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): March 16, 2017

 

 

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36243   27-4384691

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100, McLean, Virginia 22102

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(703) 883-1000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

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

 

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.

Indenture with respect to 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025 and 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027

On March 16, 2017, Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC (the “Issuer”) and Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp. (the “Co-Issuer” and, together with the Issuer, the “Issuers”), each an indirect subsidiary of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (the “Company”), issued $1,500 million of senior notes consisting of (i) $900 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”) and (ii) $600 million aggregate principal amount of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes” and, together with the 2025 Notes, the “Notes”), in each case, under an Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017 (the “Indenture”), by and among the Issuers, the Company, as a guarantor, and the other guarantors party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”). The Notes were sold within the United States only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

The Notes were issued at 100% of their par value and bear interest at a rate of 4.625% per annum, in the case of the 2025 Notes, and 4.875% per annum, in the case of the 2027 Notes. Interest on each series of Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1, beginning October 1, 2017. The 2025 Notes mature on April 1, 2025 and the 2027 Notes mature on April 1, 2027.

The net proceeds of the offering, together with available cash, were used to redeem all of the Issuers’ outstanding 5.625% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”), of which $1,500 million aggregate principal amount was outstanding as of December 31, 2016, and to pay the related redemption premium and all fees and expenses related thereto, and any remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.

Ranking; Guarantees

The Notes are the Issuers’ senior unsecured obligations, ranking equally in right of payment with all of their existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of their existing and future subordinated indebtedness.

The Notes will be guaranteed, on a senior unsecured basis, by (i) Hilton Worldwide Parent LLC (“Parent”), the Issuer’s immediate parent company, (ii) the Company, the immediate parent company of Parent, and (iii) each of the Issuer’s existing and future wholly owned subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuer) to the extent such entities guarantee indebtedness under Issuer’s senior secured credit facilities or certain other indebtedness of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any subsidiary guarantor.

Optional Redemption

2025 Notes. The Issuers may, at their option, redeem the 2025 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to April 1, 2020, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2025 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, plus the applicable “make-whole premium.” In addition, beginning on April 1, 2020, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the 2025 Notes at a redemption price equal to 102.312% of the principal amount redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The redemption price decreases to 101.156% and 100.000% of the principal amount redeemed on April 1, 2021 and April 1, 2022, respectively. In addition, at any time prior to April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes issued under the Indenture with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 104.625% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

2027 Notes. The Issuers may, at their option, redeem the 2027 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to April 1, 2022, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, plus the applicable “make-whole premium.” In addition, beginning on April 1, 2022, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the 2027 Notes at a redemption price equal to 102.437% of the principal amount redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The redemption price decreases to 101.218%, 100.609% and 100.000% of the principal amount redeemed on April 1 2023, April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025, respectively. In addition, at any time prior to April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Notes issued under the Indenture with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 104.875% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.


Repurchase at the Option of Holders

Upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event or upon the sale of certain assets in which Issuer and its restricted subsidiaries do not apply the proceeds as required, the holders of the Notes will have the right to require the Issuers to make an offer to repurchase each holder’s Notes at a price equal to 101% (in the case of a change of control triggering event) or 100% (in the case of an asset sale) of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Covenants; Events of Default

The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Issuer and its restricted subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred shares, pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions, make certain investments, sell or transfer certain assets, create liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, and designate subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. Neither Parent nor the Company is subject to the restrictive covenants of the Indenture. The Notes also contain customary events of default, the occurrence of which could result in the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes to become or be declared due and payable.

Registration Rights Agreement

On March 16, 2017, the Issuers, the Company and other guarantors of the Notes, and Goldman, Sachs & Co., on behalf of the several initial purchasers of the Notes (the “Initial Purchasers”), entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the Notes (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). In the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers and the guarantors have agreed that they will use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to (i) file a registration statement on an appropriate registration form with respect to a registered offer to exchange the Notes for new notes, with terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Notes and (ii) cause the exchange offer registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act.

The Issuers and the guarantors have agreed to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the exchange offer to be consummated or, if required, to have one or more shelf registration statements declared effective, within 450 days after the issue date of the Notes. If the Issuers and the guarantors fail to satisfy this obligation (a “registration default”), the annual interest rate on each series of Notes will increase by 0.25% for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the registration default. The annual interest rate on each series of Notes will increase by an additional 0.25% for each subsequent 90-day period during which the registration default continues, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.0% per annum. If the registration default is corrected, the interest rate on each series of Notes will revert to the original level.

If the Issuers must pay additional interest, they will pay holders of the Notes in cash on the same dates that the Issuers make other interest payments on the Notes, until the registration default is corrected.

Credit Agreement Amendment

On March 16, 2017, the Issuer entered into Amendment No. 3 (the “Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 25, 2013 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement dated as of August 18, 2016 and as further amended by that certain Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 21, 2016, the “Credit Agreement”). After giving effect to the Amendment, the aggregate principal amount of term B-2 loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement will equal $3,958.9 million (the “Repriced Term Loans), including incremental term B-2 loans incurred pursuant to the Amendment to refinance all of the term B-1 loans outstanding immediately prior to giving effect to the Amendment. The Repriced Term Loans provide for substantially the same terms as the outstanding term B-2 loans, which mature on October 25, 2023, except that the Repriced Term Loans (i) provide for a reduced applicable margin on LIBOR rate loans of 2.00% and a reduced applicable margin on base rate loans of 1.00% and a LIBOR floor of 0.00%; (ii) provide for a premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of any Repriced Term Loans prepaid as a result of certain repricing transactions occurring within six months of the effective date of the Amendment; and (iii) are subject to periodic amortization payments to be made on the last business day of each quarter in installments in an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the Repriced Term Loans (which amounts shall be reduced given the application of prepayments on the Repriced Term Loans in order of priority required pursuant to the Repriced Term Loans), with the remaining amount payable on the applicable maturity date with respect to such Repriced Term Loans.

Certain of the Initial Purchasers and participants in the Credit Agreement and their respective affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking, advisory roles and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of


business with the Company or its affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. In addition, certain of the Initial Purchasers or their respective affiliates may receive a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes that was used to redeem the Company’s 2021 Notes. Blackstone Advisory Partners L.P., one of the Initial Purchasers, is also an affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P. (“Blackstone”). Blackstone and its affiliates own approximately 15% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Affiliates of certain other Initial Purchasers are also stockholders of the Company.

Each of the foregoing descriptions of the Indenture, the Notes, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of each of such documents, which are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 10.1, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.02. Termination of Material Definitive Agreement.

On March 22, 2017, the Issuers completed the redemption in full of all of the $1,500 million aggregate principal amount of issued and outstanding 2021 Notes at a redemption price of 102.813% of the outstanding aggregate principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. As a result, the indenture, dated as of October 4, 2013 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “2021 Notes Indenture”), by and among the Issuers, the Company and other guarantors party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, was satisfied and discharged and the Issuers and guarantors have no further obligations under the 2021 Notes, the related guarantees or the 2021 Notes Indenture.

 

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

The information contained in Item 1.01 concerning the Issuer’s direct financial obligations under the Notes is incorporated by reference in this Item 2.03.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

As an update to a previous announcement, at this time the Company has elected to retain its existing corporate entity name of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. The furnishing of such information in this Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K will not be deemed an admission as to its materiality.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., the guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.
  4.2    Form of 4.625% Senior Note due 2025 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
  4.3    Form of 4.875% Senior Note due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
  4.4    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and Goldman, Sachs & Co., on behalf of the initial purchasers.
10.1    Amendment No. 3, dated as of March 16, 2017, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2013 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement dated as of August 18, 2016 and as further amended by that certain Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 21, 2016), by and among Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., Hilton Worldwide Parent LLC, Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, the other guarantors party thereto from time to time, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as administrative agent, collateral agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer and the other lenders party thereto from time to time.


SIGNATURE

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

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/ S / K EVIN J. J ACOBS

Name:   Kevin J. Jacobs
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: March 22, 2017


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., the guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.
  4.2    Form of 4.625% Senior Note due 2025 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
  4.3    Form of 4.875% Senior Note due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
  4.4    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and Goldman, Sachs & Co., on behalf of the initial purchasers.
10.1    Amendment No. 3, dated as of March 16, 2017, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2013 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement dated as of August 18, 2016 and as further amended by that certain Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 21, 2016), by and among Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., Hilton Worldwide Parent LLC, Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, the other guarantors party thereto from time to time, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as administrative agent, collateral agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer and the other lenders party thereto from time to time.

Exhibit 4.1

INDENTURE

Dated as of March 16, 2017

Among

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC, as the Issuer,

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP., as the Co-Issuer,

the Guarantors from time to time party hereto

and

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

4.625% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2025

4.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027


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)

   7.03; 7.10

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

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)

   4.03; 12.05

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   12.04

(c)(2)

   12.04

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   12.05

(f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01

(b)

   7.05; 12.02

(c)

   7.01

(d)

   7.01

(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)

   2.12; 9.04

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.12

(b)

   2.04

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

 

            Page  
ARTICLE 1  
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE      1  

Section 1.01.

    

Definitions

     1  

Section 1.02.

    

Other Definitions

     40  

Section 1.03.

    

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     40  

Section 1.04.

    

Rules of Construction

     40  

Section 1.05.

    

Acts of Holders

     41  

Section 1.06.

    

Timing of Payment

     42  

Section 1.07.

    

Financial Calculations for Limited Condition Acquisitions

     42  
ARTICLE 2  

THE NOTES

     43  

Section 2.01.

    

Form and Dating; Terms

     43  

Section 2.02.

    

Execution and Authentication

     44  

Section 2.03.

    

Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent

     45  

Section 2.04.

    

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     45  

Section 2.05.

    

Holder Lists

     45  

Section 2.06.

    

Transfer and Exchange

     46  

Section 2.07.

    

Replacement Notes

     56  

Section 2.08.

    

Outstanding Notes

     57  

Section 2.09.

    

Treasury Notes

     57  

Section 2.10.

    

Temporary Notes

     57  

Section 2.11.

    

Cancellation

     57  

Section 2.12.

    

Defaulted Interest

     58  

Section 2.13.

    

CUSIP Numbers; ISINs

     58  
ARTICLE 3  

REDEMPTION

     58  

Section 3.01.

    

Notices to Trustee

     58  

Section 3.02.

    

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

     58  

Section 3.03.

    

Notice of Redemption

     59  

Section 3.04.

    

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     60  

Section 3.05.

    

Deposit of Redemption Price

     60  

Section 3.06.

    

Notes Redeemed in Part

     60  

Section 3.07.

    

Optional Redemption

     60  

Section 3.08.

    

Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds

     62  
ARTICLE 4  

COVENANTS

     64  

Section 4.01.

    

Payment of Notes

     64  

Section 4.02.

    

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     64  

Section 4.03.

    

Reports and Other Information

     65  

Section 4.04.

    

Compliance Certificate

     66  

Section 4.05.

    

Taxes

     66  

Section 4.06.

    

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     66  

Section 4.07.

    

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     66  

Section 4.08.

    

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

     74  

 

-ii-


Section 4.09.

    

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock

     76  

Section 4.10.

    

Asset Sales

     82  

Section 4.11.

    

Transactions with Affiliates

     84  

Section 4.12.

    

Liens

     87  

Section 4.13.

    

Company Existence

     87  

Section 4.14.

    

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event

     87  

Section 4.15.

    

Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries

     89  

Section 4.16.

    

Limitation on Business Activities of the Co-Issuer

     90  

Section 4.17.

    

Termination of Covenants

     90  
ARTICLE 5  

SUCCESSORS

     90  

Section 5.01.

    

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

     90  

Section 5.02.

    

Successor Person Substituted

     92  
ARTICLE 6  

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     93  

Section 6.01.

    

Events of Default

     93  

Section 6.02.

    

Acceleration

     95  

Section 6.03.

    

Other Remedies

     95  

Section 6.04.

    

Waiver of Past Defaults

     95  

Section 6.05.

    

Control by Majority

     95  

Section 6.06.

    

Limitation on Suits

     96  

Section 6.07.

    

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

     96  

Section 6.08.

    

Collection Suit by Trustee

     96  

Section 6.09.

    

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     96  

Section 6.10.

    

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     96  

Section 6.11.

    

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     96  

Section 6.12.

    

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     97  

Section 6.13.

    

Priorities

     97  

Section 6.14.

    

Undertaking for Costs

     97  
ARTICLE 7  

TRUSTEE

     97  

Section 7.01.

    

Duties of Trustee

     97  

Section 7.02.

    

Rights of Trustee

     98  

Section 7.03.

    

Individual Rights of Trustee

     100  

Section 7.04.

    

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     100  

Section 7.05.

    

Notice of Defaults

     100  

Section 7.06.

    

Reports by Trustee to Holders

     100  

Section 7.07.

    

Compensation and Indemnity

     100  

Section 7.08.

    

Replacement of Trustee

     101  

Section 7.09.

    

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc

     102  

Section 7.10.

    

Eligibility; Disqualification

     102  

Section 7.11.

    

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers

     102  
ARTICLE 8  

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     102  

Section 8.01.

    

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     102  

Section 8.02.

    

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

     102  

Section 8.03.

    

Covenant Defeasance

     103  

 

-iii-


Section 8.04.

    

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

     103  

Section 8.05.

    

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

     104  

Section 8.06.

    

Repayment to Issuers

     105  

Section 8.07.

    

Reinstatement

     105  
ARTICLE 9  

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     105  

Section 9.01.

    

Without Consent of Holders

     105  

Section 9.02.

    

With Consent of Holders

     106  

Section 9.03.

    

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

     108  

Section 9.04.

    

Revocation and Effect of Consents

     108  

Section 9.05.

    

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     108  

Section 9.06.

    

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

     108  
ARTICLE 10  

GUARANTEES

     108  

Section 10.01.

    

Guarantee

     108  

Section 10.02.

    

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     110  

Section 10.03.

    

Execution and Delivery

     110  

Section 10.04.

    

Subrogation

     110  

Section 10.05.

    

Benefits Acknowledged

     110  

Section 10.06.

    

Release of Guarantees

     110  
ARTICLE 11  

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     111  

Section 11.01.

    

Satisfaction and Discharge

     111  

Section 11.02.

    

Application of Trust Money

     112  
ARTICLE 12  

MISCELLANEOUS

     113  

Section 12.01.

    

Trust Indenture Act Controls

     113  

Section 12.02.

    

Notices

     113  

Section 12.03.

    

Communication by Holders with Other Holders

     114  

Section 12.04.

    

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     114  

Section 12.05.

    

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     114  

Section 12.06.

    

Rules by Trustee and Agents

     115  

Section 12.07.

    

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

     115  

Section 12.08.

    

Governing Law

     115  

Section 12.09.

    

Waiver of Jury Trial

     115  

Section 12.10.

    

Force Majeure

     115  

Section 12.11.

    

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     115  

Section 12.12.

    

Successors

     115  

Section 12.13.

    

Severability

     115  

Section 12.14.

    

Counterpart Originals

     115  

Section 12.15.

    

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

     116  

Section 12.16.

    

Qualification of Indenture

     116  

Section 12.17.

    

USA Patriot Act

     116  

 

-iv-


EXHIBITS   
Exhibit A-1    FORM OF 2025 NOTE
Exhibit A-2    FORM OF 2027 NOTE
Exhibit B    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D    FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

 

-v-


INDENTURE, dated as of March 16, 2017, among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Issuer ”), Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation wholly owned by the Issuer (the “ Co-Issuer ” and together with the Issuer, the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) from time to time party hereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee.

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuers have duly authorized the creation of an issue of $900,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ 2025 Initial Notes ”) and $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “ 2027 Initial Notes ” and, together with the 2025 Initial Notes, the “ Initial Notes ”) (each of which is being issued as a separate series hereunder);

WHEREAS, the Issuers will be jointly and severally liable for all obligations under the Notes (as defined herein) and this Indenture (as defined herein); and

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, each of 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 .

2021 Notes Issue Date ” means October 4, 2013.

2021 Senior Notes ” means the aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 5.625% Senior Notes due 2021 outstanding on the Issue Date.

2021 Senior Notes Indenture ” means the Indenture for the 2021 Senior Notes, dated as of October 4, 2013, as supplemented, among the Issuers, the guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

2024 Senior Notes ” means the aggregate principal amount of Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc.’s 4.250% Senior Notes due 2024 outstanding on the Issue Date.

2024 Senior Notes Indenture ” means the Indenture for the 2024 Senior Notes, dated as of August 18, 2016, as supplemented, among Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc., as issuer, the Issuer, as parent guarantor, HLT Parent, the other guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

2025 Additional Notes ” means any additional 2025 Notes (other than the 2025 Initial Notes or any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for such 2025 Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.01, 2.02 and 4.09 hereof.

2025 Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to any 2025 Note on any Redemption Date as calculated by the Issuer, the greater of:

(a)    1.0% of the principal amount of such 2025 Note; and

(b)    the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) the redemption price of such 2025 Note at April 1, 2020 (such redemption price being set forth in the table set forth in Section 3.07(d) hereof), plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such 2025 Note


through April 1, 2020 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the 2025 Applicable Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points over (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such 2025 Note.

Calculation of any 2025 Applicable Premium is a responsibility of the Issuer, and the Trustee shall not be responsible to calculate or verify any calculation related to the 2025 Applicable Premium.

2025 Applicable Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any 2025 Note on any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity, as determined by the Issuer, 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 April 1, 2020; 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.

2025 Notes ” means the 2025 Initial Notes and any 2025 Additional Notes. The 2025 Notes offered by the Issuers, any Exchange Notes issued in exchange thereof and any 2025 Additional Notes subsequently issued under this Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

2027 Additional Notes ” means any additional 2027 Notes (other than the 2027 Initial Notes or any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for such 2027 Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.01, 2.02 and 4.09 hereof.

2027 Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to any 2027 Note on any Redemption Date as calculated by the Issuer, the greater of:

(a)    1.0% of the principal amount of such 2027 Note; and

(b)    the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) the redemption price of such 2027 Note at April 1, 2022 (such redemption price being set forth in the table set forth in Section 3.07(e) hereof), plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such 2027 Note through April 1, 2022 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the 2027 Applicable Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points over (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such 2027 Note.

Calculation of any 2027 Applicable Premium is a responsibility of the Issuer, and the Trustee shall not be responsible to calculate or verify any calculation related to the 2027 Applicable Premium.

2027 Applicable Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any 2027 Note on any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity, as determined by the Issuer, 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 April 1, 2022; 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.

2027 Notes ” means the 2027 Initial Notes and any 2027 Additional Notes. The 2027 Notes offered by the Issuers, any Exchange Notes issued in exchange thereof and any 2027 Additional Notes subsequently issued under this Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

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144A Global Note ” means one or more Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, in the case of the 2025 Notes, and Exhibit A-2 hereto, in the case of the 2027 Notes, each 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 denominations that, in the aggregate, equal the outstanding principal amount of 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.

Additional Interest ” means all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Additional Notes ” means any 2025 Additional Notes and 2027 Additional Notes.

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, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent.

Agent’s Message ” means a message transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the tender agent and forming a part of the book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from each participant in DTC tendering the Notes and that such participants have received the Letter of Transmittal and agree to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal and the Issuers may enforce such agreement against such participants.

Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to the 2025 Notes, the 2025 Applicable Premium, and with respect to the 2027 Notes, the 2027 Applicable Premium.

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

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 Issuer 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;

 

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in each case, other than:

(i)    any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged, unnecessary, unsuitable or worn out equipment, inventory or other property in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets, including timeshare and residential assets) held for sale or no longer used or useful in the ordinary course of business;

(ii)    the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control Triggering Event 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 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 $150.0 million;

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

(vi)    to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or comparable law or regulation, 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, forced dispositions 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 or related assets, or any disposition of the Equity Interests in a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of which are Securitization Assets, in each case in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility or the disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business;

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

(xii)    the sale, discount or other disposition 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;

(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;

 

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

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

(xix)    the granting of a Lien that is permitted under Section 4.12 hereof;

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

(xxi)    any conversions of hotel properties into timeshare or residential properties and the sale or other disposition of assets created in such conversions;

(xxii)    Permitted Intercompany Activities and related transactions; and

(xxiii)     transfers of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Proceeds of such Casualty Event; provided that any Cash Equivalents received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Casualty Event shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of an Asset Sale, and such Net Proceeds shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.10(b) hereof.

In the event that a transaction (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of a permitted Asset Sale and would also be a permitted Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, will be entitled to divide and classify such transaction (or a portion thereof) as an Asset Sale and/or one or more the types of permitted Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments.

Bank Products ” means any facilities or services related to cash management, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, purchase card, automatic clearinghouse transfer transactions, controlled disbursements, foreign exchange facilities, stored value cards, merchant services, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

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

Blackstone Funds ” means, as of the date hereof, individually or collectively, Blackstone Capital Partners V, L.P., BCP V-S L.P., Blackstone Capital Partners V-AC L.P., BCP V Co-Investors L.P., Blackstone Family Investment Partnership V L.P., Blackstone Family Investment Partnership V-SMD L.P. and Blackstone Participation Partnership V L.P., each a Delaware limited partnership and Blackstone Real Estate Partners International II (AIV) L.P., each an English partnership, Blackstone Real Estate Holdings International II-Q L.P. and Blackstone Family Real Estate Partnership International II-SMD L.P., each an Alberta, Canada limited partnership, Blackstone Real Estate Partners VI L.P., Blackstone Real Estate Holdings VI L.P., Blackstone Real Estate Partners VI.TE.1 L.P., Blackstone Real Estate Partners VI.TE.2 L.P., Blackstone Real Estate Partners (AIV) VI L.P., Blackstone Real Estate Partners VI.F L.P., Blackstone Family Real Estate Partnership VI-SMD L.P. and Blackstone HLT Principal Transaction Partners L.P., each a Delaware limited partnership, and any other investment fund managed by an Affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P., in each case, or any of their respective successors.

Blackstone Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2016, by and among HLT Parent and certain of its stockholders, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the Blackstone Registration Rights Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

 

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Blackstone Stockholders Agreement ” means the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2013, by and among HLT Parent and the Investor Parties (as defined therein), as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of October 24, 2016 by and among HLT Parent and the Investor Parties, and as it may be further amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the Blackstone Stockholders Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Board of Directors ” means, with respect to any Person, (i) in the case of any corporation, the board of directors of such Person, (ii) in the case of any limited liability company, the sole or managing member or board of managers of such Person, (iii) in the case of any partnership, the sole or managing member or board of directors of the general partner of such Person and (iv) in any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing or, in each case, any duly authorized committee of such body.

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

Capital Stock ” means:

(a)    in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares in the capital of such corporation;

(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

(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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that any obligations of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries either existing on the Issue Date or created prior to any recharacterization described below (i) that were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer as financing or capital lease obligations and (ii) that are subsequently recharacterized as financing or capital lease obligations or indebtedness due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, shall for all purposes under this Indenture (including, without limitation, the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, EBITDA and Fixed Charges) not be treated as financing or capital lease obligations, Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

Capitalized Software Expenditures ” means, 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.

Captive Insurance Subsidiary ” means (i) any Subsidiary established by the Issuer for the primary purpose of insuring the businesses or properties owned or operated by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any Subsidiary of any such insurance subsidiary established for the same primary purpose described in clause (i) above.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(a)    United States dollars;

 

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

(ii)    such local currencies held by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(d)    certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, 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 $250.0 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), (g) and (h) of this definition entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d) above;

(f)    commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes 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;

(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);

(k)    securities with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d) above;

(l)    Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

(m)    investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (l) above.

 

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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), (k), (l) and (m) 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 (m) 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.

For the avoidance of doubt, any items identified as Cash Equivalents under this definition will be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for all purposed under this Indenture regardless of the treatment of such items under GAAP.

Casualty Event ” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

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

(a)    the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition in one or a series of related transactions (other than by merger, consolidation or amalgamation), of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than any Permitted Holder, a Parent Company, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor; or

(b)     the Issuer 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 (A) any Person (other than any Permitted Holder) or (B) Persons (other than any Permitted Holders) that are together a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any such 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), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer directly or indirectly through any of its direct or indirect parent holding companies, in each case, other than in connection with any transaction or series of transactions in which the Issuer shall become the Wholly Owned Subsidiary of a Parent Company.

Change of Control Triggering Event ” means with respect to any series of Notes, the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless (a) a Ratings Improvement has occurred with respect to such series of Notes prior to the date of the completion of the transaction constituting the Change of Control or (b) pro forma for the Change of Control, the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio is less than 5.0 to 1.0.

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme or any successor securities clearing agency.

Co-Issuer ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto, until a successor Person or Persons shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Co-issuer” and “Issuers” shall mean such successor Person or Persons.

consolidated ” when used with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense ” means with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense and capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Facility of such Person, including the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and Capitalized Software Expenditures of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

(a)    consolidated interest expense 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 (including (i) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (ii) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (iii) 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), (iv) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (v) net payments, if any made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (q) annual agency fees paid to the administrative agents and collateral agents under any Credit Facilities, (r) costs associated with obtaining Hedging Obligations, (s) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, (t) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (u) any Additional Interest and any “additional interest” or “liquidated damages” with respect to other securities for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, (v) amortization or expensing of deferred financing fees, amendment and consent fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and discounted liabilities, (w) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and any other fees related to the Spin-Off Transaction or any acquisitions after the Issue Date, (x) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Facility, (y) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities and any prepayment premium or penalty) and (z) interest expense attributable to a parent entity resulting from push-down accounting; 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:

(a)    any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), charges or expenses (including relating to the Spin-Off Transaction or any multi-year strategic initiatives), restructuring and duplicative running costs, relocation costs, integration costs, facility consolidation and closing costs, severance costs and expenses, one-time compensation charges, costs relating to pre-opening, opening and conversion costs for facilities, losses, costs or cost inefficiencies related to facility or property disruptions or shutdowns, signing, retention and completion bonuses, costs incurred in connection with any strategic initiatives, transition costs, costs incurred in connection with acquisitions and non-recurring product and intellectual property development, other business optimization expenses (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs and new systems design, retention charges, system establishment costs and implementation costs) and operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded;

 

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(b)    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;

(c)    any net after-tax effect of gains or losses on disposal, abandonment or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, as applicable, shall be excluded;

(d)    any net after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees, expenses and charges relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments or the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business shall be excluded;

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

(f)    solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (C)(1) of Section 4.07(a) 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 (other than restrictions in the Notes or this Indenture), unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived, provided that Consolidated Net Income of such Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into Cash Equivalents) to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(g)    effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in such Person’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP (including in the inventory (including any impact of changes to inventory valuation policy methods, including changes in capitalization of variances), property and equipment, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items thereof) resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to any consummated acquisition or joint venture investment or the amortization or write-off or write-down of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

(h)    any 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;

(i)    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 and investments recorded using the equity method 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;

(j)    any equity-based or non-cash compensation charge or expense including any such charge or expense arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, profits interests or other rights or equity- or equity-based incentive programs (“ equity incentives ”), any one-time cash charges associated with the equity incentives or other long-term incentive compensation plans (including under deferred compensation arrangements of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent entities or subsidiaries), rollover, acceleration, or payout of Equity Interests by management, other employees or business partners of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies, shall be excluded;

 

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(k)    any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, recapitalization, Investment, Asset Sale, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering and issuance of the Notes and other securities and the syndication and incurrence of any Credit Facilities), issuance of Equity Interests of the Issuer or its direct or indirect parent entities, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of the Notes and other securities and any Credit Facilities) and including, in each case, any such transaction consummated on or 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 or consummated (including, for the avoidance of doubt the effects of expensing all transaction related expenses in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 805, Business Combinations ), shall be excluded;

(l)    accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted within twelve months after the Spin-Off Date that are so required to be established or adjusted as a result of the Spin-Off Transaction (or within 24 months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established as a result of such acquisition) in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of modifications of accounting policies shall be excluded;

(m)    any expenses, charges or losses to the extent covered by insurance or indemnity and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer or indemnifying party and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of the insurable or indemnifiable event (net of any amount so added back in any prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), shall be excluded;

(n)    any noncash compensation expense resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation , shall be excluded;

(o)    the following items shall be excluded:

(i)    any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging ,

(ii)    any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation 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 foreign currency translation gains and losses, to the extent such gain or losses are non-cash items,

(iii)    any adjustments resulting for the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 460, Guarantees, or any comparable regulation,

(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, and

(v)    earn-out, non-compete and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments;

 

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(p)     reserves established for the benefit of landlords of leased hotel properties for the acquisition of capitalized assets and equipment at such properties shall be excluded; and

(q)    if such Person is treated as a disregarded entity or partnership for U.S. federal, state and/or local income tax purposes for such period or any portion thereof, the amount of distributions actually made to any direct or indirect parent company of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with clause (xv)(B) under Section 4.07(b) shall be included in calculating Consolidated Net Income as though such amounts had been paid as taxes directly by such Person for such period.

