders to any Security Document preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Documents;

(c) any merger, consolidation or amalgamation in connection with a Permitted Acquisition;

(d) any Disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary permitted pursuant to Section 10.2.5;

(e) any Restricted Subsidiary (other than KPLLC and Elastomers) may liquidate or dissolve if (i) the North American Loan Party Agent determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrowers and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (ii) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary is a Loan Party, any assets or business not otherwise disposed of or transferred in accordance with Section 10.2.4 or 10.2.5, or, in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to, or otherwise owned or conducted by, another Loan Party after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution; and

(f) so long as no Event of Default would result therefrom (including, without limitation, a Change of Control), Parent may merge with any other Person; provided (i) Parent shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not Parent (any such Person, the “ Successor Parent ”), (A) the Successor Parent shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (B) the Successor Parent shall expressly assume all the obligations of

 

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Parent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Parent is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, and (C) Parent shall have delivered to the Agent an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and any such supplement to this Agreement complies with this Agreement; provided , further , that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Parent will succeed to, and be substituted for, Parent under this Agreement.

(g) A Guarantor (other than a Borrower) may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into another Guarantor (other than a Borrower), provided that (i) a Guarantor shall be the surviving entity, (ii) each such Guarantor shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the same country, (iii) no Default or Event of Default would result from the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, and (iv) such surviving Guarantor shall have delivered to the Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation preserves the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Documents.

To the extent necessary to effectuate any liquidation or dissolution of a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party permitted under Section 10.2.8(f), the North American Loan Party Agent may request that the Agent and any applicable Security Trustee release such Loan Party from all of its obligations under the Loan Documents, and the Agent and such Security Trustee shall release such Loan Party, provided that each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) the North American Loan Party Agent certifies in writing that such liquidation or dissolution is permitted under the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and that no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom; (ii) such Loan Party shall have made Full Payment of all Secured Obligations (other than contingent Guarantee Obligations in respect of the Secured Obligations of the other Loan Parties) incurred directly by such Loan Party prior to its release; and (iii) the Loan Parties shall have provided such further documentation, agreements and certifications relating to the proposed liquidation or dissolution of such Loan Party as the Agent or such Security Trustee may reasonably request.

10.2.9. Amendment of Material Documents . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights under (a) any agreement relating to any Subordinated Debt, except as permitted below, or the Term Debt Documents that is not expressly permitted under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, (b) its Organization Documents to the extent any such amendment, modification or waiver would be adverse to the Lenders or (c) the Senior Notes Documents, except as permitted below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amendments and modifications of the Notes Documents and agreements related to such Subordinated Debt shall be permitted to the extent that such amendment or modification does not (i) shorten the scheduled maturity, add amortization, accelerate the dates upon which any amortization or other mandatory prepayments or interest payments are due, or add additional redemption, put or prepayment provisions (it being understood that acceleration or mandatory repayment, prepayment, redemption or repurchase of such Debt upon the occurrence of an event of default, asset sale or a change in control shall not be deemed to constitute a change in the stated final maturity thereof), (ii) add any Events of Default, (iii) revise any subordination or collateral provisions in a manner materially adverse to the Agent or Lenders, or (iv) collectively with all other amendments, increase materially the obligations of the obligors thereunder or confer additional rights on the holders of such Debt which are materially adverse to the rights of the Agent or Lenders. For the avoidance of doubt, the preceding sentence shall not prohibit an amendment or modification to the Senior Notes Documents or agreements related to Subordinated Debt entered into to effectuate a repayment or increase thereof otherwise permitted under this Agreement and the terms of which (other than those necessary to effectuate such repayment or increase) are not otherwise prohibited under clauses (i) through (iv) of the preceding sentence.

 

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10.2.10. Supplier Financing Transactions . During a Cash Dominion Event, the Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any programs relating to Supplier Financing Transactions with new customers without the prior written consent of Agent after fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice.

10.2.11. Accounting Changes . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any material change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP.

10.2.12. Restrictive Agreements . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, become a party to any Restrictive Agreement, except a Restrictive Agreement (a) in effect on the Closing Date (or any agreement evidencing any permitted renewal, extension or refinancing of an agreement relating to Debt in effect on the Closing Date); (b) relating to Debt permitted hereunder, so long as if such Debt is secured Debt such Debt complies with the terms herein; (c) constituting customary restrictions on assignment in leases and other contracts; (d) which is binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such contractual obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; (e) which represents Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 10.2.1; (f) which arises in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 10.2.5 with respect to the assets subject to such Disposition; (g) which are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 10.2.4 and applicable solely to such joint venture entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business; and (h) which are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business.

10.2.13. Hedge Agreements . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedge Agreement, except to hedge risks arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and not for speculative purposes.

10.2.14. Conduct of Business . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business, other than its business as conducted on the Closing Date and any line of business or activities substantially similar, reasonably related or ancillary, complimentary or incidental thereto.

10.2.15. Transactions with Affiliates . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any Property to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any Property from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates (other than transactions solely among Loan Parties, except (a) transactions the consideration for which consists solely of Equity Interests of Parent, (b) transactions that are at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (c) any Investment permitted by Section 10.2.4, (d) any Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1(h) or (i), (e) any Distributions permitted by Section 10.2.3, (f) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, and compensation and employee benefit arrangements paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, directors, officers or employees of the Loan Parties or their Restricted Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business, (g) any issuances of securities of Parent or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities of Parent or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by a Loan Party’s board of directors, (h) any contribution to the capital of Parent by any holder of its Equity Interests or any purchase of Equity Interests of Parent and (i) transactions among Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries that are based on a reasonable allocation of overhead and administrative expenses or transfers in accordance with Tax transfer pricing rules.

 

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10.2.16. Inactive Affiliates . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or permit Inactive Subsidiaries at any time to (a) own any assets, (b) incur or suffer to exist any liabilities, or (c) engage in any business activity. For the avoidance of doubt nothing contained in this Agreement shall restrict the ability of any Inactive Subsidiaries to cease to exist.

10.3. Financial Covenants . Until the Commitments have terminated and Full Payment of all Obligations has occurred:

10.3.1. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, for each Test Period while a FCCR Test Event is in effect, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0 commencing with the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements were, or were required to be, delivered hereunder prior to the occurrence of the FCCR Test Event.

SECTION 11. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES ON DEFAULT

11.1. Events of Default . Each of the following shall be an “ Event of Default ” if it occurs for any reason whatsoever, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise:

(a) Payments . Any Borrower shall (i) default in the payment when due of any principal of the Loans or (ii) default in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or any fees or any other amounts owing hereunder or under any other Loan Document and, so long as no Cash Dominion Event exists, such default shall continue for five (5) or more days;

(b) Representations, etc . Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or any certificate, statement, report or other document delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to be untrue in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made;

(c) Covenants . Any Loan Party shall:

(i) breach or fail to perform any covenant applicable to it and contained in Section 8.1, 8.2.4, 8.2.5, 8.5.2, 10.1.1, 10.1.2(d), 10.1.12, 10.1.13 (with respect to preservation of existence of a Borrower), 10.2 or 10.3;

(ii) breach or fail to perform any other covenant applicable to it and contained in any Loan Documents, and such breach or failure is not cured within thirty (30) days after a Senior Officer of such Loan Party has knowledge thereof or receives notice thereof from the Agent, whichever is sooner (unless a longer grace period is provided for by applicable securities laws applicable to such Person, including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided , however , that such notice and opportunity to cure shall not apply if the breach or failure to perform is not capable of being cured within such period or is a willful breach by a Loan Party;

(d) Repudiation, etc . A Guarantor repudiates, revokes or attempts to revoke its Guarantee; a Loan Party denies or contests the validity or enforceability of any Loan Documents or Obligations, or the perfection or priority of any Lien granted to the Agent or any Security Trustee; or any Loan Document ceases to be in full force or effect for any reason (other than a waiver or release by the Agent and Lenders or as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 10.2.5 and 10.2.8);

(e) Default Under Other Agreements . Any breach or default of a Loan Party occurs under any Material Debt or, to the extent not Material Debt, the Term Debt, if the maturity of or any payment with respect to such Debt may be accelerated or demanded due to such breach;

 

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(f) Judgments . Any (i) judgment or order for the payment of money is entered against any of the Loan Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary in an amount that exceeds, individually or cumulatively with all unsatisfied judgments or orders against all Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries, $50,000,000 (net of insurance coverage therefor that has not been denied by the insurer) or (ii) other non-monetary judgment or order is entered against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that will or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and in each case such judgments or orders shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending approval within sixty (60) days from the entry thereof;

(g) Bankruptcy, etc . Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) shall commence a voluntary Insolvency Proceeding; any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) shall commence a voluntary case, proceeding or action under domestic or foreign law relating to bankruptcy, judicial management, insolvency reorganization or relief of debtors legislation of its jurisdiction of incorporation, in each case as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto; an involuntary Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) and the petition is not controverted within ten (10) days after commencement thereof; an involuntary Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) and the petition is not dismissed within sixty (60) days after commencement thereof; a Creditor Representative or similar Person is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary); any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) commences any other proceeding or action under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary); there is commenced against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) any such proceeding or action that remains undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days; any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding or action is entered; any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) suffers any appointment of any Creditor Representative or the like for it or any substantial part of its Property to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days; any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; any corporate action is taken by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; any Loan Party (i) is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due or (ii) by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its Debt; and in respect of any Dutch Borrower, a suspension of payments ( surseance van betaling ) is granted;

(h) ERISA . An ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Loan Parties and the ERISA Affiliates in an aggregate amount exceeding $50,000,000 at any time;

(i) Subordination . The subordination provisions of any document or instrument evidencing any Subordinated Debt that constitutes Material Debt shall be invalidated or otherwise cease to be legal, valid and binding obligations of the holders of such Subordinated Debt, enforceable in accordance with their terms; or

(j) Change of Control . A Change of Control occurs.

 

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11.2. Remedies upon Default . If an Event of Default described in Section 11.1(g) occurs with respect to any Borrower or Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary is not an Immaterial Subsidiary, then to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, all Obligations (other than Secured Bank Product Obligations) shall become automatically due and payable and all Commitments shall terminate, without any action by the Agent or notice of any kind. In addition, or if any other Event of Default exists, the Agent may in its discretion (and shall upon written direction of Required Lenders) do any one or more of the following from time to time:

(a) declare any Obligations (other than Secured Bank Product Obligations) immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall be due and payable without diligence, presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by Borrowers to the fullest extent permitted by law;

(b) terminate, reduce or condition any Commitment, or make any adjustment to any Borrowing Base;

(c) require Loan Parties to Cash Collateralize LC Obligations, Secured Bank Product Obligations and other Obligations that are contingent or not yet due and payable, and, if Loan Parties fail promptly to deposit such Cash Collateral, the Agent may (and shall upon the direction of Required Lenders) advance the required Cash Collateral as Revolver Loans (whether or not an Overadvance exists or is created thereby, or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied); and

(d) together with the Security Trustees (as applicable), exercise any other rights or remedies afforded under any agreement, by law, at equity or otherwise, including the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC or other similar domestic or foreign statutes. Such rights and remedies include the rights to (i) take possession of any Collateral; (ii) require Loan Parties to assemble Collateral, at Loan Parties’ expense, and make it available to the Agent and Security Trustees at a place designated by any of them; (iii) enter any premises where Collateral is located and store Collateral on such premises until sold (and if the premises are owned or leased by a Loan Party, the Loan Parties agree not to charge for such storage); (iv) sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral in its then condition, or after any further manufacturing or processing thereof, at public or private sale, with such notice as may be required by Applicable Law, in lots or in bulk, at such locations, all as the Agent and the Security Trustees, in their discretion, deem advisable, and (v) upon three Business Days’ prior written notice to the Loan Parties, transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Equity Interests, exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Equity Interests or Pledged Collateral for certificates of smaller or larger denominations, exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto (including, without limitation, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges, or options pertaining to any Pledged Equity Interests), collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon and otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Equity Interests as though the Agent or Security Trustee, as the case may be, was the outright owner thereof. Each Loan Party agrees that ten (10) days’ notice of any proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral by the Agent or Security Trustees shall be reasonable. The Agent and Security Trustees may conduct sales on any Loan Party’s premises, without charge, and any sale may be adjourned from time to time in accordance with Applicable Law. The Agent and Security Trustees shall have the right to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Collateral for cash, credit or any combination thereof, and the Agent and Security Trustees may purchase any Collateral at public or, if permitted by law, private sale and, in lieu of actual payment of the purchase price, may credit bid and set off the amount of such price against the Secured Obligations. Each Loan Party recognizes that the Agent or applicable Security Trustee, as the case may be, may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Equity Interests and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof. Each Loan Party also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if

 

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such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Agent or applicable Security Trustee, as the case may be, shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Equity Interests for the period of time necessary to permit any Loan Party or the issuer of the Pledged Equity Interests to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable securities laws of the United States or any applicable securities laws of any other country or governmental unit, or under applicable state securities laws, even if any Loan Party and the issuer would agree to do so.

11.3. License . The Agent and the Security Trustees are hereby granted an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty free, paid-up License, effective only upon and during an Event of Default if the Agent elects to exercise its remedies pursuant to Section 11.2(d), to use, license or sub-license (only if the License governing such licensed Intellectual Property of a third party permits such sub-license without payment to such third party) any or all Intellectual Property of Loan Parties, computer hardware and software, trade secrets, brochures, customer lists, promotional and advertising materials, labels, packaging materials and other Property, in advertising for sale, marketing, selling, collecting, completing manufacture of, or otherwise exercising any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral to the extent necessary to sell assets that make up the applicable Borrowing Base as permitted under Section 11.2(d) of this Agreement.

11.4. Setoff . At any time during an Event of Default, each of the Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank, any Lender, and any of their Affiliates is authorized, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by the Agent, such Security Trustee, such Fronting Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of a Loan Party against any Secured Obligations, irrespective of whether or not the Agent, such Security Trustee, such Fronting Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Secured Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of the Agent, such Security Trustee, such Fronting Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of the Agent, each Security Trustee, each Fronting Bank, each Lender and each such Affiliate under this Section 11.4 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Person may have. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify Parent and the Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender; provided , however , that failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application; provided further , that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Secured Bank Product Provider shall have the right to setoff in accordance with the terms of its Bank Product Documents.

11.5. Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver .

11.5.1. Cumulative Rights . All agreements, warranties, guaranties, indemnities and other undertakings of Loan Parties under the Loan Documents are cumulative and not in derogation of each other. The rights and remedies of the Agent, Security Trustees and Lenders are cumulative, may be exercised at any time and from time to time, concurrently or in any order, and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies available by agreement, by law, at equity or otherwise. All such rights and remedies shall continue in full force and effect until Full Payment of all Secured Obligations.

11.5.2. Waivers . No waiver or course of dealing shall be established by (b) the failure or delay of the Agent, any Security Trustee or any Lender to require strict performance by Loan Parties with any terms of the Loan Documents, or to exercise any rights or remedies with respect to Collateral or otherwise; (c) the making of any Loan or issuance of any Letter of Credit during a Default,

 

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Event of Default or other failure to satisfy any conditions precedent; or (d) acceptance by the Agent or any Lender of any payment or performance by a Loan Party under any Loan Documents in a manner other than that specified therein. It is expressly acknowledged by Loan Parties that any failure to satisfy a financial covenant on a measurement date shall not be cured or remedied by satisfaction of such covenant on a subsequent date.

11.6. Judgment Currency . If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court or obtaining an order enforcing a judgment, it becomes necessary to convert any amount due under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any a currency (hereinafter in this Section 11.6 called the “first currency”) into any other currency (hereinafter in this Section 11.6 called the “second currency”), then the conversion shall be made at the Agent’s spot rate of exchange for buying the first currency with the second currency prevailing at the Agent’s close of business on the Business Day next preceding the day on which the judgment is given or (as the case may be) the order is made. Any payment made by an Loan Party to any Credit Party or any Security Trustee pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in the second currency shall constitute a discharge of the obligations of any applicable Loan Parties to pay to such Credit Party or such Security Trustee any amount originally due to the Credit Party or Security Trustee in the first currency under this Agreement or any other Loan Document only to the extent of the amount of the first currency which such Credit Party or such Security Trustee is able, on the date of the receipt by it of such payment in any second currency, to purchase, in accordance with such Credit Party’s or such Security Trustee’s normal banking procedures, with the amount of such second currency so received. If the amount of the first currency falls short of the amount originally due to such Credit Party or such Security Trustee in the first currency under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Loan Parties agree that they will indemnify each Credit Party and each Security Trustee against and save such Credit Party and such Security Trustee harmless from any shortfall so arising. This indemnity shall constitute an obligation of each such Loan Party separate and independent from the other obligations contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of action and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order for a liquidated sum or sums in respect of amounts due to any Credit Party or any Security Trustee under any Loan Documents or under any such judgment or order. Any such shortfall shall be deemed to constitute a loss suffered by such Credit Party or such Security Trustee and Loan Parties shall not be entitled to require any proof or evidence of any actual loss. If the amount of the first currency exceeds the amount originally due to a Credit Party or a Security Trustee in the first currency under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, such Credit Party or such Security Trustee shall promptly remit such excess to Loan Parties. The covenants contained in this Section 11.6 shall survive the Full Payment of the Secured Obligations.

SECTION 12. AGENT AND SECURITY TRUSTEES

12.1. Appointment, Authority and Duties of Agent .

12.1.1. Appointment and Authority . Each Secured Party appoints and designates Bank of America as the Agent under all Loan Documents. The Agent may, and each Secured Party authorizes the Agent to, on behalf of the Secured Parties, enter into all Loan Documents to which the Agent is intended to be a party and accept all Security Documents, for the Agent’s benefit and the Pro Rata benefit of the Secured Parties. Each Secured Party agrees that any action taken by the Agent, Super-Majority Lenders or Required Lenders (as applicable) in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Documents, and the exercise by the Agent, Super-Majority Lenders or Required Lenders (as applicable) of any rights or remedies set forth therein, together with all other powers reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized by and binding upon all Secured Parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent, together with the Security Trustees, as applicable, shall have the sole and exclusive authority to (i) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for Lenders with respect to all payments and

 

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collections arising in connection with the Loan Documents; (ii) execute and deliver as the Agent each Loan Document, including the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and any other intercreditor or subordination agreement (or joinder thereto), and accept delivery of each Loan Document from any Loan Party or other Person; (iii) act as collateral agent and security trustee, as applicable, for Secured Parties for purposes of perfecting and administering Liens under the Loan Documents, and for all other purposes stated therein; (iv) manage, supervise or otherwise deal with Collateral; and (v) take any Enforcement Action or otherwise exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral under the Loan Documents, Applicable Law or otherwise. The duties of the Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature only, and the Agent shall not have a fiduciary relationship with any Secured Party, Participant or other Person, by reason of any Loan Document or any transaction relating thereto. The Agent alone shall be authorized by the Lenders to determine whether any Accounts or Inventory constitute Eligible Accounts or Eligible Inventory, whether to impose or release any reserve, or whether any conditions to funding or to issuance of a Letter of Credit have been satisfied, which determinations and judgments, if exercised in good faith, shall exonerate the Agent from liability to any Lender or other Person for any error in judgment.

12.1.2. Duties . The Agent shall not have any duties except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. The conferral upon the Agent of any right shall not imply a duty to exercise such right, unless instructed to do so by Lenders in accordance with this Agreement.

12.1.3. Agent Professionals . The Agent may perform its duties through agents and employees. The Agent may consult with and employ Agent Professionals, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in any action taken in good faith reliance upon, any advice given by an Agent Professional. The Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, employees or Agent Professionals selected by it with reasonable care.

12.1.4. Instructions of Lenders . The rights and remedies conferred upon the Agent under the Loan Documents may be exercised without the necessity of joinder of any other party, unless required by Applicable Law. The Agent may request instructions from Required Lenders or other Secured Parties with respect to any act (including the failure to act) in connection with any Loan Documents or Collateral, and may seek assurances to its satisfaction from the Secured Parties of their indemnification obligations against all Claims that could be incurred by the Agent in connection with any act. The Agent shall be entitled to refrain from any act until it has received such instructions or assurances, and the Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Instructions of Required Lenders shall be binding upon all Secured Parties, and no Secured Party shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Agent as a result of the Agent acting or refraining from acting in accordance with the instructions of Required Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, instructions by and consent of specific parties shall be required to the extent provided in Section 14.1.1. In no event shall the Agent be required to take any action that, in its opinion, is contrary to Applicable Law or any Loan Documents or could subject any Agent Indemnitee to personal liability.

12.2. Dutch Security Trustee .

12.2.1. Appointment of the Dutch Security Trustee .

(a) The Dutch Facility Secured Parties appoint the Dutch Security Trustee to hold (i) any security interest created by any Foreign Security Agreement; and (ii) the covenants and undertakings of the relevant Foreign Security Agreements, with respect to any jurisdiction where the concept of trust is appropriate, on trust for the Dutch Facility Secured Parties and with respect to any jurisdiction where the concept of trust is not appropriate, as security agent for the Dutch Facility Secured Parties, and, in each case, the Dutch Security Trustee accepts that appointment.

 

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(b) Each Dutch Facility Secured Party (other than the Dutch Security Trustee) hereby appoints the Dutch Security Trustee as its representative ( vertegenwoordiger / représentant ) within the meaning of article 5 of the Belgian Financial Collateral Act of 15 December 2004 in respect of each Belgian Security Agreement relating to financial instruments and cash on account.

(c) The Dutch Security Trustee, its subsidiaries and associated companies may each retain for its own account and benefit any fee, remuneration and profits paid to it in connection with (i) its activities under the Loan Documents and (ii) its engagement in any kind of banking or other business with any Loan Party.

12.2.2. Delegation . The Dutch Security Trustee may delegate to any Person on such terms (which may include the power to sub-delegate) and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit, all or any of the rights, powers, authorities and discretions vested in it by any of the Loan Documents.

12.2.3. Separate Security Trustees .

(a) The Dutch Security Trustee may (whether for the purpose of complying with any law or regulation of any overseas jurisdiction, or for any other reason) appoint any Person to act jointly with the Dutch Security Trustee either as a separate trustee or as a co-trustee (each an “ Appointee ”) on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Dutch Security Trustee thinks fit and with such of the rights, powers, authorities and discretions vested in the Dutch Security Trustee by any Loan Document as may be conferred by the instrument of appointment of the Appointee.

(b) The Dutch Security Trustee may pay reasonable remuneration to any Appointee, together with any costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Appointee in connection with its appointment. All such remuneration, costs and expenses shall be treated, for the purposes of this Agreement, as paid or incurred by the European Security Trustee.

12.2.4. The Foreign Security Agreements .

(a) Each Dutch Facility Secured Party confirms its approval of the relevant Foreign Security Agreements and of any security interest intended to be created under it, and authorizes and instructs the Dutch Security Trustee to execute and deliver the relevant Foreign Security Agreements.

(b) The Dutch Security Trustee may accept without inquiry the title (if any) which any Person may have to any assets over which security interest is intended to be created by the relevant Foreign Security Agreements, and shall not be liable to any other party for any defect in or failure of any such title.

(c) The Dutch Security Trustee shall not be (i) liable or responsible to any Dutch Facility Secured Party for any failure to perfect, protect, register, make any filing or give notice in respect of the security interest intended to be created by the relevant Foreign Security Agreements, unless that failure arises directly from its own gross negligence or willful misconduct; (ii) obliged to insure any assets over which security interest is intended to be created by the relevant Foreign Security Agreements, to require any other person to maintain any such insurance, or to make any inquiry or conduct any investigation into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any insurance existing over any such asset; or (iii) obliged to hold in its own possession the relevant Foreign Security Agreements, title deed or other document relating to any assets over which security interest is intended to be created by the relevant Foreign Security Agreements.

 

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12.2.5. Security Trustee as Proprietor . Each Dutch Facility Secured Party confirms that it does not wish to be registered as a joint proprietor of any mortgage or charge created pursuant to the relevant European Security Agreements and accordingly (a) authorizes the Dutch Security Trustee to hold such mortgages and charges in its sole name as trustee for the Dutch Facility Secured Parties; and (b) requests the land registry (or other relevant registry) to register the Dutch Security Trustee as a sole proprietor (or heritable creditor, as the case may be) of any such mortgage or charge.

12.2.6. Investments . Except to the extent that a Foreign Security Agreement otherwise requires, any moneys received by the Dutch Security Trustee under or pursuant to a Foreign Security Agreement may be (a) invested in any investments which it may select and which are authorized by Applicable Law; or (b) placed on deposit at any bank or institution (including itself) on such terms as it may think fit, in each case in the name or under the control of the Dutch Security Trustee, and those moneys, together with any accrued income (net of any applicable Tax) shall be held by the Dutch Security Trustee to the order of the Agent, and shall be payable to the Agent on demand.

12.2.7. Dutch Facility Secured Parties’ Indemnity to the Dutch Security Trustee . Each Dutch Facility Secured Party shall indemnify the Dutch Security Trustee, its delegates and sub-delegates and Appointees (each an “Indemnified Party”), within three (3) Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Dutch Security Trustee or the relevant Indemnified Party (otherwise than by reason of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Dutch Security Trustee or that Indemnified Party) in acting as Dutch Security Trustee or its delegate, sub-delegate or Appointee under the relevant Foreign Security Agreements (except to the extent that the Dutch Security Trustee, or the relevant Indemnified Party has been reimbursed by any Loan Party pursuant to the relevant Foreign Security Agreements).

12.2.8. Conduct of Business by the Dutch Security Trustee . No provision of this Agreement will (a) interfere with the right of the Dutch Security Trustee to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; (b) oblige the Dutch Security Trustee to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or (c) oblige the Dutch Security Trustee to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of tax.

12.2.9. Liability of Dutch Security Trustee .

(a) The Dutch Security Trustee shall not nor shall any of its officers, employees or agents from time to time be responsible for: (i) the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by any Loan Party or any other person given in or in connection with the relevant Foreign Security Agreements; or (ii) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the relevant Foreign Security Agreements or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with the relevant Foreign Security Agreements.

(b) Without limiting Section 12.2.9(a), the Dutch Security Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by it or not taken by it under or in connection with the relevant Foreign Security Agreements, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(c) No party (other than the Dutch Security Trustee) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Dutch Security Trustee in respect of any claim it might have against the Dutch Security Trustee or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to the relevant Foreign Security Agreements and any officer, employee or agent of the Dutch Security Trustee may rely on this Section 12.2.9 and the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

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(d) The Dutch Security Trustee shall not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Loan Documents to be paid by the Dutch Security Trustee, if the Dutch Security Trustee has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognized clearing or settlement system used by the Dutch Security Trustee for that purpose.

(e) Without affecting the responsibility of the Loan Parties for information supplied by them or on their behalf in connection with any Loan Document, each Dutch Facility Secured Party confirms to the Dutch Security Trustee that it has been, and shall continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with the relevant Foreign Security Agreements including but not limited to: (i) the financial condition, status and nature of the Loan Parties; (ii) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the relevant Foreign Security Agreements and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with the relevant Foreign Security Agreements; (iii) whether such Dutch Facility Secured Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Loan Document, the transactions contemplated by the Foreign Security Agreements or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with the relevant Foreign Security Agreements; and (iv) the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by any person under or in connection with the relevant Foreign Security Agreements, the transactions contemplated by the relevant Foreign Security Agreements or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with the relevant Foreign Security Agreements.

12.2.10. Foreign Security Agreements .

(a) The Dutch Security Trustee shall accept without investigation, requisition or objection, such title as any person may have to the assets which are subject to the relevant Foreign Security Agreements and shall not (i) be bound or concerned to examine or enquire into the title of any person; (ii) be liable for any defect or failure in the title of any person, whether that defect or failure was known to the Dutch Security Trustee or might have been discovered upon examination or enquiry and whether capable of remedy or not; or (iii) be liable for any failure on its part to give notice of the relevant Foreign Security Agreements to any third party or otherwise perfect or register the security interests created by the relevant Foreign Security Agreements (unless such failure arises directly from the Dutch Security Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct).

(b) The Dutch Security Trustee shall hold the relevant Foreign Security Agreements and all proceeds of enforcement of them on trust for the Dutch Facility Secured Parties on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(c) For the purposes of the French Security Agreements, the Security Trustee shall be deemed to act as mandataire in the name and on behalf of each of the secured parties under the French Security Agreements.

(d) The relevant Foreign Security Agreements shall rank as continuing security interest for the discharge of the liabilities secured by it.

12.2.11. [Reserved] ;

 

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12.2.12. Trust . The perpetuity period for each trust created by this Agreement shall be 125 years.

12.2.13. Parallel Debt Obligations . In order to ensure the continuing validity of the security interests governed by Dutch law, German law or Belgian law (a) each Dutch Domiciled Loan Party irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes (that undertaking in respect of any amount, a “ Parallel Debt Obligation ” and in respect of all of them, the “ Parallel Debt Obligations ”) to pay to the Dutch Security Trustee an amount equal to and in the same currency as all amounts from time to time due and payable by that Dutch Domiciled Loan Party to the Lenders under the Credit Documents (the obligations to the Lenders in respect of any amount and a certain currency, an “ Original Obligation ” and its obligations to the Lenders in respect of all of them, the “ Original Obligations ”); (b) the Parallel Debt Obligations shall be separate from and independent of the Original Obligations, so that the Dutch Security Trustee will have an independent right to demand performance of any Parallel Debt Obligation; (c) the Parallel Debt Obligations shall be owed to the Dutch Security Trustee in its own name and any Foreign Security Agreement governed by Dutch law or Belgian law shall also be expanded to secure the Parallel Debt Obligations; (d) the Lenders, the Loan Parties and the Dutch Security Trustee acknowledge that the Dutch Security Trustee acts in its own name and not as an agent or representative of the Lenders and the security interests governed by Dutch law or Belgian law created in favor of the Dutch Security Trustee will not be held on trust; (e) other than as set out in Section 12.2.13(f), the Parallel Debt Obligations shall not limit or affect the existence of the Original Obligations, for which the Lenders shall have an independent right to demand performance (to the extent permitted by this Agreement); (f) payment by the Loan Parties of any Parallel Debt Obligation shall to the same extent decrease and be a good discharge of the corresponding Original Obligation owing to the Lenders and payment by the Loan Parties of any Original Obligations to the Lenders shall to the same extent decrease and be a good discharge of the corresponding Parallel Debt Obligation owing by it to the Dutch Security Trustee; and (g) without limiting or affecting the Dutch Security Trustee’s right to protect, preserve or enforce its rights under any Foreign Security Agreements governed by Dutch law or Belgian law, the Dutch Security Trustee undertakes to the Lenders not to exercise its rights in respect of any Parallel Debt Obligation without the consent of the Agent. Notwithstanding clause (f) above, no Loan Party may pay any Parallel Debt Obligation other than at the instruction of, and in the manner determined by, the Dutch Security Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parallel Debt Obligations will become due and payable ( opeisbaar ) at the same time as the corresponding Original Obligations.

12.2.14. Appointment and Retirement of Dutch Security Trustee . The Dutch Security Trustee (a) subject to the appointment of a successor (in consultation with the Foreign Loan Party Agent) may, and must if the Agent requires, retire at any time from its position as Dutch Security Trustee under the Loan Documents without assigning any reason, and (b) must give notice of its intention to retire by giving to the other Dutch Facility Secured Parties and the Foreign Loan Party Agent not less than thirty (30) days’ nor more than sixty (60) days’ notice.

12.2.15. Appointment of Successor . The Agent may, with the approval of the Foreign Loan Party Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) other than during the continuation of an Event of Default, appoint a successor to the Dutch Security Trustee, during the period of notice in Section 12.2.14. If no successor is appointed by the Agent, the Dutch Security Trustee may appoint (after consultation with the Agent and the Foreign Loan Party Agent) its successor. The Foreign Facility Secured Parties shall promptly enter into any agreements that the successor may reasonably require to effect its appointment.

12.2.16. Discharge of Dutch Security Trustee . From the date that the appointment of the successor is effected under Section 12.2.14, the retiring Dutch Security Trustee must be discharged from any further obligations under the Loan Documents as Dutch Security Trustee, and the successor to

 

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the Dutch Security Trustee and each of the other Dutch Facility Secured Parties have the same rights and obligations between themselves as they would have had if the successor had been a party to those Loan Documents.

12.3. Agreements Regarding Collateral and Field Examination Reports .

12.3.1. Lien Release . It is acknowledged that the Loan Parties will be automatically released from their Guarantee or Foreign Cross-Guarantee, as applicable, hereunder and from the security interests pledged by them under the Security Documents upon consummation of transactions permitted hereunder (including a merger, consolidation or liquidation or a permitted Disposition) and (i) Liens to secure the Secured Obligations hereunder will be automatically released upon sales, dispositions or other transfers by Loan Parties permitted (x) hereunder and (y) with respect to Term Debt Priority Collateral, when permitted pursuant to the provisions of the Term Loan Agreement and (ii) upon the Loan Parties’ notification to the Agent, which notification may only be made after the date on which all Obligations (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) (other than unasserted contingent indemnity claims) have been paid in full and all Commitments (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) have been terminated or expired (the date of such request, the “ Term Debt Priority Collateral Release Date ”), Liens to secure the Term Debt Priority Collateral. In the event that any action is necessary or required to evidence any such release, the Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Agent and the Security Trustee to take any such action, including,

(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Agent or Security Trustee under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of all Commitments and Full Payment of all Secured Obligations, (ii) that is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in connection with any sales, dispositions or other transfers by Loan Parties not prohibited hereunder or under any other Loan Document or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 14.1;

(b) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under any Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary or a Guarantor as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder;

(c) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Agent or Security Trustee under any Loan Document to the holder of any Purchase Money Lien or other Lien entitled to priority hereunder or by operation of law on such property; and

(d) to deliver to the applicable Loan Party (or as directed by such Loan Party) any certificates or Instruments in the possession of the Agent or the Security Trustee or the termination of any control agreement for which its Lien is released or subordinated.

Upon request by the Agent or the Security Trustee at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee, pursuant to this Section 12.3.1. In each case as specified in this Section 12.3.1, the Agent or the Security Trustee (as applicable) will, at the applicable Loan Parties’ expense, execute and deliver to such Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under any Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 12.3.1.

 

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12.3.2. Lien Releases; Care of Collateral .

(a) Dutch Facility Secured Parties authorize the Agent to release or subordinate (if applicable) any Lien with respect to any Dutch Facility Collateral (i) as required under Section 12.3.1(a) in connection with a liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 10.2.8(f); (ii) that does not constitute a material part of the Dutch Facility Collateral; (iii) following an Event of Default, in connection with an enforcement action and realization on Dutch Facility Collateral; or (iv) with the written consent of all Dutch Lenders. Subject to Section 14.1.1, the Dutch Security Trustee is authorized by each of the Dutch Facility Secured Parties to execute on behalf of itself and each such Dutch Facility Secured Party any release of the security interests created by the relevant Foreign Security Agreements in accordance herewith. Each Dutch Facility Secured Party undertakes to execute such releases and other documents as may be necessary to give effect to the releases specified herein.

(b) U.S. Facility Secured Parties authorize the Agent to release or subordinate (if applicable) any Lien with respect to any U.S. Facility Collateral (i) as required by Section 12.3.1. or in connection with a liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 10.2.8(c); (ii) that does not constitute a material part of the U.S. Facility Collateral; (iii) following an Event of Default, in connection with an enforcement action and realization on U.S. Facility Collateral; or (iv) with the written consent of all U.S. Lenders. Subject to Section 14.1.1, the Agent is authorized by each of the U.S. Facility Secured Parties to execute on behalf of itself and each such U.S. Facility Secured Party any release of the security interests created by the relevant Security Document in accordance with herewith. Each U.S. Facility Secured Party undertakes to execute such releases and other documents as may be necessary to give effect to the releases specified herein.

(c) The Agent shall have no obligation to assure that any Collateral exists or is owned by a Loan Party, or is cared for, protected or insured, nor to assure that the Agent’s or any Security Trustee’s Liens have been properly created, perfected or enforced, or are entitled to any particular priority, nor to exercise any duty of care with respect to any Collateral.

12.3.3. Possession of Collateral .

(a) The Agent and Dutch Facility Secured Parties appoint each Dutch Lender as agent (for the benefit of Dutch Facility Secured Parties) for the purpose of perfecting Liens in any Dutch Facility Collateral held or controlled by such Dutch Lender, to the extent such Liens are perfected by possession or control.

(b) The Agent and U.S. Facility Secured Parties appoint each U.S. Lender as agent (for the benefit of U.S. Facility Secured Parties) for the purpose of perfecting Liens in any U.S. Facility Collateral held or controlled by such U.S. Lender, to the extent such Liens are perfected by possession or control.

(c) If any Lender obtains possession or control of any Collateral, it shall notify the Agent thereof and, promptly upon the Agent’s request, deliver such Collateral to the Agent or the applicable Security Trustee or otherwise deal with it in accordance with the Agent’s instructions.

12.3.4. Reports . The Agent shall promptly provide to each Applicable Lender, when complete, copies of any field audit, examination or appraisal report prepared by or for the Agent with respect to any Loan Party or Collateral (“ Report ”). Reports and other Borrower Materials may be made available to Lenders by providing access to them on the Platform, but Agent shall not be responsible for system failures or access issues that may occur from time to time. Each Lender agrees (a) that neither Bank of America nor the Agent makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any Report, and shall not be liable for any information contained in or omitted from any Report; (b) that the Reports are not intended to be comprehensive audits or examinations, and that the

 

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Agent or any other Person performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Obligations or Collateral and will rely significantly upon the applicable Loan Parties’ books and records and representations as well as upon representations of the applicable Loan Parties’ officers and employees; and (c) to keep all Reports and Borrower Materials confidential and strictly for such Lender’s internal use, and not to distribute any Report or Borrower Materials (or the contents thereof) to any Person (except to such Lender’s Participants, attorneys and accountants provided such persons are informed of the confidential nature of such Reports and Borrower Materials and instructed to keep them confidential and strictly for such Lender’s use) or use any Report in any manner other than administration of the Loans and other Obligations. Each Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and any other Person preparing a Report from any action such Lender may take as a result of or any conclusion it may draw from any Report or other Borrower Materials, as well as from any Claims arising as a direct or indirect result of the Agent furnishing a Report or any Borrower Materials to such Lender.

12.4. Reliance By Agent . The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any certification, notice or other communication (including those by telephone, telex, telegram, telecopy or e-mail) believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person and upon the advice and statement of Agent Professionals. The Agent shall have a reasonable and practicable amount of time to act upon any instruction, notice or other communication under any Loan Document, and shall not be liable for any delay in acting.

12.5. Action Upon Default . The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, or of any failure to satisfy any conditions in Section 6, unless it has received written notice from a Loan Party Agent or Required Lenders specifying the occurrence and nature thereof. Each Secured Party agrees that, except as otherwise provided in any Loan Documents or with the written consent of the Agent and Required Lenders, it will not take any Enforcement Action (other than the exercise of setoff rights which setoff rights are subject to Section 12.6), accelerate Obligations, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under Applicable Law to credit bid at foreclosure sales, UCC sales or other similar dispositions of Collateral or to assert any rights relating to any Collateral.

12.6. Ratable Sharing . If any Lender shall obtain any payment or reduction of any Secured Obligation, whether through setoff or otherwise, in excess of its share of such Secured Obligation, determined on a Pro Rata basis or in accordance with Section 5.5.1, as applicable, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Agent of such fact and (b) purchase from the Agent, any Fronting Bank and the other Applicable Lenders such participations in the affected Obligation as are necessary to cause the purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or reduction on a Pro Rata basis or in accordance with Section 5.5.1, as applicable. If any of such payment or reduction is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender, the purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Defaulting Lender obtains a payment or reduction of any Obligation, it shall immediately turn over the amount thereof to the Agent for application under Section 4.2 and it shall provide a written statement to the Agent describing the Obligation affected by such payment or reduction. No Lender shall set off against any Dominion Account without the prior consent of the Agent.

12.7. Indemnification . EACH LENDER SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS AGENT INDEMNITEES AND FRONTING BANK INDEMNITEES, TO THE EXTENT NOT REIMBURSED BY LOAN PARTIES (BUT WITHOUT LIMITING THE INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS OF LOAN PARTIES UNDER ANY CREDIT DOCUMENTS), ON A PRO RATA BASIS, AGAINST ALL CLAIMS THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH INDEMNITEE, PROVIDED THAT ANY CLAIM AGAINST AN AGENT INDEMNITEE RELATES TO OR ARISES FROM ITS ACTING AS OR FOR THE AGENT (IN THE CAPACITY OF THE AGENT). In no event shall any Lender have any obligation hereunder to indemnify or hold

 

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harmless an Agent Indemnitee or a Fronting Bank Indemnitee with respect to a Claim that is determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Agent Indemnitee or Fronting Bank Indemnitee (as applicable). In the Agent’s discretion, it may reserve for any Claims made against an Agent Indemnitee or Fronting Bank Indemnitee, and may satisfy any judgment, order or settlement relating thereto, from proceeds of Collateral prior to making any distribution of Collateral proceeds to the Secured Parties. If the Agent is sued by any Creditor Representative, debtor-in-possession or other Person for any alleged preference or fraudulent transfer, then any monies paid by the Agent in settlement or satisfaction of such proceeding, together with all interest, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in the defense of same, shall be promptly reimbursed to the Agent by each Lender to the extent of its Pro Rata share.