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 acquisition, 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 clause (C)(4) of Section 4.07(a) 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 clause (C)(4) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by Liens on the property of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur minus Cash Equivalents included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer as of the end of such most recent fiscal quarter to (b) EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated Total Debt Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur minus Cash Equivalents included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer as of the end of such most recent fiscal quarter to (b) EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness ” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Obligations in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments, as determined in accordance with GAAP (excluding for the avoidance of doubt all undrawn amounts under revolving credit facilities and letters of credit, and all obligations relating to Qualified Securitization Facilities) and (b) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences and maximum fixed repurchase prices, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of repurchase or purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition); provided that Consolidated

 

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Total Indebtedness shall not include Indebtedness in respect of (A) any letter of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts under standby letters of credit; provided that any unreimbursed amounts under commercial letters of credit shall not be counted as Consolidated Total Indebtedness until three Business Days after such amount is drawn and (B) Hedging Obligations existing on the Issue Date or otherwise permitted by Section 4.09(b)(x) hereof. For purposes hereof, the “ maximum fixed repurchase price ” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer. The U.S. Dollar Equivalent principal amount of any Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency will reflect the currency translation effects, determined in accordance with GAAP, of Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risks with respect to the applicable currency in effect on the date of determination of the U.S. Dollar Equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness.

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:

(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, other than any Investor, 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 Issuer and/or other companies.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which any time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Hilton Worldwide Finance Administrator, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers, 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 Issuers).

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of October 25, 2013, by and among the Issuer, HLT Parent, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders and other parties party thereto, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, including by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of August 18, 2016, by and among the Issuer, HLT Parent, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders and other parties party thereto, and Amendment No. 2 thereto dated as of November 21, 2016, by and among the Issuer, HLT Parent, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders and other parties party thereto and Amendment No. 3 thereto to be dated on or about March 16, 2017, by and among the Issuer, HLT Parent, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders and other parties party thereto.

 

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Credit Facilities ” means, with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Secured 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, in whole or in part, and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, supplement or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding, supplemental or refinancing facility, arrangement or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed or issued thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings or issuances 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, trustee, lender or group of lenders or other holders.

Custodian ” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Global Notes, 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(c) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, in the case of the 2025 Notes, and Exhibit A-2 hereto, in the case of the 2027 Notes, except that any such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

Depositary ” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, any 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 Issuer 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 Issuer, 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 Issuer 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 Issuer 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 Issuer 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 clause (C) of Section 4.07(a) 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 applicable series of Notes or the date the applicable series of Notes are no longer outstanding; provided that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations; provided , further , 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 Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “ affiliate ” by the Board of Directors of the Issuer (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 Issuer or its Subsidiaries or in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

 

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Distribution Agreement ” means the Distribution Agreement, dated January 2, 2017, by and among HLT Parent, the Issuer, PHRI and HGVI, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the Distribution Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period:

(a)    increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than with respect to clauses (viii) and (xi)) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(i)    (A) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, franchise, and similar taxes (such as the Delaware franchise tax, the Pennsylvania capital tax, Texas margin tax and provincial capital taxes paid in Canada) 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), (B) if such Person is treated as a disregarded entity or partnership for U.S. federal, state and/or local income tax purposes for such period or any portion thereof, the amount of distributions actually made to any direct or indirect parent company of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with clause (xv)(B) under Section 4.07(b) and (C) the net tax expense associated with any adjustments made pursuant to clauses (a) through (q) of the definition of “ Consolidated Net I n come ”; plus

(ii)    Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (y) bank fees and other financing fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus amounts excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense as set forth in clauses (a)(q) through (z) in the definition thereof); plus

(iii)    Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period; plus

(iv)    the amount of any restructuring charges or reserves, equity-based or non-cash compensation charges or expenses including any such charges or expenses arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights, retention charges (including charges or expenses in respect of incentive plans), start-up or initial costs for any project or new production line, division or new line of business, integration costs or other business optimization expenses or reserves including, without limitation, costs or reserves associated with improvements to IT and accounting functions, integration and facilities opening costs or any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions and Investments and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities; plus

(v)    any other non-cash charges, including any write-offs or write-downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period ( provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Issuer may elect not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (B) to the extent the Issuer elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

 

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(vi)    the amount of any non-controlling interest or minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary; plus

(vii)    the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, advisory fees and other fees (including termination fees) and indemnities and expenses paid or accrued in such period under the Support and Services Agreement (and related agreements or arrangements) or otherwise to the Investors to the extent otherwise permitted under Section 4.11 hereof; plus

(viii)    the amount of “ run-rate ” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies projected by the Issuer in good faith to result from actions taken, committed to be taken or expected in good faith to be taken no later than 24 months after the end of such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period for which EBITDA is being determined and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that such cost savings and synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (it is understood and agreed that “ run-rate ” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions); plus

(ix)    the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets to any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility; plus

(x)    any costs or expense incurred by the Issuer or a parent entity of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary 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, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interest of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (C) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; plus

(xi)    cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing EBITDA or Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of EBITDA pursuant to clause (b) below for any previous period and not added back; plus

(xii)    any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations; and

(b)    decreased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(i)    non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase EBITDA in such prior period; plus

(ii)    any net income from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations.

Employee Matters Agreement ” means the Employee Matters Agreement, dated January 2, 2017, by and among HLT Parent, the Issuer, PHRI and HGVI, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the Employee Matters Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

 

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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.

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

(a)    public offerings with respect to the Issuer’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 Issuer; and

(c)    any such public or private sale or issuance 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, or any successor securities clearing agency.

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

Exchange Notes ” means any Notes issued in an Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.

Exchange Offer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Excluded Contribution ” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Issuer since the 2021 Notes Issue Date from:

(a)    contributions to its common equity capital;

(b)     dividends, distributions, fees and other payments from Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any joint ventures that are not Restricted Subsidiaries; and

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

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Issuer, which are (or were) excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (C) of Section 4.07(a) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an amount equal to the aggregate amount that has been designated prior to the Issue Date as an “Excluded Contribution” for purposes of the Existing Senior Notes pursuant to the Existing Senior Notes Indentures, shall automatically be deemed to be an Excluded Contribution under this Indenture, and such amount shall be excluded from the from the calculation set forth in clause (C) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Existing Senior Notes ” means (i) the 2021 Senior Notes and (ii) the 2024 Senior Notes.

 

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Existing Senior Notes Indentures ” means (i) the 2021 Senior Notes Indenture and (ii) the 2024 Senior Notes Indenture.

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

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Issuer 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; provided, however , that the pro forma calculation of Fixed Charges for purposes of Section 4.09(a) (and for the purposes of other provisions of this Indenture that refer to Section 4.09(a)) shall not give effect to any Indebtedness being incurred on such date (or on such other subsequent date which would otherwise require pro forma effect to be given to such incurrence) pursuant to Section 4.09(b).

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 Issuer 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 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 Issuer 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.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer (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 based on actions taken, committed to be taken or expected in good faith to be taken within 18 months). 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 Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period 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 Issuer may designate.

 

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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 during such period; and

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

Foreign Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (1) (A) any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (B) any Restricted Subsidiary of such Foreign Subsidiary, and (2) any FSHCO Subsidiary of such Person.

FSHCO Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person substantially all of whose assets consist, directly or indirectly, of Equity Interests and/or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries, and any other assets incidental thereto.

GAAP ” means (1) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time, it being understood that, for purposes of this Indenture, all references to codified accounting standards specifically named in this Indenture shall be deemed to include any successor, replacement, amendment or updated accounting standard under GAAP or (2) if elected by the Issuer by written notice to the Trustee in connection with the delivery of financial statements and information, the accounting standards and interpretations (“ IFRS ”) adopted by the International Accounting Standard Board, as in effect on the first date of the period for which the Issuer is making such election; provided that (a) any such election once made shall be irrevocable, (b) all financial statements and reports required to be provided after such election pursuant to this Indenture shall be prepared on the basis of IFRS, (c) from and after such election, all ratios, computations and other determinations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with IFRS, (d) in connection with the delivery of financial statements (x) for any of its first three financial quarters of any financial year, it shall restate its consolidated interim financial statements for such interim financial period and the comparable period in the prior year to the extent previously prepared in accordance with GAAP and (y) for delivery of audited annual financial information, it shall provide consolidated historical financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS for the prior most recent fiscal year to the extent previously prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the first date of the period in which the Issuer is making such election. For the avoidance of doubt, solely making an election (without any other action) referred to in this definition will not be treated as an incurrence of Indebtedness.

If there occurs a change in generally accepted accounting principles and such change would cause a change in the method of calculation of any term or measure used in a covenant under Article 4 hereof (an “ Accounting Change ”), then the Issuer may elect, as evidenced by a written notice of the Issuer to the Trustee, that such term or measure shall be calculated as if such Accounting Change had not occurred.

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, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto, as applicable, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b), 2.06(d) or 2.06(f) hereof.

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.

 

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Guarantor ” means, with respect to each series of Notes, (i) HLT Parent, (ii) HWP and (iii) each Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than the Co-Issuer), if any, that Guarantees the Notes of such series in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

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, modification or mitigation of interest rate, currency or commodity risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

HLT Parent ” means Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct or indirect parent of HWP, the Issuer and the Co-Issuer.

HGVI ” means Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., a Delaware corporation.

HNA ” means HNA Tourism Group Co., Ltd, a PRC company.

HNA Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2016, by and between HLT Parent and HNA, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the HNA Registration Rights Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

HNA Stockholders Agreement ” means the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2016, by and among HLT Parent, HNA and, solely for purposes of Section 4.3 thereof, HNA Group Co., Ltd., as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the HNA Stockholders Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

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

HWP ” means Hilton Worldwide Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct parent of the Issuer.

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), except (A) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade or similar business creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (B) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and is not paid after becoming due and payable; or

 

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(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; provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer appearing upon the balance sheet of the Issuer solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded;

(b)    to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, 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 such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

(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 the amount of any such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (i) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness of such third Person;

provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (a) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, or (b) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities, operating leases or Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations); provided, further , that Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

Indenture ” means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified 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 Issuer, 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 Notes ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Initial Purchasers ” means the initial purchasers of the Notes on the Issue Date pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

Interest Payment Date ” means April 1 and October 1 of each year to stated maturity.

Investment Company Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Investment Grade Rating ” means, with respect to the Notes of a series, 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.

 

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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 Issuer 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

(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, commission, travel and similar advances to employees, directors, officers, managers 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 Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.07 hereof:

(a)    “ Investments ” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; 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 Equivalents by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Investors ” means any of the Blackstone Funds and any of their Affiliates but not including, however, any of its or such Affiliates’ portfolio companies.

Issue Date ” means March 16, 2017.

Issuer ” and “ Issuers ” each has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto, until a successor Person or Persons shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Issuer ” and “ Issuers ” shall mean such successor Person or Persons.

Issuers’ Order ” means a written request or order signed on behalf of each of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer, as applicable, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer, the secretary, the principal accounting officer or any senior or executive vice president of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer, as applicable, and delivered to the Trustee.

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 at the place of payment in respect of the Notes. If a payment date is on a Legal Holiday, payment will be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

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

License Agreement ” means the License Agreement, dated January 2, 2017, by and between HLT Parent and HGVI, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the License Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

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.

Limited Condition Acquisition ” means any acquisition, including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation, by the Issuer or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing; provided that Consolidated Net Income (and any other financial term derived therefrom), other than for purposes of calculating any ratios in connection with the Limited Condition Acquisition, shall not include any Consolidated Net Income of or attributable to the target company or assets associated with any such Limited Condition Acquisition unless and until the closing of such Limited Condition Acquisition shall have actually occurred.

Management and Franchise Agreements ” means, collectively, each hotel management agreement and/or franchise agreement entered into on or prior to the Issue Date by and between HLT Parent and PHRI and/or one or more Subsidiaries of HLT Parent or PHRI, pursuant to which HLT Parent and/or its Subsidiaries provides management and/or franchise services or licenses in respect of hotels owned or leased by PHRI and/or its Subsidiaries as set forth therein, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to such hotel management agreement and/or franchise agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

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

Market Capitalization ” means an amount equal to (a) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the Issuer (or, as the case may be, of a direct or indirect parent entity whose Equity Interests are traded on a securities exchange) on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to clause (ix) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, multiplied by (b) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common Equity Interests on the principal securities exchange on which such common Equity Interests are traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

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 Equivalents proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any 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,

 

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including title and recordation expenses, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof or any transactions occurring or deemed to occur to effectuate a payment under this Indenture (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Indebtedness or amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and required (other than required by clause (i) of Section 4.10(b) hereof) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer 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 Issuer 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.

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

Notes ” means the Initial Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “ Notes ” for all purposes of this Indenture shall include any Additional Notes that are actually issued.

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; provided that any of the foregoing (other than principal and interest) shall no longer constitute “ Obligations ” after payment in full of such principal and interest except to the extent such obligations are fully liquidated and non-contingent on or prior to such payment in full.

Offering Memorandum ” means the offering memorandum, dated March 7, 2017, 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 Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of any Person, or any other officer of such Person designated by any such individuals. Unless otherwise indicated, Officer shall refer to an Officer of the Issuer.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of a Person by an Officer of such Person that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture. Unless otherwise indicated, Officer’s Certificate shall refer to an Officer’s Certificate of an Officer of each of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer.

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

Ownership Business ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Distribution Agreement.

Parent Company ” means any Person so long as such Person directly or indirectly holds 100.0% of the total voting power of the Capital Stock of the Issuer, and at the time such Person acquired such voting power, no Person and no group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision), including any such 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 a Parent Company or any Permitted Holder), shall have beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), directly or indirectly, of 50.0% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Person.

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).

 

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Participating Broker-Dealer ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

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 Issuer 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 any of the Investors and 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 Investors and Management Stockholders, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50.0% of the 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 Intercompany Activities ” means any transactions between or among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (for the avoidance of doubt, including Unrestricted Subsidiaries) that are entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer are necessary or advisable in connection with the ownership or operation of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, (a) payroll, cash management, purchasing, insurance and hedging arrangements; (b) management, technology and licensing arrangements; and (c) Hilton Honors and similar customer loyalty and rewards programs.

Permitted Investments ” means:

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

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

(c)    any Investment by the Issuer 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 such division, business unit or product line) to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer 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, including earn-outs, 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 2021 Notes Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the 2021 Notes Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any such Investment or binding commitment existing on the 2021 Notes 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 2021 Notes 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 Issuer 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;

(ii)    in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable, endorsements for collection or deposit held by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable (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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(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 (1) $570.0 million and (2) 4.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (h) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (h);

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

(j)    guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, performance guarantees and Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and the creation of Liens on the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.12 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 clauses (ii), (v), (ix) and (xxiii) of Section 4.11(b) 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)    Investments having an aggregate fair market value, 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 marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (1) $570.0 million and (2) 4.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (m) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (m);

 

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(n)    Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good faith determination of the Issuer are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Facility (including any contribution of replacement or substitute assets to such subsidiary) or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

(o)    advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees not in excess of $25.0 million outstanding in the aggregate;

(p)    loans and advances to employees, directors, officers, managers and consultants (i) 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 (ii) to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof;

(q)    advances, loans or extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice by the Issuer 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 or consistent with past practice;

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

(t)    Investments made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contracts;

(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 or consistent with past practice;

(v)    repurchases of Notes or Existing Senior Notes;

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

(x)    Investments consisting of promissory notes issued by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor to future, present or former officers, directors and employees, members of management, or consultants of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent thereof, to the extent the applicable Restricted Payment is a permitted by Section 4.07 hereof;

(y)    Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(z)    Investments (i) by the Captive Insurance Subsidiary made in the ordinary course of its business or consistent with past practice, and (ii) in the Captive Insurance Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or required under statutory or regulatory authority applicable to such Captive Insurance Subsidiary;

 

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(aa)     Investments made in connection with Permitted Intercompany Activities and related transactions;

(bb)     Investments in joint ventures of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the 2021 Notes Issue Date;

(cc)     Investments in joint ventures of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (cc) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $285.0 million and (b) 2.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); and

(dd)    Investments in an Unrestricted Subsidiary consisting of Equity Interests issued by, or property or assets of, another Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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 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 landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 45 days or, if more than 45 days overdue, that are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or that are 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 interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and exceptions on title policies insuring liens granted on Mortgaged Properties (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities);

 

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(f)    Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (iv), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xxiii) or (xxv) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; provided that (a) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock to be incurred pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 4.09(b) hereof extend only to the assets so purchased, leased or improved; (b) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (xiii) of Section 4.09(b) 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 clauses (iii), (iv) or (xii) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; (c) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (xiv) of Section 4.09(b) hereof shall only be permitted if such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or assets, including Capital Stock (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof, or replacements of any thereof) acquired, or of any Person acquired or merged or consolidated with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in any transaction to which such Indebtedness relates; and (d) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clauses (xxiii) and (xxv) of Section 4.09(b) hereof shall only be permitted if such Liens extend only to the assets of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not the Co-Issuer or Guarantors;

(g)    Liens existing on the Issue Date (excluding Liens securing the Credit Agreement), including Liens securing any Refinancing Indebtedness of any Indebtedness secured by such Liens;

(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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(i)    Liens on property or other assets at the time the Issuer 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 Issuer 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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

(k)    Liens securing (x) Hedging Obligations and (y) obligations in respect of Bank Products;

(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 documentary 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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, 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 Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar public filings;

 

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(o)    Liens in favor of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

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

(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 (f), (g), (h), (i), this clause (r) and clause (nn) below; provided that (i) 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 proceeds and products thereof, and (ii) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (f), (g), (h), (i), this clause (r) and clause (nn) below at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) and premiums (including tender 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)    Liens securing obligations in an aggregate principal amount outstanding which does not exceed the greater of (a) $285.0 million and (b) 2.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined as of the date of such incurrence);

(u)    security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business;

(v)    Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (v) of Section 6.01(a) hereof;

(w)    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;

(x)    Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable or successor provision 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;

(y)    Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.09 hereof;

(z)    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;

(aa)    Liens that are contractual rights of set-off or rights of pledge (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(bb)    Liens securing obligations owed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under the Senior Secured 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;

(cc)    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;

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

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

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

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

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

(ii)    Liens on the assets of non-guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of such Subsidiaries that were permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

(jj)    Liens on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Indenture to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment;

(kk)    any interest or title of a lessor, sub-lessor, licensor or sub-licensor or secured by a lessor’s, sub-lessor’s, licensor’s or sub-licensor’s interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(ll)    (i) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and such Subsidiary to secure the performance of the Issuer’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises and (ii) Liens with respect to property or assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including accounts receivable or other revenue streams and other rights to payment and any other assets related thereto) in connection with a property manager’s obligations in respect of hotel collection accounts, operating accounts and reserve accounts;

(mm)     [Reserved];

(nn)    Liens securing Indebtedness (including Liens securing any Obligations in respect thereof) permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 (including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred under one or more Credit Facilities) so long as after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and such Liens the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be equal to or less than 5.20 to 1.00 for the Issuer’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such Lien is incurred;

 

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(oo)    Liens securing obligations in respect of (i) Indebtedness and other Obligations permitted to be incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (i) of Section 4.09(b) and (ii) obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in respect of any Bank Products or Hedging Obligation provided by any lender party to any 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); and

(pp)    Liens on any funds or securities held in escrow accounts established for the purpose of holding proceeds from issuances of debt securities by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued after the Issue Date, together with any additional funds required in order to fund any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment on such debt securities within 180 days of their issuance; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than such proceeds and such additional funds.

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 (including a limited partnership), joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

PHRI ” means Park Hotels & Resorts Inc., a Delaware corporation.

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

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.

Purchase Agreement ” means the purchase agreement, dated as of March 7, 2017, among the Issuers, HLT Parent and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representative of such initial purchasers, relating to the issue and sale of the Initial Notes.

Purchase Money Obligations ” means any Indebtedness incurred to finance or refinance the purchase, acquisition, leasing, expansion, construction, installation, replacement, repair or improvement of property (real or personal) or assets, and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets, or otherwise (including through the purchase of Capital Stock of any Person owning such property or assets).

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 (i) constituting a securitization financing facility that meets the following conditions: (A) the Board of Directors or management of the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and (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 Issuer) or (ii) constituting a receivables or payables financing or factoring facility.

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

 

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Rating Categories ” means:

(a)    with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and

(b)     with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories).

Ratings Improvement ” means, with respect to a Change of Control and the Notes of a series, the obtaining of a rating of the Notes of such series, taking into account the applicable transaction, representing an increase in the rating of the Notes of such series by either Moody’s or S&P by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between Rating Categories, but not including ratings outlook changes) over such rating as of the Issue Date. In determining whether the rating of the Notes of such series has increased by one or more gradations, gradations within Ratings Categories, namely + or - for S&P, and 1, 2, and 3 for Moody’s, will be taken into account; for example, in the case of S&P, a rating change either from BB to BB+ or from B+ to BB- will constitute an increase of one gradation.

Record Date ” means, for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date, the March 15 and September 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means a registration rights agreement with respect to the Initial Notes dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the representative of the Initial Purchasers, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more registration rights agreements among the Issuers and the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the Issuers to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.

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

Regulation S Global Note ” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as applicable.

Regulation S Permanent Global Note ” means a permanent Global Note, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, in the case of the 2025 Notes, and Exhibit A-2 hereto, in the case of the 2027 Notes, each 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 Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the applicable Restricted Period.

Regulation S Temporary Global Note ” means a temporary Global Note, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, in the case of the 2025 Notes, and Exhibit A-2 hereto, in the case of the 2027 Notes, each bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and the Regulation S Temporary Global Note 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 initially sold in reliance on Rule 903.

Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(iii) hereof.

Related Business Assets ” means assets (other than Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business or any securities of a Person received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such securities shall not be deemed to be Related Business Assets, unless (a) upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) such securities are received in respect of a transfer of the Specified Real Property Assets.

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, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

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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 Period ” means, in respect of any Note issued under Regulation S, the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S applicable to such Note.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer (including the Co-Issuer and any Foreign Subsidiary) 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 S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction ” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Issuer 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 Issuer 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 Issuer 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 loans, accounts receivable, financing receivables, other receivables, royalty or other revenue streams and other rights to payment and any assets related thereto subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof.

Securitization Facility ” means any of one or more receivables or 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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in Securitization Assets to, or for the benefit of, either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells or grants a security interest in Securitization Assets to, or for the benefit of, a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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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 Indebtedness ” means:

(a)     all Indebtedness of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the Existing Senior Notes and the related Guarantees and the Notes and related Guarantees (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or similar proceeding or for reorganization of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor (at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, regardless of whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings)), and any and all other fees, expense reimbursement obligations, indemnification amounts, penalties, and other amounts (whether existing on the Issue Date or thereafter created or incurred) and all obligations of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under letters of credit, acceptances or other similar instruments;

(b)     all (x) Hedging Obligations (and guarantees thereof) and (y) obligations in respect of Bank Products (and guarantees thereof) owing to a lender under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such lender (or any Person that was a lender or an Affiliate of such lender at the time the applicable agreement giving rise to such Hedging Obligation was entered into); provided that such Hedging Obligations and obligations in respect of Bank Products, as the case may be, are permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture;

(c)     any other Indebtedness of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any related Guarantee; and

(d)     all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (a), (b) and (c); provided that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

(i)    any obligation of such Person to the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries;

(ii)    any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

(iii)     any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business;

(iv)     any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person which is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person; or

(v)    that portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of incurrence is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities ” means the revolving credit facility and other credit facilities under the Credit Agreement, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings, refinancings or replacements thereof and any one or more indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund, supplement 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 borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provi d ed

 

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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, trustee, lender or group of lenders or holders.

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

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

Similar Business ” means (a) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, and any reasonable extension thereof, or (b) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged or propose to be engaged on the Issue Date.

Specified Real Property Assets ” means any real property or assets of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries with an aggregate book value not to exceed 7.5% of Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Spin-Off Date ” means January 3, 2017.

Spin-Off Transaction ” means, collectively, the transactions which resulted in (a) PHRI holding directly or indirectly all or substantially of the Ownership Business and (b) HGVI holding directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the Timeshare Business, and which was completed on January 3, 2017 by the distribution by HLT Parent to its stockholders of shares of each of PHRI and HGVI on a pro rata basis, and all related transactions.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means, with respect to the Notes,

(1)     any Indebtedness of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and

(2)     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; 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

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

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, any entity that is owned at a 50.0% or less level (as described above) shall not be a “ Subsidiary ” for any purpose under this Indenture, regardless of whether such entity is consolidated on the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s financial statements.

Subsidiary Guarantor ” means each Guarantor other than HLT Parent and HWP.

Support and Services Agreement ” means the management services or similar agreements between certain of the management companies associated with one or more of the Investors or their advisors, if applicable, and the Issuer (and/or its direct or indirect parent companies), as in effect from time to time; provided that any management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees payable in advance by the Issuer (and/or its direct or indirect parent companies) and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not exceed an amount equal to 2.0% of EBITDA for such fiscal year.

Tax Matters Agreement ” means the Tax Matters Agreement, dated January 2, 2017, by and among HLT Parent, the Issuer, PHRI and HGVI, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the Tax Matters Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Tax Stockholders Agreement ” means the Tax Stockholders Agreement, dated January 2, 2017, by and among HLT Parent, HGVI, the Blackstone Holders (as defined therein) and the other parties thereto, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the Tax Stockholders Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Timeshare Business ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Distribution Agreement.

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

Transaction Agreements ” means, collectively, the Distribution Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the License Agreement, the Management and Franchise Agreements, the Tax Stockholders Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement, the HNA Stockholders Agreement, the Blackstone Stockholders Agreement, the HNA Registration Rights Agreement, the Blackstone Registration Rights Agreement and each other instrument or agreement entered into in connection with the Spin-Off Transaction.

Transition Services Agreement ” means the Master Transition Services Agreement, dated January 2, 2017, by and among HLT Parent, PHRI and HGVI, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes when taken as a whole, as compared to the Transition Services Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

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

Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust, 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 Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York.

Unrestricted Definitive Note ” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Note ” means a permanent Global Note, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto, as applicable, bearing the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(a)    any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than the Co-Issuer) which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Issuer, as provided below); and

(b)    any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than the Co-Issuer, but including any other 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 Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (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 Issuer;

(ii)    such designation complies with Section 4.07 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 Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, except any Permitted Intercompany Activities.

The Issuer 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 Issuer 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 Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

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

U.S.  Dollar Equivalent ” means with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time for determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the “ Exchange Rates ” column under the heading “ Currency Trading ” on the date two business days prior to such determination.

U.S. 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

 

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(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 U.S. Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. 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 U.S. Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

U.S. Person ” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) 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;

provided that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (the “ Applicable Indebtedness ”), the effects of any amortization or prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness prior to the date of the applicable extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance shall be disregarded.

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.

 

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Section  1.02.      Other Definitions .