12.8. Limitation on Responsibilities of Agent . The Agent shall not be liable to any Secured Party for any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Credit Documents, except for losses directly and solely caused by the Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by any Loan Party, Lender or other Secured Party of any obligations under the Credit Documents. The Agent does not make any express or implied representation, warranty or guarantee to the Secured Parties with respect to any Secured Obligations, Collateral, Credit Documents or Loan Party. No Agent Indemnitee shall be responsible to the Secured Parties for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in any Credit Documents; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any Credit Documents; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Secured Obligations; or the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any Loan Party or Account Debtor. No Agent Indemnitee shall have any obligation to any Secured Party to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any Loan Party of any terms of the Credit Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in any Credit Documents, except that Agent shall confirm receipt of the items required to be delivered to Agent pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement.

12.9. Successor Agent and Co-Agents .

12.9.1. Resignation; Successor Agent . The Agent may resign as the Agent upon ten (10) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrowers. If the Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall (unless such successor agent is a Lender) be consented to by the Borrowers at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Section 11.1(a) or Section 11.1(g) (which consent of the Borrowers shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Agent, the Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrowers, a successor agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Agent, and the term “Agent” shall mean such successor administrative agent and/or supplemental administrative agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent shall be terminated but shall continue to have the benefits of the indemnification set forth in Sections 12.7, 12.15 and 14.2. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Agent by the date which is fifteen (15) Business Days following the retiring Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Agent hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing

 

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or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such amendments or supplements to such instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents, the Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any Agent’s resignation, the provisions of this Section 12 shall continue in effect for its benefit with respect to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while the Agent. Any successor to Bank of America by merger or acquisition of stock or this loan shall continue to be the Agent hereunder without further act on the part of the parties hereto, unless such successor resigns as provided above.

12.9.2. Separate Collateral Agent . It is the intent of the parties that there shall be no violation of any Applicable Law denying or restricting the right of financial institutions to transact business in any jurisdiction. If the Agent believes that it may be limited in the exercise of any rights or remedies under the Loan Documents due to any Applicable Law, the Agent may appoint an additional Person who is not so limited, as a separate security trustee, collateral agent or co-collateral agent. If the Agent so appoints a security trustee, collateral agent or co-collateral agent, each right and remedy intended to be available to the Agent under the Loan Documents shall also be vested in such separate agent. The Secured Parties shall execute and deliver such documents as the Agent deems appropriate to vest any rights or remedies in such agent. If any security trustee, collateral agent or co-collateral agent shall die or dissolve, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, then all the rights and remedies of such agent, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Agent until appointment of a new agent.

12.10. Due Diligence and Non-Reliance . Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lenders, and based upon such documents, information and analyses as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of each Loan Party and its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to fund Loans and participate in LC Obligations hereunder. Each Secured Party has made such inquiries as it deems necessary concerning the Loan Documents, the Collateral and each Loan Party. Each Secured Party further acknowledges and agrees that the other Secured Parties and the Agent have made no representations or warranties concerning any Loan Party, any Collateral or the legality, validity, sufficiency or enforceability of any Loan Documents or Secured Obligations. Each Secured Party will, independently and without reliance upon any other Secured Party or the Agent, and based upon such financial statements, documents and information as it deems appropriate at the time, continue to make and rely upon its own credit decisions in making Loans and participating in LC Obligations, and in taking or refraining from any action under any Loan Documents. Except for notices, reports and other information expressly requested by a Lender, the Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to provide any Secured Party with any notices, reports or certificates furnished to the Agent by any Loan Party or any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition, business or Properties of any Loan Party (or any of its Affiliates) which may come into possession of the Agent or any of the Agent’s Affiliates.

12.11. Remittance of Payments and Collections .

12.11.1. Remittances Generally . All payments by any Lender to the Agent shall be made by the time and on the day set forth in this Agreement, in immediately available funds. If no time for payment is specified or if payment is due on demand by the Agent and request for payment is made by the Agent by 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) on a Business Day, payment shall be made by Lender not later than 2:00 p.m. (Local Time) on such day, and if request is made after 11:00 a.m. (Local Time), then payment shall be made by 11:00 a.m. (Local Time) on the next Business Day. Payment by the Agent to any Secured Party shall be made by wire transfer, in the type of funds received by the Agent. Any such payment shall be subject to the Agent’s right of offset for any amounts due from such payee under the Loan Documents.

 

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12.11.2. Failure to Pay . If any Secured Party fails to pay any amount when due by it to the Agent pursuant to the terms hereof, such amount shall bear interest, from the due date until paid in full, at the rate determined by the Agent as customary for interbank compensation for two Business Days and thereafter at the Default Rate for U.S. Base Rate Loans. In no event shall Loan Parties be entitled to receive credit for any interest paid by a Secured Party to the Agent, nor shall any Defaulting Lender be entitled to interest on any amounts held by the Agent pursuant to Section 4.2.

12.11.3. Recovery of Payments . If the Agent pays any amount to a Secured Party in the expectation that a related payment will be received by the Agent from a Loan Party and such related payment is not received, then the Agent may recover such amount from each Secured Party that received it. If the Agent determines at any time that an amount received under any Loan Document must be returned to a Loan Party or paid to any other Person pursuant to Applicable Law or otherwise, then, notwithstanding any other term of any Loan Document, the Agent shall not be required to distribute such amount to any Lender. If any amounts received and applied by the Agent to any Secured Obligations are later required to be returned by the Agent pursuant to Applicable Law, each Lender shall pay to the Agent, on demand, such Lender’s Pro Rata share of the amounts required to be returned.

12.12. Agent in its Individual Capacity . As a Lender, Bank of America shall have the same rights and remedies under the other Loan Documents as any other Lender, and the terms “Lenders,” “Required Lenders”, “Super-Majority Lenders” or any similar term shall include Bank of America and its Affiliates in their capacities as Lenders. Each of Bank of America and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, provide Bank Products to, act as financial or other advisor to, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Loan Parties and their Affiliates, as if Bank of America was not the Agent hereunder, without any duty to account therefor to Lenders. In their individual capacities, Bank of America and its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Loan Parties, their Affiliates and their Account Debtors (including information subject to confidentiality obligations), and each Secured Party agrees that Bank of America and its Affiliates shall be under no obligation to provide such information to any Secured Party, if acquired in such individual capacity.

12.13. Agent Titles . Each Lender or Affiliate thereof, other than Bank of America, that is designated (on the cover page of this Agreement or otherwise) by Bank of America as an “Agent”, “Arranger”, “Joint Lead Arranger”, “Joint Book Manager”, “Syndication Agent” or “Documentation Agent” of any type shall not have any right, power, responsibility or duty under any Loan Documents other than those applicable to all Lenders, and shall in no event be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any other Lender.

12.14. Bank Product Providers . Each Secured Bank Product Provider that is not a Lender, by delivery of a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the applicable Loan Party Agent, or as otherwise agreed by the Agent and such Loan Party Agent, shall agree to be bound by Section 5.3 and this Section 12. Each Secured Bank Product Provider shall indemnify and hold harmless Agent Indemnitees, to the extent not reimbursed by Loan Parties, against all Claims that may be incurred by or asserted against any Agent Indemnitee in connection with such provider’s Secured Bank Product Obligations (except those Claims determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Indemnitee).

12.15. Withholding Taxes . To the extent required by any Applicable Law, the Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If

 

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the IRS or any other Governmental Authority asserts a claim that the Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender because (a) the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly executed by such Lenders (b) such Lender failed to notify the Agent of a change in circumstance which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective or for any other reason, or (c) such Lender otherwise failed to comply with Section 5.9, or if the Agent reasonably determined that a payment was made to a Lender pursuant to this Agreement without deduction or applicable withholding Tax from such payment, such Lender shall indemnify the Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Agent as Tax or otherwise, including any expenses (including legal expenses) incurred.

12.16. No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Section 12 is an agreement solely among the Secured Parties and the Agent, and shall survive Full Payment of the Secured Obligations. This Section 12 does not confer any rights or benefits upon Loan Parties or any other Person. As between Loan Parties and the Agent, any action that the Agent may take under any Loan Documents or with respect to any Secured Obligations shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized and directed by the Secured Parties.

SECTION 13. BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS

13.1. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Loan Parties, the Agent, Secured Parties, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except that (a) no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under any Loan Documents; and (b) any assignment by a Lender must be made in compliance with Section 13.3. The Agent may treat the Person which made any Loan as the owner thereof for all purposes until such Person makes an assignment in accordance with Section 13.3. Any authorization or consent of a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent transferee or assignee of such Lender. The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and Fronting Banks, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans, Letters of Credit and other obligations owing to, each Lender or Fronting Bank pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error; provided that a failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect the Borrowers’ obligations in respect of such Loans, Letters of Credit or other obligations, and the Borrowers, the Agent, the Lenders and the Fronting Banks shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as the owner of the Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit and other obligations recorded in the Register as owing to such Person, for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers and any Lender or Fronting Bank, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

13.2. Participations.

13.2.1. Permitted Participants; Effect . Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with Applicable Law, at any time sell to a financial institution (“ Participant ”) a participating interest in the rights and obligations of such Lender under any Loan Documents without notice to or consent of the Agent or any Loan Party. Despite any sale by a Lender of participating interests to a Participant, such Lender’s obligations under the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain the holder of its Loans and Borrower Group Commitments for all purposes, all amounts payable by Loan Parties within the applicable Loan Party Group shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participating interests, and Loan Parties within the applicable Loan Party Group and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in

 

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connection with the Loan Documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for notifying its Participants of any matters under the Loan Documents, and the Agent and the other Lenders shall not have any obligation or liability to any such Participant. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.7 or 5.8 unless Loan Party Agent agrees otherwise to the grant of such participating Interest. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the applicable Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans, Letters of Credit 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 to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) 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.

13.2.2. Voting Rights . Each Lender shall retain the sole right to approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Documents; provided that a Lender may agree with its Participant that such Lender will not, without the consent of such Participant, consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification which (a) forgives principal, interest or fees, (b) reduces the stated interest rate or fees payable with respect to any Loan or Borrower Group Commitment in which such Participant has an interest, (c) postpones the Revolver Commitment Termination Date in respect of a Borrower Group in which such Participant has an interest, or any date fixed for any regularly scheduled payment of principal, interest or fees on such Loan or Commitment, or (d) releases any Loan Party, Guarantor or substantial portion of the Collateral.

13.2.3. Benefit of Setoff . Loan Parties agree that each Participant shall have a right of setoff in respect of its participating interest to the same extent as if such interest were owing directly to a Lender, and each Lender shall also retain the right of setoff with respect to any participating interests sold by it. By exercising any right of setoff, a Participant agrees to share with Lenders all amounts received through its setoff, in accordance with Section 12.6 as if such Participant were a Lender.

13.3. Assignments .

13.3.1. Permitted Assignments . Subject to Section 13.3.3 below, a Lender may assign to an Eligible Assignee any of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, as long as (a) each assignment is of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of the transferor Lender’s rights and obligations under the Loan Documents and, in the case of a partial assignment, is in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 (unless otherwise agreed by the Agent in its discretion) and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount; (b) except in the case of an assignment in whole of a Lender’s rights and obligations, the aggregate amount of the Commitments retained by the transferor Lender is at least $5,000,000 (unless otherwise agreed by the Agent in its discretion); (c) (i) with respect to Dutch Revolver Loans and Dutch LC Obligations, each applicable Dutch Fronting Bank and applicable Dutch Swingline Lender have consented thereto (which consent shall not otherwise be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and (ii) with respect to U.S. Revolver Loans and U.S. LC Obligations, each U.S. Fronting Bank and U.S. Swingline Lender have consented thereto (which consent shall not otherwise be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and (d) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance and recording, an Assignment and Acceptance. Nothing herein shall limit the right of a Lender to pledge or assign any rights under the Loan Documents as collateral security to any Federal

 

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Reserve Bank or the United States Treasury as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank, provided , however , (1) such Lender shall remain the holder of its Loans and owner of its interest in any Letter of Credit for all purposes hereunder, (2) no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto, (3) Borrowers, the Agent, the other Lenders and Fronting Bank shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, (4) any payment by Loan Parties to the assigning Lender in respect of any Obligations assigned as described in this sentence shall satisfy Loan Parties’ obligations hereunder to the extent of such payment, (5) no such assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder and (6) the Eligible Assignee will not be entitled to greater benefits under Section 5.8.2 (Dutch Tax Matters) than the assigning Lender would have been entitled unless the Loan Party Agent agrees otherwise to the grant of such assignment.

13.3.2. Effect; Effective Date . Upon delivery to the Agent of an assignment notice in the form of Exhibit A-2 and a processing fee of $3,500 (unless otherwise agreed by the Agent in its sole discretion), the assignment shall become effective as specified in the notice, if it complies with this Section 13.3.2. From such effective date, the Eligible Assignee shall for all purposes be a Lender under the Loan Documents, and shall have all rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder. Upon consummation of an assignment, the transferor Lender, the Agent and Loan Parties shall make appropriate arrangements for issuance of replacement and/or new Revolver Notes, as applicable. The transferee Lender shall comply with Sections 5.8 and 5.9 and deliver, upon request, an administrative questionnaire satisfactory to the Agent.

13.3.3. Certain Assignees . No assignment or participation may be made to any Loan Party, Affiliate of any Loan Party, Defaulting Lender or natural person. In connection with any assignment by a Defaulting Lender, such assignment shall be effective only upon payment by the Eligible Assignee or Defaulting Lender to the Agent of an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution (through direct payment, purchases of participations or other compensating actions as the Agent deems appropriate), (a) to satisfy all funding and payment liabilities then owing by the Defaulting Lender hereunder, and (b) to acquire its Pro Rata share of all Loans and LC Obligations. If an assignment by a Defaulting Lender shall become effective under Applicable Law for any reason without compliance with the foregoing sentence, then the assignee shall be deemed a Defaulting Lender for all purposes until such compliance occurs.

13.3.4. Replacement of Certain Lenders . If (a) a Lender (i) fails to give its consent to any amendment, waiver or action for which consent of either all Lenders or all affected Lenders was required and, in each case, Required Lenders consented (any such Lender, a “Non-Consenting Lender”), (ii) is a Defaulting Lender, or (iii) gives a notice under Section 3.5 or requests compensation under Section 3.7 or (b) if any Borrower is required to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments with respect to a Lender under Section 5.8, then, in addition to any other rights and remedies that any Person may have, the Agent or a Loan Party Agent may, by notice to such Lender within 120 days after such event, require such Lender to assign all of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents to one or more Eligible Assignees, pursuant to appropriate Assignment and Acceptances, within twenty (20) days after the notice. The Agent is irrevocably appointed as attorney-in-fact to execute any such Assignment and Acceptance if the Lender fails to execute it. Such Lender shall be entitled to receive, in cash, concurrently with such assignment, all amounts owed to it under the Loan Documents at par, including all principal, interest and fees through the date of assignment (but excluding any prepayment charge).

 

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SECTION 14. MISCELLANEOUS

14.1. Consents, Amendments and Waivers .

14.1.1. Amendment . No modification of any Loan Document, including any extension or amendment of a Loan Document or any waiver of a Default or Event of Default, shall be effective without the prior written agreement of the Required Lenders and each Loan Party to such Loan Document; provided , however , that:

(a) without the prior written consent of the Agent, no modification shall be effective with respect to any provision in a Loan Document that relates to any rights, duties or discretion of the Agent;

(b) (i) without the prior written consent of each affected U.S. Fronting Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), no modification shall be effective with respect to any U.S. LC Obligations or Sections 2.3.1, 2.3.2 or 2.3.3 or any other provision in a Loan Document that relates to any rights, duties or discretion of any U.S. Fronting Bank and (ii) without the prior written consent of each affected Dutch Fronting Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), no modification shall be effective with respect to any Dutch LC Obligations or Sections 2.2.1, 2.2.2 or 2.2.3 or any other provision in a Loan Document that relates to any rights, duties or discretion of the Dutch Fronting Bank;

(c) without the prior written consent of each affected Lender, including a Defaulting Lender, no modification shall be effective that would (i) increase the Borrower Group Commitment of such Lender; (ii) reduce the amount of, or waive or delay payment of, any principal, interest or fees payable to such Lender (except as provided in Section 4.2), (iii) extend any Revolver Commitment Termination Date or the Facility Termination Date; or (iv) change the currency in which any Loan is denominated;

(d) without the prior written consent of all (i) Lenders (except any Defaulting Lender as provided in Section 4.2), no modification shall be effective that would (A) alter Section 5.3 or waive any condition in Section 6.1; (B) amend the definitions of Pro Rata, Required Lenders or Super-Majority Lenders; (C) amend this Section 14.1.1 or Section 5.5.1 or 12.6; (D) increase the Maximum Facility Amount; (E) except as permitted under Section 10.2.2 subordinate the Agent’s Lien on any Collateral or subordinate any Obligation in right payment to any other Debt; or (F) except as permitted under Section 12.3, release all or substantially all of the Collateral; or (G) except as permitted under Section 12.3, release any Loan Party from liability for any Obligations except in connection with a merger, consolidation, amalgamation or dissolution expressly permitted in this Agreement; and (ii) U.S. Lenders (in each case except any Defaulting Lender as provided in Section 4.2), no modification shall be effective that would alter Section 7.1 (except to add Collateral); and

(e) without the prior written consent of the Super-Majority Lenders, no amendment or waiver shall be effective that would (i) amend any definition of a Borrowing Base (and the defined terms used in such definitions) or to increase the advance rates applicable to any of the Borrowing Bases if the effect of such amendment is to make more credit available or to add new types of Collateral thereunder or (ii) amend the definition of Excess Availability or any definition of Availability.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “ Extension Offer ”) made from time to time by the applicable Loan Party Agent to all applicable Revolving Lenders having Commitments with a like commitment termination date, in each case on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate amounts of Commitments) and on the same terms to each such Lender within the relevant class, the applicable Borrower are hereby permitted to consummate from

 

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time to time transactions with individual Lenders that accept the terms contained in such Extension Offers to extend the maturity date and/or commitment termination of each such Lender’s Commitments of such class, and, subject to the terms hereof, otherwise modify the terms of such Commitments pursuant to the terms of the relevant Extension Offer (including by increasing the interest rate and/or fees payable in respect of such Commitments (and related outstandings)) (each, an “ Extension ”; and each group of Commitments, as applicable, in each case as so extended, as well as the original Revolving Commitments (in each case not so extended), being a separate “tranche”), so long as the following terms are satisfied:

(i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time the Extension Offer is delivered to the Lenders;

(ii) except as to interest rates, fees and final commitment termination date (which shall be determined by the applicable Loan Party Agent and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer, subject to acceptance by the Extended Lenders (as hereinafter defined)), the Commitment of any Lender that agrees to an Extension with respect to such Commitment (an “ Extended Lender ”) extended pursuant to an Extension (an “ Extended Commitment ”) and the related outstandings shall be a Commitment (or related outstandings, as the case may be) with the same terms (or terms not less favorable to existing Lenders) as the original Commitments (and related outstandings); provided that (1) the borrowing and payments (except for (A) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Extended Commitments (and related outstandings), (B) repayments required upon the commitment termination date of the non-extending tranche of Commitments and (C) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments) of Revolving Loans with respect to Extended Commitments after the applicable extension date shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Commitments of such Borrower Group, (2) all applicable Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all applicable Lenders with Commitments (including Extended Commitments) in accordance with their percentage of the Commitments, (3) assignments and participations of Extended Commitments and related Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to the other Commitments and Loans to the same Borrower Group and (4) at no time shall there be Commitments hereunder (including Extended Commitments and any existing Revolving Commitments) which have more than four (4) different maturity dates;

(iii) if the aggregate principal amount of Commitments in respect of which Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Commitments offered to be extended by the applicable Loan Party Agent pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Loans of Lenders respectively shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective commitment amounts with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer.

(iv) With respect to all Extensions consummated by the Borrowers pursuant to this Section, (A) such Extensions shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes of Section 2.1.1 or 5.2(b) and (B) no Extension Offer is required to be in any minimum amount or any minimum increment; provided that, the applicable Loan Party Agent may at its election specify as a condition to consummating any such Extension that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Offer in such Loan Party Agent’s sole discretion and may be waived by such Person) of Commitments of any or all applicable tranches be tendered. The Lenders hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by this Section (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Commitments on the such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit or conflict with any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section.

 

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(v) No consent of any Lender shall be required to effectuate any Extension, other than (A) the consent of each Lender agreeing to such Extension with respect to its Commitments (or a portion thereof) and (B) with respect to any Extension of the Commitments, the consent of the Fronting Bank and Swingline Lender. All Extended Commitments and all obligations in respect thereof shall be Obligations of the applicable Borrower Group under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and secured by the applicable Collateral on a pari passu basis with all other applicable Obligations of such Borrower Group. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the applicable Loan Party Agent (on behalf of the applicable Loan Parties) as may be necessary in order to establish new tranches or sub-tranches in respect of Commitments so extended and such technical amendments as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of Agent and the applicable Loan Party Agent in connection with the establishment of such new tranches or sub-tranches, in each case on terms consistent with this Section. In addition, if so provided in such amendment and with the consent of each Fronting Bank, participations in Letters of Credit expiring on or after the applicable commitment termination date shall be re-allocated from the applicable Lenders holding non-extended Commitments to Lenders holding Extended Commitments in accordance with the terms of such amendment; provided , however , that such participation interests shall, upon receipt thereof by the relevant Lenders holding Commitments, be deemed to be participation interests in respect of such Commitments and the terms of such participation interests shall be adjusted accordingly. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the effectiveness of each such amendment.

(vi) In connection with any Extension, the applicable Loan Party Agent shall provide Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice thereof, and shall agree to such procedures (including, without limitation, regarding timing, rounding and other adjustments and to ensure reasonable administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after such Extension), if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this subsection 14.1.1(f). This subsection 14.1.1(f) shall supersede any provisions of this Section 14.1.1 or Section 12.6 to the contrary.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto, (ii) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (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 (A) the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (B) 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, (iii) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein and (iv) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow a Loan Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14.1.1 to the contrary, (1) if the Agent and the North American Loan Party Agent shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a typographical nature, in each case, in any provision of the Loan Documents, then the Agent and the North

 

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American Loan Party Agent shall be permitted to amend such provision, and, in each case, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders to the Agent within ten Business Days following receipt of notice thereof and (2) this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of only the Agent, the North American Loan Party Agent and each Lender participating in such additional credit facility to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement for a new jurisdiction and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, provided that the consent of all Lenders is required for an increase in the Maximum Facility Amount, subject in each case to Sections 14.1.1(a) through (f).

14.1.2. Limitations . The agreement of Loan Parties shall not be necessary to the effectiveness of any modification of a Loan Document that deals solely with the rights and duties of Lenders, the Agent, the Security Trustees and/or any Fronting Bank as among themselves. Only the consent of the parties to the Fee Letters or any agreement relating to a Bank Product shall be required for any modification of such agreement. No party to a Secured Bank Product Document that is not a Lender shall have any right to participate in any manner in modification of any Loan Document. The making of any Loans during the existence of a Default or Event of Default shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of such Default or Event of Default, nor to establish a course of dealing. Any waiver or consent granted by the Agent or Lenders hereunder shall be effective only if in writing and only for the matter specified.

14.1.3. Payment for Consents . After the Closing Date, no Loan Party will, directly or indirectly, pay any remuneration or other thing of value, whether by way of additional interest, fee or otherwise, to any Lender (in its capacity as a Lender hereunder) as consideration for agreement by such Lender with any modification of any Loan Documents, unless such remuneration or value is concurrently paid, on the same terms, on a Pro Rata basis to all Lenders providing their consent.

14.2. Indemnity . IN ADDITION TO THE INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 5.8 OR ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE INDEMNITEES AGAINST ANY CLAIMS THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE, INCLUDING CLAIMS ASSERTED BY ANY LOAN PARTY OR OTHER PERSON OR ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF AN INDEMNITEE. In no event shall any party to a Loan Document have any obligation thereunder to indemnify or hold harmless an Indemnitee with respect to a Claim that is determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Indemnitee, and no Loan Party shall have any obligation to indemnify or hold harmless an Indemnitee for disputes solely among Indemnitees and not relating to any act or omission of any Loan Party or its Affiliates (other than any action involving the Agent, any Security Trustee, any Fronting Bank or any Swingline Lender, in each case in its capacity as such, in which case this indemnity shall apply with respect to each such Person, as applicable, to the extent otherwise available). The indemnity under this Section 14.2 shall not apply to any Taxes, other than Taxes arising with respect to a non-Tax Claim.

14.3. Notices and Communications .

14.3.1. Notice Address . Subject to Section 4.4, all notices and other communications by or to a party hereto shall be in writing and shall be given to any Loan Party, at the applicable Loan Party Agent’s address shown on the signature pages hereof, and to any other Person at its address shown on the signature pages hereof (or, in the case of a Person who becomes a Lender after the Closing Date, at the address shown on its Assignment and Acceptance), or at such other address as a party may hereafter specify by notice in accordance with this Section 14.3. Each such notice or other

 

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communication shall be effective only (b) if given by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, when transmitted to the applicable facsimile number or electronic mail address, as applicable, if confirmation of receipt is received; (c) if given by mail, three (3) Business Days after deposit in the local mail system of the recipient, with first-class postage pre-paid, addressed to the applicable address; or (d) if given by personal delivery (including overnight and courier service), when duly delivered to the notice address with receipt acknowledged. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice to the Agent pursuant to Sections 2.1.4, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1.1, 3.1.2 or 4.1.1 shall be effective until actually received by the individual to whose attention at the Agent such notice is required to be sent. Any written notice or other communication that is not sent in conformity with the foregoing provisions shall nevertheless be effective on the date actually received by the noticed party. Any notice received by North American Loan Party Agent shall be deemed received by all Loan Parties.

14.3.2. Electronic Communications; Voice Mail . Electronic mail and internet websites may be used only for routine communications, such as Borrower Materials, administrative matters, distribution of Loan Documents for execution, and matters permitted under Section 4.1.3. The Agent and Lenders make no assurances as to the privacy and security of electronic communications. Electronic mail and voice mail may not be used as effective notice under the Loan Documents.

14.3.3. Platform . Borrower Materials shall be delivered pursuant to procedures approved by the Agent, including electronic delivery (if possible) upon request by the Agent to an electronic system maintained by the Agent (the “ Platform ”). A Loan Party Agent shall notify the Agent of each posting of Borrower Materials on the Platform and the materials shall be deemed received by the Agent only upon its receipt of such notice. Borrower Materials and other information relating to this Agreement may be made available to Lenders on the Platform. The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information on the Platform nor the adequacy or functioning of the Platform, and expressly disclaims liability for any errors or omissions in the Borrower Materials or any issues involving the Platform. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS, OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE AGENT WITH RESPECT TO BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. Lenders acknowledge that Borrower Materials may include material non-public information of Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries and should not be made available to any personnel who do not wish to receive such information or who may be engaged in investment or other market-related activities with respect to any Loan Party’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s securities. No Agent Indemnitee shall have any liability to Loan Parties, Lenders or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) relating to use by any Person of the Platform or delivery of Borrower Materials and other information through the Platform, except for such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses that are determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Agent Indemnitee.

14.3.4. Non-Conforming Communications . The Agent and Lenders may rely upon any communications purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party even if they were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not confirmed, or if the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from a later confirmation. Each Loan Party shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from any liabilities, losses, costs and expenses arising from any electronic or telephonic communication purportedly given by or on behalf of a Loan Party.

14.4. Performance of Loan Parties’ Obligations . Subject to Sections 2.1.5 and 2.1.6, the Agent may, in its discretion at any time and from time to time, at the expense of the Loan Parties of the

 

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applicable Loan Party Group, pay any amount or do any act required of a Loan Party under any Loan Documents or otherwise lawfully requested by the Agent to (b) enforce any Loan Documents or collect any Obligations; (c) protect, insure, maintain or realize upon any Collateral; or (d) defend or maintain the validity or priority of the Agent’s or any Security Trustee’s Liens in any Collateral, including any payment of a judgment, insurance premium, warehouse charge, finishing or processing charge, or landlord claim, or any discharge of a Lien. All payments, costs and expenses (including Extraordinary Expenses) of the Agent under this Section 14.4 shall be reimbursed to the Agent by Loan Parties, on demand, with interest from the date incurred until paid in full, at the Default Rate applicable to U.S. Base Rate Loans. Any payment made or action taken by the Agent under this Section 14.4 shall be without prejudice to any right to assert an Event of Default or to exercise any other rights or remedies under the Loan Documents.

14.5. Credit Inquiries . The Agent and Lenders may (but shall have no obligation to) respond to usual and customary credit inquiries from third parties concerning any Loan Party or Subsidiary.

14.6. Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of the Loan Documents shall be interpreted in such manner as to be valid under Applicable Law. If any provision is found to be invalid under Applicable Law, it shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity and the remaining provisions of the Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect.

14.7. Cumulative Effect; Conflict of Terms . The provisions of the Loan Documents are cumulative. The parties acknowledge that the Loan Documents may use several limitations, tests or measurements to regulate similar matters, and they agree that these are cumulative and that each must be performed as provided. Except as otherwise provided in another Loan Document (by specific reference to the applicable provision of this Agreement), if any provision contained herein is in direct conflict with any provision in another Loan Document, the provision herein shall govern and control.

14.8. Counterparts . Any Loan Document may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement shall become effective when the Agent has received counterparts bearing the signatures of all parties hereto and Section 6.1 is satisfied. Delivery of a signature page of any Loan Document by telecopy or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of such agreement.

14.9. Entire Agreement . Time is of the essence with respect to all Loan Documents and Obligations. The Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, oral or written, among the parties relating to the subject matter thereof.

14.10. Relationship with Lenders . The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several, and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitments of any other Lender. Amounts payable hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt. It shall not be necessary for the Agent or any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purposes. Nothing in this Agreement and no action of the Agent, Lenders or any other Secured Party pursuant to the Loan Documents or otherwise shall be deemed to constitute the Agent and any Secured Party to be a partnership, association, joint venture or similar arrangement, nor to constitute control of any Loan Party.

14.11. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by any Loan Document, Loan Parties acknowledge and agree that (a)(i) this credit facility and any related arranging or other services by the Agent, any Lender, any of their Affiliates or any Joint Lead Arranger or other agent are arm’s-length commercial transactions between Loan Parties and such Person; (ii) Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and Tax

 

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advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate; and (iii) Loan Parties are capable of evaluating, and understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; (b) each of the Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any Joint Lead Arranger or other agent is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for Loan Parties, any of their Affiliates or any other Person, and has no obligation with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents except as expressly set forth therein; and (c) the Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any Joint Lead Arranger or other agent may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of Loan Parties and their Affiliates, and have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to Loan Parties or their Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any Joint Lead Arranger or other agent with respect to any breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any transaction contemplated by a Loan Document.

14.12. Confidentiality . Each of the Agent, Lenders and each Fronting Bank shall maintain the confidentiality of all Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, and to its and their partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives; provided such Persons are informed of the confidential nature of the Information and instructed to keep it confidential; (b) to the extent requested by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it or its Affiliates; (c) to the extent required by Applicable Law or by any subpoena or other legal process; (d) to any other party hereto; (e) in connection with any action or proceeding, or other exercise of rights or remedies, relating to any Loan Documents or Secured Obligations; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same (or at least as restrictive) as this Section 14.12, to any Transferee or any actual or prospective party (or its advisors) to any Bank Product; (g) with the consent of a Loan Party Agent; (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 14.12 or (ii) is available to the Agent, any Lender, Fronting Bank or any of their Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Loan Parties or (i) on a confidential basis to any rating agency in connection with rating any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agent and Lenders may publish or disseminate general information concerning this credit facility, including the names and addresses of Loan Parties and a general description of Loan Parties’ businesses, and may use Loan Parties’ logos, trademarks or product photographs in advertising materials. As used herein, “ Information ” means all information received from a Loan Party or Subsidiary relating to it or its business. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information pursuant to this Section 14.12 shall be deemed to have complied if it exercises a degree of care to that it accords its own confidential information. Each of the Agent, Lenders and each Fronting Bank acknowledges that (A) Information may include material non-public information concerning a Loan Party or Subsidiary; (B) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information; (C) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with Applicable Law, including federal, state, provincial and territorial securities laws.

14.13. [Reserved] .

14.14. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES (BUT GIVING EFFECT TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION LAW AND FEDERAL LAWS RELATING TO NATIONAL BANKS).

 

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14.15. Consent to Forum .

14.15.1. Forum . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL OR STATE COURT SITTING IN OR WITH JURISDICTION OVER THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, IN ANY PROCEEDING OR DISPUTE RELATING IN ANY WAY TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND EACH LOAN PARTY AGREES THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL BE BROUGHT BY IT SOLELY IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL CLAIMS, OBJECTIONS AND DEFENSES THAT IT MAY HAVE REGARDING SUCH COURT’S PERSONAL OR SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, VENUE OR INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 14.3.1. Nothing herein shall limit the right of the Agent, any Security Trustee or any Lender to bring proceedings against any Loan Party in any other court, nor limit the right of any party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to preclude enforcement by the Agent or any Security Trustee of any judgment or order obtained in any forum or jurisdiction. Final judgment against a Loan Party in any action, suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction, including the country in which such Loan Party is domiciled, by suit on the judgment.

14.15.2. Process Agent . Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Foreign Borrower and each other Loan Party organized outside the U.S. (a) irrevocably appoints the Corporation Trust Company located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, as its agent for service of process in relation to any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Documents, and (b) agrees that failure by a process agent to notify such Borrower or such Loan Party of any process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned. For purposes of clarity, nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

14.15.3. Waivers by Loan Parties . To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Loan Party waives (a) the right to trial by jury (which the Agent, each Security Trustee and each Lender hereby also waives) in any proceeding or dispute of any kind relating in any way to any Loan Documents, Obligations or Collateral; (b) presentment, demand, protest, notice of presentment, default, non-payment, maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension or renewal of any commercial paper, accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper and guaranties at any time held by the Agent on which a Loan Party may in any way be liable, and hereby ratifies anything the Agent may do in this regard; (c) notice prior to taking possession or control of any Collateral; (d) any bond or security that might be required by a court prior to allowing the Agent or a Security Trustee to exercise any rights or remedies; (e) the benefit of all valuation, appraisement and exemption laws; (f) any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) in any way relating to any Enforcement Action, Obligations, Loan Documents or transactions relating thereto; and (g) notice of acceptance hereof. Each Loan Party acknowledges that the foregoing waivers are a material inducement to the Agent, each Security Trustee, each Fronting Bank and Lenders entering into this Agreement and that the Agent, Security Trustees, each Fronting Bank and Lenders are relying upon the foregoing in their dealings with Loan Parties. Each Loan Party has reviewed the foregoing waivers with its legal counsel and has knowingly and voluntarily waived its jury trial and other rights following consultation with legal counsel. In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court.

14.16. Patriot Act Notice . The Agent and Lenders hereby notify Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act and other applicable anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing, economic or trade sanctions and “know your client” policies, regulations, laws or rules (the Proceeds of Crime Act and such other applicable policies, regulations, laws or rules, collectively, including any guidelines or orders thereunder, “ AML Legislation ”), the Agent and Lenders are required to obtain, verify

 

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and record certain information that identifies each Loan Party, including its legal name, address, Tax ID number and other similar information that will allow the Agent and Lenders to identify it in accordance with the Patriot Act and the AML Legislation. The Agent and Lenders may require information regarding Loan Parties’ management and owners, such as legal name, address, social security number and date of birth. Each Loan Party shall promptly provide all such information, including supporting documentation and other evidence, as may be reasonably requested by the Agent, any Lender or any prospective assignee or participant of a Lender pursuant to the terms herein, in order to comply with the Patriot Act and/or the AML Legislation.

14.17. [Reserved] .

14.18. Reinstatement . This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Loan Party for liquidation or reorganization, should any Loan Party become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of such Loan Party’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to Applicable Law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference”, “fraudulent conveyance”, or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

14.19. Nonliability of Lenders . Neither the Agent, any Fronting Bank nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to any Loan Party to review or inform any Loan Party of any matter in connection with any phase of any Loan Party’s business or operations. Each Loan Party agrees, on behalf of itself and each other Loan Party, that neither the Agent, any Fronting Bank nor any Lender shall have liability to any Loan Party (whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by any Loan Party in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan Documents, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection therewith, unless it is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such losses resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the party from which recovery is sought. NO LENDER SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE BY OTHERS OF ANY INFORMATION OR OTHER MATERIALS OBTAINED THROUGH INTRALINKS, SYNDTRAK OR OTHER SIMILAR INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

14.20. Restrictions on Foreign Pledges . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, no Foreign Domiciled Loan Party shall directly or indirectly guarantee or pledge its assets, and no shares in excess of 65% of any Foreign Subsidiary shall be pledged (including an indirect pledge through the pledge of the shares of a Subsidiary that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes that has no material assets other than shares in one or more Foreign Subsidiaries), in support of the U.S. Facility, the Obligations of any U.S. Borrower or any guarantee in support thereof. Additionally, no pledge or guarantee by any other entity shall be required, and no proceeds resulting therefrom shall be used, to the extent such action would result in a controlled foreign corporation (with respect to which a U.S. Borrower is a “United States shareholder” within the meaning of subpart F of the Code) holding “United States property” (pursuant to the rules of Section 956(d) of the Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto agree that notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Documents to the contrary, with respect to all Loan Documents, a payment (whether money, property or setoff) (x) by (or on behalf of) a Foreign Subsidiary, (y) resulting from enforcement of a Lien granted by, or in respect of, a Foreign Subsidiary or (z) by any Loan Party

 

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with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary’s Obligations, shall not be applied to satisfy an obligation under the U.S. Facility or a guarantee thereof (whether directly or indirectly, including by setoff) and shall not serve as Collateral therefor.

14.21. NO ORAL AGREEMENTS . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

14.22. ABL Intercreditor Agreement . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement and each other Loan Document, the Liens, security interests and rights granted pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of (and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Agent hereunder or thereunder shall be subject to the terms and conditions of), the ABL Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any other Loan Document or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, as the case may be, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall control and no right, power, or remedy granted to the Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be exercised by the Agent and no direction shall be given by the Agent, in contravention of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement. With respect to any requirement herein or in any other Loan Document for any Loan Party to deliver originals of certificated Equity Interests, Instruments, or similar documents constituting Collateral which is Term Debt Priority Collateral, such requirements shall be deemed satisfied to the extent the requirements to deliver the same to the Term Agent in accordance with the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the Term Debt Documents are in effect and are satisfied by such Loan Party. To the extent that any covenants, representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document are untrue or incorrect solely as a result of the delivery to or grant of possession or control to, the Term Agent in accordance with this Section 14.22, such representation or warranty shall not be deemed to be untrue or incorrect for purposes of this Agreement or such other Loan Document. Each of the Lenders hereby acknowledges that it has received and reviewed the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof as if such Lender was a signatory thereto. Each Lender (and each Person that becomes a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 13.1) hereby acknowledges that Bank of America is acting under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement as the “Initial ABL Collateral Agent” Each Lender (and each Person that becomes a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 13.1) hereby authorizes and directs the Agent to enter into the ABL Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of such Lender and agrees that the Agent, in its various capacities thereunder, may take such actions on its behalf as is contemplated by the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

14.23. Amendment and Restatement . This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents govern the present relationship between the Loan Parties, Agent and Lenders. This Agreement, however, is in no way intended, nor shall it be construed to affect, replace, impair or extinguish the creation, attachment, perfection or priority of the security interests in, and other Liens on, the Collateral, which security interests and other Liens each of the Loan Parties by this Agreement, acknowledges, reaffirms and confirms to Agent and Lenders. In addition, except as otherwise provided herein, all monetary obligations and liabilities and indebtedness created or existing under, pursuant to, or as a result of, the Existing Credit Agreement, other than Excluded Swap Obligations (the “ Existing Credit Agreement Obligations ”) shall continue in existence within the definition of “Obligations” under this Agreement, which obligations, liabilities and indebtedness the Loan Parties, by this Agreement, acknowledge reaffirm and confirm. Nothing herein shall be construed to be a novation or extinguishment of the Existing Credit Agreement Obligations. The Loan Parties agree that any outstanding commitment or other obligation to make advances or otherwise extend credit or credit support to any Loan Party pursuant to the Existing

 

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Credit Agreement is superseded by, and renewed and consolidated under, this Agreement. The Loan Parties represent and warrant that none of them have assigned or otherwise transferred any rights arising under the Existing Credit Agreement.

To the extent not amended and restated as of the Closing Date, the Loan Documents executed in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and in effect prior to the Closing Date (the “ Existing Credit Documents ”) (i) shall continue in full force and effect, (ii) are hereby ratified, reaffirmed and confirmed in all respects, and (iii) shall, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute “Loan Documents” under this Agreement. The terms of the Loan Documents relating to the terms of the Existing Credit Documents that have been amended and restated as of the Closing Date shall govern for any period occurring on or after the Closing Date and the terms of such Existing Credit Documents prior to their amendment and restatement shall govern for any period beginning before the Closing Date and ending on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date. In furtherance of the foregoing, (b) each reference in any Loan Document to the “Loan Agreement” or any other Loan Document that is being amended and restated as of the Closing Date, is hereby amended, mutatis mutandis, as applicable in the context, to be a reference to, and shall thereafter mean, this Agreement or such other amended and restated Loan Document, as applicable in the context (as each may be amended, modified or supplemented and in effect from time to time) and (c) the definition of any term defined in any Loan Document by reference to the terms defined in the “Loan Agreement” or any other Loan Document that is being amended and restated as of the Closing Date, is hereby amended to be defined by reference to the defined term in this Agreement or such other amended and restated Loan Document as applicable (as each may be amended, modified or supplemented and in effect from time to time). It is acknowledged and agreed that this Agreement is an “ABL Credit Agreement” for all purposes under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, and, as of the date hereof, is the only “ABL Credit Agreement” in existence for purpose of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, and the Agent is the “ABL Collateral Agent” for all purposes under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

In order to induce Lenders to enter into this Agreement on the Closing Date, each Loan Party hereby represents, warrants and covenants to Lenders that it has determined that each Loan Party will benefit specifically and materially from the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date and that each Loan Party requested and bargained for the structure and terms of and security for the Loans contemplated by this Agreement on the Closing Date.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signatures begin on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered as of the date set forth above.