 

Term

  

Defined

in Section

“Accounting Change”

   1.01

“Acceptable Commitment”

   4.10

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Applicable Indebtedness”

   1.01

“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

“Code”

   2.06

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03

“DTC”

   2.03

“ERISA”

   2.06

“equity incentives”

   1.01

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“Fixed Charge Coverage Test”

   4.07

“incur” and “incurrence”

   4.09

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“Note Register”

   2.03

“Offer Amount”

   3.08

“Offer Period”

   3.08

“Pari Passu Indebtedness”

   4.10

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Purchase Date”

   3.08

“Redemption Date”

   3.01

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.09

“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.07

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07

“Second Commitment”

   4.10

“Successor Company”

   5.01

“Successor Person”

   5.01

“Transfer Agent”

   2.03

“Treasury Capital Stock”

   4.07

Section  1.03.      Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . At all times after the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Registration Rights Agreement, this Indenture will be subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, which unless otherwise indicated are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture upon the effectiveness of any such registration statement. 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 if 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 to be qualified” means this Indenture;

“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;

 

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(c)    “or” is not exclusive;

(d)    the words “including,” “includes” and similar words shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”;

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

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

(g)    provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(h)    references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act or the Exchange 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 Issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(l)    words used herein implying any gender shall apply to both genders;

(m)    in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including”;

(n)    the principal amount of any Preferred Stock at any time shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock at such time or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock at such time, whichever is greater; and

(o)    all references to any interest or other amount payable on or with respect to the Notes shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest.

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 are 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.

 

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(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.

(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, if the Trustee is not then also the Registrar, 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 Section 1.05(f) 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 120 days after such record date.

Section  1.06.      Timing of Payment . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the date on which any payment is to be made pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes is not a Business Day, the payment otherwise payable on such date shall be payable on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such scheduled date and (provided such payment is made on such succeeding Business Day) no interest shall accrue on the amount of such payment from and after such scheduled date to the time of such payment on such next succeeding Business Day and the amount of any such payment that is an interest payment will reflect accrual only through the original payment date and not through the next succeeding Business Day.

Section  1.07.      Financial Calculations for Limited Condition Acquisitions . For purposes of calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture, in each case in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of any such basket or ratio under this Indenture and of any Default or Event of Default related thereto may, at the option of the Issuer, be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into, in which case such baskets or ratios shall be calculated with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the

 

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definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” in Section 1.01 hereof after giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the applicable period for purposes of determining the ability to consummate any such Limited Condition Acquisition (and not for purposes of any subsequent availability of any basket or ratio). For the avoidance of doubt, (a) if any of such baskets or ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such basket or ratio (including due to fluctuations in EBITDA of the Issuer or the target company) subsequent to such date of determination and at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Acquisition, such baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Acquisition and related transactions are permitted under this Indenture and (b) such baskets or ratios shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition or related transactions solely for purposes of determining whether such Limited Condition Acquisition is permitted under this Indenture; provided, however , that if the Issuer elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement, any such transactions (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) shall be deemed to have occurred on the date such definitive agreement is entered and shall be deemed to be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any usage of baskets or ratios under this Indenture from and including the date of such definitive agreement and before the consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, unless and until such Limited Condition Acquisition has been abandoned or such definitive agreement has expired or been terminated prior to consummation thereof.

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-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto, as applicable. 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 in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

(b)     Global Notes . Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, in the case of the 2025 Notes, and Exhibit A-2 hereto, in the case of the 2027 Notes, in each case 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-1 hereto, in the case of the 2025 Notes, and Exhibit A-2 hereto, in the case of the 2027 Notes, but in each case 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 up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes of the applicable series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes of the applicable series 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 of the applicable series 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)     Temporary Global Notes . Notes of a series offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of a Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes of such series represented thereby with the Custodian and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided.

Following (i) the termination of the applicable Restricted Period and (ii) the receipt by the Trustee of (A) a certification or other evidence in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certifications of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note for a series, to the extent the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream provide such certificates in the ordinary course of their business (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant

 

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to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who shall take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof) and (B) an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuers, the Trustee shall remove the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend from the Regulation S Temporary Global Note for such series, following which temporary beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note for such series shall automatically become beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note for such series pursuant to the Applicable Procedures.

The aggregate principal amount of a Regulation S Temporary Global Note for a series and a Regulation S Permanent Global Note for such series may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

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

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes of each series shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuers, the Guarantors from time to time party hereto 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.

Subject to compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, the Issuers may issue Additional Notes of any series from time to time ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes of such series without notice to or consent of the Holders, and such Additional Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes of such series and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes of such series, except that interest may accrue on the Additional Notes from their date of issuance (or such other date specified by the Issuers); provided that if any Additional Notes of a series are not fungible with the Initial Notes of such series for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number from the Initial Notes of such series. Any Additional Notes may be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.

(e)     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 Temporary Global Notes and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

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

If an Officer of the Issuer or the Co-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 substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto, as applicable, by the manual 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 2025 Initial Notes and the 2027 Initial Notes in the aggregate principal 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 or Exchange Notes of a series for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes or Exchange Notes issued or increased hereunder.

 

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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.

Section  2.03.      Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent . The Issuers shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration (the “ Registrar ”), which shall be Wilmington Trust, National Association as of the date of this Indenture, (ii) an office or agency where the Notes may be presented for transfer or for exchange (the “ Transfer Agent ”), which shall be Wilmington Trust, National Association as of the date of this Indenture and (iii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “ Paying Agent ”), which shall be Wilmington Trust, National Association as of the date of this Indenture. 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 such Note for all purposes and only registered Holders shall have rights under this Indenture and the Notes. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more co-transfer agents and one or more additional paying agents. The term “ Registrar ” includes any co-registrar, the term “ Transfer Agent ” includes any co-transfer agent and the term “ Paying Agent ” includes any additional paying agents. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Transfer 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, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar upon written notice to the Trustee.

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

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

If any Notes of a series are listed on an exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, the Issuers will satisfy any requirement of such exchange as to paying agents, registrars and transfer agents and will comply with any notice requirements required under such exchange in connection with any change of paying agent, registrar or transfer agent.

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 or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes of a series, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary or the Trustee) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a 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 Issuer or the Co-Issuer, 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 of Notes of each series 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.

 

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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 of a series 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. A beneficial interest in a Global Note of a series may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note for the same series unless, and, if applicable, subject to the limitation on issuance of Definitive Notes set forth in Section 2.06(c)(ii), (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 for the applicable series (although Regulation S Temporary Global Notes of such series may not be exchanged for Definitive Notes for the same series prior to (A) the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certification of beneficial ownership required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B)), (iii) upon the request of a Holder if there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the applicable series of Notes, or (iv) the Trustee has received a written request by or on behalf of the Depositary to issue Definitive Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note for the same series 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 Sections 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 events described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note of the applicable series other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided , ho w ever , beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

(b)     Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes of a series 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 of a series 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; provided that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person other than pursuant to Rule 144A. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note of a series may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note for the same series. 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 for the same series 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 for the same series 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

 

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exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note of the applicable series prior to (x) the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period therefor and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certification of beneficial ownership required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B). Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer for a series by the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the applicable Letter of Transmittal or through an Agent’s Message delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes for such series. 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 of a series may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note for the same series 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

(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 of a series may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note for the same series or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note of such series if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof and:

(A)    such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer for such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Participating Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer;

(B)    such Notes are sold or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act;

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

(D)    the Registrar receives the following:

(1)    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 for the same series, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

(2)    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 for the same series, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note of the applicable series 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 for such series in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note of any series 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 of a series proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note for the same series or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note of such series, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note of such series proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note for the same series, 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any of the Issuer’s 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 for such series to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note for such series in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note of a series issued in exchange for a beneficial interest

 

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in a Restricted Global Note for the same series 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 of a series issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for the same series pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) (except transfers pursuant to clause (F) above) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(ii)     Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes . Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note of a series may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note for the same series or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note for such series prior to (A) the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period therefor and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certifications of beneficial ownership required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

(iii)     Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note of a series may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note for the same series or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note of such series only upon the occurrence of any of the events described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and if:

(A)    such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer for such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Participating Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer;

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

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

(D)    the Registrar receives the following:

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

(2)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note of such series proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note for the same series, 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 subparagraph (D), if the Issuers so request or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers 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.

(iv)     Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note of a series proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note for the same series or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note of such series, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events described in clause (i),

 

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(ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and 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, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note of a series issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) 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)(iv) 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 of a series proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for the same series 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 of such series, 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 for the same series, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

(B)    if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any of the Issuer’s 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 of such series, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable 144A Global Note of such series, and in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note of such series.

(ii)     Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note of a series may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note for the same series 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 of such series only if:

(A)    such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer for such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee,

 

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in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Participating Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer;

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

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

(D)    the Registrar receives the following:

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

(2)    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 for the same series, 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 subparagraph (D), if the Issuers so request or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers 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 applicable 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 of such series.

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

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraph (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note for such series 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 of such series 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 of a series for Definitive Notes of the same series. 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 or exchange in form satisfactory to the Registrar

 

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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 of a series may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note for the same series if the Registrar receives the following:

(A)    if the transfer will be made 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

(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 required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

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

(A)    such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer for such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Participating Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer;

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

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

(D)    the Registrar receives the following:

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

(2)    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 for the same series, 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 subparagraph (D), if the Issuers so request, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers 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 of a series may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note for the same series. 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.

 

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(f)     Exchange Offer . Upon the occurrence of an Exchange Offer for one or more series of Notes in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes of the applicable series in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes for such series tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal or through an Agent’s Message through the DTC Automated Tender Offer Program that (x) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (y) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, and accepted for exchange in an Exchange Offer and (ii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes of such series tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (y) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, and accepted for exchange in an Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes for the applicable series to be reduced accordingly, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes for the same series in the applicable principal amount. Any Notes of a series that remain outstanding after the consummation of an Exchange Offer for such series, and Exchange Notes issued in connection with such Exchange Offer for such series, shall be treated as a single class of securities under this Indenture.

(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 NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)), OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION, (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE HOLDING PERIOD THEN IMPOSED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION) ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER OR THE CO-ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO

 

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ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.”

Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and Definitive Note issued in a transaction exempt from registration pursuant to Regulation S shall also bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

(B)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(iv), (c)(iii), (c)(iv), (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.

 

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BY ACCEPTING THIS NOTE, EACH HOLDER AND EACH TRANSFEREE IS DEEMED TO REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT AT THE TIME OF ITS ACQUISITION AND THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD THAT IT HOLDS THIS NOTE (I) IT IS NOT, AND IS NOT ACQUIRING THE NOTES WITH THE ASSETS OF ANY (A) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”)), THAT IS SUBJECT TO ERISA, (B) PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, PROGRAM OR ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAW”) OR WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENTS AND (II) ITS ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE WILL NOT RESULT IN A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAW.”

(iii)     Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend . The Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).”

(h)     Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note of a series have been exchanged for Definitive Notes for the same series or a particular Global Note of a series has been redeemed, repurchased or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such 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 of a series 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, in either case for the same series, 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 of such series, 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, 3.08, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.05 hereof).

(iii)    Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall 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 mailing or transmission of a notice of redemption of the Notes to be redeemed under Section 3.03 or Section 3.08 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or transmission, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part,

 

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(C) to register the transfer or exchange of a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or (D) to register the transfer or exchange of any Notes tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer.

(iv)    Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required to register the transfer or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

(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 for the same series 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 shall 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.

(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, subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, 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 for the same series 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 pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by mail or by facsimile or electronic transmission.

(x)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions of or exemptions from the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws, ERISA (or, in the case of a governmental plan or a church plan (as described in ERISA Sections 3(32) and 3(33), respectively) any substantially similar federal, state or local law), the Code or the Investment Company Act; provided that if a certificate is specifically required by the express terms of this Section 2.06 to be delivered to the Trustee by a purchaser or transferee of a Note, the Trustee shall be under a duty to receive and examine the same to determine whether on its face it conforms to the express terms of this Indenture and shall promptly notify the party delivering the same if such certificate does not comply with such terms.

Section  2.07.      Replacement Notes . If either (x) any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuers, or (y) the Issuers and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, then the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order and satisfaction of any other requirements of the Trustee, shall authenticate a replacement Note. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of both (i) the Trustee to protect the Trustee and (ii) 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.

 

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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 of the same series duly issued hereunder.

Section  2.08.      Outstanding Notes . The Notes of a series outstanding at any time are all the Notes of such series 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 of such series 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer 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).

Notes in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes hereof.

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, such Note shall cease to be outstanding and interest thereon shall cease to accrue.

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer 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 (including for accounting purposes) and shall cease to accrue interest on and after such date.

Section  2.09.      Treasury Notes . In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes of a series have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes of such series owned by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or by any Affiliate of the Issuer or the Co-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 of such series 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 such pledged Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer 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 consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes of a series in exchange for temporary Notes of the same series.

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

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 requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the cancellation of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuers upon their written request therefor. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that they have paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

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Section  2.12.      Defaulted Interest . If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes of a series, they shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes of such series and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note of such series 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 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, or otherwise deliver in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, to each Holder of Notes of such series, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register for such series 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 of a series delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note for the same series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note of such series.

Section  2.13.      CUSIP Numbers; ISINs . The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers and ISINs (in each case, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption or exchange 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 or exchange 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 numbers and ISINs.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

Section  3.01.      Notices to Trustee . If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes of a series pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least two Business Days (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee) before notice of redemption is required to be delivered or mailed to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (a) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (b) the date of redemption (as such date may be delayed pursuant to Section 3.07(i), the “ Redemption Date ”), (c) the principal amount of the Notes and the series of Notes to be redeemed and (d) the redemption price.

Section  3.02.      Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed . If less than all of the Notes of a series are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes of such series to be redeemed (a) if the Notes are listed on a securities exchange (and such listing is known to the Trustee), in compliance with the requirements of such exchange on which the Notes of such series are listed or (b) on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable, or, if the pro rata basis is not practicable for any reason, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures in minimum denominations of $2,000 and increments of $1,000 in excess thereof. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes of such series to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes of such series not previously called for redemption.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes of a series selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note of such series selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in integral multiples of $1,000 (but in a minimum amount of

 

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$2,000) and no Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part, except that if all of the applicable Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes of such series held by such Holder shall be redeemed, even if not in a principal amount of at least $2,000. 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. For the avoid of doubt, the Issuers may elect, at their sole discretion, to redeem only 2025 Notes, only 2027 Notes, or any combination thereof.

Section  3.03.      Notice of Redemption . Subject to Section 3.08 hereof, the Issuers shall send electronically, mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least 15 days but (except as set forth in Section 3.07(i)) not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes of a series to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address stated in the Note Register or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered or mailed more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 hereof. Notices of redemption may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be conditional.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and the applicable series and shall state:

(a)    the Redemption Date;

(b)    the redemption price;

(c)    if any Definitive Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that 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; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

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

(i)    any conditions to such redemption.

In addition, any notice of redemption may include additional information, including any information pursuant to Section 3.07(i) hereof.

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuers’ names and at their expense; provided that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least two Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be delivered electronically, 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.

 

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If the Notes of a series are listed on an exchange, for so long as such Notes are so listed and the rules of such exchange so require, the Issuers shall notify the exchange of any such redemption and, if applicable, of the principal amount of any Notes of such series outstanding following any partial redemption of the Notes of such series.

Section  3.04.      Effect of Notice of Redemption . A notice of redemption, if delivered electronically, mailed or caused to be mailed 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 of the same series. Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date, subject to satisfaction of any conditions specified in the notice. Subject to Section 3.05 hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease 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 called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after an applicable 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 applicable rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section  3.06.      Notes Redeemed in Part . Upon surrender of a Definitive Note of a series 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 for the same series 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 minimum 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)    Except as set forth in clauses (b), (c), (f), (g) and (h) of this Section 3.07, as applicable, the 2025 Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to April 1, 2020 and the 2027 Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to April 1, 2022.

(b)    At any time prior to April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option, and on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the 2025 Notes, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (A) 100.0% of the principal amount of the 2025 Notes redeemed, plus (B) the 2025 Applicable Premium as of the Redemption Date, plus (C) accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the 2025 Notes on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date.

(c)    At any time prior to April 1, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option, and on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the 2027 Notes, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price

 

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equal to the sum of (A) 100.0% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes redeemed, plus (B) the 2027 Applicable Premium as of the Redemption Date, plus (C) accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the 2027 Notes on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date.

(d)    On and after April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem the 2025 Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the 2025 Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the applicable 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 falling prior to or on the Redemption Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2020

     102.312

2021

     101.156

2022 and thereafter

     100.000

(e)    On and after April 1, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem the 2027 Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the applicable 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 falling prior to or on the Redemption Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2022

     102.437

2023

     101.218

2024

     100.609

2025 and thereafter

     100.000

(f)    Prior to April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of 2025 Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 104.625% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the 2025 Notes on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date, with the net cash proceeds received by the Issuers from one or more Equity Offerings or a contribution to the Issuer’s common equity capital made with the net cash proceeds of an Equity Offering; provided that (A) at least 50.0% of (x) the aggregate principal amount of 2025 Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and (y) the aggregate principal amount of any 2025 Additional Notes of such series issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (B) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(g)    Prior to April 1, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of 2027 Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 104.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the 2027 Notes on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date, with the net cash proceeds received by the Issuers from one or more Equity Offerings or a contribution to the Issuer’s common equity capital made with the net cash proceeds of an Equity Offering; provided that (A) at least 50.0% of (x) the aggregate principal amount of 2027 Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and (y) the aggregate principal amount of any 2027 Additional Notes of such series issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (B) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

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(h)    In connection with any tender offer for the Notes of a series, including without limitation any Change of Control Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes of such series validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuers, or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Issuers, purchase all of the Notes of such series validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes of such series that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

(i)    Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof. Notice of any redemption, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering or other transaction. In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date so delayed.    For the avoidance of doubt, if any Redemption Date shall be delayed pursuant to this Section 3.07(i) and the terms of the applicable notice of redemption, such Redemption Date as so delayed may occur at any time after the original Redemption Date set forth in the applicable notice of redemption and after the satisfaction of any applicable conditions precedent, including, without limitation, on a date that is more than 60 days after the date of the applicable notice of redemption. In addition, 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. The Issuers, the Investors and their respective Affiliates may acquire the Notes of any series by means other than a redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise.

(j)    The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate or verify the calculation of the Applicable Premium.

Section  3.08.      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, the Issuers 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 Per i od ”). 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 of each series and, if required, Pari Passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable, with adjustments as necessary so that no Notes or Pari Passu Indebtedness will be repurchased in part in an unauthorized denomination), or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes of each series 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 and Additional Interest, if any, 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 send electronically or by first-class mail, 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

 

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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:

(i)    that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.08 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 defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest on and 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 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

(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 such Note 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 second Business Day prior to 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 the Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Issuers shall purchase such Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuers so that only Notes in an amount not less than $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof are purchased); and

(ix)    that Holders whose certificated 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; provided that new Notes will only be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

(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 clause (d)(viii) of this Section 3.08, 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.

(f)    The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly 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 of a series, 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 of such series surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased; provided , that each such new Note shall be

 

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in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. 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 noon (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 3.08 or Section 4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.08 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption,” “Redemption Date” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase,” “Purchase Date” and similar words, as applicable.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section  4.01.      Payment of Notes . The Issuers, jointly and severally, shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, holds as of noon (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 all Additional Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes of the applicable series 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 and Additional Interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section  4.02.      Maintenance of Office or Agency . The Issuers shall maintain the offices or agencies (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or Transfer Agent) 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; provided, however, that no service of legal process may be made on the Issuers at any office of the Trustee.

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

 

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Section  4.03.      Reports and Other Information .

(a)    Notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Issuer shall file with the SEC (with a copy to the Trustee unless filed and available on the SEC’s EDGAR website) 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 (if the Issuer had been a reporting company under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act), containing substantially all the information that would be 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, or any successor or comparable form (if the Issuer had been a reporting company under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act), containing substantially all the quarterly information that would be required to be contained in Form 10-Q, or any successor or comparable form;

(iii)    promptly after the occurrence of a material event which would have been required to be reported on a Form 8-K or any successor or comparable form (if the Issuer had been a reporting company under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act), a current report relating to such event 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 (except as described above or below and subject to exceptions consistent with the presentation of information included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum); provided , however , that the Issuer shall not be so obligated to file such reports referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event the Issuer shall make available such information to the Trustee, the Holders and prospective purchasers of Notes, in each case within 15 days after the time the Issuer would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuer shall 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.

(b)    The Issuer may satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.03 with respect to financial information relating to the Issuer by furnishing financial information relating to HLT Parent or HWP (or any parent entity of HLT Parent or HWP) as long as HLT Parent or HWP (or any such parent entity of HLT Parent or HWP) provides a Guarantee of the Notes.

(c)    If with respect to any reporting period(s) covered in the applicable report, the Issuer’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries would, individually or in the aggregate, constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date)), then the applicable annual and quarterly financial information required by clauses (a)(i) and (a)(ii) above shall include a supplemental section in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” presenting (in a manner consistent with the presentation of information included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum) selected financial measures of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the aggregate (separate from the financial information of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries).

(d)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations hereunder for purposes of clause (iii) of Section 6.01(a) hereof until 120 days after the receipt of the written notice delivered thereunder.

To the extent any information is not provided within the time periods specified in this Section 4.03 and such information is subsequently provided, the Issuer will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured.

 

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Section  4.04.      Compliance Certificate .

(a)    The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date (or 120 days for the first fiscal year ending after the Issue Date), a certificate from its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Co-Issuer) during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their respective obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, on behalf of the Issuer, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled in all material respects each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture during such fiscal year and no Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer 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 Issuer or any Subsidiary gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Issuer shall promptly (which shall be no more than 20 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 Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section  4.05.      Taxes . The Issuer shall pay or discharge, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay or discharge, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, lawful assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate actions 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer and each of the 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer 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 .

(a)    The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i)    declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (in each case, solely to a holder of Equity Interests in such Person’s capacity as a holder of such Equity Interests), including any dividend, payment or distribution payable in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, other than:

(A)    dividends and distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests; or

(B)    dividends and distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend, payment 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 Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend, payment or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

 

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(ii)    purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, including any purchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

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

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

(B)    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

(iv)    make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above (other than any exceptions thereto) being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(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 Issuer 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 Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the 2021 Notes Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (vi)(C) and (ix) of Section 4.07(b) hereof (to the extent not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income), 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 Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period and including the predecessor of the Issuer) beginning on July 1, 2013 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100.0% of such deficit; plus

(2)    100.0% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries since the 2021 Notes 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 clause (xii)(A) of Section 4.09(b) hereof) from the issue or sale of:

(i)    (A) Equity Interests of the Issuer, 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 or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries after the 2021 Notes Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (iv) of Section 4.07(b) hereof; and

 

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(y)     Designated Preferred Stock; and

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

(ii)    Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Issuer or a direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

provided that this clause (2) shall not include the proceeds from (w) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below) applied in accordance with clause (ii) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, (x) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Issuer 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 Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or that becomes part of the capital of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary through consolidation or merger, in each case since the 2021 Notes Issue Date (other than (i) 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 clause (xii)(A) of Section 4.09(b) hereof, (ii) contributions by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) 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 the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary by means of:

(i)    the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on Investments from, Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the 2021 Notes Issue Date; or

(ii)    the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a dividend or distribution (other than an Excluded Contribution) from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.07(b) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment), in each case, after the 2021 Notes Issue Date; plus

(5)    in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after the 2021 Notes Issue Date, the fair market value (as determined by the Issuer in good faith) of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred) at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, amalgamation, consolidation or transfer of assets, other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.07(b) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

 

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(b)    The foregoing provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof shall 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, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests, including any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (“ Treasury Capital Stock ”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent contributed to the Issuer (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“ Refunding Capital Stock ”), (B) the declaration and payment of dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale or issuance (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock, and (C) if, immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clauses (vi)(A) or (B) of this Section 4.07(b), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) 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 prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement (1) of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor or (2) Disqualified Stock of the Issuer, Co-Issuer or a Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Disqualified Stock of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, that, in each case, is incurred or issued, as applicable, 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 prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any premium (including tender 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 (or, if earlier, a date that is at least 91 days after the maturity date of the applicable series of Notes); 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 (or requires no or nominal payments in cash prior to the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the applicable series of Notes);

 

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(iv)    a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, member of management or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer, 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 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any Indebtedness incurred or issued by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer in connection with such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition); provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made under this clause (iv) do not exceed in any calendar year an amount equal to $150.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $400.0 million in any calendar year); provided , further , that such amount in any calendar year under this clause (iv) 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 Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the 2021 Notes 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 clause (C) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; plus

(B)    the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any direct or indirect parent company to the extent contributed to the Issuer) after the 2021 Notes 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 (i) cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer, any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies and (ii) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of options, warrants or similar instruments if such Equity Interests represent all or a portion of the exercise price thereof or payments, in lieu of the issuance of fractional Equity Interests or withholding to pay other taxes payable in connection therewith, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), 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 Issuer 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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the 2021 Notes Issue Date;

 

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(B)    the declaration and payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, 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 2021 Notes Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Issuer 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 clause (ii) of this Section 4.07(b);

provided , in the case of each of (A) 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 Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(vii)    Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at 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 (until such proceeds are converted to Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (i) $1,000.0 million and (ii) 8.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(viii)    payments made or expected to be made by the Issuer 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, member of management or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer and any repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options, warrants or other equity-based awards if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options, warrants or awards;

(ix)    the declaration and payment of dividends on, or the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of, the Issuer’s common shares (or the payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to fund a payment of dividends on such company’s common stock or to fund such company’s purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of such company’s common stock), in an amount not to exceed the sum of (A) up to 6.0% per annum of the amount of net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Issuer since the 2021 Notes Issue Date from any public offering of the Issuer’s common shares or the common stock of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, other than public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s common shares or the common stock of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution, and (B) an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed 6.0% of Market Capitalization;

(x)    Restricted Payments, in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (x), that are made (a) in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions received since the 2021 Notes Issue Date or (b) without duplication with clause (a), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale in respect of property or assets acquired after the 2021 Notes Issue Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions;

(xi)    (A) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (xi)(A) (in the case of Restricted Investments, at the time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Investment to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist

 

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of, or have not been subsequently sold or transferred for, Cash Equivalents)) not to exceed the greater of (i) $430.0 million and (ii) 3.0% of Total Assets at such time; and (B) any Restricted Payments, so long as, after giving pro forma effect to the payment of any such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio shall be no greater than 4.00 to 1.00;

(xii)    distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(xiii)    any Restricted Payment used to fund amounts owed to Affiliates (including dividends to any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to permit payment by such parent company of such amounts), in each case to the extent permitted by Section 4.11 hereof;

(xiv)    the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.10 and 4.14 hereof; provided that if the Issuer shall have been required to make a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, to purchase the Notes of a series on the terms provided in this Indenture applicable to Change of Control Offers or Asset Sale Offers, respectively, all Notes of such series validly tendered by Holders of Notes of such series in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired for value;

(xv)    the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions by the Issuer to, or the making of loans to, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to pay, in each case without duplication:

(A)    franchise, excise and similar taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain their corporate existence;

(B)    consolidated, combined or similar foreign, federal, state or local income or similar taxes of a tax group that includes the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries and whose common parent is a direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, to the extent such income or similar taxes are attributable to the income of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or, to the extent of any cash amounts actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries for such purpose, to the income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments in respect of any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Issuer and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries (and, to the extent permitted above, its Unrestricted Subsidiaries), as applicable, would have been required to pay in respect of the relevant foreign, federal, state or local income or similar taxes for such fiscal year had the Issuer, its Restricted Subsidiaries and/or its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above), as applicable, (1) paid such taxes separately from any such parent company or (2) if the Issuer is treated as a disregarded entity or partnership for U.S. federal, state and/or local income tax purposes for such period, were the Issuer a taxpayer and parent of a consolidated group and had paid such taxes for the Issuer, its Restricted Subsidiaries and/or its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above);

(C)    customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to employees, directors, officers and managers of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(D)    general corporate operating and overhead costs and expenses and listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

(E)    fees and expenses other than to Affiliates of the Issuer related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent entity;

 

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(F)    amounts payable pursuant to (x) the Support and Services Agreement or (y) any of the Transaction Agreements (including, in each case, any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer to the Holders when taken as a whole, as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement), solely to the extent such amounts are not paid directly by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries;

(G)    cash payments in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

(H)    to finance Investments that would otherwise be permitted to be made pursuant to this Section 4.07 if made by the Issuer; provided that (1) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment, (2) such direct or indirect parent company shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (x) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the capital of the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) the merger or amalgamation of the Person formed or acquired into the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not prohibited by Section 5.01 hereof) in order to consummate such Investment, (3) such direct or indirect parent company and its Affiliates (other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) receives no consideration or other payment in connection with such transaction except to the extent the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary could have given such consideration or made such payment in compliance with this Indenture, (4) any property received by the Issuer shall not increase amounts available for Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (C) of Section 4.07(a) hereof and (5) such Investment shall be deemed to be made by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to another provision of this Section 4.07 (other than pursuant to clause (x) of this Section 4.07(b)) or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” (other than clause (i) thereof); and

(I)    amounts that would be permitted to be paid by the Issuer under clauses (iii), (iv), (vii), (viii), (xii), (xiii) and (xvi) of Section 4.11(b) hereof; provided that the amount of any dividend or distribution under this clause (xv)(I) to permit such payment shall reduce, without duplication, Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer to the extent, if any, that such payment would have reduced Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer if such payment had been made directly by the Issuer and increase (or, without duplication of any reduction of Consolidated Net Income, decrease) EBITDA to the extent, if any, that Consolidated Net Income is reduced under this clause (xv)(I) and such payment would have been added back to (or, to the extent excluded from Consolidated Net Income, would have been deducted from) EBITDA if such payment had been made directly by the Issuer, in each case, in the period such payment is made; and

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

provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clause (xi)(B) of this Section 4.07(b), no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

(c)    For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07,

(i)    in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (i) through (xvi) of Section 4.07(b) hereof and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “ Permitted Investments ,” or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Issuer will be entitled to divide or classify or later divide or reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) between such clauses (i) through (xvi) and such Section 4.07(a) and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “ Permitted Investments ”, in any manner that otherwise complies with this Section 4.07; and

 

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(ii)    any payment made on or after the 2021 Notes Issue Date, but prior to the Issue Date, shall be deemed to be a “Restricted Payment” to the extent that such payment would have been a Restricted Payment had this Indenture been in effect at the time of such payment (and, to the extent that such Restricted Payment was permitted by Section 4.07(a), clauses (i) through (xvi) of Section 4.07(b) hereof and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “ Permitted Investment ,” such Restricted Payment may be deemed by the Issuers to have been made pursuant to such clause.