 

KRATON POLYMERS U.S. LLC

ARIZONA CHEMICAL COMPANY, LLC ,

each as a U.S. Borrower and a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.
KRATON POLYMERS LLC
KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION
ELASTOMERS HOLDINGS LLC
ARIZONA CHEMICAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
AZ CHEM INTERMEDIATE INC.
AZ CHEM US HOLDINGS INC.

AZ CHEM US INC.,

each as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement]


KRATON POLYMERS NEDERLAND B.V .,
as a Dutch Borrower and a Dutch Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Director and Attorney-in-Fact
K.P. GLOBAL HOLDINGS C.V .
KRATON POLYMERS HOLDINGS B.V.

KP INTERNATIONAL C.V. ,

each as a Dutch Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Director and Attorney-in-Fact

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement]


AGENT AND LENDERS:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A ., as Agent, as a Joint

Lead Arranger and a Joint Book Manager and a

U.S. Lender

By:  

/s/ H. Michael Wills

Name:   H. Michael Wills
Title:   Senior Vice President
  Bank of America, N.A.
  901 Main Street, 11th Floor TX 1-492-11-23
  Dallas, TX 75202
  Attn:  Michael Wills
  Telecopy: 214.209.4766
  with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
 

Holland & Knight LLP

200 Crescent Court Suite 1600

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attn: Angelique Waddell

Telecopy: 214.964.9501

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A ., (acting through its

London, England Branch), as a Dutch Lender

By:  

/s/ H. Michael Wills

Name:   H. Michael Wills
Title:   Senior Vice President
  Bank of America, N.A.
  901 Main Street, 11th Floor TX 1-492-11-23
  Dallas, TX 75202
  Attn:  H. Michael Wills
  Telecopy: 214.209.4766

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


CREDIT SUISSE AG as a Joint Lead Arranger

and a Joint Book Manager and a U.S. Lender

By:  

/s/ Christopher Day

Name:   Christopher Day
Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Karim Rahimtoola

Name:   Karim Rahimtoola
Title:   Authorized Signatory
 

Eleven Madison Avenue, 6 th Floor

New York, NY 10010

  Attn:     Loan Operations—Agency Manager
  Telecopy: Agency.loanops@credit-suisse.com

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


CREDIT SUISSE AG , as a Dutch Lender
By:  

/s/ Christopher Day

Name:   Christopher Day
Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Karim Rahimtoola

Name:   Karim Rahimtoola
Title:   Authorized Signatory
 

Eleven Madison Avenue, 6 th Floor

New York, NY 10010

  Attn:    Loan Operations—Agency Manager
  Telecopy: Agency.loanops@credit-suisse.com

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


NOMURA CORPORATE FUNDING AMERICAS, LLC, as a U.S. Lender
By:  

/s/ Sue Lee

Name:   Sue Lee
Title:   Managing Director
  309 W 49 th Street
  New York, NY 10019-7316
  Attn:     Cherati Patel
  Telecopy: 646-587-1328

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


NOMURA CORPORATE FUNDING AMERICAS, LLC, as a Dutch Lender
By:  

/s/ Sue Lee

Name:   Sue Lee
Title:   Managing Director
  309 W 49 th Street
  New York, NY 10019-7316
  Attn:     Cherati Patel
  Telecopy: 646-587-1328

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES, INC .,

as a Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Manager

and as a U.S. Lender

By:  

/s/ Frank Fazio

Name:   Frank Fazio
Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Phillip Saliba

Name:   Phillip Saliba
Title:   Director
  5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 100
  Jacksonville, FL 32256
  Attn:     Hareesha D. Kuberappa
  Telecopy: loan.admin-ny@by.com ]

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES, INC ., as a

Dutch Lender

By:  

/s/ Marcus Tarkington

Name:   Marcus Tarkington
Title:   Director
By:  

/s/ Benjamin Souh

Name:   Benjamin Souh
Title:   Vice President
5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Attn:   Hareesha D. Kuberappa
Telecopy: loan.admin-ny@by.com

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a U.S. Lender
By:  

/s/ Krista Mize

Name:   Krista Mize
Title:   Authorized Signatory
  2450 Colorado Ave, Suite 3000 West
  Santa Monica, CA 90404
  Attn:    Krista Mize
  Telecopy: 855-671-0838

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a Dutch Lender
By:  

/s/ N. B. Hogg

Name:   N. B. Hogg
Title:   Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A. , as a U.S. Lender
By:  

/s/ Jeff A. Thompkins

Name:   Jeff A. Tompkins
Title:   Authorized Officer
  2200 Ross Ave. Floor 9
  Dallas, TX 75201
  Attn:     Jeff Tompkins
  Telecopy: 214-965-2594

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A. , as a Dutch Lender
By:  

/s/ Timothy Jacob

Name:   Timothy Jacob
Title:   Senior Vice President
  25 bank Streeet, Canary Wharf, Floor 25
  London, E14 5JP, United Kingdom
  Attn:     Timothy Jacob
  Telecopy: +44 203 4931365

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement

Exhibit 10.4

Execution Version

Kraton Polymers LLC

Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

January 5, 2016

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

N OMURA S ECURITIES I NTERNATIONAL , I NC .

D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .

    As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ” and together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), propose to issue and sell to the initial purchasers listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), acting severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in Schedule A hereto of $440 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “ Notes ”). Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“ Credit Suisse ”), Nomura Securities International, Inc. (“ Nomura ”) and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“ Deutsche Bank ”) have agreed to act as the representatives of the Initial Purchasers (the “ Representatives ”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

The Securities (as defined below) will be issued pursuant to an indenture, to be dated as of January 6, 2016 (the “ Indenture ”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors (as defined below) and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). The Notes will be issued only in book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the “ Depositary ”) pursuant to a letter of representations, dated December 16, 2003, and the Rule 144A and Regulation S riders thereto, each to be dated on or before the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2 hereof) (together, the “ DTC Agreement ”), between the Issuers and the Depositary.

The payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and severally by (i) Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (the “ Parent ”), (ii) the entities listed on the signature pages hereof as “ Subsidiary Guarantors, ” (iii) the Additional Guarantors (as defined below) and (iv) any subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the Closing Date that executes an additional guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns, pursuant to their guarantees of the Notes (the “ Guarantees ”). The term “ Guarantors ” refers to (i) the Parent and the Subsidiary Guarantors, prior to the Closing Date and (ii) the Parent, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Additional Guarantors and any subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the Closing Date that executes an additional guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, on and after the Closing Date. The Notes and the Guarantees attached thereto are herein collectively referred to as the “ Securities .”


The Securities are being offered and sold by the Issuers in connection with the acquisition by the Company (the “ Acquisition ”) of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Arizona ”), pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of September 27, 2015 (together with all exhibits, schedules and disclosure letters thereto, collectively, as may be amended, the “ Acquisition Agreement ”) among the Company, Arizona and AZC Holding Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of Arizona. Immediately following the consummation of the Acquisition, Arizona and any additional entities required to guarantee the Securities pursuant to the Indenture (collectively, the “ Additional Guarantors ”) will be joined as parties to this Agreement pursuant to a joinder agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Annex II (the “ Joinder Agreement ”). The proceeds from this offering will be used to pay tender premiums with respect to the tender offer and consent solicitation (the “ Tender Offer ”) for the Issuers’ 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “ Existing Notes ”), to pay a portion of the cash purchase price of the Acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses, as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Circular (as defined below). The Company intends to redeem all outstanding Existing Notes not tendered and purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer (the “ Redemption ”).

In connection with the Acquisition, on the Closing Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors will enter into (i) a $1,350.0 million first lien term loan facility (the “ Term Loan Facility ”) and (ii) a $250.0 million asset-based credit facility (the “ ABL Facility ” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “ New Senior Secured Credit Facilities ”), each as described under the caption “Description of Other Indebtedness” in the Offering Circular.

As used herein, the term “ Transactions ” means collectively, (i) the offer and sale of the Securities, (ii) the consummation of the Acquisition, (iii) the entry by the Issuers and the Guarantors into the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the initial extensions of credit thereunder, if any, on the Closing Date, (iv) the Tender Offer, (v) the Redemption, (vi) the repayment of certain borrowings under the Company’s existing credit facilities as described in the Offering Circular and (vii) the payment of transaction costs (which may be paid after the Closing Date).

This Agreement, the DTC Agreement, the Securities, the Indenture, the Joinder Agreement and the credit agreements governing the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities (the “ New Credit Agreements ” and, together with all other documents related to such facilities, the “ Credit Documents ”) are collectively referred to herein as the “ Transaction Documents .”

The Issuers understand that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Securities on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and in the Offering Circular and agree that the Initial Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Securities to purchasers (the “ Subsequent Purchasers ”) on the terms set forth in the Offering Circular. The Securities are to be offered and sold to or through the Initial Purchasers without being registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the “ Securities Act ,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder), in reliance upon exemptions

 

2


therefrom. Pursuant to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, investors who acquire Securities shall be deemed to have agreed that Securities may only be resold or otherwise transferred, after the date hereof, if such Securities are registered for sale under the Securities Act or if an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available (including the exemptions afforded by Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144A ”) or Regulation S under the Securities Act (“ Regulation S ”)).

The Issuers have prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of an offering circular, dated January 5, 2015 (the “ Offering Circular ”), for use by such Initial Purchaser in connection with its solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities.

All references herein to the term “ Offering Circular ” shall be deemed to mean and include all information filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the “ Exchange Act ,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder) prior to the date hereof and incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular, and all references herein to the terms “ amend ,” “ amendment ” or “ supplement ” with respect to the Offering Circular shall be deemed to mean and include all information filed under the Exchange Act after the date hereof and incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular.

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Initial Purchasers as follows:

1. Representations and Warranties . As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, each of the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors and, upon the execution of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Additional Guarantors, jointly and severally, hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Initial Purchaser that (it being understood that (i) whenever a reference is made to the subsidiaries of the Parent in this Agreement, such phrase will be understood to refer to the subsidiaries of the Parent both prior to and immediately after the Acquisition Date, including Arizona and (ii) prior to the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, any representations and warranties made with respect to Arizona and its subsidiaries are made to the best knowledge of the Company, based on reasonable due diligence performed in connection with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement):

(a) No Registration Required. Subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2(d) hereof and with the procedures set forth in Section 7 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers and to each Subsequent Purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Circular to register the Securities under the Securities Act or to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

(b) No Integration of Offerings or General Solicitation. None of the Company, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) (each, an “ Affiliate ”), or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Issuers and Guarantors make no representation or warranty) has, directly or indirectly, solicited any offer to buy or offered to sell, or will, directly or indirectly, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell, in the United States or to any United States citizen or resident, any security which is or would be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the Securities to be registered under the Securities Act. None of the Company, its Affiliates, or any person acting

 

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on its or any of their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Issuers and Guarantors make no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage, in connection with the offering of the Securities, in any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act. With respect to those Securities sold in reliance upon Regulation S, (i) none of the Company, its Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Issuers and Guarantors make no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S and (ii) each of the Company and its respective Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Issuers and Guarantors make no representation or warranty) has complied and will comply with the offering restrictions set forth in Regulation S.

(c) Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A. The Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A and will not be, at the Closing Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated interdealer quotation system.

(d) The Offering Circular. The Offering Circular, as of its date or (as amended or supplemented in accordance with Section 3(a), as applicable) as of the Closing Date, does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Offering Circular or any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Issuers in writing by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Offering Circular or amendment or supplement thereto, as the case may be, including the statements set forth in the ninth and tenth paragraphs and the third and fourth sentences of the seventh paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Offering Circular. The Offering Circular contains all the information specified in, and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A. The Issuers have not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Initial Purchasers’ distribution of the Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Offering Circular.

(e) Issuer Additional Written Communications. The Issuers have not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or distributed and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or distribute any written communication that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities other than (i) the Offering Circular and (ii) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case used in accordance with Section 3(a). Each such communication by the Issuers or their agents and representatives pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (each, a “ Issuer Additional Written Communication ”), when taken together with the Offering Circular at the Closing Date did not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from each such Issuer Additional Written Communication made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Issuers in writing by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Additional Written Communication.

 

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(f) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission (collectively, the “ Incorporated Documents ”) complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

(g) The DTC Agreement. The DTC Agreement has been duly authorized and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by, and will constitute a valid and binding agreement of, the Issuers, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (the “ Enforcement Exceptions ”).

(h) Authorization of the Notes and the Guarantees. The Notes to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers from the Issuers will on the Closing Date be in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized by each of the Issuers for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by each of the Issuers and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of each of the Issuers, enforceable against them in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforcement Exceptions and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. The Guarantees of the Notes on the Closing Date will be in the form contemplated by the Indenture and have been duly authorized for issuance pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture; the Guarantees of the Notes, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by each of the Guarantors and, when the Notes have been authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, the Guarantees of the Notes will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Guarantors.

(i) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Issuers and the Guarantors and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Issuers and the Guarantors and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Issuers and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Issuers and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited the Enforcement Exceptions.

(j) Description of the Transaction Documents. The Transaction Documents will conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Offering Circular.

(k) Good Standing of the Issuers. Each of the Issuers has been duly organized, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering Circular and enter into and perform its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents; and, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (“ Material Adverse Effect ”), each Issuer is duly qualified to do business as a foreign organization in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which their ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification.

 

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(l) Parent and Subsidiaries. The Parent and each subsidiary of the Company listed on Schedule B-1 and Schedule B-2 hereto has been duly organized, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering Circular and, in the case of the Guarantors, to enter into and perform their obligations under each of the Transaction Documents that they are parties to; and the Parent and each such subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign organization in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Parent has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable (to the extent such concept is applicable in such entity’s jurisdiction of organization); and except as disclosed in the Offering Circular or pursuant to the Credit Documents, the capital stock of the Parent and each such subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and defects, other than those shares of capital stock of certain subsidiaries of Arizona pledged pursuant to Arizona’s Credit Facilities (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement), which Credit Facilities will be paid off simultaneously with the consummation of the Acquisition.

(m) No Finder’s Fee. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Issuers or any of the Guarantors and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Initial Purchaser for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this offering.

(n) Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Issuers or any Guarantor and any person granting such person the right to require the Issuers or any Guarantor to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Issuers or any Guarantor owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Issuers or any Guarantor to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to a registration statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Securities Act.

(o) Absence of Further Requirements. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, no material consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is required to be obtained or made by the Issuers or the Guarantors for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the sale of the Securities, except such as have been obtained, or made and such as may be required under state securities laws.

(p) Title to Property. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular and except for any liens arising under (i) the Loan, Security and Guarantee Agreement dated March 27, 2013, among the Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, as U.S. borrower, Kraton Polymers Nederland B.V., as

 

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Dutch borrower, the Parent and certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, and various lenders, as amended, and the collateral documents entered into in connection therewith, (ii) Arizona’s Credit Facilities (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) and the collateral documents entered into in connection therewith and (iii) the Credit Documents, the Parent and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from liens, charge, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them and, except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, the Parent and its subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases with no terms or provisions that would materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them.

(q) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction. Except as disclosed in “Description of Other Indebtedness” in the Offering Circular, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the sale of the Securities will not result in a breach or violation of (i) any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, any indebtedness, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries, except as arising under Arizona’s Credit Facilities (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) and the collateral documents entered into in connection therewith, (ii) the charter or by-laws of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or any agreement or instrument to which the Parent or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Parent or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except, in respect of clause (i) above, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect; a “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Parent or any of its subsidiaries.

(r) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Parent nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or (ii) in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject, except, in respect of clause (ii) above, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(s) Authorization of Agreement. (i) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuers, the Parent and the Subsidiary Guarantors, and (ii) the Joinder Agreement, on the Closing Date, will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Additional Guarantors.

(t) Independent Accountants . KPMG LLP has certified certain financial statements of the Parent and its subsidiaries and is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Parent within the meaning of the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as

 

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required by the Securities Act and its interpretations and rulings thereunder. Deloitte & Touche LLP has certified certain financial statements of Arizona and its subsidiaries and is an independent auditor with respect to Arizona and its subsidiaries under Rule 101 of the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretations and rulings thereunder.

(u) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Parent and its subsidiaries possess, and are in compliance with the terms of, all adequate certificates, authorizations, franchises, licenses and permits (“ Licenses ”) necessary and material to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed in the Offering Circular to be conducted by them and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Licenses that, if determined adversely to the Parent or any of its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Absence of Labor Dispute. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular or except that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no material labor dispute with the employees of the Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Parent, is imminent and there are no unfair labor practice complaints pending against the Parent or any of its subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of the Parent, threatened against any of them.

(w) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Parent and its subsidiaries own, possess or have rights to use (or can acquire such rights on reasonable terms) the trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, domain names and trade secrets including registrations and applications for registration thereof (collectively, “ Intellectual Property Rights ”) that are material to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed in the Offering Circular to be conducted by them, and the expected expiration of any single item of such Intellectual Property Rights would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, to the knowledge of the Parent, (i) there is no material infringement, misappropriation or other violation by the Parent, its subsidiaries or third parties of any of the Intellectual Property Rights of the Parent or its subsidiaries; (ii) there is no pending or threatened in writing action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Parent’s or any of its subsidiaries’ ownership rights in or to any of their Intellectual Property Rights, and the Parent is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (iii) there is no pending or threatened in writing action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any registered Intellectual Property Rights of the Parent or its subsidiaries, and the Parent is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (iv) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Parent or any of its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights of others and the Parent is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and (v) none of the Intellectual Property Rights used by the Parent or its subsidiaries in their businesses has been obtained or is being used by the Parent or its subsidiaries in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Parent or any of its subsidiaries, except in each case covered by clauses (i) – (v) such as would not, if determined adversely to the Parent or any of its subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(x) Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, neither the Parent nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “ environmental laws ”), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any environmental laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any environmental laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Parent is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.

(y) Accurate Disclosure. The statements in the Offering Circular under the headings “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” “Description of Other Indebtedness,” “Description of Notes” and “Validity,” insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain federal income tax law of the United States or certain provisions of the federal securities laws or legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, respectively, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings and present the information required to be shown.

(z) Absence of Manipulation. The Issuers and the Guarantors have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuers or the Guarantors to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(aa) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any third-party and management-estimated statistical and market-related data included in the Offering Circular are based on or derived from sources that the Issuers and the Guarantors reasonably believe to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(bb) Internal Controls. Each of the Parent and its subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Neither the Parent nor any of its subsidiaries is aware of any material weakness in their respective internal controls over financial reporting.

(cc) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Parent is in compliance in all material respects with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective and applicable to the Parent as of the date hereof and expects to be in compliance with all additional provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that will become applicable to it, including those provisions relating to internal controls over financial reporting, when such provisions become applicable to the Parent.

 

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(dd) Absence of Accounting Issues. (i) The Audit Committee of the Issuers’ Board of Directors (the “ Issuers Audit Committee ”) is not reviewing or investigating, and neither the Issuers’ independent auditors nor its internal auditors have recommended that the Issuers Audit Committee review or investigate, (i) adding to, deleting, changing the application of, or changing the Issuers’ disclosure with respect to, any of the Parent’s or the Issuers’ material accounting policies; (ii) any matter which could result in a restatement of the Parent’s or Issuers’ financial statements for any annual or interim period during the current or prior three fiscal years; or (iii) any significant deficiency, material weakness, change in internal control over financial reporting or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in internal control over financial reporting; and (ii) the Audit Committee of Arizona’s Board of Directors (the “ Arizona Audit Committee ”) is not reviewing or investigating, and neither Arizona’s independent auditors nor its internal auditors have recommended that the Arizona Audit Committee review or investigate, (i) adding to, deleting, changing the application of, or changing Arizona’s disclosure with respect to, any of Arizona’s material accounting policies; (ii) any matter which could result in a restatement of Arizona’s financial statements for any annual or interim period during the current or prior three fiscal years; or (iii) any significant deficiency, material weakness, change in internal control over financial reporting or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in internal control over financial reporting.

(ee) Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) against or affecting the Parent, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Parent or any of its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Issuers or the Guarantors to perform their obligations under this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) are, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened or contemplated.

(ff) ERISA. To the knowledge of the Parent, none of the Parent nor any of its subsidiaries has violated any foreign, federal, state or local law or regulation relating to any provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except for such violations which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(gg) Financial Statements. The historical financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the entities to which they relate as of the dates shown and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods shown. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise stated therein. The summary consolidated historical financial data set forth in the Offering Circular under the caption “Summary—Summary Consolidated Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data—Kraton” and the selected consolidated historical financial data set forth in the Offering Circular under the caption “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data—Kraton” present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the Parent contained in the Offering Circular. The pro forma

 

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financial statements included in the Offering Circular present fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, and, for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.

(hh) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular, (i) there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is material and adverse, (ii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Parent or the Issuers on any class of capital stock and (iii) there has been no material adverse change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness, long-term indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Parent and its subsidiaries.

(ii) Investment Company Act. Neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor is, or after receipt of payment for the Securities will be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(jj) Ratings. No “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act (i) has imposed (or has informed the Parent or its subsidiaries that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on any of the Parent’s or its subsidiaries’ retaining any rating assigned to the Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any securities of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) has indicated to the Parent or any of its subsidiaries that it is considering any of the actions described in Section 5(b)(ii) hereof.

(kk) Insurance. The Parent and each of its subsidiaries carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses.

(ll) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Parent and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Parent or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened.

(mm) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. None of the Parent, any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Parent, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries, has in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries (i) used any corporate

 

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funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official, “foreign official” (as defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ FCPA ”)) or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA, U.K. Bribery Act 2010, as amended (the “ UK Bribery Act ”), the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (the “ OECD Convention ”) or any other applicable anti-bribery statute or regulation; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any domestic government official, foreign official or employee. The Parent and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Parent, the Parent’s affiliates, have each conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA, U.K. Bribery Act, the OECD Convention and all other applicable anti-bribery statutes and regulations, and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith. The Issuers, the Guarantors and their affiliates will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering and sale of the Notes or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture partner or other person or entity for the purpose of financial or facilitating any activity that would violate the laws and regulations as referred to in clause (iii) above.

(nn) Compliance with OFAC. (i) None of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Parent, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries (A) is currently subject to or, to the knowledge of the Parent, the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”); or (B) is located, organized or resident in a country that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria (each, a “ Sanctioned Country ”)); (ii) the Issuers and the Guarantors will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of Notes, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person, or in any country or territory, that currently is the subject or target of Sanctions or in any other manner by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Issuers or the Guarantors, by any other person that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction whether as an underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Parent and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any individual or entity, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or target of Sanctions. The Parent and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance with Sanctions.

(oo) Solvency. Each of the Issuers and the Guarantors is, and immediately after the Closing Date will be, Solvent. As used herein, the term “ Solvent ” means, with respect to any person on a particular date, that on such date (i) the fair market value of the assets of such person is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of such person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such person is greater than the amount that will be

 

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required to pay the probable liabilities 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, including contingent obligations, as they mature and (iv) such person does not have unreasonably small capital.

(pp) Regulations T, U, X. Neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor nor any of their respective subsidiaries nor any agent thereof acting on their behalf has taken, and none of them will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Securities to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(qq) New Senior Secured Credit Facilities. At the Closing Date, the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities (as described in the Offering Circular) will have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and other parties related to the Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and other parties related to the Company, will be the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and other parties related to the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforcement Exceptions.

(rr) Regulation S. The Issuers, the Guarantors and their respective affiliates and all persons acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Issuers and the Guarantors make no representation) have complied with and will comply with the offering restrictions requirements of Regulation S in connection with the offering of the Securities outside the United States and, in connection therewith, the Offering Circular will contain the disclosure required by Rule 902. Each of the Issuers and the Guarantors is a “reporting issuer”, as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act.

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Issuers or any Guarantor and delivered to the Initial Purchasers or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Issuers or such Guarantor to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters set forth therein.

2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.

(a) The Securities. Each of the Issuers agrees to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, all of the Securities, and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Issuers the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names on Schedule A hereto, at a purchase price of 94.541% of the principal amount thereof payable on the Closing Date, in each case, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms herein set forth.

(b) The Closing Date. Delivery of the Securities to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 885 Third Avenue, Suite 1000, New York, New York 10022-4834 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Issuers and the Representatives) at 9:00 a.m. New York City time, on January 6, 2016, or such other time and date as may be agreed to by the Issuers and the Representatives (the

 

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time and date of such closing are called the “ Closing Date ”). The Issuers hereby acknowledge that circumstances under which the Issuers and the Representatives agree to postpone the Closing include, but are in no way limited to, any determination by the Issuers and the Initial Purchasers to recirculate to investors copies of an amended or supplemented Offering Circular or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 19 hereof.

(c) Delivery of the Securities. The Issuers shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers of the Notes to be purchased by them, in one or more global notes representing the Notes (collectively, the “ Global Notes ”) at the Closing Date against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefore to a bank account designated by the Company. The Global Notes shall be in such denominations and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depositary, pursuant to the DTC Agreement, and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Date at a location in New York City, as the Representatives may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers.

(d) Initial Purchasers as Qualified Institutional Buyers. Each Initial Purchaser severally and not jointly represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Issuers that:

(i) it will offer and sell the Securities only to persons who it reasonably believes are “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A (“ Qualified Institutional Buyers ”) in transactions meeting the requirements of Rule 144A or (b) upon the terms and conditions set forth in Annex I to this Agreement;

(ii) it is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act; and

(iii) it will not offer or sell the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including but not limited to the methods described in Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.

3. Additional Covenants. Each of the Issuers and the Guarantors further covenants and agrees with each Initial Purchaser as follows:

(a) Initial Purchasers’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements to Offering Circular and Issuer Additional Written Communications . The Issuers will not amend or supplement the Offering Circular prior to the Closing Date unless the Representatives shall previously have been furnished a copy of the proposed amendment or supplement at least two business days prior to the proposed use or filing, and shall not have reasonably objected to such amendment or supplement. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving or distributing any Issuer Additional Written Communication, the Issuers will furnish to the Representatives a copy of such written communication for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve or distribute any such written communication to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

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(b) Amendments and Supplements to the Offering Circular and Other Securities Act Matters . If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Offering Circular as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Circular to comply with law, the Issuers and the Guarantors will notify the Initial Purchasers thereof as soon as practicable and forthwith prepare and (subject to Section 3(a) hereof) furnish to the Initial Purchasers such amendments or supplements to the Offering Circular as may be necessary so that the statements in the Offering Circular as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that the Offering Circular will comply with all applicable law. If, prior to the completion of the placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers or prior to the expiration of nine months after the date of the Offering Circular, whichever is shorter, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Circular, as then amended or supplemented, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Offering Circular is delivered to a Subsequent Purchaser, not misleading, or if in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives or counsel for the Initial Purchasers it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Circular to comply with law, the Issuers and the Guarantors agree to prepare (subject to Section 3(a) hereof), file with the Commission and furnish at its own expense to the Initial Purchasers as soon as practicable, amendments or supplements to the Offering Circular so that the statements in the Offering Circular as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances at the Closing Date and at the time of sale of Securities, be misleading or so that the Offering Circular, as amended or supplemented, will comply with all applicable law.

The Company hereby expressly acknowledges that the indemnification and contribution provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof are specifically applicable and relate to each offering circular, amendment or supplement referred to in this Section 3.

(c) Copies of the Offering Circular. The Issuers agree to furnish the Initial Purchasers, without charge, as many copies of the Offering Circular and any amendments and supplements thereto as they shall reasonably request.

(d) Blue Sky Compliance. Each of the Issuers and the Guarantors shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers to qualify or register (or to obtain exemptions from qualifying or registering) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states of the United States, the provinces of Canada, or any other jurisdictions that the Representatives may reasonably request, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. None of the Issuers or any of the Guarantors shall be required to qualify as a foreign organization or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign organization. The Company will advise the Representatives as soon as practicable of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or to the knowledge of the Company, any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose,

 

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and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, each of the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(e) Use of Proceeds. The Issuers shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by them in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Circular.

(f) The Depositary . The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of the Depositary.

(g) Additional Issuer Information. Prior to the completion of the placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers or prior to the expiration of nine months after the date of the Offering Circular, whichever is shorter, the Parent shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE ”) all reports and documents required to be filed under Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act. Additionally, at any time when the Parent is not subject to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act, for the benefit of holders and beneficial owners from time to time of the Securities, the Parent shall furnish, at its expense, upon request, to holders and beneficial owners of Securities and prospective purchasers of Securities information satisfying the requirements of Rule 144A(d).

(h) Agreement Not To Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the period of 90 days following the date hereof, the Issuers will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representatives), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any debt securities of the Issuers or the Parent or securities exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities of the Issuers or the Parent (other than as contemplated by this Agreement).

(i) Future Reports to the Initial Purchasers. At any time when the Parent is not subject to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act and any Securities remain outstanding, the Parent will furnish to the Representatives and, upon reasonable request, to each of the other Initial Purchasers: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Parent containing the balance sheet of the Parent as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Parent’s independent public or certified public accountant.

(j) No Integration. Each of the Issuers agrees that it will not and will cause its Affiliates not to make any offer or sale of securities of the Issuers of any class if, as a result of the doctrine of “integration” referred to in Rule 502 under the Securities Act, such offer or sale would render invalid (for the purpose of (i) the sale of the Securities by the Issuers to the Initial Purchasers, (ii) the resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers or (iii) the resale of the Securities by such Subsequent Purchasers to others) the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(2) thereof or by Rule 144A or by Regulation S thereunder or otherwise.

 

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(k) No General Solicitation or Directed Selling Efforts . The Company agrees that it will not and will not permit any of its Affiliates or any other person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to which no covenant is given) to (i) solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or (ii) engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Securities within the meaning of Regulation S, and the Company will and will cause all such persons to comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S with respect to the Securities.

(l) No Restricted Resales. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to resell any of the Notes that have been reacquired by any of them.

(m) Legended Securities. Each certificate for a Note will bear the legend contained in “Transfer Restrictions” in the Offering Circular for the time period and upon the other terms stated in the Offering Circular.

The Representatives, on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers, may, in their sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Issuers or any Guarantor of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.

4. Payment of Expenses. Subject to Section 10 hereof, each of the Issuers and the Guarantors agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Securities (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Offering Circular (including financial statements and exhibits), and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the Transaction Documents, (v) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Issuers, the Guarantors or the Initial Purchasers in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws of the several states of the United States, the provinces of Canada, or other jurisdictions that the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request (including, without limitation, the cost of preparing, printing and mailing preliminary and final blue sky or legal investment memoranda and any related supplements to the Offering Circular), (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities, (vii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities with the ratings agencies, (viii) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Issuers and the Guarantors in connection with approval of the Securities by the Depositary for “book-entry” transfer, and the performance by the Issuers and the Guarantors of

 

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their respective other obligations under this Agreement, (ix) 50% of the out-of-pocket costs and expenses of aircraft used in connection with the “road show” for the offering of the Securities and (x) all other expenses incident to the “road show” for the offering of the Securities. Except as provided in this Section 4 and Sections 6, 8 and 9 hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers. The obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Issuers and the Guarantors set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and to the timely performance by the Issuers of their covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letters. On the date hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from each of KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm for the Parent (“ KPMG ”), and Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent auditors for Arizona (“ Deloitte ”), a “comfort letter” dated the date hereof addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, covering the financial information in the Offering Circular and other customary matters. In addition, on the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from each of KPMG and Deloitte a “bring-down comfort letter” dated the Closing Date addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, in the form of the “comfort letter” delivered on the date hereof, except that procedures shall be brought down to a date no more than 3 days prior to the Closing Date.

(b) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

(i) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have occurred any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole which, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Circular; and

(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of their securities or indebtedness by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for the Issuers. On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of (i) Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Issuers, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A-1 and (ii) Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Issuers, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A-2.

 

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(d) Opinion of General Counsel. On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of (i) James L. Simmons, Esq., General Counsel of the Issuers, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B-1, and (ii) Dick Stuyfzand, Esq., General Counsel of Arizona, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B-2.

(e) Opinion of Counsel for Initial Purchasers. On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers.

(f) Officers’ Certificate. The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated such Closing Date, of an executive officer of the Issuers and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Issuers in which such officers shall state that: the representations and warranties of the Issuers in this Agreement are true and correct; the Issuers have complied with all material agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date; subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there has been no downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Parent or its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) of the Exchange Act) or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Parent or its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); and, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Offering Circular, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the Offering Circular or as described in such certificate.

(g) Indenture . The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have executed and delivered the Indenture, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial Purchasers shall have received executed copies thereof.

(h) Joinder Agreement . The Additional Guarantors shall have executed and delivered the Joinder Agreement and the Initial Purchasers shall have received executed copies thereof.

(i) Transactions. The Transactions shall have been consummated substantially concurrently with or immediately following the closing of this offering of Notes on the terms and conditions described in the Offering Circular. The Initial Purchasers shall have received satisfactory documentary evidence of the repayment in full of all debt under the Company’s existing credit facilities.

(j) Certificate of Chief Financial Officer. The Representatives shall have received a certificate of each of the Chief Financial Officer of the Parent and the Chief Financial Officer of Arizona dated the date of this Agreement and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and counsel to the Initial Purchasers.

 

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(k) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Issuers at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Sections 4, 6, 8 and 9 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

6. Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5 or Section 11 hereof, including if the sale to the Initial Purchasers of the Securities on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Issuers to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Issuers agree to reimburse the Initial Purchasers, severally, upon demand for all documented out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

7. Offer, Sale and Resale Procedures . Each of the Initial Purchasers, on the one hand, and the Issuers and each of the Guarantors, on the other hand, hereby agree to observe the following procedures in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities:

(a) Offers and sales of the Securities will be made only by the Initial Purchasers or Affiliates thereof qualified to do so in the jurisdictions in which such offers or sales are made. Each such offer or sale shall only be made to persons whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes to be Qualified Institutional Buyers or non-U.S. persons outside the United States to whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes offers and sales of the Securities may be made in reliance upon Regulation S upon the terms and conditions set forth in Annex I hereto, which Annex I is hereby expressly made a part hereof.

(b) The Securities will be offered by approaching prospective Subsequent Purchasers on an individual basis. No general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act) will be used in the United States in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(c) Upon original issuance by the Issuers, and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Notes (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear the following legend:

“THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE U.S. SECURITIES

 

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ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

(1) REPRESENTS THAT IT, AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING, (A) IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUERS THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH), EXCEPT:

(A) TO THE PARENT OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, OR

(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(C) TO A PERSON REASONABLY BELIEVED TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE WILL BE THE DATE (1) THAT IS AT LEAST ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND (2) ON WHICH THE ISSUERS INSTRUCT THE TRUSTEE THAT THIS LEGEND SHALL BE DEEMED REMOVED FROM THIS SECURITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE RELATED TO THIS SECURITY.

 

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PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2(B) ABOVE, THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.”

Following the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers pursuant to the terms hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall not be liable or responsible to the Issuers for any losses, damages or liabilities suffered or incurred by the Issuers, including any losses, damages or liabilities under the Securities Act, arising from or relating to any resale or transfer of any Security.

8. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers. Each of the Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Initial Purchaser, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under Section 15 of the Securities Act, Section 20 of the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Issuers), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Additional Written Communication or the Offering Circular (or any amendment or supplement thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Updated Offering Circular as defined in Section 10 hereof)), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to reimburse each Initial Purchaser and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser or such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply, with respect to an Initial Purchaser, to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuers by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Additional Written Communication or the Offering Circular (or any amendment or supplement thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Updated Offering Circular as defined in Section 10 hereof)). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Issuers may otherwise have.

 

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(b) Indemnification of the Issuers and the Guarantors. Each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, each Guarantor, each of their respective directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Issuers or any Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Issuers, any Guarantor or any such director, officer and employee, or controlling person may become subject, under Section 15 of the Securities Act, Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Initial Purchaser), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Additional Written Communication or the Offering Circular (or any amendment or supplement thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Updated Offering Circular as defined in Section 10 hereof)), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Issuer Additional Written Communication or the Offering Circular (or any amendment or supplement thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Updated Offering Circular as defined in Section 10 hereof)), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuers by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Issuers, any Guarantor and each such director, officer and employee, or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the Issuers, any Guarantor or such director, officer or employee, or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. Each of the Issuers and the Guarantors hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Initial Purchasers through the Representatives have furnished to the Issuers expressly for use any Issuer Additional Written Communication or the Offering Circular (or any amendment or supplement thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Updated Offering Circular as defined in Section 10 hereof)) are the statements set forth in the ninth and tenth paragraphs and the third and fourth sentences of the seventh paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Offering Circular. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Initial Purchaser may otherwise have.

(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b), notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided that the failure to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced by such failure (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) and shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that the indemnifying party may have to an indemnified party other than under Section 8(a)

 

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or Section 8(b). In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel (in each jurisdiction)), which shall be selected by the Representatives (in the case of counsel representing the Initial Purchasers or their related persons), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 8, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request or disputed in good faith the indemnified party’s entitlement to such reimbursement prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include any statements as to or any findings of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

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9. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 hereof is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Issuers, and the total discount received by the Initial Purchasers bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8 hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8 hereof with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8 hereof for purposes of indemnification.

The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Initial Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the discount received by such Initial Purchaser in connection with the Securities distributed by it. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Initial Purchasers’ obligations to

 

25


contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A hereto. For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer and employee of an Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, and each director officer and employee of the Issuers or any Guarantor, and each person, if any, who controls the Issuers or any Guarantor with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Issuers and the Guarantors.

10. Agreement to Cooperate .

(x) At least two business days in advance of the Closing Date, in connection with any issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement and (y) after the Closing Date and until the Cooperation Termination Date (as defined below) upon the written request of the Initial Purchasers (or the Initial Purchasers’ affiliates) holding a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then held by the Initial Purchasers as of the date such notice is sent (the “ Requisite Initial Purchasers ”) (it being understood that your obligations hereunder (i) shall continue at all times prior to February 15, 2016 and (ii) up to two additional times as specified in such written request thereafter each for a period of up to 45 days), you agree that you shall:

(a) (x) use commercially reasonable efforts to, on or before the date on which the financial statements included in the Offering Circular or the most recently delivered Updated Offering Circular (as defined below) would no longer be sufficiently recent to meet the requirements of Rule 3-12 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act for a registered offering of debt securities by the Company, and (y) if not delivered prior thereto in accordance with the foregoing clause (x), in any case, on or before each of (A) the date 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter (other than the fiscal quarter ended on December 31, 2015), (B) the date 90 days after the end of the fiscal quarter ending on December 31, 2015 (each such date, a “ Delivery Date ”), provide to the Initial Purchasers an updated version of the Offering Circular (or a supplement thereto) (as so amended, supplemented or updated from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, the “ Updated Offering Circular ”) in a form customary for a Rule 144A offering and in form and content consistent with the Offering Circular (including all financial statements, pro forma financial statements, business and other financial data of the type required in a registered offering by Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K under the Securities Act (other than (i) Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X and (ii) information of the type not contained in the Offering Circular, and otherwise subject to exceptions customary for private placements pursuant to Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act) or that would be necessary for the Initial Purchasers to receive customary (for high yield debt securities) “comfort” (including “negative assurance” comfort) from independent accountants in connection with the offering of the Securities, and, in the case of the annual financial statements, the auditors’ reports thereon); such Updated Offering Circular shall be complete and correct in all material respects and not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made;

(b) upon written notice from the Requisite Initial Purchasers (each a “ Sale Date ”), use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Initial Purchasers on each date to be

 

26


specified by them on which an offer and resale is to be consummated or is reasonably expected to be consummated to the extent the following items are determined by the Requisite Initial Purchasers in good faith to be necessary or customary in light of the contemplated manner of sale:

(i) for each fiscal year end, customary “flash numbers” of the Parent and Arizona to be included in a customary “Recent Developments” section of an offering document, including revenue and Adjusted EBITDA and which such flash numbers shall be provided, (1) with such flash numbers for fiscal year 2015 being provided no later than January 21, 2016 and (2) with such flash numbers for fiscal year 2016 being provided no later than January 31, 2017;

(ii) opinion and negative assurance letters, as the case may be, consistent in all respects with those set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement and dated such Sale Date;

(iii) (A) a “comfort” letter dated such Sale Date with respect to the Parent and the Updated Offering Circular, from KPMG and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, such letter or letters to be in the forms previously negotiated with KPMG (as appropriately updated) and (B) a “comfort” letter dated such Sale Date with respect to Arizona and the Updated Offering Circular, from Deloitte and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, such letter or letters to be in the forms previously negotiated with Deloitte (as appropriately updated);

(iv) a certificate of an executive officer of the Issuers and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Issuers dated as of such Sale Date and consistent in all respects with the certificate of the Issuers to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(f) (provided that references therein to the Closing Date shall be to such Sale Date and that references therein to the Offering Circular shall include or replace, as the case may be, any Updated Offering Circular); and

(v) (A) a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Parent dated as of such Sale Date and consistent in all respects with the certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Parent to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(j) (provided that references therein to the Closing Date shall be to such Sale Date and that references therein to the Offering Circular shall include or replace, as the case may be, any Updated Offering Circular) and (B) a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of Arizona dated as of such Sale Date and consistent in all respects with the certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of Arizona to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(j) (provided that references therein to the Closing Date shall be to such Sale Date and that references therein to the Offering Circular shall include or replace, as the case may be, any Updated Offering Circular);

(c) using commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Initial Purchasers in their marketing efforts for the resale of Securities by (i) providing to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel all information they reasonably request to update due diligence to each Delivery Date and each Sale Date, including making representatives of the Issuers and the Guarantors available to participate in “bringdown” due diligence calls with the Initial Purchasers and their counsel on or reasonably prior to each Delivery Date and each Sale Date and (ii) making representatives of the Issuers and the Guarantors available to participate in a roadshow and in in-person meetings and conference calls with prospective investors upon the reasonable request of the Initial Purchasers;

 

27


(d) to the extent not previously completed on or before the Closing Date, (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to qualify or register all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request and to comply with such laws and continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities, (ii) using all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Securities to become eligible for deposit at DTC (in book entry form) prior to the initial issuance thereof, including by filing with DTC an appropriately executed letter of representations and any required riders and (iii) using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers and ratings from each of Moody’s and S&P for the Securities;

(e) furnish to each Initial Purchaser and to counsel for the Initial Purchasers as many copies of each Updated Offering Circular and any amendments and/or supplements thereto as they may reasonably request;

(f) subject to the provisions of Section 10(a) and Section 10(g), not make any amendment or supplement to an Updated Offering Circular (other than a result of filing of reports required to be filed under the Exchange Act) or otherwise distribute or refer to any written communication that shall be reasonably disapproved by one or more Initial Purchasers holding a majority of the Securities then held by the Initial Purchasers after reasonable notice thereof; and

(g) if, at any time prior to completion of the resale of all the Securities by the Initial Purchasers (as determined by one or more Initial Purchasers holding a majority of the outstanding Securities then held by the Initial Purchasers), any event occurs or information becomes known that, in the reasonable judgment of the Issuers or any of the Guarantors or in the opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers, should be set forth in the Offering Circular or any Updated Offering Circular, so that Offering Circular or any Updated Offering Circular, as then amended or supplemented, does not include any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Circular or any Updated Offering Circular in order to comply with any law, the Issuers and the Guarantors will forthwith prepare an appropriate amendment or supplement thereto, and will expeditiously furnish to the Initial Purchasers and dealers a reasonable number of copies thereof.