(d)    The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “ Unrestricted Subsidiary .” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the penultimate sentence of the definition of “ Investments .” Such designation shall be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, pursuant to this Section 4.07, or pursuant to the definition of “ Permitted Investments ,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.07 shall not restrict the making of any “ AHYDO catch up payment ” with respect to, and required by the terms of, any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture.

Section  4.08.      Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries .

(a)    The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is not the Co-Issuer or a 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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or

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

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

(iii)    sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor.

(b)    The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof shall 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 Hedging Obligations and the related documentation, and contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date pursuant to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the Existing Senior Notes, the Existing Senior Notes Indentures and the guarantees thereof;

(ii)    this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees thereof and the Exchange Notes and related exchange Guarantees to be issued in exchange for the Initial Notes and the Guarantees thereof pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement;

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

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

 

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(v)    (A) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, any agreement or other instrument of such Unrestricted Subsidiary in existence at the time of such redesignation (but, in any such case, not created in contemplation thereof) and (B) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges with or into the Issuer 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 Issuer 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 suppliers, customers or landlords under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business or arising in connection with any Permitted Liens;

(ix)    other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09 hereof;

(x)    customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements or arrangements relating 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 or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which the Issuer 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 Issuer 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 Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary;

(xiii)    customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of any Restricted Subsidiary;

(xiv)    customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xv)    restrictions arising in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Section 4.12 hereof;

(xvi)    any agreement or instrument (A) relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof if the encumbrances and restrictions are not materially more disadvantageous, taken as a whole, to the

 

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Holders than is customary in comparable financings for similarly situated issuers (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) or as otherwise in effect on the Issue Date and (B) either (x) the Issuer determines that such encumbrance or restriction will not adversely affect the Issuer’s ability to make principal and interest payments on the Notes as and when they come due or (y) such encumbrances and restrictions apply only during the continuance of a default in respect of a payment or financial maintenance covenant relating to such Indebtedness;

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

(xviii)    any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 4.08(a) hereof imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (i) through (xvii) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, not materially more restrictive 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 Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Co-Issuer) 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 Issuer shall not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor to issue Preferred Stock; provided that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor may issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the 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; provided that the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 4.09(a) (plus any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not the Co-Issuer or Guarantors shall not exceed the greater of (i) $605.0 million and (ii) 4.25% of Total Assets (determined on the date of such incurrence).

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

(i)    Indebtedness incurred pursuant to any Credit Facilities by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary 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); provided that immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence or issuance, the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred or issued under this clause (i) does not exceed $6,725.0 million;

(ii)    the incurrence by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any guarantee thereof) and the Exchange Notes and related Guarantees thereof to be issued in exchange for the Notes and the Guarantees thereof pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (but excluding any Additional Notes);

 

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(iii)    Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4.09(b));

(iv)    Indebtedness consisting of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Obligations in an aggregate principal amount (together any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) not to exceed the greater of (i) $710.0 million and (ii) 5.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined at the date of incurrence or issuance); so long as such Indebtedness exists at the date of such purchase, lease or improvement, or is created within 365 days thereafter (for the avoidance of doubt, the purchase date for any asset shall be the later of the date of completion of construction or installation and the beginning of the full productive use of such asset);

(v)    Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer 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 favor of suppliers or trade creditors or in respect of workers’ compensation claims, performance or surety bonds, 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, performance or surety bonds, 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 45 Business Days following such drawing or incurrence;

(vi)    Indebtedness arising from (A) Permitted Intercompany Activities and (B) agreements of the Issuer 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; provided that such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Issuer, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (Contingent Obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet shall not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (vi));

(vii)    Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes (for the avoidance of doubt, any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed to be expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes unless the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide otherwise); provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (vii);

(viii)    Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee of the Notes (for the avoidance of doubt, any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor shall be deemed to be expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee of the Notes unless the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide otherwise); 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 subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (viii);

 

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(ix)    shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event 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 Issuer or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any pledge of such Capital Stock constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock (to the extent such Preferred Stock is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (ix);

(x)    Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk;

(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 Issuer 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 or consistent with past practice;

(xii) (A) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference up to 200% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer since the 2021 Notes Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions, proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (C)(2) and (C)(3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 4.07(b) hereof or to make Permitted Investments specified in clauses (h), (k), (m), (bb) or (cc) of the definition thereof, and (B) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 clause (xii)(B), does not at any time outstanding exceed the greater of (x) $800.0 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined on the date of such incurrence); it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (xii)(B) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (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 Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this clause (xii)(B);

(xiii)    the incurrence or issuance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock which serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued as permitted under Section 4.09(a) hereof and clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (xii)(A) of this Section 4.09(b), this clause (xiii) and clause (xiv) of this Section 4.09(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including, in each case, additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, and accrued interest, fees and expenses 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 (or requires no or nominal payments in cash prior to the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes);

 

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(B)    to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases (i) Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment 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 (ii) 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 Issuer that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer;

(2)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor; or

(3)    Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer 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 subclause (A) of this clause (xiii) will not apply to (x) any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any Credit Facilities, Secured Indebtedness or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (iv) above or (y) an aggregate amount of Indebtedness not to exceed $1,000.0 million at any time outstanding that otherwise qualifies as “Refinancing Indebtedness” as defined herein;

(xiv)    (A) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition (or other purchase of assets) or (B) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that in the case of clauses (A) and (B), after giving effect to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation (1) the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed $100.0 million at any time outstanding or (2) either (x) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than 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;

(xvi)    Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

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

(B)    any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; or

(C)    any incurrence by the Co-Issuer of Indebtedness as a co-issuer of Indebtedness of the Issuer that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;

 

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(xviii)    (A) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer 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 Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent described in clause (iv) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, and (B) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Issuer (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(xix)    to the extent constituting Indebtedness, customer deposits and advance payments (including progress premiums) received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business;

(xx)    (A) Indebtedness owed on a short-term basis of no longer than 30 days to banks and other financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries with such banks or financial institutions that arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (B) Indebtedness in respect of Bank Products;

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

(xxii)    Indebtedness of the Issuer 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 Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not the Co-Issuer or Subsidiary Guarantors in an amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (xxiii) not to exceed together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (xxiii) the greater of (A) $285.0 million and (B) 2.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined on the date of such incurrence); it being understood that any Indebtedness deemed incurred pursuant to this clause (xxiii) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (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 clause (xxiii);

(xxiv)    Indebtedness of the Issuer 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;

(xxv)    Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer in an amount not to exceed, at any one time outstanding and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (xxv), 10.0% of the total assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as shown on the Issuer’s most recent balance sheet (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (xxv) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xxv) 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 its Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this clause (xxv)); and

(xxvi)    Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are deposited with the Trustee at or promptly after the funding of such Indebtedness to satisfy and discharge the Notes or exercise the Issuer’s legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option as described under Article 8 hereof, in each case, in accordance with this Indenture.

 

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(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 clauses (i) through (xxvi) of Section 4.09(b) hereof or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the clauses under Section 4.09(b) or under Section 4.09(a) hereof; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities on the Issue Date shall be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under clause (i) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; and

(ii)    the Issuer shall 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 Section 4.09(b) hereof.

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 shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09. Any Refinancing Indebtedness and any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (i) and (xii)(B) of Section 4.09(b) hereof shall be deemed to include additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, fees and expenses in connection with such refinancing.

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 (including tender premiums) and other costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) 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 Issuer shall not, and shall not permit the Co-Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is contractually subordinated or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee to the extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

This Indenture shall 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 or because it is guaranteed by other obligors.

 

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Section  4.10.      Asset Sales .

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

(i)    the Issuer 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 (as determined in good faith by the Issuer 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 such Asset Sale, together with all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(A)    any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto or, if incurred or increased subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or increase had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined by the Issuer) of the Issuer 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 pursuant to a written agreement which releases or indemnifies the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities;

(B)    any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days (450 days in the case of any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received in respect of any Asset Sale of the Specified Real Property Assets) following the closing of such Asset Sale; and

(C)    any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer 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 clause (C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $710.0 million and (ii) 5.0% 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 450 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale:

(i)    to permanently reduce Indebtedness as follows:

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

(B)    Obligations under Secured Indebtedness which is secured by a Lien that is permitted by this Indenture, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

(C)    Obligations under the Notes or any other Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (and, in the case of other Senior Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce any outstanding commitments with respect thereto, if applicable); provided that if the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall so repay any Senior Indebtedness other than the Notes, the Issuer

 

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will either (A) reduce Obligations under each series of Notes on a pro rata basis by, at its option, (x) redeeming Notes as provided under Section 3.07 hereof or (y) purchasing Notes through open-market purchases, or (B) make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 3.08 and 4.10(c) hereof) to all Holders to purchase their Notes on a ratable basis with such other Senior Indebtedness for no less than 100.0% of the principal amount of such Notes, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase; or

(D)    if the assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale are the property or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, to permanently reduce Indebtedness of (i) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (ii) the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor; or

(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 Issuer 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 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 Issuer 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, (C) properties or (D) acquisitions of other assets that, in each of (A), (B), (C) and (D), replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale;

provided that a binding commitment entered into not later than such 450th day shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Issuer, 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 the later of such 450th day and 180 days of such commitment (an “ Acceptable Commitment ”) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “ Second Commitment ”) within 180 days of such cancellation or termination; provided further that if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

(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 $200.0 million, the Issuers shall make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any Indebtedness that ranks pari passu with the Notes (“ Pari Passu Indebtedness ”), to the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, 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, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price, in the case of the Notes, 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, and in the case of any Pari Passu Indebtedness at the offer price required by the terms thereof but not to exceed 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreement(s) governing such Pari Passu Indebtedness. The Issuers will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. The Issuers 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 450 days (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $200.0 million or less.

 

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To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuers may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purposes not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes or the Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Issuers shall purchase the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, tendered with adjustments as necessary so that no Notes or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, will be repurchased in part in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds that resulted in the requirement to make an Asset Sale Offer shall be reset to zero (regardless of whether there are any remaining Excess Proceeds upon such completion). Additionally, the Issuers may, at their option, make an Asset Sale Offer using the proceeds from any Asset Sale at any time after the consummation of such Asset Sale. Upon consummation or expiration of any Asset Sale Offer, any remaining Net Proceeds shall not be deemed Excess Proceeds and the Issuers may use such Net Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture.

(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, including under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

(e)    The notice, if delivered electronically or mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. If (i) the notice is delivered electronically or mailed in a manner herein provided and (ii) any Holder fails to receive such notice or a Holder receives such notice but it is defective, such Holder’s failure to receive such notice or such defect shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Notes as to all other Holders that properly received such notice without defect. The Issuers shall 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 by the Issuers 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 Issuers shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

The provisions of this Section 4.10 may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding.

Section  4.11.      Transactions with Affiliates .

(a)    The Issuer shall not, and shall 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 Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $50.0 million, unless:

(i)    such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis; and

(ii)    the Issuer delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $75.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) of this Section 4.11(a).

 

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(b)    The provisions of Section 4.11(a) hereof shall not apply to the following:

(i)    transactions between or among the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ii)    Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 hereof and the definition of “ Permitted Investments ”;

(iii)    (A) the payment of management, consulting, monitoring, transaction, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement (plus any unpaid management, consulting, monitoring, transaction, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses accrued in any prior year) and any termination fees pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement and (B) transactions pursuant to the Transaction Agreements, or, in the case of each of (A) and (B), any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer to the Holders when taken as a whole, as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement;

(iv)    (A) employment agreements, employee benefit and incentive compensation plans and arrangements and (B) 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 or consultants of the Issuer, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(v)    transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable, when taken as a whole, to the Issuer or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

(vi)    any agreement or arrangement 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 Issuer to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date);

(vii)    the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer 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 (or any parent company of the Issuer) is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it (or any parent company of the Issuer) may enter into thereafter; provided that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or such parent company) 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 clause (vii) 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 Issuer to the Holders when taken as a whole;

(viii)    the Spin-Off Transaction and the payment of all fees and expenses related thereto;

(ix)    transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates (including hotel management or franchise agreements entered into with any of the foregoing), in each case in the ordinary course of business or that are consistent with past practice and, in each case, otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

 

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(x)    the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer or to any Permitted Holder or to any employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(xi)    sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

(xii)    payments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any of the Investors made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures which payments are approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(xiii)    payments and Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of the Issuer 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 Issuer, 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 that are, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith; 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 the Issuer in good faith;

(xiv)    (i) investments by Permitted Holders in securities or loans of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and payment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Permitted Holders in connection therewith) so long as the investment is being offered by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms, and (ii) payments to Permitted Holders in respect of securities or loans of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries contemplated in the foregoing subclause (i) or that were acquired from Persons other than the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such securities or loans;

(xv)    payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (including, without limitation, any cash management activities related thereto);

(xvi)    payments by the Issuer (and any direct or indirect parent company thereof) and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Issuer (and any such parent company) and its Subsidiaries, to the extent such payments are permitted under clause (xv)(B) of Section 4.07(b) hereof;

(xvii)    any lease entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of the Issuer, as lessor, which is approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(xviii)    intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(xix)    all payments to HLT Parent otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(xx)    the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating to registration rights and indemnities provided to stockholders of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent thereof pursuant to the stockholders, registration rights or similar agreements;

(xxi)    the pledge of Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary to lenders to support the Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary owed to such lenders;

 

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(xxii)    Permitted Intercompany Activities and related transactions; and

(xxiii)    any transactions with any Subsidiary or a joint venture or similar entity which would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiary owns an equity interest in or otherwise controls such Subsidiary, joint venture or similar entity.

Section  4.12.      Liens . The Issuer will not, and will not permit the Co-Issuer or 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer 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 of the applicable series 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 of the applicable series are equally and ratably secured,

except that the foregoing shall not apply to or restrict Liens securing obligations in respect of the Notes (and Exchange Notes with respect thereto) and the related Guarantees of such series.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 4.12 shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of each of the Liens described in clauses (a) and (b) above.

Section  4.13.      Company Existence . Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its limited liability company existence, and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Co-Issuer), in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other existence of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuer), if the Issuer in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to change their organizational form; provided that for so long as the Issuer is organized as a partnership or a limited liability company, it will maintain a corporate co-issuer of the Notes.

Section  4.14.      Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event . If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs with respect to the Notes of a series, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently sent a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes of such series as described under Sections 3.03 and 3.07 hereof, the Issuers shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes of such series 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 and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of such series of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the purchase date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuers will send notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes of such series to the address of such Holder appearing in the Note Register or otherwise delivered 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 of such series properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuers;

 

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(b)    the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 15 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”), except in the case of a conditional Change of Control Offer made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event in accordance with clause (l) of this Section 4.14;

(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 of such series accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(e)    that Holders electing to have any Notes of such series purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, 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 shall 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 than the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the expiration date of the Change of Control Offer, a facsimile transmission, letter or other communication in accordance with the Applicable Procedures setting forth the name of the Holder of such Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes, or specified portion thereof, and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(g)    that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes of such series 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 delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, stating that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control Triggering Event and shall describe each such condition, and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the notice is mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any such condition shall be satisfied, or that such repurchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any such condition shall not have been satisfied by the Change of Control Payment Date, or by the Change of Control Payment Date as so delayed; and

(i)    any other instructions, as determined by the Issuers, consistent with this Section 4.14 that a Holder must follow in order to have the Notes repurchased.

The notice, if delivered electronically or mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. If (a) the notice is delivered or mailed in a manner herein provided and (b) any Holder fails to receive such notice or a Holder receives such notice but it is defective, such Holder’s failure to receive such notice or such defect shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Notes as to all other Holders that properly received such notice without defect. The Issuers shall 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 by the Issuers 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 shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

 

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(j)    On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent permitted by law:

(i)    accept for payment all Notes of the applicable series 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 of such series 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 shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event 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 Triggering Event, conditional upon such Change of Control Triggering Event, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control Triggering Event at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(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,” “Redemption Date” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and “Change of Control Payment Date” and similar words, as applicable.

The provisions of this Section 4.14 may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all the Notes of the applicable series then outstanding.

Section  4.15.      Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries . The Issuer shall not permit any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries guarantee other capital markets debt securities of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor), other than a Subsidiary Guarantor, the Co-Issuer, a Foreign Subsidiary or a Securitization Subsidiary, to guarantee the payment of (i) any Credit Facility permitted under clause (i) of Section 4.09(b) hereof or (ii) capital markets debt securities of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

(a)    such Restricted Subsidiary within 60 days after the guarantee of such Indebtedness 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, the Co-Issuer or any Subsidiary 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 shall not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other applicable rights against the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee;

provided that this Section 4.15 shall not be applicable to 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. The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case such Subsidiary shall not be required to comply with the 60 day period described in clause (a) of this Section 4.15.

 

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Section  4.16.      Limitation on Business Activities of the Co-Issuer .

The Co-Issuer may not hold any assets, become liable for any obligations or engage in any business activities; provided that it may be a co-obligor or guarantor with respect to the Notes or any other Indebtedness issued, guaranteed or incurred by the Issuer, and may engage in any activities related thereto or necessary in connection therewith. The Co-Issuer shall be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer at all times.

Section  4.17.      Termination of Covenants .

(a)    With respect to any series of Notes, if on any date (i) the Notes of such series have an Investment Grade Rating from either of the Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture with respect to such series of Notes, then, beginning on that day and continuing at all times thereafter regardless of any subsequent changes in the rating of the Notes of such series, each of Section 4.07, Section 4.08, Section 4.09, Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.15 and clause (iv) of Section 5.01(a) hereof shall no longer be applicable to the Notes of such series.

(b)    The Trustee shall have no obligation to determine if the Notes of any series have an Investment Grade Rating at any time or to provide Holders with notice of whether the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating or no longer have an Investment Grade Rating.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section  5.01.      Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets .

(a)    The Issuer may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the 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)    the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the 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 jurisdiction of organization of the Issuer or 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 ”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(ii)    the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture, the Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement (if the Exchange Offer contemplated therein has not been consummated) 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 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 Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

 

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(v)    each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (i)(B) of Section 5.01(e) hereof shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement;

(vi)    if the Successor Company is not a corporation, the Co-Issuer (unless it is the party to the transactions described above) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that it continues to be a co-obligor of the Notes; and

(vii)    the Issuer or, if applicable, the Successor Company 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.

(b)    The Successor Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, as applicable, and the Issuer will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes.

(c)    Notwithstanding clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section 5.01(a) hereof:

(i)    any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

(ii)    the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

(d)    The Co-Issuer may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Co-Issuer is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Co-Issuer’s properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person, unless:

(i)    the Co-Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Co-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; provided, that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, the Issuer or a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation, organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof and such corporate co-obligor, if other than the Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Co-Issuer under the Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement (if the exchange offer contemplated therein has not been consummated) pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(ii)    immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(iii)    the Co-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 indenture, if any, comply with this Indenture.

 

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(e)    Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, no Subsidiary Guarantor shall, and the Issuers shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i)    (A) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation 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 jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as applicable, or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such surviving Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Person ”);

(B)    the Successor Person, if other than such 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;

(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 or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; or

(ii)    the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10(a) hereof; or

(iii)    in the case of assets consisting of Equity Interests of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, such Equity Interests are sold, assigned, transferred, leased, conveyed or otherwise disposed of to one or more Restricted Subsidiaries.

(f)    Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, the Successor Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantor may (1) merge or consolidate with or into, wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Subsidiary Guarantor, the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, (2) merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Subsidiary Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (3) 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 Subsidiary Guarantor or (4) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Issuer determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Issuer, in each case, without regard to the requirements set forth in Section 5.01(e). Each of HWP and HLT Parent may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing HWP or HLT Parent, as the case may be, in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.01, the Issuer may contribute or transfer the Capital Stock of any or all of its Subsidiaries to any Subsidiary 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Issuer, the Co-Issuer 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor Person, as applicable, and not to the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person, as applicable, had been named as the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, herein; provided that the predecessor Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, 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 or substantially all of the Issuer’s or the Co-Issuer’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

 

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ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section  6.01.      Events of Default .

(a)    An “ Event of Default ,” wherever used herein, with respect to each series of Notes means any one of the following events:

(i)    default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes of such series;

(ii)    default for 30 consecutive days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes of such series;

(iii)    subject to Section 4.03(d) hereof, failure by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25.0% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such series to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above) contained in this Indenture or the Notes of such series;

(iv)    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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(A)    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

(B)    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 $225.0 million or more outstanding;

(v)    failure by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer 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 $225.0 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;

(vi)    the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A)    commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

 

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(B)    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;

(C)    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;

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

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

(vii)    a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A)    is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), in a proceeding in which the Issuer or any such Subsidiary or such group of Restricted Subsidiaries is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(B)    appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any such Significant Subsidiary or such group of Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(C)    orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

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

(viii)    the Guarantee of HLT Parent, HWP or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Notes of such series shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of HLT Parent, HWP or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or the responsible officers of any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), as the case may be, denies in writing that it has any further liability under its Guarantee of the Notes of such series 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.

(b)    In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (iv) of Section 6.01(a) hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes of a series) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 30 days after such Event of Default arose:

(i)    the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged;

 

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(ii)    the requisite number of holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

(iii)    the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

Section  6.02.      Acceleration . If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default of the type specified in clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01(a) hereof) occurs with respect to the Notes of a series and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25.0% in aggregate principal amount of all the then outstanding Notes of the affected series, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, in either case specifying in such notice the respective Event of Default and that such notice is a “notice of acceleration”, declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes of such series to be due and payable immediately.

Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal of and premium, if any, and interest for such series of Notes will be due and payable immediately.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01(a) 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, subject to Section 6.05, the Trustee will have no obligation to accelerate the Notes of a series if in the judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the interests of the Holders of all of the Notes of such series.

Section  6.03.      Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing in respect of a series of Notes, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the applicable series of Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes of such series or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section  6.04.      Waiver of Past Defaults . Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Notes of a series then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee (with a copy to the Issuers, provided that any waiver or rescission under this Section 6.04 shall be valid and binding notwithstanding the failure to provide a copy of such notice to the Issuers) may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes of such series waive any existing Default and its consequences under this Indenture with respect to such series (except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note of such series held by a non-consenting Holder) (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes of such series and its consequences under this Indenture (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist with respect to the Notes of such series, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured with respect to the Notes of such series for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section  6.05.      Control by Majority . Subject to Section 7.01(e) hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the then outstanding Notes of a series, may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. 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 or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

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Section  6.06.      Limitation on Suits . Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder of a Note of any series may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes of such series unless:

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

(b)    the Holders of at least 25.0% in the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such series have requested in writing the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

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

Section  6.07.      Rights of Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the contractual right expressly set forth in this Indenture or the Notes of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and Additional Interest, if any, and interest on the Note of each series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note of such series (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 amended without the consent of such Holder.

Section  6.08.      Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(i) or (ii) hereof occurs and is continuing with respect to either series of Notes, 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 of, premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on, the Notes of such series and interest on overdue principal on such series, if applicable, 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 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 6 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), their creditors or their 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 with respect to the Notes of any series, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

(a)    FIRST, 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)    SECOND, to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes of such series for principal, premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes of such series for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(c)    THIRD, 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.

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 of the applicable series.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section  7.01.      Duties of Trustee .

(a)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any series of Notes, 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.

 

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(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 willful misconduct or 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 paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

(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.

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

(e)    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security 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 Issuers and the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuers 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. 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.

 

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(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 Issuer or the Co-Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable.

(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 an indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(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 or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Notes of the series affected and this Indenture.

(h)    In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for 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)    In the event the Issuers are required to pay Additional Interest, the Issuers will provide written notice to the Trustee of the Issuers’ obligation to pay Additional Interest no later than 15 days prior to the next Interest Payment Date, which notice shall set forth the amount of the Additional Interest to be paid by the Issuers. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holders to determine whether the Additional Interest is payable and the amount thereof.

(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 their 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 bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuers, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuers and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(n)    The Trustee may request that the Issuers deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

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(o)    The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; strikes or similar labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

(p)    The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Issuers with respect to the covenants contained in Article 4 or to make any calculation in connection therewith or in connection with any redemption of Notes. In addition, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Trustee shall have no obligation to monitor or verify compliance by the Issuers or any Guarantor with any other obligation or covenant under this Indenture.

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 Issuers or any of their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as such term is used in the Trust Indenture Act) it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as Trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) 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 with respect to a series of Notes and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to Holders of such series a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived, or if discovered after 90 days, promptly thereafter. 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.

Section  7.06.      Reports by Trustee to Holders . Within 60 days after each March 1, beginning on March 1, 2018, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall send 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), to the extent applicable. The Trustee shall also send all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).

A copy of each report at the time it is sent to the Holders shall be sent 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 of a series are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

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 Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, agents and any predecessor trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and hold the

 

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Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuers or any of the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuers or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder) (but excluding taxes imposed on such Persons in connection with compensation for such administration or performance). 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 or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor need reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith. Neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent.

The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors 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 Issuers and the 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 money or property held in trust to pay principal 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(a)(vi) or Section 6.01(a)(vii) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

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 by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing. 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 bankrupt or 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 60 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, 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.

 

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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 send 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 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.

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 $150.0 million 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 Issuer s . 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 of a series and all obligations of the Guarantors with respect to the Guarantees of such Notes 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 with respect to the Notes of a series, 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 of such series and the related Guarantees and all 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 of such series, 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 (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes), and to have satisfied all their other obligations under the Notes of such series 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) and to have cured all then existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a)    the rights of Holders of Notes of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes of such series when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

(b)    the Issuers’ obligations with respect to Notes of such series 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;

 

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(c)    the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d)    this Section 8.02.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their 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 with respect to the Notes of a series, 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 Sections 3.08, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.16 hereof, and clauses (iv) and (v) of Section 5.01(a), and Section 5.01(e) hereof with respect to all outstanding Notes of such series and the related Guarantees, on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes of such series 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 the Notes of such series shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to all outstanding Notes of a series and the related 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 with respect to such series, the Notes of such series and the related 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, Section 6.01(a)(iii) (solely with respect to the covenants that are released upon a Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(a)(iv), 6.01(a)(v), 6.01(a)(vi) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuer) subject thereto), 6.01(a)(vii) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuer) subject thereto) and 6.01(a)(viii) 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 of a series:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes of a series:

(a)    the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Notes of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes of such series on the stated maturity date or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes of such series 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 with respect to any series of Notes, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to such Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the Redemption Date (any such amount, the “ Applicable Premium Deficit ”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the Redemption Date. 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 for the applicable series of Notes;

 

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(b)    in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel 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 of such series, 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 beneficial owners of the Notes of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(c)    in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the beneficial owners of the Notes of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d)    no Event of Default with respect to the Notes of such series (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 Secured 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 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 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

(g)    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 U.S. Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions . Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and U.S. 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 of a series 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 the Notes of such series 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 U.S. 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 of such series and the related Guarantees.

 

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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 Issuer any money or U.S. 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.

Section  8.06.      Repayment to Issuer s . 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 of a series 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 their request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of the Note of such series 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 United States dollars or U.S. 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 Notes of a series following the reinstatement of their obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Notes of such series 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, any Guarantor (with respect to a Guarantee or this Indenture) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture with respect to any series of Notes, any Guarantee or Notes of a series 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;

(c)    to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

(d)    to provide for 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)    to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes of such series in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(h)    to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

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(i)    to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee or a successor Paying Agent hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;

(j)    to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer or legending of the Notes or to provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to Exchange Notes except that they are not freely transferable;

(k)    to add an obligor or a Guarantor under this Indenture or to release an obligor or a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(l)    to conform the text of this Indenture with respect to such series, Guarantees or the Notes of such series to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in such “Description of the Notes” section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, Guarantee or Notes of such series as provided in an Officer’s Certificate;

(m)    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, however , that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(n)    to secure the Notes of such series and/or the related Guarantees or to add collateral thereto; and

(o)    to make any other modifications to the Notes of such series or the Indenture with respect to such series of a formal, minor or technical nature or necessary to correct a manifest error, so long as such modification does not adversely affect the rights of any Holders of Notes of such series in any material respect.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors of each Issuer authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof (to the extent requested by the Trustee and subject to the last sentence of Section 9.06), 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 with respect to a series of Notes 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officer’s Certificate, nor a board resolution, shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto.

Section  9.02.      With Consent of Holders . Except as provided in Section 9.01 and this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture with respect to a series of Notes, the Notes of such Series and the related Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding of each series affected thereby, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes of such series and, subject to Section 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes of such series, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes of such series issued thereunder may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding of each series affected thereby (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes of such series). Section 2.08 hereof and Section 2.09 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

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Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors of each Issuer 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 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 send to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuers to send 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, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not, with respect to any Notes of a series 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 (i) notice periods (to the extent consistent with applicable requirements of clearing and settlement systems) for redemption and conditions to redemption and (ii) Section 3.08, Section 4.10 and Section 4.14 hereof);

(c)    reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any such Note;

(d)    (A) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of such Notes by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding of each series affected, and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or (B) waive a Default in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all affected Holders of Notes of such series;

(e)    make any such 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 contractual rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Notes;

(g)    make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(h)    amend the contractual right expressly set forth in this Indenture or the Notes of any Holder to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Notes or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(i)    make any change to or modify the ranking of such Notes that would adversely affect the Holders; or

(j)    except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in any manner materially adverse to the Holders of such Notes.

 

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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 is a continuing consent by the Holder 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 or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver 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, at the direction of the Issuers, 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.

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, supplement or waiver 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 Issuer 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). Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officer’s Certificate, nor a resolution, shall be required for the Trustee to execute any supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

Section  10.01.      Guarantee . Subject to this Article 10, from and after the Issue Date, 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, that: (a) the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes of each series shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full, 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 promptly. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

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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 Issuer or the Co-Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment in full of all of the Obligations of the Issuers hereunder or under the Notes of each series). Each Guarantor hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, 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 of each series and this Indenture or by release in accordance with the provisions of 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.

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, then 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 Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, 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.

Until terminated in accordance with Section 10.06, each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer or the Co-Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer or the Co-Issuer 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 Issuer’s or the Co-Issuer’s 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 shall be a general unsecured senior obligation of such Guarantor and shall be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, if any.

 

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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.

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 or being void or voidable under any law relating to insolvency of debtors.

Section  10.03.      Execution and Delivery . To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit D hereto) shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its authorized officers.

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 (or a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit D hereto) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates a Note, the Guarantee of such Guarantor 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 Issuer shall cause any newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

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 .

(a)    Each Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to a series of Notes shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and shall thereupon terminate and be of no further force and effect, with respect to such series, and no further action by such Subsidiary Guarantor, the Issuers or the Trustee is required for the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(i)    (A) any sale, exchange, disposition or transfer (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, dividend, distribution or otherwise) of (x) the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor, after which the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (y) all or substantially all the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case if such sale, exchange, disposition or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(B)    the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, or the release or discharge of 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 will constitute a release for the purposes of this provision, and that if any such Guarantee is so reinstated, such Guarantee shall also be reinstated to the extent that such Subsidiary Guarantor would then be required to provide a Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof);

(C)    the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(D)    the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary Guarantor with and into the Issuer or another Guarantor or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to the Issuer or another Guarantor; or

(E)    with respect to such series of Notes, the exercise by the Issuers of their Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option with respect to such series in accordance with Article 8 hereof or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture with respect to such series in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

(ii)    such Subsidiary Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate of such Subsidiary Guarantor or the Issuers and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction or release and discharge have been complied with. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in the case of a merger or consolidation in accordance with clause (i)(D) of this Section 10.06(a).

(b)    The respective Guarantee by each of HWP and HLT Parent, as the case may be, of a series of Notes shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and shall thereupon terminate and be of no further force and effect, with respect to such series of Notes, and no further action by HWP, HLT Parent, the Issuers or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantee, upon:

(i)    (A) the release or discharge of any guarantee by HWP or HLT Parent, as applicable, of Indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement will constitute a release for the purposes of this provision); or

(B)    with respect to such series of Notes, the exercise by the Issuers of their Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option with respect to such series in accordance with Article 8 hereof or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such series under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

(ii)    HWP or HLT Parent, as applicable, delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate of HWP or HLT Parent, as applicable, and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such release and discharge have been complied with.

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section  11.01.      Satisfaction and Discharge . This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Notes of a series when either:

(a)    all Notes of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes of such series which have been replaced or paid and Notes of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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(b)    (i) all Notes of such series 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 have or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. dollar-denominated U.S. Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes of such series 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 with respect to such series of Notes, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to such 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 Redemption Date. 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 of the applicable series of Notes;

(ii)    no 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, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes of such series 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 Secured Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer, the Co-Issuer 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 them under this Indenture with respect to such series of Notes; and

(iv)    the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes of such series at maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

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. Such Opinion of Counsel may rely on such Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact, including clauses (b)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section 11.01.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (b)(i) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 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 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer 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.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. 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

 

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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 U.S. 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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer, any 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), facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC

Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp.

c/o Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100

McLean, VA 22102

Facsimile:    (703) 883-6188

Attention:    Kristin A. Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice for any purpose under this Indenture):

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017-3954

Facsimile: (212) 455-2502

Attention: Edgar J. Lewandowski

If to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE 19890

Facsimile: (302) 636-4145

Attention: Hilton Worldwide Finance Administrator

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 is 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 first date on which publication is made, if given by publication.

 

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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 delivered or 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, such notice or communication shall be deemed duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuers send a notice or communication to Holders, they shall send 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 or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Depositary.

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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a)    an Officer’s Certificate in form 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 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

 

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(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.

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, or direct or indirect member, partner or stockholder of the Issuers or any Guarantor (other than in their respective capacity as an Issuer or Guarantor) or of any of their direct or indirect parent companies shall have any liability, for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture or any 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.

Section  12.08.      Governing Law . THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR ANY GUARANTEE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section  12.09.      Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE ISSUERS, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE (1) AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES AND (2) 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.

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 Issuer, the Co-Issuer or the Issuer’s 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 their respective 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.

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. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmissions shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

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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.      Qualification of Indenture . The Issuers and the Guarantors shall qualify this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement and shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses for the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee) incurred in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, costs and expenses of qualification of this Indenture and the Notes and printing this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee shall be provided with such Officer’s Certificates, Opinions of Counsel or other documentation as it may reasonably request and as is necessary in connection with any such qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The Trust Indenture Act shall not apply to this Indenture prior to such qualification, and all references herein to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act refer to such compliance following any such qualification.

Section  12.17.      USA Patriot Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, are required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account. The parties to this agreement agree that they shall provide the Trustee with such information as they may request in order to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

[ Signatures on following page ]

 

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

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President
HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President
HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President
HILTON WORLDWIDE PARENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


90210 BILTMORE MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


90210 DESERT RESORTS MANAGEMENT CO., LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


90210 GRAND WAILEA MANAGEMENT CO., LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


90210 LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


90210 MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


ANDIAMO’S O’HARE, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


BALLY’S GRAND PROPERTY SUB I, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


BLUE BONNET SECURITY, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CANOPY BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CHESTERFIELD VILLAGE HOTEL, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


COMPRIS HOTEL LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (BELGIUM) LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (EGYPT) RESORTS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (INDONESIA) CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT (JAKARTA) CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL MANAGE (CIS) LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CONRAD MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


CURIO BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DESTINATION RESORTS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DOUBLETREE HOTEL SYSTEMS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DOUBLETREE HOTELS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DOUBLETREE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DOUBLETREE MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DT MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DT REAL ESTATE, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTM ATLANTA/LEGACY, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTM CAMBRIDGE, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTM COCONUT GROVE, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTM LARGO, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTM MARYLAND, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTM SANTA CLARA LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTM WALNUT CREEK, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTR FCH HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTR PAH HOLDING, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


DTR SAN ANTONIO, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EJP LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY DEVELOPMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY EQUITY DEVELOPMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY MEMPHIS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY SUITES (ISLA VERDE), INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. 1, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. THREE, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. TWO, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY SUITES MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EMBASSY SYRACUSE DEVELOPMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EPAM CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


FLORIDA CONRAD INTERNATIONAL CORP.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HAMPTON INNS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HAMPTON INNS MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HHC BC ORLANDO, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HIC FIRST LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HIC GAMING CALIFORNIA, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HIC HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HIC HOTELS U.S.A. LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HIC RACING CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HIC SAN PABLO LIMITED, INC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HIC SAN PABLO, L.P.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HIC SECOND LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON BEVERAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE I LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE II LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE III LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE IV LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON CORPORATE DIRECTOR LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON DOMESTIC MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON DOMESTIC FRANCHISE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON DOMESTIC OPERATING COMPANY INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON EL CON MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON EL CON OPERATOR LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON FRANCHISE HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON GARDEN INNS MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON HAWAII CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON HONORS WORLDWIDE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON HOSPITALITY, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON ILLINOIS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON ILLINOIS HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON INNS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON INTERNATIONAL HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON NEW JERSEY SERVICE CORP.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON RECREATION LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON SAN DIEGO LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON SPRING CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON SUPPLY MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HILTON SYSTEMS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT AUDUBON LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT CONRAD DOMESTIC LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT DOMESTIC JV HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISOR CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL MANAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT ESP MANAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT EXISTING FRANCHISE HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT FRANCHISE II BORROWER LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT HQ SPE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT HSM HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT HSS HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT JV ACQUISITION LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISOR CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL MANAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT LIFESTYLE MANAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT MEMPHIS DATA LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT OWNED II HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT OWNED II-A BORROWER LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HLT PALMER LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HOME2 BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HOMEWOOD SUITES MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HOTEL CLUBS OF CORPORATE WOODS, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HOTELS STATLER COMPANY, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HPP HOTELS USA, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HPP INTERNATIONAL LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


HTGV, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


INNVISION, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


INTERNATIONAL RIVERCENTER LESSEE, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


LOCKWOOD PALMER HOUSE, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


PEACOCK ALLEY SERVICE COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


POTTER’S BAR PALMER HOUSE, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


PROMUS HOTEL SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


PROMUS HOTELS FLORIDA LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


PROMUS HOTELS MINNEAPOLIS, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


PROMUS HOTELS PARENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


PROMUS HOTELS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


PROMUS OPERATING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


PROMUS/KINGSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


SALC, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


SAMANTHA HOTEL LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


TRU BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


WA COLLECTION INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


WALDORF=ASTORIA MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


WASHINGTON HILTON, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ W. T. Morris, II

  Name:   W. Thomas Morris, II
  Title:   Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Indenture ]


EXHIBIT A-1

[FORM OF NOTE]

[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]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1-1


CUSIP    [432891 AG4][U43303 AD5]

ISIN        [US432891AG41][USU43303AD51]

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S] [GLOBAL] NOTE

initially representing [up to]

$[        ]

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP.

4.625% Senior Notes due 2025

 

No.     

[$        ]

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally, promise to pay to [Cede & Co.]* 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 1, 2025.

Interest Payment Dates:     April 1 and October 1, commencing on October 1, 2017

Record Dates:                    March 15 and September 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

* Include only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-1-2


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuers have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:                    

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC, as Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP., as Co-Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-1-3


This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Date:                       

 

A-1-4


[REVERSE OF NOTE]

4.625% Senior Notes due 2025

Except for the references to “Notes” and “Additional Notes” herein, which refer solely to the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1.     Interest . Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (such Person, and its respective successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “ Issuer ”), and Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (such Person, and its respective successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “ Co-Issuer ” and, together with the Issuer, the “ Issuers ”), jointly and severally, promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 4.625% from March 16, 2017 1 until maturity and to pay the Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning October 1, 2017, 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 March 15 and September 15 (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 March 16, 2017. 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; 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. 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. Cash payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Indenture or, at the option of the Issuers, cash payment of interest may be made through the Paying Agent by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the Note Register of Holders, provided that (a) all cash payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to Notes represented by Global Notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made through the Paying Agent by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the registered Holder or Holders thereof and (b) all cash payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to certificated Notes may, at the option of the Issuers, be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States of America 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). 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, Transfer Agent and Registrar . Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity upon written notice to the Trustee.

 

 

1   In the case of Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-1-5


4.     Indenture . The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Indenture ”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as their 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025. 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 expressly made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture 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 set forth in clauses (b), (d) and (e) of this Section 5 and in clauses (b), (f) and (h) of Section 3.07 of the Indenture, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to April 1, 2020.

(b)    At any time prior to April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (A) 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus (B) the 2025 Applicable Premium as of the Redemption Date, plus (C) accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the Notes on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date.

(c)    On and after April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 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 and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the applicable 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 falling prior to or on the Redemption Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2020

     102.312

2021

     101.156

2022 and thereafter

     100.000

(d)    Prior to April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option and 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 104.625% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the Notes on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date, with the net cash proceeds received by the Issuers from one or more Equity Offerings or a contribution to the Issuers’ common equity capital made with the net cash proceeds of an Equity Offering; provided that (A) at least 50.0% of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date and (y) the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (B) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(e)    In connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including without limitation any Change of Control Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuers, or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Issuers, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

A-1-6


(f)    Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture. Notice of any redemption, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering or other transaction. In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date so delayed. In addition, 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. The Issuers, the Investors and their respective Affiliates may acquire the Notes by means other than a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise.

6.     Notice of Redemption . Subject to Sections 3.03 and 3.08 of the Indenture, any notice of redemption shall be delivered electronically or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 15 but (except as set forth in paragraph 5(f) above and Section 3.07(i) of the Indenture) not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered electronically or mailed 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. Notes and portions of Notes selected for redemption shall be in integral multiples of $1,000 (but in a minimum amount of $2,000) and no Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed 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, even if not in a principal amount of at least $2,000. On and after the Redemption Date, subject to satisfaction of any conditions precedent specified in the applicable notice of redemption, interest ceases to accrue on this Note or portions thereof called for redemption.

7.     Offers to Repurchase . Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuers shall make a Change of Control Offer for the Notes in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Issuers shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Sections 3.08 and 4.10 of the Indenture.

Other than as specifically provided in Section 3.08 or Section 4.10 of the Indenture, any purchase pursuant to Section 3.08 of the Indenture shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture, and references therein or herein to “redeem,” “redemption,” “Redemption Date” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase,” “Purchase Date” and similar words, as applicable.

8.     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 shall be registered and Notes may only 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. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Also, the Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed.

9.     Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes. Only registered Holders shall have rights hereunder.

10.     Amendment, Supplement and Waiver . The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

A-1-7


11.     Defaults and Remedies .

(a)    The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default of the type specified in clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01(a) of the Indenture) occurs and is continuing under the Indenture with respect to the Notes, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25.0% in aggregate principal amount of all of the then outstanding Notes may, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, in either case specifying in such notice the respective Event of Default and that such notice is a “notice of acceleration”, 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 for the Notes will be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01(a) 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. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power with respect to the Notes.

(b)    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, subject to Section 6.05 of the Indenture, the Trustee will have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the interests of the Holders of all of the Notes.

(c)    Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding, by notice to the Trustee (with a copy to the Issuers, provided that any waiver or rescission under Section 6.04 of the Indenture shall be valid and binding notwithstanding the failure to provide a copy of such notice to the Issuers) may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences under the 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) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences under the Indenture (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist with respect to the Notes, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured with respect to the Notes for every purpose of the Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

(d)    The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer shall promptly (which shall be no more than 20 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 Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

12.     Guarantees . The Issuers’ obligations under the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors from time to time party to the Indenture.

13 .      Authentication . 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 signature of the Trustee.

14.     Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes . In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, including the right to receive Additional Interest (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

15.     Governing Law . THIS NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

16.     CUSIP Numbers and ISINs . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers and ISINs 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 and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC

Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp.

c/o Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100

McLean, VA 22102

Facsimile:            (703) 883-6188

Attention:            Kristin A. Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

With a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Facsimile:            (212) 455-2502

Attention:            Edgar J. Lewandowski

 

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).

 

A-1-10


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

signatory of

Trustee or

Custodian

       

 

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-1-12


EXHIBIT A-2

[FORM OF NOTE]

[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]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-2-1


CUSIP    [432891 AJ8][ U43303 AE3]
ISIN    [US432891AJ89][ USU43303AE35]

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S] [GLOBAL] NOTE

initially representing [up to]

$[        ]

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP.

4.875% Senior Notes due 2027

 

No.        [$        ]

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally, promise to pay to [Cede & Co.]* 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 1, 2027.

 

Interest Payment Dates:    April 1 and October 1, commencing on October 1, 2017
Record Dates:    March 15 and September 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

* Include only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-2-2


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuers have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC, as Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP., as Co-Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-2-3


This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Date:                       

 

A-2-4


[REVERSE OF NOTE]

4.875% Senior Notes due 2027

Except for the references to “Notes” and “Additional Notes” herein, which refer solely to the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1.     Interest . Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (such Person, and its respective successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “ Issuer ”), and Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (such Person, and its respective successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “ Co-Issuer ” and, together with the Issuer, the “ Issuers ”), jointly and severally, promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 4.875% from March 16, 2017 2 until maturity and to pay the Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning October 1, 2017, 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 March 15 and September 15 (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 March 16, 2017. 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; 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. 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. Cash payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Indenture or, at the option of the Issuers, cash payment of interest may be made through the Paying Agent by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the Note Register of Holders, provided that (a) all cash payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to Notes represented by Global Notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made through the Paying Agent by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the registered Holder or Holders thereof and (b) all cash payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to certificated Notes may, at the option of the Issuers, be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States of America 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). 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, Transfer Agent and Registrar . Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity upon written notice to the Trustee.

 

 

2   In the case of Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-2-5


4.     Indenture . The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Indenture ”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as their 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027. 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 expressly made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture 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 set forth in clauses (b), (d) and (e) of this Section 5 and in clauses (c), (g) and (h) of Section 3.07 of the Indenture, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to April 1, 2022.

(b)    At any time prior to April 1, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (A) 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus (B) the 2027 Applicable Premium as of the Redemption Date, plus (C) accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the Notes on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date.

(c)    On and after April 1, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 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 and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the applicable 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 falling prior to or on the Redemption Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2022

     102.437

2023

     101.218

2024

     100.609

2025 and thereafter

     100.000

(d)    Prior to April 1, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option and 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 104.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the Notes on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date, with the net cash proceeds received by the Issuers from one or more Equity Offerings or a contribution to the Issuers’ common equity capital made with the net cash proceeds of an Equity Offering; provided that (A) at least 50.0% of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date and (y) the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (B) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(e)    In connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including without limitation any Change of Control Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuers, or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Issuers, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

A-2-6


(f)    Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture. Notice of any redemption, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering or other transaction. In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date so delayed. In addition, 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. The Issuers, the Investors and their respective Affiliates may acquire the Notes by means other than a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise.

6.     Notice of Redemption . Subject to Sections 3.03 and 3.08 of the Indenture, any notice of redemption shall be delivered electronically or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 15 but (except as set forth in paragraph 5(f) above and Section 3.07(i) of the Indenture) not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered electronically or mailed 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. Notes and portions of Notes selected for redemption shall be in integral multiples of $1,000 (but in a minimum amount of $2,000) and no Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed 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, even if not in a principal amount of at least $2,000. On and after the Redemption Date, subject to satisfaction of any conditions precedent specified in the applicable notice of redemption, interest ceases to accrue on this Note or portions thereof called for redemption.

7.     Offers to Repurchase . Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuers shall make a Change of Control Offer for the Notes in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Issuers shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Sections 3.08 and 4.10 of the Indenture.

Other than as specifically provided in Section 3.08 or Section 4.10 of the Indenture, any purchase pursuant to Section 3.08 of the Indenture shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture, and references therein or herein to “redeem,” “redemption,” “Redemption Date” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase,” “Purchase Date” and similar words, as applicable.

8.     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 shall be registered and Notes may only 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. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Also, the Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed.

9.     Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes. Only registered Holders shall have rights hereunder.

10.     Amendment, Supplement and Waiver . The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

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11.     Defaults and Remedies .

(a)    The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default of the type specified in clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01(a) of the Indenture) occurs and is continuing under the Indenture with respect to the Notes, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25.0% in aggregate principal amount of all of the then outstanding Notes may, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, in either case specifying in such notice the respective Event of Default and that such notice is a “notice of acceleration”, 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 for the Notes will be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01(a) 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. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power with respect to the Notes.

(b)    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, subject to Section 6.05 of the Indenture, the Trustee will have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the interests of the Holders of all of the Notes.

(c)    Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding, by notice to the Trustee (with a copy to the Issuers, provided that any waiver or rescission under Section 6.04 of the Indenture shall be valid and binding notwithstanding the failure to provide a copy of such notice to the Issuers) may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences under the 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) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences under the Indenture (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist with respect to the Notes, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured with respect to the Notes for every purpose of the Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

(d)    The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer shall promptly (which shall be no more than 20 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 Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

12.     Guarantees . The Issuers’ obligations under the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors from time to time party to the Indenture.

13 .      Authentication . 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 signature of the Trustee.

14.     Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes . In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, including the right to receive Additional Interest (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

15.     Governing Law . THIS NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

16.     CUSIP Numbers and ISINs . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the

 

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Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers and ISINs 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.

The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC

Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp.

c/o Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100

McLean, VA 22102

Facsimile:            (703) 883-6188

Attention:            Kristin A. Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

With a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Facsimile:            (212) 455-2502

Attention:            Edgar J. Lewandowski

 

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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).

 

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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

signatory of

Trustee or

Custodian

       

 

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

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EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER]

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC

Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp.

c/o Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100

McLean, VA 22102

Facsimile: (703) 883-6188

Attention: Kristin A. Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

With a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017-3954

Facsimile: (212) 455-2502

Attention: Edgar J. Lewandowski

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE 19890

Facsimile: (302) 636-4145

Attention: Hilton Worldwide Finance Administrator

 

  Re: Hilton Worldwide Finance 4.625% / 4.875% Senior Notes due 2025/2027

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Indenture ”), among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Issuer ”), Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ” and, together with the Issuer, the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking 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.

 

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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 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the 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, the Co-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 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

 

B-2


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.

 

B-3


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                     

 

B-4


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a) ☐  a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ☐  144A Global Note (CUSIP: [●]), 3 or

 

  (ii) ☐  Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP: [●]), 4 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: [●]), 5 or

 

  (ii) ☐  Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP: [●]), 6 or

 

  (iii) ☐  Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP: [●]), 7 or

 

  (b) ☐  a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) ☐  an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

 

3   If for the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025, use 432891 AG4. If for the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027, use 432891 AJ8.
4   If for the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025, use U43303 AD5. If for the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027, use U43303 AE3.
5   If for the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025, use 432891 AG4. If for the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027, use 432891 AJ8.
6   If for the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025, use U43303 AD5. If for the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027, use U43303 AE3.
7   If for the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025, use 432891 AH2. If for the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027, use 432891 AK5.

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE]

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC

Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp.

c/o Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100

McLean, VA 22102

Facsimile: (703) 883-6188

Attention: Kristin A. Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

With a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017-3954

Facsimile: (212) 455-2502

Attention: Edgar J. Lewandowski

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE 19890

Facsimile: (302) 636-4145

Attention: Hilton Worldwide Finance Administrator

 

  Re: Hilton Worldwide Finance 4.625% / 4.875% Senior Notes due 2025/2027

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Indenture ”), among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Issuer ”), Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ” and, together with the Issuer, the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as 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 Note[s] or an interest in such Note[s], 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.

 

C-1


(b)    ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c)    ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d)    ☐   CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2.    EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

(a)    ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b)    ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ☐ 144A Global Note ☐ Regulation S Global Note in each case, 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.

 

C-2


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers and are dated

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                     

 

C-4


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 Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Issuer ”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer and Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ” and, together with the Issuer, the “ Issuers ”) have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Indenture ”) providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ 2025 Notes ”) and 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “ 2027 Notes ” and, together with the 2025 Notes, the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the 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 without the consent of the Holders.

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 acknowledges that it has received and reviewed a copy of the Indenture and all other documents it deems necessary to review in order to enter into this Supplemental Indenture, and acknowledges and agrees to (i) join and become a party to the Indenture as indicated by its signature below; (ii) be bound by the Indenture, as of the date hereof, as if made by, and with respect to, each signatory hereto; and (iii) perform all obligations and duties required of a Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, including, but not limited to, Article 10 thereof.

(3)     Notices . All notices or other communications to the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be given as provided in Section 12.02 of the Indenture.

(4)     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.

(5)     Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

(6)     No Recourse Against Others . No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, or direct or indirect member, partner or stockholder of the Issuers or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors, including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary (other than in

 

D-1


their capacity as Issuer or Guarantor), 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, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 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 Supplemental Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmissions shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

(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)     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.

(12)     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.

[Signatures on following page]

 

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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:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

D-3

Exhibit 4.4

 

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP.

$900,000,000 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025

$600,000,000 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027

 

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

dated March 16, 2017

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

1.

  

DEFINITIONS

     1  

2.

  

EXCHANGE OFFER

     4  

3.

  

SHELF REGISTRATION

     8  

4.

  

ADDITIONAL INTEREST

     9  

5.

  

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

     10  

6.

  

REGISTRATION EXPENSES

     16  

7.

  

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

     17  

8.

  

RULE 144A

     20  

9.

  

UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS

     21  

10.

  

MISCELLANEOUS

     21  

 

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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of March 16, 2017, and is entered into by and among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Issuer ”), Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ” and, together with the Issuer, the “ Issuers ”), each an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the Company, Hilton Worldwide Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct parent of the Issuer (“ HWP ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below) and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representative (the “ Representative ”) of the several initial purchasers named on Annex A to the Purchase Agreement referenced below (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”).