The provisions set forth in this Section 10 shall terminate on the earlier of (A) last day of the fourth full fiscal quarter following the Closing Date and (B) the date that the Initial Purchasers no longer hold any Securities (such earlier date, the “ Cooperation Termination Date ”).

Additionally, if the Initial Purchasers market any Securities after February 15, 2016, the Initial Purchasers agree to pay (A) all reasonable and documented fees and expenses of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (B) all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation,

 

28


printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the pricing term sheet and Updated Offering Circular (including financial statements and exhibits), and all amendments and supplements thereto, and any other transaction documents and (C) all reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and expenses and travel and roadshow expenses incurred by the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers; provided that the Initial Purchasers will not be required to reimburse the Issuers for any of their out of pocket expenses (other than travel and roadshow costs) in the aggregate pursuant to this paragraph for accounting, printing and legal costs in excess of $500,000.

11. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Issuers if at any time: (i) trading or quotation in any of the Issuers’ or any Guarantor’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the NYSE, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the NYSE shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any such quotation system or stock exchange by the Commission or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal or New York or Delaware authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the U.S. or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in U.S. or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Offering Circular or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; or (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives, there shall have occurred any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole which, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Circular. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (i) the Issuers or any Guarantor to any Initial Purchaser, except that the Issuers and the Guarantors shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (ii) any Initial Purchaser to the Issuers, or (iii) any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Issuers, the Guarantors, their respective officers and the several Initial Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser, the Issuers, any Guarantor or any of their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

13. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered, couriered or facsimiled and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

If to the Initial Purchasers:

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

Attention: LCD-IBD

 

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Ave.

New York, NY 10022

Facsimile: (212) 751-4864

Attention: Peter Labonski

If to the Issuers or the Guarantors:

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300,

Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281) 504-4700

Attention: General Counsel

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, NY 10006

Facsimile: (212) 225-3999

Attention: Duane McLaughlin

and

Baker Botts L.L.P.

910 Louisiana Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile: (713) 229-1522

Attention: Timothy Taylor

Any party hereto may change the address or facsimile number for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

14. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, and to the benefit of the indemnified parties referred to in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any Subsequent Purchaser or other purchaser of the Securities as such from any of the Initial Purchasers merely by reason of such purchase.

 

30


15. Authority of the Representative. Any action by the Initial Purchasers hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Initial Purchasers.

16. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

17. Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

18. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“ Related Proceedings ”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “ Specified Courts ”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for suits, actions, or proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court in a Related Proceeding, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any Related Proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

19. Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers. If any one or more of the several Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase the Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on the Closing Date, and the aggregate number of the Securities which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of the Securities set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A hereto bears to the aggregate number of the Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Initial Purchasers with the consent of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase on the Closing Date. If any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the aggregate number of the Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and the Issuers for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after

 

31


such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 4, 6, 8 and 9 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Initial Purchasers or the Issuers shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Offering Circular or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

As used in this Agreement, the term “ Initial Purchaser ” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Initial Purchaser under this Section 19. Any action taken under this Section 19 shall not relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any default of such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement.

20. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. Each of the Issuers and the Guarantors acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the several Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the Issuers and the Guarantors are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Initial Purchaser is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Issuers, the Guarantors or their respective affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Initial Purchaser has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Issuers and the Guarantors with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Issuers and the Guarantors on other matters) or any other obligation to the Issuers and the Guarantors except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Initial Purchasers and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Issuers and the Guarantors, and the several Initial Purchasers have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any fiduciary or advisory relationship; and (v) the Initial Purchasers have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby, and the Issuers and the Guarantors have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

The Company and the Guarantors hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Issuers and the Guarantors may have against the several Initial Purchasers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

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

21. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral

 

32


agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Issuers the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
Kraton Polymers LLC
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
as Issuers
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Elastomers Holdings LLC
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:   Stephen E. Tremblay
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
as Guarantors

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


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

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

        Acting on behalf of itself

        and as the Representative of

        the several Initial Purchasers

By:  

/s/ Jonathan Singer

Name:   Jonathan Singer
Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

        Acting on behalf of itself

        and as the Representative of

        the several Initial Purchasers

By:  

/s/ Lee Olive

Name:   Lee Olive
Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

        Acting on behalf of itself

        and as the Representative of

        the several Initial Purchasers

By:  

/s/ Ralph Totoonchie

Name:   Ralph Totoonchie
Title:   Director
By:  

/s/ Alex Barth

Name:   Alex Barth
Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

 

Initial Purchasers

   Aggregate Principal
Amount of Securities to
be Purchased
 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

   $ 231,000,000   

Nomura Securities International, Inc.

     110,000,000   

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

     99,000,000   

Total

   $ 440,000,000   


SCHEDULE B-1

Kraton Subsidiaries

 

     Jurisdiction of Organization

Kraton Polymer Capital Corporation

   Delaware

Elastomers Holdings LLC

   Delaware

KRATON Polymers U.S. LLC

   Delaware


SCHEDULE B-2

Arizona Subsidiaries

 

     Jurisdiction of Organization

AZ Chem US Inc.

   Delaware

AZ Chem Intermediate Inc.

   Delaware

AZ Chem US Holdings Inc.

   Delaware

Arizona Chemical Company, LLC

   Delaware


EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF OPINION OF CGSH

(See Attached)

 

Exhibit A-1-1


EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF OPINION OF BAKER BOTTS

(See Attached)

 

Exhibit A-2-1


Exhibit B-1

FORM OF OPINION PARAGRAPHS OF JAMES L. SIMMONS, ESQ.

(See Attached)

 

Exhibit B-1


Exhibit B-2

FORM OF OPINION PARAGRAPHS OF DICK STUYFZAND, ESQ.

(See Attached)

 

Exhibit B-2


ANNEX I

Resale Pursuant to Regulation S. Each Initial Purchaser understands that:

Such Initial Purchaser agrees that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Securities in the United States or to, or for the benefit or account of, a U.S. Person (other than a distributor), in each case, as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S (i) as part of its distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Securities pursuant hereto and the Closing Date, other than in accordance with Regulation S or another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Such Initial Purchaser agrees that, during such 40-day restricted period, it will not cause any advertisement with respect to the Securities (including any “tombstone” advertisement) to be published in any newspaper or periodical or posted in any public place and will not issue any circular relating to the Securities, except such advertisements as are permitted by and include the statements required by Regulation S.

Such Initial Purchaser agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of a sale of Securities by it to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration during the 40-day restricted period referred to in Rule 903 of Regulation S, it will send to such distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect:

“The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered and sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of your distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the date the Securities were first offered to persons other than distributors in reliance upon Regulation S and the Closing Date, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (or in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or to accredited investors in transactions that are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act), and in connection with any subsequent sale by you of the Securities covered hereby in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act during the period referred to above to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration, you must deliver a notice to substantially the foregoing effect. Terms used above have the meanings assigned to them in Regulation S under the Securities Act.”

 

Annex I-1


ANNEX II

F ORM OF P URCHASE A GREEMENT J OINDER

January 6, 2016

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

N OMURA S ECURITIES I NTERNATIONAL , I NC .

D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .

     As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the purchase agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), dated as of January 5, 2016, initially by and among Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ” and, together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), the guarantors named therein and you, as representatives of the several purchasers (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), concerning the purchase of the Securities (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) by the several Initial Purchasers from the Issuers. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

Each of the parties hereto agree that this letter agreement is being executed and delivered in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and as an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Securities thereunder.

1. Joinder . Each of the parties hereto hereby acknowledges that it has received and reviewed a copy of the Purchase Agreement and all other documents it deems necessary to review in order to enter into this Joinder Agreement, and acknowledges and hereby agrees to join and become a party to the Purchase Agreement and to be bound by the terms, conditions, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties, acknowledgements and other provisions of the Purchase Agreement with all attendant rights, duties and obligations stated therein (including without limitation, the obligations of an indemnifying party thereunder), with the same force and effect as if originally named therein, as a Guarantor, and, as if such party executed the Purchase Agreement on the date thereof and perform all obligations and duties required of a Guarantor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Annex II-1


2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements . Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Initial Purchasers on and as of the date hereof that:

(a) it has corporate, limited liability company or other power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this letter agreement, and all corporate or limited liability company action required to be taken by it for the due and proper authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken; this letter agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such party; and

(b) the representations, warranties and agreements of such party set forth in the Purchase Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.

3. Full Force and Effect of Purchase Agreement . This letter agreement does not cancel, extinguish, limit or otherwise adversely affect any right or obligation of the parities under the Purchase Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all of the provisions of the Purchase Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

4. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE . THE RESPECTIVE AGREEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY OR ITS OFFICERS AND OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS SET FORTH IN OR MADE PURSUANT TO THIS LETTER AGREEMENT WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT, REGARDLESS OF ANY INVESTIGATION MADE BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS OR THE ISSUERS, AND WILL SURVIVE DELIVERY OF AND PAYMENT FOR THE SECURITIES.

5. Governing Law . This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York. The parties hereto each hereby waive any right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or relating to this letter agreement.

6. Counterparts . This letter agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or telecopier), each of which when so executed shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

7. Amendments . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this letter agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

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

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

Annex II-2


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please indicate your acceptance of this letter agreement by signing in the space provided below, whereupon this letter agreement will become a binding agreement among you and the several Initial Purchasers in accordance with its terms as of the date first written above.

 

Very truly yours,
[ADDITIONAL GUARANTORS]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Annex II-3


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

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

        Acting on behalf of itself

        and as the Representative of

        the several Initial Purchasers

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

        Acting on behalf of itself

        and as the Representative of

        the several Initial Purchasers

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

        Acting on behalf of itself

        and as the Representative of

        the several Initial Purchasers

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Annex II-4

Exhibit 99.1

Kraton Polymers LLC Announces Expiration and Final Results for the Previously Announced Tender

Offer and Consent Solicitation for the 6.75% Senior Notes Due 2019

(CUSIP No. 50077D AB0)

HOUSTON, January 6, 2016 /PRNewswire / — Kraton Polymers LLC (the “Company”) announced today the expiration and final tender results as of 11:59 p.m. New York City time on January 5, 2016 (such date and time, the “Expiration Date”) for its previously announced cash tender offer and consent solicitation with respect to the Company’s outstanding 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 that were co-issued by Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation (the “Notes”) pursuant to its Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated December 1, 2015 (the “Offer to Purchase”). The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA) (“KPPI” and, together with its subsidiaries including the Company, “Kraton”), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers (“SBCs”).

As of the Expiration Date, $249,394,000 in aggregate principal amount, or approximately 71.26%, of the Notes outstanding had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn (the “Tendered Notes”). Following the Expiration Date, the deadline for tendering Notes pursuant to the Offer to Purchase has now passed.

The Company intends to accept the Tendered Notes for purchase following the consummation of its previously announced acquisition of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, including the debt financing in connection therewith, which is expected to occur on January 6, 2016.

Requests for tender offer documents may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent, at the following address: 48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor, New York, N.Y. 10005. The information agent may be telephoned by banks and brokers at 212-269-5550 and by all others at 866-796-7179 or emailed at kra@dfking.com. The dealer manager and solicitation agent for the tender offer was Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC. Questions regarding the tender offer and consent solicitation may be directed to the dealer manager and solicitation agent, Attention: Liability Management Group, at 11 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010. The dealer manager and solicitation agent may be telephoned at 212-538-2147 or toll-free at 800-820-1653.

To the extent that any Notes are not validly tendered in the tender offer, the Company intends to redeem such Notes on March 1, 2016 pursuant to the redemption and satisfaction and discharge provisions of the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 101.688% of the principal amount redeemed thereby, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. The Company intends to deliver an irrevocable notice of redemption to the trustee following the consummation of its previously announced acquisition of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, including the debt financing in connection therewith, which is expected to occur on January 6, 2016. However, no assurance can be given that such untendered Notes will be redeemed as contemplated or at all. Neither the Offer to Purchase nor the accompanying Consent and Letter of Transmittal constitute a notice of redemption.

This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other securities. The tender offer is being made only by and pursuant to the terms of the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal.


ABOUT KRATON

KPPI, through the Company and its subsidiaries, is a leading global producer of engineered polymers and one of the world’s largest producers of SBCs, a family of products whose chemistry was pioneered by Kraton over 50 years ago. Kraton’s polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. Kraton offers products to more than 800 customers in over 60 countries worldwide. Kraton manufactures products at five plants globally, including its flagship plant in Belpre, Ohio, which Kraton believes is the most diversified SBC plant in the world, as well as plants in Germany, France, Brazil and Japan. The plant in Japan is operated by an unconsolidated manufacturing joint venture.

Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, and the “Giving Innovators their Edge” tagline are all trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management’s current expectations and estimates, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “may,” “intends,” “plans” or “anticipates,” or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding the completion of the tender offer or of the acquisition of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, including the debt financing in connection therewith, and any other statements regarding Kraton’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements is contained in KPPI’s most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal year 2015 and in other filings made by KPPI with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and include, but are not limited to, risks related to: the pending acquisition of Arizona; Kraton’s reliance on third parties for the provision of significant operating and other services; conditions in the global economy and capital markets; fluctuations in raw material costs; limitations in the availability of raw materials; competition in Kraton’s end-use markets; and other factors of which we are currently unaware or deem immaterial. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to update or revise such information in light of new information or future events.

For Further Information:

Investors: H. Gene Shiels 281-504-4886

Exhibit 99.2

Kraton Polymers LLC Announces Closing of its Acquisition of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation

HOUSTON, January 6, 2016/PRNewswire/ — Kraton Polymers LLC (the “Company”) announced today that it has completed the previously announced purchase of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation (“Arizona”). Arizona is the largest global provider of pine-based specialty chemicals.

The $1,370 million cash purchase price for the acquisition, which is subject to adjustment for cash, indebtedness, working capital, and other items, as well as the previously announced cash tender offer and redemption of all of the Company’s outstanding 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 and related acquisition and financing expenses were funded through the following transactions:

 

    A private offering of $440 million in aggregate principal amount of 10.500% Senior Notes, which were issued at a price of 96.225% and mature on April 15, 2023,

 

    A $1,350 million six year senior secured first lien term loan facility, which was issued at a price of 97.000% and will bear interest at LIBOR plus 500 basis points, subject to a LIBOR floor of 100 basis points, and

 

    A new $250 million five-year asset-based revolving credit facility, $37 million of which was drawn at closing, which replaced the Company’s former senior secured credit facilities.

“Today we are pleased to announce that we have completed the acquisition of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation. Through the combination of Kraton and Arizona Chemical, we create a global leader in specialty materials technology, manufacturing, and geographical presence, providing value-added products and innovations serving a diversified range of end markets through a broad portfolio of highly-engineered polymers and specialty chemicals. The scale, complementary market positions, attractive margin profile and expected strong free cash flow generation capability of the combined company will serve as a strong foundation for future growth,” said Kevin M. Fogarty, Kraton’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We now turn our focus to the implementation of our integration plan and the anticipated realization of $65 million of identified transaction synergies. To help ensure a seamless transition, both Kees Verhaar, Arizona’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, and Frederic Jung, Arizona’s former Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have agreed to serve in an advisory capacity to Kraton after closing.”

“With the closing of the Arizona Chemical acquisition, the third leg of our three-part strategy, which is principally designed to reinvigorate organic growth, reset our cost structure, and capture accretive M&A opportunities, has been realized. Implementation progress for initiatives relating to reinvigoration of organic growth and the reset of our cost structure continues to advance consistent with our expectations, and 2016 represents an important transition year as we expect to recognize additional strategic milestones that include the startup of our state-of-the-art HSBC capacity expansion in Mailiao, Taiwan,” Fogarty added. “Since announcing the Arizona acquisition in late September 2015, we have become even more optimistic about business synergies we believe will allow us to create new


opportunities to deepen our customer relationships and expand our presence in core markets that we share with Arizona, such as adhesives, roads and construction, coatings and oilfield chemicals, while providing non-competing and highly complementary products and technologies. Moreover, given the renewable nature of Arizona’s product and technology offerings, this complimentary growth can be accomplished while reducing our overall exposure to hydrocarbon-based feedstocks,” said Fogarty.

Credit Suisse, Nomura Securities International, Inc., and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., or their respective affiliates, served as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners, and Credit Suisse served as administrative agent and collateral agent for the senior secured first lien term loan facility. Bank of America, N.A. served as administrative agent and collateral agent for the senior secured revolving credit facility.

The offer and sale of the Notes, and related guarantees, has not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any of the foregoing securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, sale or purchase would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

ABOUT KRATON

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (“KPPI” and, together with its subsidiaries including the Company and Arizona, “Kraton”) is a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers, specialty polymers and high-value performance products derived from pine wood pulping co-products. Kraton’s polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. As the largest global provider in the pine chemicals industry, the company’s pine-based specialty products are sold into adhesive, road and construction and tire markets, and it produces and sells a broad range of chemical intermediates into markets that include fuel additives, oilfield chemicals, coatings, metalworking fluids and lubricants, inks, flavors and fragrances and mining. Kraton offers its products to a diverse customer base in over 60 countries worldwide.

Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, and the “Giving Innovators their Edge” tagline are all trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management’s current expectations and estimates, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as “believes,”


“estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “may,” “intends,” “plans” or “anticipates,” or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding Kraton’s expectation with respect to future cash flows, the achievement of synergies from the transaction, the startup of our plant in Mailiao, Taiwan, our ability to expand in core markets, and Kraton’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements is contained in KPPI’s most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in other filings made by KPPI with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and include, but are not limited to, risks related to: the acquisition of Arizona; Kraton’s reliance on third parties for the provision of significant operating and other services; conditions in the global economy and capital markets; fluctuations in raw material costs; limitations in the availability of raw materials; competition in Kraton’s end-use markets; and other factors of which we are currently unaware or deem immaterial. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to update or revise such information in light of new information or future events.

For Further Information:

Investors: H. Gene Shiels 281-504-4886

Exhibit 99.5

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

Our unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2015 and our unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014 have been derived by application of pro forma adjustments to (i) the audited consolidated financial statements included in Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.’s (“Kraton”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in Kraton’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and (ii) the audited consolidated financial statements and the unaudited condensed consolidated financials statements, each of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation (“Arizona Chemical”), filed with Kraton’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2015, and reflect the following transactions (collectively, the “Transactions”):

 

    the Arizona Chemical Acquisition, for net cash consideration in the amount of approximately $1,339.0 million, subject to adjustment for working capital and other matters;

 

    the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation, and our subsequent redemption of any remaining outstanding 6.75% Senior Notes on March 1, 2016;

 

    the offering of senior notes for gross proceeds of approximately $440.0 million, before deducting selling discounts and our offering expenses;

 

    our entry into the Term Loan Facility for gross proceeds of approximately $1,350.0 million, before deducting selling discounts and offering expenses; and

 

    our entry into the ABL Facility, with $37.0 million being drawn and outstanding at the closing of the Transactions.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet gives effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on September 30, 2015. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2014.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information includes adjustments directly attributable to the Transactions that are expected to have a continuing impact on us. The pro forma adjustments are described in the notes accompanying the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions we believe are reasonable.

The Arizona Chemical Acquisition will be accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. The final purchase accounting allocations in the Arizona Chemical Acquisition will be determined at a later date and will depend on a number of factors, including the final valuation of our tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Arizona Chemical Acquisition. The actual fair values of Arizona Chemical’s assets acquired, liabilities assumed and resulting goodwill may differ significantly from the adjustments set forth in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financials fair value analysis. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements of each of Kraton and Arizona Chemical and related notes thereto.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations or financial position that we actually would have achieved if the Transactions had been consummated on the dates indicated, nor do they project our results of operations or financial position for any future period or date.

 

1


KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET

AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

(in thousands)

 

     Kraton     Arizona
Chemical
    Pro Forma
Adjustments
        Pro Forma
Combined
 

ASSETS

          

Current assets:

          

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 63,799      $ 44,439      $ (46,391   (A)   $ 61,847   

Receivables, net of allowances

     110,803        97,572        —            208,375   

Other receivables

     —          8,710        (8,710   (B)     —     

Inventories of products

     264,105        96,842        14,687      (C)     375,634   

Inventories of materials and supplies

     11,345        —          6,913      (B)     18,258   

Insurance receivable

     —          93,104        —            93,104   

Deferred income taxes

     6,976        549        —            7,525   

Due from related party

     —          3,506        (3,506   (B)     —     

Other current assets

     27,275        13,261        5,047      (B)     51,388   
         5,805      (E)  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current assets

     484,303        357,983        (26,155       816,131   

Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation

     493,711        239,179        144,242      (F)     877,132   

Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization

     43,360        64,730        (64,730   (G)     519,360   
         476,000      (G)  

Goodwill

     —          —          656,403      (H)     656,403   

Investment in unconsolidated joint venture

     11,725        —          —            11,725   

Debt issuance costs

     6,992        —          42,106      (E)     49,098   

Deferred income taxes

     2,973        6,150        —            9,123   

Other long-term assets

     21,335        24,465        (1,311   (B)     24,234   
         (20,255   (I)  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,064,399      $ 692,507        1,206,300          2,963,206   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

          

Current liabilities:

          

Current portion of long-term debt and short term borrowings

   $ 139      $ 6,286      $ 19,237      (J)   $ 25,662   

Accounts payable trade

     64,169        77,322        4,759      (B)     146,250   

Other payables and accruals

     66,604        44,429        (1,567   (B)     102,523   
         (1,714   (E)  
         (5,229   (K)  

Accrued liabilities for litigations

     —          93,665        —            93,665   

Deferred income taxes

     1,549        4,205        5,880      (D)     11,634   

Due to related party

     15,396        4,759        (4,759   (B)     15,396   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     147,857        230,666        16,607          395,130   

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     404,799        773,941        619,731      (J)     1,798,471   

Deferred income taxes

     12,693        46,017        198,394      (D)     257,104   

Pension liabilities

     —          39,616        (39,616   (B)     —     

Deferred income

     —          8,281        (8,281   (K)     —     

Other long-term liabilities

     103,107        13,493        39,616      (B)     149,128   
         (7,088   (K)  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     668,456        1,112,014        819,363          2,599,833   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Equity:

          

Stockholders’ equity:

          

Preferred stock

     —          —          —            —     

Common stock

     305        —          —            305   

Additional paid in capital

     347,462        755        (755   (L)     347,462   

Retained earnings (deficiency)

     151,092        (343,054     310,484      (L)     118,522   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (138,005     (77,208     77,208      (L)     (138,005
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

     360,854        (419,507     386,937          328,284   

Noncontrolling interest

     35,089        —          —            35,089   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total equity

     395,943        (419,507     386,937          363,373   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 1,064,399      $ 692,507        1,206,300          2,963,206   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

2


KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

(in thousands)

 

     Kraton     Arizona
Chemical
    Pro Forma
Adjustments
        Pro Forma
Combined
 

Revenue

   $ 786,349      $ 620,957      $ —          $ 1,407,306   

Cost of goods sold

     624,542        436,039        1,587      (K)     1,047,589   
         (17,507   (M)  
         3,136      (N)  
         (208   (O)  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Gross profit

     161,807        184,918        12,992          359,717   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

          

Research and development

     23,345        —          8,574      (P)     31,919   

Selling, general and administrative (including related party fees)

     77,488        78,205        (5,288   (M)     132,959   
         (8,574   (P)  
         (7,310   (Q)  
         (1,562   (R)  

Plant closure

     —          5,953        (5,953   (N)     —     

Depreciation and amortization

     46,852        —          14,500      (F)     106,417   
         21,578      (G)  
         22,795      (M)  
         692      (N)  

Impairment of long-lived assets

     —          —          2,125      (N)     2,125   

Litigation expense

     —          12,894        —            12,894   

Insurance recoveries

     —          (12,894     —            (12,894
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     147,685        84,158        41,577          273,420   

Interest expense, net

     17,975        35,928        54,527      (S)     108,430   

Earnings of unconsolidated joint venture

     (273     —          —            (273

Loss (gain) on interest rate caps/swaps, net

     —          7,003        (7,003   (U)     —     

Foreign currency exchange loss (gain), net

     —          (107     107      (O)     —     

Other income

     —          (101     101      (O)     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (3,580     58,037        (76,317       (21,860

Income tax expense (benefit)

     4,135        18,103        (26,711   (V)     (4,473
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Consolidated net income (loss)

     (7,715     39,934        (49,606       (17,387

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (1,141     —          —            (1,141
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (6,574   $ 39,934        (49,606     $ (16,246
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Loss per common share:

          

Basic

   $ (0.21         $ (0.52

Diluted

   $ (0.21         $ (0.52

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     30,779              30,779   

Diluted

     30,779              30,779   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

3


KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014

(in thousands)

 

     Kraton     Arizona
Chemical
    Pro Forma
Adjustments
        Pro Forma
Combined
 

Revenue

   $ 1,230,433      $ 938,050      $ —          $ 2,168,483   

Cost of goods sold

     993,366        677,587        14,687      (C)     1,660,547   
         2,116      (K)  
         (24,659   (M)  
         (2,550   (O)  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Gross profit

     237,067        260,463        10,406          507,936   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

          

Research and development

     31,370        —          12,809      (P)     44,179   

Selling, general and administrative (including related party fees)

     104,209        130,532        (8,997   (M)     210,075   
         (12,809   (P)  
         (711   (Q)  
         (2,149   (R)  

Depreciation and amortization

     66,242        —          19,333      (F)     146,797   
         27,566      (G)  
         33,656      (M)  

Impairment of long-lived assets

     4,731        —          —        (N)     4,731   

Litigation expense

     —          10,110        —            10,110   

Insurance recoveries

     —          (80,210     —            (80,210
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     206,552        60,432        68,698          335,682   

Interest expense, net

     24,594        42,825        79,068      (S)     146,487   

Earnings of unconsolidated joint venture

     (407     —          —            (407

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —          7,860        6,839      (T)     14,699   

Loss (gain) on interest rate caps/swaps, net

     —          3,579        (3,579   (U)     —     

Foreign currency exchange loss (gain), net

     —          (1,208     1,208      (O)     —     

Other income

     —          (1,342     1,342      (O)     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     6,328        148,317        (143,170       11,475   

Income tax expense (benefit)

     5,118        49,966        (50,110   (V)     4,974   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Consolidated net income (loss)

     1,210        98,351        (93,060       6,501   

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (1,209     —          —            (1,209
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,419      $ 98,351      $ (93,060     $ 7,710   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Earnings per common share:

          

Basic

   $ 0.07            $ 0.24   

Diluted

   $ 0.07            $ 0.23   

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     32,163              32,163   

Diluted

     32,483              32,483   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

4


NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation

On September 27, 2015, Kraton Polymers LLC, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries (“Kraton LLC”), entered into a stock purchase agreement with AZC Holding Company LLC (“Seller”), the sole stockholder of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation (“Arizona Chemical”). Pursuant to the stock purchase agreement, we agreed to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of Arizona Chemical for a cash purchase price of $1,370.0 million, subject to adjustment for cash and indebtedness at closing, as well as an adjustment for working capital and other items (the “Arizona Chemical Acquisition”).

The accompanying pro forma financial statements present the pro forma combined financial position and results of operations of the two companies based upon the historical financial statements of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (“Kraton”) and Arizona Chemical, after giving effect to the combination and adjustments described in these notes, and are intended to reflect the impact of the combination on Kraton’s consolidated financial statements. The accompanying pro forma financial statements are presented for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the costs of any integration activities or benefits that may result from realization of future cost savings due to operating efficiencies or synergies that could result from the combination.

The pro forma balance sheet gives effect to the combination as if it had been completed on September 30, 2015. The pro forma statement of operations gives effect to the combination as if it had been completed as of January 1, 2014.

The accompanying pro forma financial statements were prepared using the acquisition method of accounting with Kraton considered the accounting acquirer of Arizona Chemical. In accordance with accounting guidance for business combinations, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed have been measured at fair value, and estimated pro forma adjustments have been reflected for these preliminary valuations. These fair value measurements are based on estimates and the final amounts recorded for the combination may differ materially from the information presented in these pro forma financial statements.

2. Preliminary Purchase Price

The preliminary purchase price is computed based on the preliminary consideration of $1,370.0 million less a deduction of $31.0 million related to the underfunded status of Arizona Chemical’s defined benefit pension plans. The final purchase price is subject to adjustment for cash and indebtedness at closing, as well as an adjustment for working capital and other items. The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair value of the assets expected to be acquired and liabilities expected to be assumed at the date of closing of the Arizona Chemical Acquisition (in thousands):

 

Current assets

   $ 328,231   

Property, plant and equipment

     383,421   

Intangible assets

     476,000   

Goodwill

     656,403   

Other long-term assets

     10,360   
  

 

 

 

Total assets acquired

     1,854,415   
  

 

 

 

Current liabilities

     225,031   

Other long-term liabilities

     290,432   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities assumed

     515,463   
  

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

   $ 1,338,952   
  

 

 

 

 

5


The final determination of the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired may change significantly from these preliminary estimates. The actual acquisition accounting of the combination will be based on the fair value of the consideration and the fair value of the assets and liabilities of Arizona Chemical as of the date of completion of the combination.

3. Pro Forma Adjustments

 

(A) Reflects the cash impact of the following transactions:

 

$1,350.0 million of cash proceeds from the Term Loan Facility

   $ 1,350,000   

$440.0 million of cash proceeds from the offering of senior notes

     440,000   

$37.0 million of cash proceeds from the draw on our ABL Facility at the closing of the Transactions

     37,000   

Preliminary cash consideration paid for the Arizona Chemical Acquisition

     (1,338,952

Elimination of Arizona Chemical’s cash balance which is excluded from the acquisition purchase price

     (44,439

$350.0 million repayment of our 6.75% Senior Notes

     (350,000

Estimated costs relating to the Arizona Chemical Acquisition and debt offering expenses in connection with the offering of senior notes, Tender Offer fees, original issue discount on the Term Loan Facility and the senior notes, early call premium on the 6.75% Senior Notes and all other fees and expenses in connection with the Transactions

     (140,000
  

 

 

 

Net change in cash

   $ (46,391
  

 

 

 

 

(B) Adjustment to reclassify the following items included in the historical presentation of Arizona Chemical to conform to Kraton’s presentation:

 

  (1) Other receivables of $8.7 million from Other receivables to Other current assets

 

  (2) Inventories of materials and supplies of $5.6 million from Other current assets and $1.3 million from Other long term assets to Inventories of materials and supplies

 

  (3) Receivables from International Paper of $3.5 million from Due from related party to Other current assets

 

  (4) Payables to International Paper of $4.8 million from Due to related party to Accounts payable trade

 

  (5) Value-added taxes payable of $1.6 million from Other payables and accruals to Other current assets

 

  (6) Pension liabilities of $39.6 million from Pension liabilities to Other long-term liabilities

 

(C) Adjustment to reflect the estimated fair value of inventory of Arizona Chemical and the additional expense recognized in Cost of goods sold. Fair value of finished goods inventory has been determined based on estimated selling price, net of selling costs based on historical gross profit margins for Arizona Chemical. Fair value of raw materials has been assumed to equal their book values.

 

(D) Represents an adjustment to deferred tax liabilities based on the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35% multiplied by the fair value adjustments made to assets acquired and liabilities assumed, excluding goodwill, as calculated below:

 

Fair value adjustment to increase inventory

   $ 14,687   

Fair value adjustment to increase property, plant and equipment

     144,242   

Fair value adjustment to increase intangible assets

     411,270   

Fair value adjustment to decrease other payables and accruals

     5,161   

Fair value adjustment to decrease deferred income

     8,281   
  

 

 

 
     583,641   

U.S. federal statutory tax rate

     35
  

 

 

 
   $ 204,274   
  

 

 

 

Current deferred tax liability

     5,880   

Long-term deferred tax liability

     198,394   

 

6


(E) Reflects the following adjustments related to deferred financing costs:

 

     Other Current
Assets
    Debt Issuance
Costs
 

Estimated deferred financing costs for the Term Loan Facility, less $1.7 million of costs accrued as of September 30, 2014

   $ 5,392      $ 26,586   

Estimated deferred financing costs for the senior notes

     1,553        15,879   

Estimated deferred financing costs for the ABL Facility

     1,158        3,542   

Estimated write-off of deferred financing costs related to the 6.75% Senior Notes and write-off of a portion of the deferred financing costs related to our Existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities

     (2,298     (3,901
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Change

   $ 5,805      $ 42,106   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

In addition, estimated amortization expense for deferred financing costs and the anticipated original issue discount on the Term Loan Facility consists of the following:

 

                   Amortization Expense  
     Book
Value
     Amortization
Period
     For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2015
     For the Year Ended
December 31, 2014
 

Deferred financing costs:

     

Term Loan offering

   $ 33,693         6.00       $ 4,164       $ 5,392   

Notes offered hereby

     17,431         7.25         1,303         1,553   

ABL Facility(a)

     5,791         5.00         869         1,158   

Original issue discount:

     

Term Loan offering

     40,500         6.00         5,092         6,656   

Notes offered hereby

     16,610         7.25         1,299         1,571   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 114,015          $ 12,727       $ 16,330   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) The ABL Facility book value includes $4.7 million of estimated deferred financing costs to be incurred related to the current refinancing and $1.1 million of deferred financing costs which are estimated to carry over from the Existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

 

(F) Reflects fair value adjustments for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets acquired and related pro forma depreciation and amortization expense adjustments. Pro forma depreciation expense is calculated based on an average remaining useful life of 15 years for buildings and five years for plant and equipment.

 

     Property, Plant and Equipment     Depreciation Expense  
     Historical
Amounts
     Fair Value      Fair Value
Adjustment
    For the Nine
Months Ended

September 30,
2015
     For The
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 

Property, plant and equipment

             

Land

   $ 34,110       $ 18,458       $ 15,652      $ —         $ —     

Buildings

     73,520         25,000         48,520        2,426         3,235   

Plant and equipment

     241,411         160,919         80,492        12,074         16,098   

Construction in progress

     34,380         34,802         (422     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 383,421       $ 239,179       $ 144,242      $ 14,500       $ 19,333   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7


(G) The balance sheet adjustment reflects the removal of $64.7 million for the net book value of Arizona Chemical’s existing intangible assets as of September 30, 2015 and the addition of $476.0 million for the fair value of intangible assets resulting from purchase accounting. The income statement adjustments reflect the removal of Arizona Chemical’s historical intangible asset amortization expense and the addition of amortization expense related to the fair value adjustments resulting from purchase accounting as follows:

 

                Amortization Expense  
    Book
Value
    Amortization
Period
    For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2015
    For the Year Ended
December 31, 2014
 

Intangible assets:

   

Customer relationships

  $ 145,000        18.0      $ 6,042      $ 8,056   

Trade name

    45,000        10.0        3,375        4,500   

Technology

    115,000        16.0        5,391        7,188   

Non-compete agreements

    1,000        2.0        375        500   

Supplier agreements

    170,000        12.0        10,625        14,167   
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total amortization

  $ 476,000          25,808        34,411   

Reverse Arizona Chemical historical intangible asset amortization expense

        (4,230     (6,845
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in amortization expense

      $ 21,578      $ 27,566   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(H) Reflects the goodwill related to the Arizona Chemical Acquisition.

 

(I) Adjustment to eliminate $20.3 million of deferred financing costs from Arizona Chemical’s other long term assets balance.

 

(J) Reflects the following adjustments to debt:

 

     Total Debt     Current Portion of
Long-Term Debt
    Long-Term Debt  

Term Loan Facility

   $ 1,350,000      $ 33,750      $ 1,316,250   

Estimated original issue discount related to the Term Loan Facility

     (40,500     (6,656     (33,844

Notes offered hereby

     440,000        —          440,000   

Estimated original issue discount related to the notes offered hereby

     (16,610     (1,571     (15,039

Draw on the ABL Facility

     37,000        —          37,000   

Retirement of the 6.75% Senior Notes

     (350,695     —          (350,695

Elimination of Arizona Chemical’s existing indebtedness

     (780,227     (6,286     (773,941
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Change

   $ 638,968      $ 19,237      $ 619,731   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(K) Adjustment to eliminate the following liabilities which will not be assumed with the purchase of Arizona Chemical:

 

  (1) deferred income liability and income recognized in association with the Arizona Chemical sale and leaseback of certain rail cars;

 

  (2) liabilities for Arizona Chemical’s accrued interest related to their existing indebtedness; and

 

  (3) liabilities for Arizona Chemical’s interest rate swaps related to their existing indebtedness.

 

8


(L) Adjustments reflect the elimination of Arizona Chemical’s equity related to purchase accounting adjustments. In addition, retained earnings reflects the following adjustments:

 

     Retained Earnings  

Elimination of Arizona Chemical’s retained earnings balance

   $ 343,054   

Loss on early call premium from the Tender Offer for the 6.75% Senior Notes

     (9,195

Gain on write off of issuance premium for the 6.75% Senior Notes

     695   

Write-off of deferred financing costs on the 6.75% Senior Notes and Existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities

     (6,199

Estimated transaction costs related to the Arizona Chemical Acquisition

     (17,871
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 310,484   
  

 

 

 

 

(M) Adjustments to reclassify depreciation and amortization expense for Arizona Chemical from Cost of goods sold and Selling, general and administrative expenses into Depreciation and amortization to conform with Kraton’s presentation.

 

(N) Adjustments to reclassify Arizona Chemical’s plant closure costs into Cost of goods sold, Depreciation and amortization, and Impairment of long-lived assets to conform with Kraton’s presentation.

 

(O) Adjustments to reclassify Foreign currency exchange loss (gain) and Other income into Cost of goods sold to conform with Kraton’s presentation.

 

(P) Adjustments to reclassify research and development expenses for Arizona Chemical from Selling, general and administrative expenses into Research and development.

 

(Q) Adjustment to remove the effect of one-time transaction costs directly related to the Arizona Chemical Acquisition incurred by Kraton and Arizona Chemical.

 

(R) Adjustment to remove the effect of management fees and out of pocket expenses paid to the owners of Arizona Chemical.

 

(S) Reflects the elimination of interest expense related to Kraton and Arizona Chemical’s historical financing arrangements. In addition, this adjustment reflects the additional interest expense related to the Term Loan Facility, this offering of notes, and the ABL Facility:

 

     Interest Expense  
     For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2015
    For the Year Ended
December 31, 2014
 

Remove Arizona Chemical interest expense and deferred financing amortization associated with existing indebtedness

   $ (35,998   $ (42,888

Remove Kraton interest expense and deferred financing amortization related to the 6.75% Senior Notes and Existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities

     (20,414     (27,096

Assumed interest expense for the Term Loan Facility, the notes offered hereby and the ABL Facility(a)

     98,212        132,722   

Assumed amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount on the Term Loan Facility, the notes offered hereby and the ABL Facility (see footnote E)

     12,727        16,330   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 54,527      $ 79,068   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) Represents a blended interest rate assumption on the Term Loan Facility, the senior notes and the ABL Facility. A 0.125% change in the assumed interest rate would change annual interest expense by $2.3 million.

 

9


(T) Adjustment reflects the debt extinguishment costs incurred as a result of refinancing our existing indebtedness and the elimination of Arizona Chemical’s historical loss on extinguishment of debt for a previous refinancing:

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31, 2014
 

Loss on early call premium from the Tender Offer for the 6.75% Senior Notes

   $ 9,195   

Gain on write off of issuance premium for the 6.75% Senior Notes

     (695

Write-off of deferred financing costs on 6.75% Senior Notes and Existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities

     6,199   

Arizona Chemical Loss on extinguishment of debt

     (7,860
  

 

 

 

Total Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

   $ 6,839   
  

 

 

 

 

(U) Reflects the elimination of loss (gain) on interest interest rate caps and swaps associated with Arizona Chemical’s historical indebtedness.

 

(V) Reflects the tax impact of the pro forma adjustments based on the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35%.

 

10