This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 7, 2017 (as supplemented by the joinder agreement dated the date hereof, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and among the Company, HWP, the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Representative on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, which provides for, among other things, the sale by the Issuers to the Initial Purchasers of $900,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ 2025 Notes ”) and of $600,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 4.875% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “ 2027 Notes ” and, together with the 2025 Notes, the “ Notes ”). The Notes are issued under an indenture dated as of March 16, 2017 (such indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Indenture ”), by and among the Issuers, HWP, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). The payment of principal, premium, Additional Interest (as defined in the Indenture), if any, and interest on the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis (the “ Guarantees ”), jointly and severally, on and after the date hereof, by the Company, HWP and by each of the Issuer’s existing wholly owned domestic restricted subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuer) that guarantee the obligations under the Credit Agreement (as defined below). References to the “ Securities ” shall mean, collectively, the Notes and the Guarantees. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company, HWP, the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and, except as otherwise set forth herein, any subsequent holder or holders of the Securities on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth herein. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers’ obligations under the Purchase Agreement.

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. Definitions

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Additional Interest : See Section 4(a) hereof.

Additional Interest Event : See Section 4(a) hereof.

Advice : See the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.

Agreement : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Applicable Period : See Section 2(b) hereof.

 


Board : See Section 3(a) hereof.

Business Day : Shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 14d-1(g)(3) under the Exchange Act.

Co-Issuer : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Company : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Credit Agreement : shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2013 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among the Issuer, the Company, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders and other parties thereto.

Effectiveness Period : See Section 3(a) hereof.

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

Exchange Notes : See Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Notes Guarantees : See Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer : See Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement : See Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Securities : See Section 2(a) hereof.

FINRA : See Section 5(r) hereof.

Guarantees : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Guarantors : shall mean the Company, HWP, any Subsidiary Guarantors and any of their successors that Guarantees the Notes.

Holder : Any holder of a Transfer Restricted Security or Transfer Restricted Securities, including, where applicable, each Participating Broker-Dealer.

HWP : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Indenture : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Information : See Section 5(n) hereof.

Initial Purchasers : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Initial Shelf Registration : See Section 3(a) hereof.

Inspectors : See Section 5(n) hereof.

Issue Date : March 16, 2017, the date of original issuance of the Notes.

 

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Issuer: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Issuers: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Notes : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Participant : See Section 7(a) hereof.

Participating Broker-Dealer : See Section 2(b) hereof.

Person : An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, union, business association, firm or other legal entity.

Private Exchange : See Section 2(b) hereof.

Private Exchange Notes : See Section 2(b) hereof.

Prospectus : The prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Securities Act and any term sheet filed pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

Purchase Agreement : See the introductory paragraphs hereof.

Records : See Section 5(n) hereof.

Registration Statement : Any registration statement of the Issuers that covers any of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees) filed with the SEC under the Securities Act, including, in each case, the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Representative : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Rule 144 : Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A : Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

Rule 405 : Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

Rule 415 : Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

Rule 424 : Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

SEC : The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities : See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

 

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Securities Act : The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Shelf Notice : See Section 2(c) hereof.

Shelf Registration : See Section 3(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement : Any Registration Statement relating to a Shelf Registration.

Shelf Suspension Period : See Section 3(a) hereof.

Subsequent Shelf Registration : See Section 3(b) hereof.

Subsidiary Guarantors : shall mean any subsidiary of the Issuer that issues a Guarantee under the Indenture on or after the date of this Agreement.

TIA : The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Transfer Restricted Securities : Each Security upon its original issuance and at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Security as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at all times subsequent thereto and each Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees) upon original issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto, until, in each case, the earliest to occur of (i) a Registration Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange Securities as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) covering such Security, Exchange Security or Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees) has been declared effective by the SEC and such Security, Exchange Security or such Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Security has been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Security or Exchange Securities that may be resold without restriction under state and federal securities laws, (iii) such Security, Exchange Security or Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the Indenture or (iv) the later of (x) the date which is two years after the date the Securities were originally issued and (y) the date upon which such Security, Exchange Security or Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be, has been resold in compliance with Rule 144.

Trustee : The trustee under the Indenture and the trustee under any indenture (if different) governing the Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees).

Underwritten registration or underwritten offering : A registration in which securities of the Issuers are sold to one or more underwriters for reoffering to the public.

Except as otherwise specifically provided, all references in this Agreement to acts, laws, statutes, rules, regulations, releases, forms, no-action letters and other regulatory requirements (collectively, “ Regulatory Requirements ”) shall be deemed to refer also to any amendments thereto and all subsequent Regulatory Requirements adopted as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect therewith; provided that Rule 144 shall not be deemed to amend or replace Rule 144A.

 

  2. Exchange Offer

(a)    Unless the Exchange Offer would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation

 

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of the staff of the SEC, each of the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, at their sole expense, use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC one or more Registration Statements (each, an “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate registration form with respect to a registered offer (the “ Exchange Offer ”) to exchange any and all of the Transfer Restricted Securities of a series for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the same series of the Issuers (such debt securities, the “ Exchange Notes ”), guaranteed, to the extent applicable, on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantors, (the “ Exchange Notes Guarantees ” and, together with the Exchange Notes, the “ Exchange Securities ”), that are substantially identical in all material respects to the Notes of such series except that the Exchange Notes (i) shall contain no restrictive legend thereon, (ii) shall accrue interest from (A) the later of (x) the last date on which interest was paid on such Notes or (y) if such Notes are surrendered for exchange on a date in a period that includes the record date for an interest payment date to occur on or after the date of such exchange and as to which interest will be paid, the date of such interest payment date or (B) if no such interest has been paid, from the Issue Date and (iii) shall be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture which is identical in all material respects to the Indenture (other than such changes to the Indenture or any such identical trust indenture as are necessary to comply with the TIA) and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective. Upon an Exchange Offer Registration Statement being declared effective, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and other applicable federal and state securities laws. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to (x) keep the Exchange Offer open for at least 20 Business Days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is sent to Holders; and (y) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 450th day following the Issue Date.

Each Holder (including, without limitation, each Participating Broker-Dealer) that participates in the Exchange Offer, as a condition to participation in the Exchange Offer, will be required to represent to the Issuers in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of transmittal) substantially to the effect that: (i) any Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities tendered are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of the Person receiving such Exchange Securities, whether or not such recipient is such Holder itself; (ii) at the time of the commencement or consummation of the Exchange Offer neither such Holder nor, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Securities from such Holder, has an arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act; (iii) neither the Holder nor, to the knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Securities from such Holder is an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 405) of either the Issuers or any Guarantor; (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, neither such Holder nor, to the knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Securities from such Holder, is engaging in or intends to engage in a distribution of the Exchange Securities; and (v) if such Holder is a Participating Broker Dealer, such Holder has acquired the Transfer Restricted Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act (including, but not limited to, the prospectus delivery requirements thereunder). In addition, all Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s and the Issuers’ preparations for the Exchange Offer.

Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis , solely with respect to Transfer Restricted Securities that are Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees), Exchange Securities as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable and Exchange Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall have no further obligation to register Transfer Restricted Securities (other than Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees) and Exchange Securities as to which clause 2(c)(iv) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

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(b)    The Company shall include within the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a “ Participating Broker Dealer ”), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also expressly permit, to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations of the SEC, the use of the Prospectus by all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities in compliance with the Securities Act.

Each of the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as is necessary to comply with applicable law in connection with any resale of the Exchange Securities; provided , however , that such period shall not be required to exceed 90 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective, such period as extended, if at all, pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof (the “ Applicable Period ”).

If, immediately prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchasers hold any Notes of a series acquired by them that have the status of an unsold allotment in the initial distribution, the Issuers upon the written request of the Initial Purchasers, shall simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes issue and deliver to the Initial Purchasers, in exchange (the “ Private Exchange ”) for such Notes held by any such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of notes of such series (the “ Private Exchange Notes ”) of the Issuers guaranteed by the Guarantors, that are identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes except for the placement of a restrictive legend on such Private Exchange Notes. The Private Exchange Notes shall be issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes and bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes of the same series if permitted by the CUSIP Service Bureau.

In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall:

(1)    send, or cause to be sent, to each Holder of record entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

(2)    use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is sent to Holders;

(3)    utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or in Wilmington, Delaware;

(4)    permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Exchange Offer remains open; and

 

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(5)    otherwise comply in all material respects with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Exchange Offer.

As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and any Private Exchange, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall:

(1)    accept for exchange all Transfer Restricted Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any Private Exchange;

(2)    deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Transfer Restricted Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(3)    cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange; provided that, in the case of any Notes held in global form by a depositary, authentication and delivery to such depositary of one or more replacement Notes in global form in an equivalent principal amount thereto for the account of such Holders in accordance with the Indenture shall satisfy such authentication and delivery requirement.

The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that (i) the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, as the case may be, does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC; (ii) no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency which, in the Company’s judgment, might materially impair the ability of the Issuers and the Guarantors to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, and, in the Company’s judgment, no material adverse development shall have occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to the Issuers and the Guarantors; (iii) all governmental approvals shall have been obtained, which approvals the Company deems necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange; and (iv) the accuracy of customary representations of the Holders and other representations as may reasonably be necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations, the satisfaction by the Holders of customary conditions relating to the delivery of Securities and the execution and delivery of customary documentation relating to the Exchange Offer or Private Exchanges, as applicable.

The Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Notes (and related guarantees) shall be issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture substantially identical in all material respects to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA or is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Securities shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture or such other indenture shall provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes, in each case with respect to a series, shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes of the same series will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.

(c)    If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Issuers or the Guarantors are not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated by the 450th day following the Issue Date, (iii) any holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests in writing to the Company at any time within 30 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, or (iv) in the case of any Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive Exchange Securities on the date of the exchange that may be sold without restriction under state and federal securities laws (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate of the Issuers or any Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act) and so notifies the

 

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Company within 30 days after such Holder first becomes aware of such restrictions (but in any event no later than 30 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer), in the case of each of clauses (i) through (iv) of this sentence, then the Issuers and the Guarantors shall promptly deliver to the Trustee (to deliver to the Holders) written notice thereof (the “ Shelf Notice ”) and shall file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

  3. Shelf Registration

If at any time a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c) hereof, then:

(a)     Shelf Registration . The Issuers and the Guarantors shall, at their sole expense, use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Transfer Restricted Securities (the “ Initial Shelf Registration ”) as soon as practicable after the filing obligation arises. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Transfer Restricted Securities for resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings).

The Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Initial Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act promptly, and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earliest of (i) the date that is one year following its effective date and (ii) the date upon which all Transfer Restricted Securities have been sold thereunder; provided that the Issuers and the Guarantors shall have no obligation to file or maintain a Shelf Registration after the second anniversary of the Issue Date if at such time all of the Securities covered by such Shelf Registration (except for Securities held by an affiliate of the Company) are eligible for resale under Rule 144, without regard to volume, manner of sale or other restrictions contained in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule) (the “ Effectiveness Period ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at any time, the Company may delay the filing of any Shelf Registration or delay or suspend the effectiveness thereof, for a reasonable period of time, but not in excess of 60 consecutive days or more than three (3) times during any calendar year (each, a “ Shelf Suspension Period ”), if the Board of Directors of either Issuer or a similar governing body of any parent company of either Issuer (each, a “ Board ”) determines reasonably and in good faith that the filing of any such Initial Shelf Registration or the continuing effectiveness thereof would require the disclosure of non-public material information that, in the reasonable judgment of such Board, would be detrimental to either Issuer if so disclosed or would otherwise materially adversely affect a financing, acquisition, disposition, merger or other material transaction or such action is required by applicable law. Any Shelf Suspension Period pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall begin on the date specified in a written notice given by the Company to the Holders and shall end on the date specified in a subsequent written notice given by the Company to the Holders.

(b)     Withdrawal of Stop Orders; Subsequent Shelf Registrations . If the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than in the case of Shelf Suspension Period(s) permitted by this Agreement and other than because of the sale of all of the Securities registered thereunder), the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall file an additional Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf Registration or an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration (each, a “ Subsequent Shelf Registration ”). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such subsequent Shelf

 

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Registration continuously effective for a period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously continuously effective. As used herein, the term “ Shelf Registration ” means the Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration.

(c)     Supplements and Amendments . The Issuers and the Guarantors shall promptly supplement and/or amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities (or their counsel) covered by such Registration Statement with respect to the information included therein with respect to one or more of such Holders, or, if reasonably requested by any underwriter of such Transfer Restricted Securities, with respect to the information included therein with respect to such underwriter.

 

  4. Additional Interest

(a)    The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the Issuers and the Guarantors fail to fulfill their obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof, as further specified in this Section 4, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Issuers and the Guarantors agree to pay, jointly and severally, as liquidated damages, additional interest on each series of the Notes (“ Additional Interest ”) if (A) the Issuers and the Guarantors have neither (i) exchanged Exchange Securities for all Transfer Restricted Securities validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer nor (ii) if applicable, had a Shelf Registration Statement declared effective, in either case on or prior to the 450th day after the Issue Date, or (B) if applicable, a Shelf Registration has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of the Transfer Restricted Securities registered thereunder) (each such event referred to in clauses (A) and (B), an “ Additional Interest Event ”), then Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (but, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer, only on the principal amount of such Notes that could not be exchanged or were not exchanged as specified in Section 2(c) hereof) at a rate of 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any Additional Interest Event (which rate will be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period that such Additional Interest continues to accrue; provided that the rate at which such Additional Interest accrues may in no event exceed 1.00% per annum) (such Additional Interest to be calculated by the Issuers) commencing on the (x) 451st day after the Issue Date, in the case of (A) above, or (y) the day such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective in the case of clause (B) above; provided , however , that upon the exchange of the Exchange Securities for all Transfer Restricted Securities validly tendered (in the case of clause (A) of this Section 4(a)), or upon the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of clause (B) of this Section 4(a)) or if the Notes otherwise no longer constitute Transfer Restricted Securities, Additional Interest on the Notes in respect of which such events relate as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue. The obligation of the Issuers and the Guarantors to pay Additional Interest as set forth in this Section 4 shall be the sole and exclusive monetary remedy of the Holders and Participating Broker-Dealers for any Additional Interest Event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the amount of Additional Interest payable shall not increase because more than one Additional Interest Event has occurred and is continuing, (ii) a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer that is not entitled to the benefits of the Shelf Registration shall not be entitled to Additional Interest with respect to any Additional Interest Event that pertains to the Shelf Registration and (iii) the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not be obligated to pay Additional Interest provided in this Section 4 during a Shelf Suspension Period permitted by Section 3(a) hereof.

 

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(b)    The Issuers shall notify the Trustee within five Business Days after the occurrence of an Additional Interest Event in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid. Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 4 will be payable in cash semiannually on each April 1 and October 1 (to the Holders of record on the March 15 and September 15 immediately preceding such dates), in each case commencing with the first such date occurring after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by the Issuers by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the applicable principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to such Additional Interest (as determined pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof), multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30 day months and, in the case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 360.

 

  5. Registration Procedures

In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registrations to permit the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Issuers and the Guarantors hereunder, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall:

(a)    Use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC, a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Section 2 or 3 hereof, and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided , however , that if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period relating thereto from whom the Issuers have received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall furnish to and afford counsel for the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), which shall be a single firm and which shall be Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP or such other firm selected by the Holders holding a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or counsel for such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, and counsel to the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case at least three Business Days prior to such filing). The Issuers and the Guarantors shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.

(b)    Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period, the Applicable Period or until consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to them with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the subsequent

 

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resale of any securities being sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus in all material respects. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall be deemed not to have used their respective commercially reasonable efforts to keep a Registration Statement effective if they voluntarily take any action that is reasonably expected to result in selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to sell Exchange Securities not being able to sell such Transfer Restricted Securities or such Exchange Securities during that period unless such action is required by applicable law or permitted by this Agreement.

(c)    If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period relating thereto from whom the Issuers have received written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, notify the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within three Business Days), and confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective under the Securities Act (including in such notice a written statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the sole expense of the Issuers and the Guarantors, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Transfer Restricted Securities or resales of Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers the representations and warranties of the Issuers and the Guarantors contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(m) hereof cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (iv) of the receipt by the Issuers and the Guarantors of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Transfer Restricted Securities or the Exchange Securities to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any condition or any information becoming known that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in or amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the Issuers’ determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.

(d)    Use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Transfer Restricted Securities or the Exchange Securities to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any jurisdiction.

 

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(e)    If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof and if requested during the Effectiveness Period by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any) or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, (i) as promptly as practicable incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), such Holders or counsel for either of them reasonably request to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Issuers and the Guarantors have received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.

(f)    If (l) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof) and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so requests (with respect to any such Registration Statement) and to their respective counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, upon request and at the sole expense of the Issuers and the Guarantors, one conformed copy of the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits.

(g)    If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, their respective counsel, and the underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Issuers and the Guarantors, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Issuers and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by, or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Securities pursuant to, such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

(h)    Prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities or any delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify, and to cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Transfer Restricted Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably request in writing; provided , however , that where Exchange Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers or Transfer Restricted Securities are offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Issuers and the Guarantors agree to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause their counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(h), keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other acts or things necessary or

 

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advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Exchange Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers or the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided , however , that the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where they are not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject them to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where they are not then so subject or (C) subject themselves to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where they are not then so subject.

(i)    If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations (subject to applicable requirements contained in the Indenture) and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably request.

(j)    [Reserved].

(k)    If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file with the SEC, at the sole expense of the Issuers and the Guarantors, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference so that (but only to such an extent that), as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold thereunder (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof) or to the purchasers of the Exchange Securities to whom such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), any such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(l)    Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to the Transfer Restricted Securities, (i) if then in certificated form, provide the Trustee with certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Transfer Restricted Securities.

(m)    In connection with any underwritten offering of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Securities (including, without limitation, a customary condition to the obligations of the underwriters that the underwriters shall have received “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company, for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Securities), and take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities and, in such connection, (i) make

 

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such representations and warranties to, and covenants with, the underwriters with respect to the business of the Issuers and the Guarantors (including any acquired business, properties or entity, if applicable), and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Securities, and confirm the same in writing if and when reasonably requested; (ii) use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the written opinions of counsel to the Issuers and the Guarantors, and written updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in opinions reasonably requested in underwritten offerings (it being agreed that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is deemed to be counsel that is reasonably acceptable); and (iii) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures requested by the underwriters or no less favorable to the sellers than those set forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures reasonably acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement and the managing underwriter or underwriters or agents, if any). The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.

(n)    If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any Initial Purchaser, any selling Holder of such Transfer Restricted Securities being sold (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities, if any, and any attorney (which shall be a single firm and which shall be Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP or such other firm selected by the Holders holding a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement), accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, or underwriter (any such Initial Purchasers, Holders, Participating Broker-Dealers, underwriters, attorneys, accountants or agents, collectively, the “ Inspectors ”), upon written request, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of each of the Issuers and the Guarantors and subsidiaries of the Issuers and the Guarantors (collectively, the “ Records ”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Issuers and the Guarantors and any of their respective subsidiaries to supply, during reasonable business hours, all information (“ Information ”) reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such due diligence responsibilities. Each Inspector shall agree in writing that it will keep the Records and Information confidential, to use the Records and Information only to the extent necessary for due diligence purposes under applicable securities laws, to abstain from using the Records or the Information as the basis for any market transactions in Securities of the Company or the Issuers (or for any purpose other than the satisfaction of its due diligence responsibilities in connection with such Shelf Registration or Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as applicable) and that it will not disclose any of the Records or Information that the Issuers and the Guarantors determine, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies the Inspectors in writing are confidential unless (i) the disclosure of such Records or Information is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of any Prospectus, considered in the light of the circumstances under which it was made), (ii) the release of such Records or Information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) disclosure of such Records or Information is necessary or advisable, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for any Inspector, in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or thereby

 

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or arising hereunder or thereunder, or (iv) the information in such Records or Information has been made generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard such Records and Information by an Inspector or an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 405) thereof; provided , that the foregoing gathering of Records and Information by the Inspectors shall, to the greatest extent possible, be coordinated on behalf of Holders and any other parties entitled thereto (including any Participating Broker-Dealers) by one counsel designated by them; and provided , further , that prior written notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any information by such Inspector pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence to permit the Company to obtain a protective order (or waive the provisions of this paragraph (n)) and that such Inspector shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information.

(o)    Provide an indenture trustee for the Transfer Restricted Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to the Transfer Restricted Securities; and in connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture and the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities, to effect such changes (if any) to such indenture as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

(p)    Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make generally available to their securityholders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement a consolidated earning statement (which need not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) for the 12-month period beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement; provided that this requirement shall be deemed satisfied by the Company and the Issuers by complying with the applicable reporting covenant of the Indenture.

(q)    If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Transfer Restricted Securities of a series by Holders to the Issuers (or to such other Person as directed by the Issuers), in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be, of the same series, if then in certificated form, the Issuers shall mark, or cause to be marked, on such Transfer Restricted Securities that such Transfer Restricted Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be; in no event shall such Transfer Restricted Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(r)    Cooperate with each seller of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any (including any “qualified independent underwriter” that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”)), participating in the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA.

(s)    Use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Exchange Securities and/or Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

 

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The Issuers may require each seller of Transfer Restricted Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Issuers in writing such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such Transfer Restricted Securities as the Issuers may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Issuers may exclude from such registration the Transfer Restricted Securities of any seller so long as such seller fails to furnish such information in writing within a reasonable time after receiving such request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly in writing to the Issuers all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Issuers by such seller not materially misleading.

If any such Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Issuers, then such Holder shall have the right to require (to the extent not objected to by the SEC) (i) the insertion therein of language, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Holder, to the effect that the holding by such Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the securities covered thereby and that such holding does not imply that such Holder will assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Issuers or (ii) in the event that such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in force, the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the time that such reference ceases to be required.

Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and each Participating Broker-Dealer agrees by its acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Securities to be sold by such Participating Broker Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon actual receipt of any notice from the Issuers of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi) hereof, such Holder shall forthwith discontinue disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Securities to be sold by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such Holder’s or Participating Broker-Dealer’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “ Advice ”) by the Issuers that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto. In the event that the Issuers shall give any such notice, each of the Applicable Period and the Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Securities to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof or (y) the Advice.

 

  6. Registration Expenses

(a)    All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Issuers and the Guarantors of their obligations under Sections 2, 3, 5 and 8 hereof shall be borne by the Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, whether or not the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Shelf Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective or the Exchange Offer is consummated, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with FINRA in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions in the United States (x) where the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities are located, in the case of the Exchange Securities, or (y) as provided in Section 5(h) hereof, in the case of Transfer Restricted

 

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Securities or Exchange Securities to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in any Registration Statement, or in respect of Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Securities to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, as the case may be, (iii) fees and expenses of the Trustee and any exchange agent retained by the Issuers and the Guarantors and their counsel, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, subject to Section 6(b), reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel, plus one local counsel (if necessary) in each applicable jurisdiction for all of the sellers of Transfer Restricted Securities selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company) exclusive of any counsel retained pursuant to Section 7 hereof) and (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(m) hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of any “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance).

(b)    In connection with any Registration Statement required by this Agreement (other than the Exchange Offer Registration Statement), the Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being resold pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contained in the Shelf Registration Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP or such other counsel as may be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Shelf Registration Statement is being prepared.

 

  7. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a)    The Issuers and the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, and each Person, if any, who controls such Person or its affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a “ Participant ”) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any Participant may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

(i)    any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Issuers or any of the Guarantors shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto); or

(ii)    the omission or alleged omission to state, in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Issuers or any of the Guarantors shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any such Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statement was made) not misleading;

and agree (subject to the limitations set forth in the proviso to this sentence) to reimburse, as incurred, the Participant for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by the Participant in connection with investigating, defending against or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however , neither the Issuers nor the Guarantors will be liable in any case under this Section 7(a) to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability (A) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or alleged omission

 

-17-


made in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Issuers or any of the Guarantors shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to any Participant furnished to the Issuers or the Guarantors by such Participant specifically for use therein or (B) arising from an offer or sale of Securities or Exchange Securities occurring during a Shelf Suspension Period by a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer to whom the Issuers theretofore provided notice thereof pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof. The indemnity provided for in this Section 7 will be in addition to any liability that the Issuers or the Guarantors may otherwise have to the indemnified parties. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall not be liable under this Section 7 to any indemnified party regarding any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent is consented to by the Issuers and the Guarantors, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(b)    Each Participant, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, the Guarantors, their respective directors (or equivalent), officers, representatives, agents 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 losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Issuers, the Guarantors or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made), in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Participant furnished to the Issuers or the Guarantors by or on behalf of such Participant specifically for use therein or (iii) an offer or sale of Securities or Exchange Securities occurring during a Shelf Suspension Period by a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer to whom the Issuers theretofore provided notice thereof pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof; and subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by the Issuers, the Guarantors or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending against or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. The indemnity provided for in this Section 7 will be in addition to any liability that the Participants may otherwise have to the indemnified parties. A Participant shall not be liable under this Section 7 to any indemnified party regarding any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent is consented to by such Participant, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(c)    Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof in writing; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from any liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) above. The indemnifying

 

-18-


party shall be entitled to appoint counsel (including local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel, other than local counsel if not appointed by the indemnifying party, retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided , however , that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel (including local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest (based on the advice of counsel to the indemnified party); (ii) such action includes both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. It is understood and agreed that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or separate but related or substantially similar proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) representing the indemnified parties under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this Section 7, as the case may be, who are parties to such action or actions. Any such separate firm for any Participants shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of the Transfer Restricted Securities and Exchange Securities sold by all such Participants, in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 7, or the Company, in the case of paragraph (b) of this Section 7. An indemnifying party shall not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any statement as to, or any admission of, fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. All fees and expenses reimbursed pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be reimbursed as they are incurred and following a written request therefor.

(d)    After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, 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 third sentence of paragraph (c) of this Section 7, or (ii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. After such notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party, the indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and expenses of any settlement of such action effected by such indemnified party without the prior written consent of the indemnifying party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), unless such indemnified party waived in writing its rights under this Section 7, in which case the indemnified party may effect such a settlement without such consent.

 

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(e)    In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (other than for the reasons specified in Section 7(a) or 7(b) hereof, including by virtue of the failure of an indemnified party to notify the indemnifying party of its right to indemnification pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7, where such failure materially prejudices the indemnifying party (through the forfeiture of substantial rights or defenses)), each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other, from the offering of the Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Participants, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) of the Securities received by the Issuers bear to the total discounts and commissions received by the Participants in connection with the initial sale of the Securities by the Issuers (or if such Participant did not receive a discount from the Issuers with respect to the initial sale of the Securities by the Issuers, the net proceeds received by such Participant from the sale of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to such Registration Statement). The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, or the Participants, on the other hand, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The parties agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (e). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (e), no Participant shall be obligated to make contributions hereunder that in the aggregate exceed the total discounts, commissions and other compensation or net proceeds, as applicable, on the sale of Securities received by such Participant in connection with the sale of the Securities, less the aggregate amount of any damages that such Participant has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the untrue or alleged untrue statements or the omissions or alleged omissions to state a material fact, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (e), each person, if any, who controls a Participant within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Participants, and each director, member or manager, as applicable, of each of the Issuers and the Guarantors, each officer of each of the Issuers and the Guarantors, and each person, if any, who controls each of the Issuers and the Guarantors within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Issuers and the Guarantors.

 

  8.      Rule 144A

The Issuers and the Guarantors covenant and agree that they will use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to file the reports required to be filed by them under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time the Issuers and the Guarantors are not required to file such reports and do not otherwise file such reports pursuant

 

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to the terms of the Indenture, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, upon the request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities, make available the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A.

 

  9. Underwritten Registrations .

The Issuers and the Guarantors shall not be required to assist in an underwritten offering unless requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities. If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering; provided that such investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

  10. Miscellaneous

(a)     No Inconsistent Agreements . None of the Issuers or the Guarantors have as of the date hereof entered, and none of the Issuers or the Guarantors shall after the date of this Agreement enter, into any agreement with respect to any of the Issuers’ securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Issuers’ other issued and outstanding securities, if any, under any such agreements.

(b)     Adjustments Affecting Transfer Restricted Securities . The Issuers and the Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Issuers and the Guarantors to consummate the Exchange Offer on the terms specified herein or effect any Shelf Registration required by this Agreement.

(c)     Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written consent of (I) the Issuers and the Guarantors, and (II) (A) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (B) in circumstances that would adversely affect the Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating Broker-Dealers holding not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers; provided , however , that Section 7 hereof and this Section 10(c) may not be amended, modified or supplemented, the rate at which Additional Interest accrues pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof may not be reduced, and the time for payment of Additional Interest pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof may not be changed, in each case, without the prior written consent of each Holder and each Participating Broker-Dealer (including any person who was a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer of Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may be, disposed of pursuant to any Registration Statement) affected by any such amendment, modification or supplement; provided , further , that no consent is necessary from any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer in the event that this Agreement is amended, modified or supplemented for the purpose of curing

 

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any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer (as applicable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities of a series whose Securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders of such series whose Securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities of such series being tendered or registered and (B) a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities of such series whose Securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities of such series may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities of such series being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(d)     Notices . All notices and other communications (including, without limitation, any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:

(i)    If to a Holder of the Transfer Restricted Securities or any Participating Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to the Initial Purchasers as follows:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

Attention: Registration Department

with a copy to:

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile: (212) 701-5111

Attention: Michael Kaplan

(ii)    If to the Initial Purchasers, at the address specified in Section 10(e)(i) hereof;

(iii)    If to the Issuers or any of the Guarantors, at the address as follows:

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100

McLean, Virginia 22102

Facsimile: (703) 883-6188

Attention: Kristin A. Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

with a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile: (212) 455-2502

Attention: Edgar J. Lewandowski

 

-22-


All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one Business Day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and upon receipt of confirmation, if sent by facsimile.

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address and in the manner specified in such Indenture.

(e)     Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided , however , that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder; and provided , further , that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.

(f)     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(g)     Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(h)     Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

(i)     Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

(j)     Notes Held by the Issuers or Any of the Guarantors or Any of Their Respective Affiliates . Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Transfer Restricted Securities is required hereunder, Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Issuers or any of the Guarantors or any of their respective controlled affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

(k)     Third-Party Beneficiaries . Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement, and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons to the extent necessary to protect the rights of the Holders hereunder.

 

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(l)     Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings, correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Holders and Initial Purchasers, on the one hand, and the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the other, or between or among any agents, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are merged herein and replaced hereby.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank ]

 

-24-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President
HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President
HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President
HILTON WORLDWIDE PARENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


90210 BILTMORE MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


90210 DESERT RESORTS MANAGEMENT CO., LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


90210 GRAND WAILEA MANAGEMENT CO., LLC

By:

 

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

 

Name:

 

W. Steven Standefer

 

Title:

 

Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


90210 LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


90210 MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


ANDIAMO’S O’HARE, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


BALLY’S GRAND PROPERTY SUB I, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


BLUE BONNET SECURITY, LLC

By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

 

Name:

 

W. Steven Standefer

 

Title:

 

Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CANOPY BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CHESTERFIELD VILLAGE HOTEL, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


COMPRIS HOTEL LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (BELGIUM) LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (EGYPT) RESORTS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (INDONESIA) CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT (JAKARTA) CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CONRAD INTERNATIONAL MANAGE (CIS) LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CONRAD MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CURIO BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DESTINATION RESORTS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DOUBLETREE HOTEL SYSTEMS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DOUBLETREE HOTELS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DOUBLETREE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DOUBLETREE MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DT MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DT REAL ESTATE, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTM ATLANTA/LEGACY, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTM CAMBRIDGE, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTM COCONUT GROVE, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTM LARGO, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTM MARYLAND, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTM SANTA CLARA LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTM WALNUT CREEK, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTR FCH HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTR PAH HOLDING, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


DTR SAN ANTONIO, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EJP LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY DEVELOPMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY EQUITY DEVELOPMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY MEMPHIS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY SUITES (ISLA VERDE), INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. 1, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. THREE, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. TWO, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY SUITES MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EMBASSY SYRACUSE DEVELOPMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EPAM CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


FLORIDA CONRAD INTERNATIONAL CORP.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HAMPTON INNS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HAMPTON INNS MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HHC BC ORLANDO, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HIC FIRST LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HIC GAMING CALIFORNIA, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HIC HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HIC HOTELS U.S.A. LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HIC RACING CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HIC SAN PABLO LIMITED, INC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HIC SAN PABLO, L.P.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HIC SECOND LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON BEVERAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE I LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE II LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE III LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE IV LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON CORPORATE DIRECTOR LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON DOMESTIC MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON DOMESTIC FRANCHISE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON DOMESTIC OPERATING COMPANY INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON EL CON MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON EL CON OPERATOR LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON FRANCHISE HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON GARDEN INNS MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON HAWAII CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON HONORS WORLDWIDE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON HOSPITALITY, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON ILLINOIS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON ILLINOIS HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON INNS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON INTERNATIONAL HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON NEW JERSEY SERVICE CORP.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON RECREATION LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON SAN DIEGO LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON SPRING CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON SUPPLY MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HILTON SYSTEMS, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT AUDUBON LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT CONRAD DOMESTIC LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT DOMESTIC JV HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISOR CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL MANAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT ESP MANAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT EXISTING FRANCHISE HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT FRANCHISE II BORROWER LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT HQ SPE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT HSM HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT HSS HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT JV ACQUISITION LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISOR CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL MANAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT LIFESTYLE MANAGE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT MEMPHIS DATA LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT OWNED II HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT OWNED II-A BORROWER LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HLT PALMER LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HOME2 BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HOMEWOOD SUITES MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HOTEL CLUBS OF CORPORATE WOODS, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HOTELS STATLER COMPANY, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HPP HOTELS USA, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HPP INTERNATIONAL LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HTGV, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


INNVISION, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


INTERNATIONAL RIVERCENTER LESSEE, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


LOCKWOOD PALMER HOUSE, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


PEACOCK ALLEY SERVICE COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


POTTER’S BAR PALMER HOUSE, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


PROMUS HOTEL SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


PROMUS HOTELS FLORIDA LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


PROMUS HOTELS MINNEAPOLIS, INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


PROMUS HOTELS PARENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


PROMUS HOTELS LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


PROMUS OPERATING LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


PROMUS/KINGSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


SALC, INC.

By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

 

Name:

 

W. Steven Standefer

 

Title:

 

Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


SAMANTHA HOTEL LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


TRU BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


WA COLLECTION INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


WALDORF=ASTORIA MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


WASHINGTON HILTON, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


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

 

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
  Acting on behalf of itself and as a Representative of the several Initial Purchasers
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
By:  

/s/ Charles D. Johnston

  Name:   Charles D. Johnston
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Amendmen t ”), dated as of March 16, 2017, among HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), HILTON WORLDWIDE PARENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Intermediate Parent ”), HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), the other Loan Parties party hereto, DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH (“ DB ”), as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) and each Lender party hereto.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

(1) The Borrower, Intermediate Parent, Parent, the Administrative Agent, the other Lenders party thereto and the other Agents party thereto are party to a Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2013 (as the same may have been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, including pursuant to Amendment No. 1 dated as of August 18, 2016 and Amendment No. 2 dated as of November 21, 2016), among the Borrower, Parent, the other Loan Parties party thereto, the Administrative Agent and each Lender party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Amendment have the same meanings as specified in the Credit Agreement (as amended by this Amendment).

(2) The Borrower, the Consenting Term Lenders (as defined below), each of the other Lenders (together with the Consenting Term Lenders) constituting Required Lenders (immediately prior to giving effect to the transactions herein) and the Administrative Agent have agreed to amend the Credit Agreement and effect the other transactions as hereinafter set forth;

(3) Each Series B-2 Term Lender under the Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date (as defined below) (collectively, the “ Existing Series B-2 Term Lenders ” and the Series B-2 Term Loans in effect on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date prior to giving effect to the Amendment, the “ Existing Series B-2 Term Loans ”) that executes and delivers a counterpart to this Amendment as a “Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender” (each, a “ Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender ”) thereby agrees to the terms and conditions of this Amendment and agrees to provide up to an aggregate principal amount set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1.01A hereto as an “Amended Series B-2 Term Commitment” (the “ Amended Series B-2 Term Commitment ”) (the Existing Series B-2 Term Loans after giving effect to the Amendment, the “ Amended Series B-2 Term Loans ”);

(4) Each Existing Series B-2 Term Lender that either (i) executes a counterpart to this Amendment and selects “Option B” or “Option C” on the applicable signature page hereto or (ii) fails to execute and deliver a counterpart to this Amendment by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on March 6, 2017 (the “ Consent Deadline ”) (each, a “ Non-Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender ”) shall, in accordance with Section 3.07 of the Credit Agreement, sell and assign (or be deemed to sell and assign), all of its interests, rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement and the related Loan Documents in respect of its Existing Series B-2 Term Loans to DB as assignee (in such capacity, the “ Replacement Lender ”), which shall assume such interests, rights and obligations as specified in the Master Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A (a “ Master Assignment ”), as further set forth in this Amendment;

(5) The Borrower, pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, has requested a Term Loan Increase (as defined in the Credit Agreement) on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date in respect of the Amended Series B-2 Term Loans of up to an aggregate principal amount set forth on Schedule 1.01A hereto as an “New Series B-2 Term Commitment” (the “ New Series B-2 Term Commitment ”), on the same terms and conditions as the Amended Series B-2 Term Loans (the loans made available under such New Series B-2 Term Commitment, the “ New Series B-2 Term Loans ”);

 

1


(6) Each Series B-1 Term Lender under the Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date (collectively, the “ Existing Series B-1 Term Lenders ” and the Series B-1 Term Loans in effect on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date immediately prior to giving effect to the transactions herein, the “ Existing Series B-1 Term Loans ”) that executes and delivers a counterpart to this Amendment as a “Continuing Series B-2 Term Lender” (each, a “ Continuing Series B-2 Term Lender ”, and together with the Consenting Series B-2 Term Lenders and the Incremental Term Lender (as defined below), the “ Consenting Term Lenders ”) thereby agrees to continue all of its Existing Series B-1 Term Loans as New Series B-2 Term Loans;

(7) The proceeds of the New Series B-2 Term Loans made by DB, as Incremental Term Lender (the “ Incremental Term Lender ”) shall be immediately applied to prepay, pursuant to Section 2.05(a) of the Credit Agreement, the Existing Series B-1 Term Loans of each Existing Series B-1 Term Lender that either (i) executes a counterpart to this Amendment and selects “Option B” or “Option C” on the applicable signature page hereto or (ii) fails to execute and deliver a counterpart to this Amendment by the Consent Deadline (each, a “ Non-Consenting Series B-1 Term Lender ”);

(8) (i) Each Revolving Credit Lender that executes and delivers a signature page to this Amendment thereby agrees to the terms and conditions of this Amendment, (ii) each Existing Series B-2 Term Lender that executes a counterpart to this Amendment and selects “Option B” or “Option C” on the applicable signature page hereto thereby agrees to the terms and conditions of this Amendment (other than the amendment in respect of the definition of “Applicable Rate”) and (iii) each Existing Series B-1 Term Lender executes a counterpart to this Amendment and selects “Option B” or “Option C” on the applicable signature page hereto thereby agrees to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged), the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Amendments to Credit Agreement . The Credit Agreement is, effective as of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2 hereof, hereby amended as follows:

(a) The Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text ) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text ) as set forth in the pages of the Credit Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto.

(b) Schedule 1.01A to the Credit Agreement as it relates to the Term Lenders and the Term Commitments is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with Schedule 1.01A to this Amendment.

SECTION 2. Conditions of Effectiveness to Amendment No.  3 . Section 1 of this Amendment shall become effective on the date (the “ Amendment No.  3 Effective Date ”) when, and only when, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment executed by each Loan Party, each Consenting Term Lender, each of the other Lenders (together with the Consenting Term Lenders) constituting Required Class Lenders in respect of the Existing Series B-2

 

2


Term Loans, each of the other Lenders (together with the Consenting Term Lenders) constituting Required Lenders (immediately prior to giving effect to the transactions herein) and the Administrative Agent or, as to any of the Lenders, written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that such Lender has executed this Amendment. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of payment of all reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent for which, in the case of expenses, reasonably detailed invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP).

(b) (1) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Section 4 of this Amendment, Article V of the Credit Agreement and in any other Loan Document, are true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified) on and as of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date and (2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the occurrence of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Borrower dated as of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date signed on behalf of the Borrower by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, certifying on behalf of the Borrower thereto.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving this Amendment and the matters contemplated hereby and certificates of good standing (to the extent such concept exists) from the applicable secretary of state of the state of organization of each Loan Party dated a recent date prior to the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York counsel to the Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) The Replacement Lender shall have executed and delivered the Master Assignment contemplated by Section 3 below and all conditions to the consummation of the assignments in accordance with Section 3 below shall have been satisfied and such assignments shall have been consummated.

(f) Each Consenting Term Lender shall have received, if requested at least two Business Days in advance of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, a Note payable to the order of such Consenting Term Lender duly executed by the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit D-1 to the Credit Agreement, as applicable, in each case as modified by this Amendment.

(g) The Borrower shall have, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Amendment, paid to each Non-Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender all accrued and unpaid interest and fees and other amounts payable to such Lender under any Loan Document with respect to the Existing Series B-2 Term Loans assigned by such Lender under Section 3 below (other than principal paid to such Lender under Section 3 below), if any, then due and owing to such Lender under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment).

(h) Solely with respect to the transactions set forth in Section 3(c) below relating to the New Series B-2 Term Loans, (i) the Borrower shall have delivered a Committed Loan Notice with respect to the New Series B-2 Term Loans and a notice of prepayment with respect to the Existing Series B-1 Term Loans being repaid with the proceeds of such New Series B-2 Term Loans, in each case, in accordance with the Credit Agreement, (ii) the Borrower shall have paid all accrued and unpaid interest,

 

3


fees and other amounts accrued prior to the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date in connection with the Existing Series B-1 Term Loans, (iii) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.11 of the Credit Agreement if such covenant is then in effect, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date and the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, as if any New Series B-2 Term Loans available under the Incremental Term Commitments had been outstanding on the last day of such fiscal quarter of the Borrower for testing compliance therewith, without netting the cash proceeds of any such New Series B-2 Term Loans and (iv) the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, as if any New Series B-2 Term Loan available under such Incremental Term Commitments had been outstanding on the last day of such period, and without netting the cash proceeds of any such New Series B-2 Term Loans, does not exceed 3.75 to 1.00.

SECTION 3. Amendment Transactions; Incremental Term Loans.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender severally agrees to continue all of its Existing Series B-2 Term Loans as Amended Series B-2 Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of its Existing Series B-2 Term Loans.

(b) The Borrower hereby gives notice to each Non-Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender that, upon receipt of executed counterparts selecting “Option A” on the applicable signature page hereto from Existing Series B-2 Term Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the outstanding Existing Series B-2 Term Loans immediately prior to the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date if such Non-Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender has not executed and delivered an executed counterpart selecting “Option A” on the applicable signature page hereto on or prior to the Consent Deadline, such Non-Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender shall, pursuant to Section 3.07 of the Credit Agreement, execute or be deemed to have executed a counterpart of the Master Assignment and shall in accordance therewith sell and assign (or be deemed to sell and assign) its Existing Series B-2 Term Loans to the Replacement Lender as specified in the Master Assignment. Pursuant to the Master Assignment, each Non-Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender shall sell and assign (or be deemed to sell and assign) the entire outstanding principal amount of its Existing Series B-2 Term Loans as set forth in the table set out in Section 6 of the Master Assignment, as such table is completed by the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, to the Replacement Lender under such Master Assignment, solely upon the consent and acceptance by the Replacement Lender. The Replacement Lender shall be deemed to have consented to this Amendment with respect to such purchased Existing Series B-2 Term Loans at the time of such assignment. Each Existing Series B-2 Term Lender that executes a counterpart hereto and selects “Option B” or “Option C” on the applicable signature page hereto agrees that such signature constitutes its signature to the Master Assignment.

(c) Subject to the occurrence of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, (i) each Continuing Series B-2 Term Lender severally agrees to convert all of its Existing Series B-1 Term Loans to New Series B-2 Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of its Existing Series B-1 Term Loans and (ii) the Incremental Term Lender agrees to make New Series B-2 Term Loans to the Borrower on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount equal to its New Series B-2 Commitment on identical terms to the Amended Series B-2 Term Loans and as part of the same Class as such Amended Series B-2 Term Loans, the proceeds of which shall be applied to prepay the Existing Series B-1 Term Loans of the Non-Consenting Series B-1 Term Lenders existing on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date.

 

4


(d) On and after Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement (as amended by this Amendment) to “Series B-2 Term Loans” shall be deemed a reference to the Amended Series B-2 Term Loans, as increased by the New Series B-2 Term Loans, and each reference to “Series B-2 Term Lenders” shall be deemed a reference to the “Consenting Term Lenders” and include the Incremental Term Lender and its assignees. The New Series B-2 Commitments of the Incremental Term Lender will be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the funding of the New Series B-2 Term Loans on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date.

(e) Each Consenting Term Lender (including the Incremental Term Lender), the other Lenders (together with the Consenting Term Lenders) constituting Required Lenders (immediately prior to giving effect to the transactions herein) and the Administrative Agent acknowledge that all notice requirements set forth in the Credit Agreement with respect to each of the refinancing and the replacement of Non-Consenting Series B-2 Term Lenders contemplated by this Amendment have been deemed to be satisfied.

SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties . Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Agents and the Lenders that:

(a) Each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary (i) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and (ii) has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and perform its obligations under this Amendment and the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

(b) The execution and delivery by each Loan Party of this Amendment and the performance under this Amendment and the Loan Documents to which such Person is a party, are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement), or require any payment to be made under (x) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (iii) violate any applicable Law; except with respect to any conflict, breach or contravention or payment (but not creation of Liens) referred to in clause (ii)(x), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention or payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Amendment or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Amendment or any Loan Document.

(d) This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party hereto. This Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party that is party hereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity.

SECTION 5. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents .

(a) On and after the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit

 

5


Agreement, and each reference in the Notes and each of the other Loan Documents to “the Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment. This Amendment constitutes an “Incremental Amendment” and a “Loan Document” under and for all purposes of the Loan Documents. Each of the Lenders party hereto hereby acknowledge that the Borrower hereby provides notice under (i) Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement of its Incremental Loan Request, with the proposed terms set forth herein, and all notice requirements in Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement with respect to such Incremental Loan Request have been satisfied and (ii) Section 3.07 of the replacement of Non-Consenting Series B-2 Term Lenders, on the terms set forth herein, and all notice requirements in Section 3.07 of the Credit Agreement with respect to such replacement of Non- Consenting Series B-2 Term Lenders have been satisfied.

(b) The Credit Agreement, as specifically amended by this Amendment, is and shall continue to be in full force and effect and is hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Documents and all of the Collateral described therein do and shall continue to secure the payment of all Obligations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all Obligations in respect of the Series B-2 Term Loans (including the Amended Series B-2 Term Loans and New Series B-2 Term Loans) made available hereunder) of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents, in each case as amended by this Amendment.

(c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.

(d) Each Loan Party hereby (i) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (ii) ratifies and reaffirms each grant of a lien on, or security interest in, its property made pursuant to the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the grant of security made by such Loan Party pursuant to the Security Agreement) and confirms that such liens and security interests continue to secure the Obligations under the Loan Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all Obligations in respect of the Series B-2 Term Loans (including the Amended Series B-2 Term Loans and New Series B-2 Term Loans) made available hereunder), subject to the terms thereof and (iii) in the case of each Guarantor, ratifies and reaffirms its guaranty of the Obligations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all Obligations in respect of the Series B-2 Term Loans (including the Amended Series B-2 Term Loans and New Series B-2 Term Loans) made available hereunder) pursuant to the Guaranty.

SECTION 6. Costs and Expenses; KYC The Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Amendment and the other instruments and documents to be delivered hereunder (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent) in accordance with the terms of Section 10.04 of the Credit Agreement. The Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent all documentation and other information about the Borrower and the Guarantors required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act that has been requested by the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 7. Execution in Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by telecopier or other electronic delivery (e.g., “pdf”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

 

6


SECTION 8. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President
HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President
HILTON WORLDWIDE PARENT LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


90210 BILTMORE MANAGEMENT, LLC
90210 DESERT RESORTS MANAGEMENT CO., LLC
90210 GRAND WAILEA MANAGEMENT CO., LLC
90210 LLC
90210 MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
ANDIAMO’S O’HARE, LLC
BALLY’S GRAND PROPERTY SUB I, LLC
BLUE BONNET SECURITY, LLC
CANOPY BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
CHESTERFIELD VILLAGE HOTEL, LLC
COMPRIS HOTEL LLC
CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (BELGIUM) LLC
CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (EGYPT) RESORTS CORPORATION
CONRAD INTERNATIONAL (INDONESIA) CORPORATION
CONRAD INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT (JAKARTA) CORPORATION
CONRAD INTERNATIONAL MANAGE (CIS) LLC
CONRAD MANAGEMENT LLC
CURIO BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
DESTINATION RESORTS LLC
DOUBLETREE HOTEL SYSTEMS LLC
DOUBLETREE HOTELS LLC
DOUBLETREE LLC
DOUBLETREE MANAGEMENT LLC
DT MANAGEMENT LLC
DT REAL ESTATE, LLC
DTM ATLANTA/LEGACY, INC.
DTM CAMBRIDGE, INC.
DTM COCONUT GROVE, INC.
DTM LARGO, INC.
DTM MARYLAND, INC.
DTM SANTA CLARA LLC
DTM WALNUT CREEK, INC.
DTR FCH HOLDINGS, INC.
DTR PAH HOLDING, INC.
DTR SAN ANTONIO, INC.
EJP LLC
EMBASSY DEVELOPMENT LLC
EMBASSY EQUITY DEVELOPMENT LLC
EMBASSY MEMPHIS CORPORATION
EMBASSY SUITES (ISLA VERDE), INC.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. 1, INC.
EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. THREE, INC.
EMBASSY SUITES CLUB NO. TWO, INC.
EMBASSY SUITES MANAGEMENT LLC
EMBASSY SYRACUSE DEVELOPMENT LLC
EPAM CORPORATION
FLORIDA CONRAD INTERNATIONAL CORP.
HAMPTON INNS LLC
HAMPTON INNS MANAGEMENT LLC
HHC BC ORLANDO, LLC
HIC FIRST LLC
HIC GAMING CALIFORNIA, INC.
HIC HOLDINGS LLC
HIC HOTELS U.S.A. LLC
HIC RACING CORPORATION
HIC SAN PABLO, L.P.
HIC SAN PABLO LIMITED, INC.
HIC SECOND LLC
HILTON BEVERAGE LLC
HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE I LLC
HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE II LLC
HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE III LLC
HILTON CHICAGO BEVERAGE IV LLC
HILTON CORPORATE DIRECTOR LLC
HILTON DOMESTIC MANAGEMENT LLC
HILTON DOMESTIC FRANCHISE LLC
HILTON DOMESTIC OPERATING COMPANY INC.
HILTON EL CON MANAGEMENT LLC
HILTON EL CON OPERATOR LLC
HILTON ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, LLC
HILTON FRANCHISE HOLDING LLC
HILTON GARDEN INNS MANAGEMENT LLC
HILTON HAWAII CORPORATION
HILTON HONORS WORLDWIDE LLC
HILTON HOLDINGS, LLC
HILTON HOSPITALITY, LLC
HILTON ILLINOIS, LLC
HILTON ILLINOIS HOLDINGS LLC
HILTON INNS LLC
HILTON INTERNATIONAL HOLDING LLC
HILTON MANAGEMENT LLC
HILTON NEW JERSEY SERVICE CORP.
HILTON RECREATION LLC
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


HILTON SAN DIEGO LLC
HILTON SPRING CORPORATION
HILTON SUPPLY MANAGEMENT LLC
HILTON SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS, LLC
HILTON SYSTEMS, LLC
HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE CORP.
HLT AUDUBON LLC
HLT CONRAD DOMESTIC LLC
HLT DOMESTIC JV HOLDINGS LLC
HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE LLC
HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISOR CORPORATION
HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL MANAGE LLC
HLT ESP INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
HLT ESP MANAGE LLC
HLT EXISTING FRANCHISE HOLDING LLC
HLT FRANCHISE II BORROWER LLC
HLT HQ SPE LLC
HLT HSM HOLDING LLC
HLT HSS HOLDING LLC
HLT JV ACQUISITION LLC
HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE LLC
HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISOR CORPORATION
HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL MANAGE LLC
HLT LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
HLT LIFESTYLE MANAGE LLC
HLT MEMPHIS DATA LLC
HLT OWNED II HOLDING LLC
HLT OWNED II-A BORROWER LLC
HLT PALMER LLC
HOME2 BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
HOMEWOOD SUITES MANAGEMENT LLC
HOTEL CLUBS OF CORPORATE WOODS, INC.
HOTELS STATLER COMPANY, INC.
HPP HOTELS USA LLC
HPP INTERNATIONAL LLC
HTGV, LLC
INNVISION, LLC
INTERNATIONAL RIVERCENTER LESSEE, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


LOCKWOOD PALMER HOUSE, LLC
PEACOCK ALLEY SERVICE COMPANY, LLC
POTTER’S BAR PALMER HOUSE, LLC
PROMUS HOTEL SERVICES, INC.
PROMUS HOTELS FLORIDA LLC
PROMUS HOTELS LLC
PROMUS HOTELS MINNEAPOLIS, INC.
PROMUS HOTELS PARENT LLC
PROMUS OPERATING LLC
PROMUS/KINGSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
SALC, INC.
SAMANTHA HOTEL LLC
TRU BRAND MANAGEMENT LLC
WA COLLECTION INTERNATIONAL, LLC
WALDORF=ASTORIA MANAGEMENT LLC
WASHINGTON HILTON, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ W. Steven Standefer

  Name:   W. Steven Standefer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH , as Administrative Agent and Incremental Term Lender
By:  

/s/ Mary Kay Coyle

  Name:   Mary Kay Coyle
  Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Anca Trifan

  Name:   Anca Trifan
  Title:   Managing Director

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


[FORM OF SERIES B-2 TERM LENDER SIGNATURE PAGE; SERIES B-2 TERM LENDER SIGNATURE PAGES ON FILE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT]

SERIES B-2 TERM LENDER SIGNATURE PAGE

The undersigned institution hereby makes the election to (A) continue pursuant to a cashless conversion on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date all of its Existing Series B-2 Term Loans as Amended Series B-2 Term Loans on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amendment and the Credit Agreement as amended thereby and agrees to the terms of the Amendment and the Credit Agreement as amended thereby or (B) have all of its Existing Series B-2 Term Loans repaid on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date and fund in or purchase for cash a like amount of Amended Series B-2 Term Loans pursuant to procedures specified by the Administrative Agent and agree to the terms of the Amendment (other than the amendment in respect of the definition of “Applicable Rate”) or (C) have all of its Existing Series B-2 Term Loans repaid on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date and agree to the terms of the Amendment (other than the amendment in respect of the definition of “Applicable Rate”).

 

  OPTION A – Cashless Conversion Election and Consent to Amendment (executing as a Consenting Series B-2 Term Lender)

 

  OPTION B – Cash Funding Election and Consent to Amendment (other than the amendment in respect of the definition of “Applicable Rate”)

 

  OPTION C – Consent to Amendment Only (other than the amendment in respect of the definition of “Applicable Rate”)

Principal Amount of Existing Series B-2 Term Loans held: $        

 

Name of

Institution:

 

 

     

    By:

 

 

     
  Name:      
  Title:      
For any institution requiring a second signature line:

    By:

 

 

     
  Name:      
  Title:      

 

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


[FORM OF SERIES B-1 TERM LENDER SIGNATURE PAGE; SERIES B-1 TERM LENDER SIGNATURE PAGES ON FILE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT]

SERIES B-1 TERM LENDER SIGNATURE PAGE

The undersigned institution hereby makes the election to (A) continue pursuant to a cashless conversion on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date all of its Existing Series B-1 Term Loans as New Series B-2 Term Loans on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amendment and the Credit Agreement as amended thereby and agrees to the terms of the Amendment and the Credit Agreement as amended thereby or (B) have all of its Existing Series B-1 Term Loans repaid on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date and fund in or purchase for cash a like amount of New Series B-2 Term Loans pursuant to procedures specified by the Administrative Agent and agree to the terms of the Amendment or (C) have all of its Existing Series B-1 Term Loans repaid on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date and agree to the terms of the Amendment.

 

  OPTION A – Cashless Conversion Election and Consent to Amendment (executing as a Continuing Series B-2 Term Lender)

 

  OPTION B – Cash Funding Election and Consent to Amendment

 

  OPTION C – Consent to Amendment Only

Principal Amount of Existing Series B-1 Term Loans held: $        

 

Name of

Institution:

 

 

     

    By:

 

 

     
  Name:      
  Title:      
For any institution requiring a second signature line:

    By:

 

 

     
  Name:      
  Title:      

 

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


[FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT LENDER SIGNATURE PAGE; REVOLVING CREDIT LENDER SIGNATURE PAGES ON FILE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT]

REVOLVING CREDIT LENDER SIGNATURE PAGE

The undersigned institution hereby consents to the terms of the Amendment and the Credit Agreement as amended thereby.

 

Name of

Institution:

 

 

     

    By:

 

 

     
  Name:      
  Title:      
For any institution requiring a second signature line:

    By:

 

 

     
  Name:      
  Title:      

 

 

[ Hilton - Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement ]


Schedule 1.01A

[On file with the Administrative Agent]


ANNEX A

[FORM OF]

MASTER ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

This Master Assignment and Assumption Agreement (this “ Assignment and Assumption ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between each Assignor (as defined below) and the Assignee (as defined below). It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of the Assignors hereunder are several and not joint. Capitalized terms used in this Assignment and Assumption and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, modified, refinanced and/or restated from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, each Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the respective Assignors, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below, (i) all of the respective Assignors’ rights and obligations in their capacities as Lenders under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the respective Assignors under the respective facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the respective Assignors (in their capacities as Lenders) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by any Assignor to the Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as an “ Assigned Interest ”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to any Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by any Assignor.

By purchasing the Assigned Interest, the Assignee agrees that, for purposes of that certain Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Agreement dated as of March 16, 2017 (the “ Amendment ”), by and among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other parties thereto, it shall be deemed to have consented and agreed to the Amendment.

1. Assignor (each “ Assignor ”): Each person identified in the column entitled “Assignor” in the table set out in Section 6 below.


2. Assignee (the “ Assignee ”): Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch

3. Borrower: Hilton Worldwide Finance, LLC

4. Administrative Agent: Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch

5. Credit Agreement: The Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2013, among Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (the “ Parent ”), Hilton Worldwide Parent LLC (“ Intermediate Parent ”), Hilton Worldwide Finance, LLC (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer and the other parties from time to time party thereto.

6. Assigned Interest:

 

Assignor

  

Facility Assigned

   Aggregate
Amount of
Commitment /
Loans of all
Lenders
     Amount of
Commitment /
Loans
Assigned
     Percentage
Assigned of
Aggregate
Commitment /
Loans of all
Lenders
 
  

Series B-2 Term Loans

   $      $          
  

Series B-2 Term Loans

   $      $          
  

Series B-2 Term Loans

   $      $          
  

Series B-2 Term Loans

   $      $          
  

Series B-2 Term Loans

   $      $          
  

Series B-2 Term Loans

   $      $          

Effective Date: Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, which shall be March 16, 2017.


The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR], as Assignor
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Assignee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


Consented to and Accepted:
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Administrative Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Assignment and Assumption]


Consented to:
HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE, LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Assignment and Assumption]


ANNEX I

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties .

1.1 Assignor . Each Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the relevant Assigned Interest, (ii) such Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of Parent, Intermediate Parent, the Borrower, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of the Credit Agreement or (iv) the performance or observance by Parent, Intermediate Parent, the Borrower, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee . The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire such Assigned Interest and become a Lender thereunder, (iii) it is not a Defaulting Lender, a Disqualified Lender, a natural person or an Affiliated Lender, (iv) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (v) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by such Assigned Interest and either it, or the person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire such Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (vi) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 5.05 or 6.01 of the Credit Agreement, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase such Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Assignor or any other Lender, (vii) if it is not already a Lender under the Credit Agreement, attached to this Assignment and Assumption is an Administrative Questionnaire as required by the Credit Agreement and (viii) the Administrative Agent has received a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (unless waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent) as of the Effective Date and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its


own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender, including its obligations pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Credit Agreement.

2. Payments . From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of each Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the relevant Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions .

3.1 In accordance with Section 10.07 of the Credit Agreement, upon execution, delivery, acceptance and recording of this Assignment and Assumption, from and after the Effective Date, (a) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Credit Agreement with a Commitment/Loan as set forth herein and (b) each Assignor shall, to the extent of such Assigned Interest assigned pursuant to this Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement (and, in the case that this Assignment and Assumption covers all of such Assignor’s rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement, such Assignor shall cease to be a party to the Credit Agreement but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 thereof).

3.2 This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Assignment and Assumption on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. This Assignment and Assumption and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by and interpreted under the law of the state of New York.


Exhibit A

[Attached]


EXHIBIT A

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of October 25, 2013,

Among

HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC.,

as Parent,

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC,

as the Borrower,

THE OTHER GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME

 

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

and

GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,

as Co-Syndication Agents,

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

MACQUARIE CAPITAL (USA) INC.

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.,

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

and

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,

as Co-Documentation Agents

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., and

GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

as Joint Bookrunner

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

  

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1  

SECTION 1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

SECTION 1.02

  Other Interpretive Provisions      71  

SECTION 1.03

  Accounting Terms      71 71  

SECTION 1.04

  Rounding      71  

SECTION 1.05

  References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.      72  

SECTION 1.06

  Times of Day      72  

SECTION 1.07

  Timing of Payment or Performance      72  

SECTION 1.08

  Cumulative Credit Transactions      72  

ARTICLE II

  

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     72 72  

SECTION 2.01

  The Loans      72 72  

SECTION 2.02

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      73  

SECTION 2.03

  Letters of Credit      75  

SECTION 2.04

  Swing Line Loans      84  

SECTION 2.05

  Prepayments      88  

SECTION 2.06

  Termination or Reduction of Commitments      98  

SECTION 2.07

  Repayment of Loans      99  

SECTION 2.08

  Interest      100  

SECTION 2.09

  Fees      100  

SECTION 2.10

  Computation of Interest and Fees      102 101  

SECTION 2.11

  Evidence of Indebtedness      102 101  

SECTION 2.12

  Payments Generally      103 102  

SECTION 2.13

  Sharing of Payments      105 104  

SECTION 2.14

  Incremental Credit Extensions      105  

SECTION 2.15

  Refinancing Amendments      110  

SECTION 2.16

  Extension of Term Loans; Extension of Revolving Credit Loans      111  

SECTION 2.17

  Defaulting Lenders      116 115  

ARTICLE III

  

TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     118 116  

SECTION 3.01

  Taxes      118 116  

SECTION 3.02

  Illegality      119  

SECTION 3.03

  Inability to Determine Rates      120  

SECTION 3.04

  Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans      120  

SECTION 3.05

  Funding Losses      123 121  

SECTION 3.06

  Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation      122  

SECTION 3.07

  Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances      123  

SECTION 3.08

  Survival      126 124  

 

i


ARTICLE IV

  

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     125  

SECTION 4.01

  Conditions to Initial Credit Extension      125  

SECTION 4.02

  Conditions to All Credit Extensions      127  

ARTICLE V

  

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     129 127  

SECTION 5.01

  Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws      129 127  

SECTION 5.02

  Authorization; No Contravention      128  

SECTION 5.03

  Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      128  

SECTION 5.04

  Binding Effect      130 128  

SECTION 5.05

  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      128  

SECTION 5.06

  Litigation      131 129  

SECTION 5.07

  [Reserved]      131 129  

SECTION 5.08

  Ownership of Property; Liens; Real Property; Management Agreements and Franchise Agreements      131 129  

SECTION 5.09

  Environmental Matters      130  

SECTION 5.10

  Taxes      131  

SECTION 5.11

  ERISA Compliance      131  

SECTION 5.12

  Subsidiaries; Equity Interests      133 131  

SECTION 5.13

  Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      132  

SECTION 5.14

  Disclosure      132  

SECTION 5.15

  Labor Matters      134 132  

SECTION 5.16

  [Reserved]      132  

SECTION 5.17

  Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.      133  

SECTION 5.18

  Solvency      133  

SECTION 5.19

  Subordination of Junior Financing; First Lien Obligations      135 133  

SECTION 5.20

  OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA      135 133  

SECTION 5.21

  Security Documents      134  

ARTICLE VI

  

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     135  

SECTION 6.01

  Financial Statements      135  

SECTION 6.02

  Certificates; Other Information      138 136  

SECTION 6.03

  Notices      138  

SECTION 6.04

  Payment of Obligations      140 138  

SECTION 6.05

  Preservation of Existence, Etc.      139  

SECTION 6.06

  Maintenance of Properties      139  

SECTION 6.07

  Maintenance of Insurance      139  

SECTION 6.08

  Compliance with Laws      140  

SECTION 6.09

  Books and Records      140  

SECTION 6.10

  Inspection Rights      140  

SECTION 6.11

  Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors      142 141  

SECTION 6.12

  Compliance with Environmental Laws      144 142  

SECTION 6.13

  Further Assurances      144 142  

SECTION 6.14

  Designation of Subsidiaries      143  

SECTION 6.15

  Maintenance of Ratings      145 143  

 

ii


ARTICLE VII

  

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     145 144  

SECTION 7.01

  Liens      144  

SECTION 7.02

  Investments      148  

SECTION 7.03

  Indebtedness      151  

SECTION 7.04

  Fundamental Changes      155  

SECTION 7.05

  Dispositions      156  

SECTION 7.06

  Restricted Payments      159  

SECTION 7.07

  Change in Nature of Business      164 162  

SECTION 7.08

  Transactions with Affiliates      164 162  

SECTION 7.09

  Burdensome Agreements      163  

SECTION 7.10

  Use of Proceeds      166 164  

SECTION 7.11

  Financial Covenant      164  

SECTION 7.12

  Accounting Changes      164  

SECTION 7.13

  Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness      165  

SECTION 7.14

  Permitted Activities      165  

ARTICLE VIII

  

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     168 166  

SECTION 8.01

  Events of Default      168 166  

SECTION 8.02

  Remedies Upon Event of Default      168  

SECTION 8.03

  Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries      171 169  

SECTION 8.04

  Application of Funds      169  

SECTION 8.05

  Borrower’s Right to Cure      170  

ARTICLE IX

  

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS

     173 171  

SECTION 9.01

  Appointment and Authorization of Agents      173 171  

SECTION 9.02

  Delegation of Duties      174 172  

SECTION 9.03

  Liability of Agents      172  

SECTION 9.04

  Reliance by Agents      175 173  

SECTION 9.05

  Notice of Default      173  

SECTION 9.06

  Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents      174  

SECTION 9.07

  Indemnification of Agents      174  

SECTION 9.08

  Agents in Their Individual Capacities      177 175  

SECTION 9.09

  Successor Agents      177 175  

SECTION 9.10

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      178 176  

SECTION 9.11

  Collateral and Guaranty Matters      179 177  

SECTION 9.12

  Other Agents; Lead Arrangers and Managers      180 178  

SECTION 9.13

  Withholding Tax Indemnity      178  

SECTION 9.14

  Appointment of Supplemental Agents      181 179  

 

iii


ARTICLE X

  

MISCELLANEOUS

     182 180  

SECTION 10.01

  Amendments, Etc.      182 180  

SECTION 10.02

  Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies      185 183  

SECTION 10.03

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      186 184  

SECTION 10.04

  Attorney Costs and Expenses      186 184  

SECTION 10.05

  Indemnification by the Borrower      187 185  

SECTION 10.06

  Payments Set Aside      188 186  

SECTION 10.07

  Successors and Assigns      186  

SECTION 10.08

  Confidentiality      194  

SECTION 10.09

  Setoff      198 195  

SECTION 10.10

  Interest Rate Limitation      196  

SECTION 10.11

  Counterparts      196  

SECTION 10.12

  Integration; Termination      199 197  

SECTION 10.13

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      199 197  

SECTION 10.14

  Severability      197  

SECTION 10.15

  GOVERNING LAW      197  

SECTION 10.16

  WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY      198  

SECTION 10.17

  Binding Effect      198  

SECTION 10.18

  USA PATRIOT Act      201 199  

SECTION 10.19

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      201 199  

SECTION 10.20

  Electronic Execution of Assignments      202 200  

SECTION 10.21

  Effect of Certain Inaccuracies      200  

SECTION 10.22

  Judgment Currency      203 200  

SECTION 10.23

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      203 201  

ARTICLE XI

  

GUARANTY

     201  

SECTION 11.01

  The Guaranty      201  

SECTION 11.02

  Obligations Unconditional      204 202  

SECTION 11.03

  Reinstatement      203  

SECTION 11.04

  Subrogation; Subordination      203  

SECTION 11.05

  Remedies      206 203  

SECTION 11.06

  Instrument for the Payment of Money      206 204  

SECTION 11.07

  Continuing Guaranty      206 204  

SECTION 11.08

  General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations      206 204  

SECTION 11.09

  Information      204  

SECTION 11.10

  Release of Guarantors      204  

SECTION 11.11

  Right of Contribution      207 205  

SECTION 11.12

  Cross-Guaranty      205  

 

iv


SCHEDULES

  

1.01A

   Commitments

1.01B

   Disqualified Lenders

1.01C

   Collateral Documents

1.01D

   Excluded Subsidiaries

1.01E

   Securitization Subsidiaries

1.01F

   Unrestricted Subsidiaries

1.01G

   Approved Counterparties

5.05

   Certain Liabilities

5.06

   Litigation

5.08

   Ownership of Property

5.09(a)

   Environmental Matters

5.10

   Taxes

5.11(a)

   ERISA Compliance

5.12

   Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments

7.01(b)

   Existing Liens

7.02(f)

   Existing Investments

7.03(b)

   Existing Indebtedness

7.08

   Transactions with Affiliates

7.09

   Certain Contractual Obligations

10.02

   Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

  

Form of

  

A

   Committed Loan Notice

B

   Letter of Credit Issuance Request

C

   Swing Line Loan Notice

D-1

   Term Note

D-2

   Revolving Credit Note

D-3

   Swing Line Note

E-1

   Compliance Certificate

E-2

   Solvency Certificate

F

   Assignment and Assumption

G

   Security Agreement

H

   Perfection Certificate

I

   Intercompany Note

J-1

   First Lien Intercreditor Agreement

J-2

   Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement

K-1

   United States Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Non-Partnership Lenders)

K-2

   United States Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Non-Partnership Participants)

K-3

   United States Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Partnership Lenders)

K-4

   United States Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Partnership Participants)

L

   Administrative Questionnaire

M-1

   Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption

M-2

   Affiliated Lender Notice

M-3

   Acceptance and Prepayment Notice

 

v


M-4

   Discount Range Prepayment Notice

M-5

   Discount Range Prepayment Offer

M-6

   Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice

M-7

   Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer

M-8

   Specified Discount Prepayment Notice

M-9

   Specified Discount Prepayment Response

 

vi


* CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, modified, refinanced and/or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of October 25, 2013, among HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party hereto from time to time, DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend credit to the Borrower in the form of (i) the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date in an initial aggregate principal amount of $7,600,000,000 and (ii) a Revolving Credit Facility in an initial aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,000.

The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans will be used by the Borrower to directly or indirectly consummate the Transaction and pay the Transaction Expenses.

The applicable Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend and the L/C Issuers have indicated their willingness to issue Letters of Credit, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions and Accounting Terms

SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

5 5/8% Senior Notes ” means $1,500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Borrower’s 5 5/8% senior unsecured notes due 2021 issued pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture.

Acceptable Discount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(2).

Acceptable Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Acceptance and Prepayment Notice ” means a notice of the Borrower’s acceptance of the Acceptable Discount in substantially the form of Exhibit M -3 .

Acceptance Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(2).

Acquired EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary (determined as if

 

1


references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA were references to such Acquired Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or to such Converted Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.

Acquired Entity or Business ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Additional Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Additional Refinancing Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(a).

Administrative Agent ” means Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit L or such other form as may be supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. “ Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

Affiliated Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that is an Investor (including portfolio companies of the Investors notwithstanding the exclusion in the definition of “Investors”) (other than Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and other than any Debt Fund Affiliate) or a Non-Debt Fund Affiliate of an Investor at such time.

Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(l)(i).

Affiliated Lender Cap ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(l)(iii).

Agent-Related Persons ” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors, attorneys-in-fact and other representatives of such Persons and Affiliates.

Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Syndication Agents, the Co-Documentation Agent and the Supplemental Agents (if any).

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

2


All-In Yield ” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, OID, upfront fees or Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor; provided that OID and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a 4-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of its incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness); and provided, further , that “All-In Yield” shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees or other fees payable to any lead arranger (or its affiliates) in connection with the commitment or syndication of such Indebtedness.

Amendment No.  1 ” means Amendment No. 1 to this Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2016, among the Loan Parties, the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent.

Amendment No. 3 ” means Amendment No. 3 to this Agreement, dated as of March 16, 2017, among the Loan Parties, the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent.

Amendment No.  1 Effective Date ” means August 18, 2016.

Amendment No.  2 Effective Date ” means November 21, 2016.

Amendment No. 3 Effective Date ” means March 16, 2017.

Applicable Discount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(2).

Applicable ECF Percentage ” means, for any fiscal year, (a) 50.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is greater than 4.60 to 1.00, (b) 25.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is less than or equal to 4.60 to 1.00 and greater than 3.85 to 1.00 and (c) 0.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is less than or equal to 3.85 to 1.00.

Applicable L/C Fronting Sublimit ” means (x) with respect to each L/C Issuer on the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, the amount set forth opposite such L/C Issuer’s name on Schedule 1.01A and (y) with respect to any other Person that becomes an L/C Issuer in accordance with Sections 2.03(k) or 10.07(k), in each case, such amount as agreed to in writing by the Borrower and such Person at the time such Person becomes an L/C Issuer, as each of the foregoing amounts may be decreased or increased from time to time with the written consent of the Borrower and the L/C Issuers ( provided that any increase in the Applicable L/C Fronting Sublimit with respect to any L/C Issuer shall require the consent of only the Borrower and such L/C Issuer). Any successor L/C Issuer appointed pursuant to Section 10.07(k) shall assume the resigning L/C Issuer’s Applicable L/C Fronting Sublimit.

Applicable Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.21.

Applicable Rate ” means (a) with respect to Series B-2 Term Loans, (A) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, 2.50 2.00 % and (B) for Base Rate Loans, 1.50 1.00 %; and

(b) (1) until delivery of financial statements for the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.01, a percentage per annum equal to :

, (i) with respect to Series B-1 Term Loans, (A) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, 2.75% and (B) for Base Rate Loans, 1.75%;

 

3


(ii) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans, (A) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans and Letter of Credit fees, 2.25%, (B) for Base Rate Loans, 1.25% and (C) for commitment fees on the unused Revolving Credit Commitments, 0.25%; and

(2) thereafter, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing Level

   Consolidated
First Lien Net
Leverage Ratio
   Eurocurrency
Rate for
Revolving Credit Loans
and Letter
of Credit Fees
    Base Rate for
Revolving
Credit Loans
    Unused
Commitment
Fee Rate
 

1

   £  2.00:1.00      1.50     0.50     0.125

2

   > 2.00:1.00 and  £  3.00:1.00      1.75     0.75     0.125

3

   > 3.00:1.00      2.00     1.00     0.125

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing Level

   Consolidated
First Lien  Net
Leverage Ratio
  

Eurocurrency

Rate for

Series B-1 Term  Loans

    

Base Rate  for
Series B-1

  Term Loans  

 

1

   £  3.85:1.00                                2.50%                       1.50%  

2

   >  3.85:1.00      2.75%        1.75%  

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided that at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the highest pricing level ( i.e. , Pricing Level  2 for Series B-1 Term Loans or Pricing Level 3 for Revolving Credit Loans, Letter of Credit fees and commitment fees) shall apply (x) as of the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply to and including the date on which such Compliance Certificate is so delivered (and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply) and (y) as of the first Business Day after an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) shall have occurred and be continuing, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default is cured or waived (and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

 

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Approved Counterparty ” means (a) each counterparty listed on Schedule 1.01G , (b) any Agent, Lender or any Affiliate of an Agent or Lender at the time it entered into a Secured Hedge Agreement or a Treasury Services Agreement, as applicable, in its capacity as a party thereto, (c) any other Person whose long term senior unsecured debt rating is A/A2 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher or (d) any other Person from time to time approved in writing by the Administrative Agent.

Appropriate Lender ” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class, (b) with respect to Letters of Credit, (i) the relevant L/C Issuer and (ii) the Revolving Credit Lenders and (c) with respect to the Swing Line Facility, (i) the Swing Line Lender and (ii) if any Swing Line Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders.

Approved Currency ” means each of (i) Dollars, (ii) euros, (iii) Sterling, (iv) Yen and (v) Australian Dollars.

Approved Foreign Currency ” means any Approved Currency other than Dollars.

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

Assignees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(b).

Assignment and Assumption ” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit F .

Assignment Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(b).

Attorney Costs ” means and includes all reasonable and documented fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel.

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

Auction Agent ” means (a) the Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution or advisor employed by the Borrower (whether or not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v); provided that the Borrower shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the Auction Agent); provided , further , that neither the Borrower nor any of its Affiliates may act as the Auction Agent.

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited consolidated balance sheets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of each of December 31, 2012 and 2011 and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Australian Dollars ” and “ A$ ” mean lawful money of the Commonwealth of Australia.

 

5


Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the Prime Rate in effect for such day and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate for deposits in Dollars for a one-month Interest Period plus 1.00%; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the Eurocurrency Rate for any day shall be LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to such day for deposits in Dollars with a term of one month commencing on such day ; it being understood that, for the avoidance of doubt, solely with respect to the Series B-1 Term Loans, the Base Rate shall be deemed to be not less than 2.00% per annum . If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (a) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, as the case may be.

Base Rate Loan ” means a Loan denominated in Dollars that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment ” means the offer by any Company Party to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a Specified Discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(B).

Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers ” means the solicitation by any Company Party of offers for, and the corresponding acceptance by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a specified range of discounts to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(C).

Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers ” means the solicitation by any Company Party of offers for, and the subsequent acceptance, if any, by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(D).

Borrowing ” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Swing Line Borrowing or a Term Borrowing of a particular Class, as the context may require.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where

 

6


the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a day (a) on which dealings in deposits in the applicable Approved Currency are conducted by and between banks in the applicable London interbank market, (b) if such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in euros, on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System is open, (c) if such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in Yen, on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in Tokyo, Japan and (d) if such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in Australian Dollars, on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in Melbourne, Australia.

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 Capitalized Leases) by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as capital expenditures on the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Capitalized Leases ” means all leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP; provided, further, that for purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, GAAP will be deemed to treat leases in a manner consistent with its current treatment under generally accepted accounting principles as of the Closing Date, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes thereto that may occur thereafter.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease; provided that any obligations of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries either existing on the Closing Date or created prior to any recharacterization described below (i) that were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings as financing or capital lease obligations and (ii) that are subsequently recharacterized as financing or capital lease obligations or indebtedness due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, shall for all purposes under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the calculation of Consolidated Net Income and Consolidated EBITDA) not be treated as financing or capital lease obligations, Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

Capitalized Software Expenditures ” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the 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 Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Collateral ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Collateral Account ” means a blocked account at a commercial bank specified by the Administrative Agent in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

7


Cash Collateralize ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(1) Dollars;

(2)(a) Canadian dollars, Sterling, Yen, euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU; or

(b) in such local currencies held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(3) 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 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, 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 $250.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3), (4), (7) and (8) entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes 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 nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

(7) 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 nationally recognized statistical rating agency);

(8) 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 nationally recognized statistical rating agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(9) 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 nationally recognized statistical rating agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

8


(10) 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 nationally recognized statistical rating agency);

(11) securities with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(12) Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

(13) investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (12) 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 (a) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (8) and clauses (10), (11), (12) and (13) 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 (b) 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 (1) through (13) and in this paragraph.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clauses (1) and (2) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

For the avoidance of doubt, any items identified as Cash Equivalents under this definition will be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for all purposes regardless of the treatment of such items under GAAP.

Casualty Event ” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

CERCLA ” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as subsequently amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Change of Control ” shall be deemed to occur if:

(a) any person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), other than any combination of the Investors or any “group” including any Permitted Holders, shall have acquired beneficial ownership of 35% or more on a fully diluted basis of the voting interest in Holdings’ Equity Interests and the Permitted Holders shall own, directly or indirectly, less than such person or “group” on a fully diluted basis of the voting interest in Holdings’ Equity Interests;

 

9


(b) a “change of control” (or similar event) shall occur under any Indebtedness for borrowed money permitted under Section 7.03 with an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing with an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(c) Holdings shall cease to own directly 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred, if after giving effect to the transaction that would otherwise result in a Change of Control (x) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 5.00:1.00 or (y) a Ratings Improvement has occurred by the closing date of such transaction.

Class ” (a) when used with respect to any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Extension Series, Revolving Commitment Increases, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Series B- 1 Term Commitments, Series B- 2 Term Commitments, Incremental Term Commitments or Refinancing Term Commitments of a given Refinancing Series and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Credit Loans, Revolving Credit Loans under Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Extension Series, Revolving Credit Loans under Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Series B- 1 Term Loans, Series B- 2 Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans of a given Refinancing Series or Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series. Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Series B- 1 Term Commitments, Series B- 2 Term Commitments, Incremental Term Commitments or Refinancing Term Commitments (and in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have different terms and conditions shall be construed to be in different Classes. Commitments (and, in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have the same terms and conditions shall be construed to be in the same Class. There shall be no more than an aggregate of three Classes of revolving credit facilities and eight Classes of term loan facilities under this Agreement.

Closing Date ” means October 25, 2013.

Closing Fees ” means those fees required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to (i) the Engagement Letter, (ii) that Bank Fee Letter, dated as of October 24, 2013, among Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Citibank, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc., MIHI LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, RBS Securities Inc., The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and the Borrower and (iii) that Sumitomo Fee Letter, dated as of October 24, 2013, among Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and the Borrower.

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

10


Collateral ” means (i) the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement, (ii) all the “Collateral” or “Pledged Assets” as defined in any other Collateral Document and (iii) any other assets pledged or in which a Lien is granted, in each case, pursuant to any Collateral Document.

Collateral Agent ” means Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, in its capacity as collateral agent or pledgee in its own name under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent.

Collateral and Guarantee Requirement ” means, at any time, the requirement that:

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a) or from time to time pursuant to Section 6.11 or Section 6.13, subject to the limitations and exceptions of this Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party party thereto;

(b) the Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured by a first-priority security interest in (i) all the Equity Interests of the Borrower, (ii) all Equity Interests of each Restricted Subsidiary (that is not an Excluded Subsidiary) directly owned by any Loan Party and (iii) 65% of the Equity Interests in each Restricted Subsidiary (that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (other than any Restricted Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary solely pursuant to clause (f) or (j) of the definition thereof)) directly owned by any Loan Party, which Restricted Subsidiary (x) is a Foreign Subsidiary or (y) substantially all of the assets of which consist of the Equity Interests and/or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code, in each case, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction);

(c) the Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in, and Mortgages on, substantially all now owned or, in the case of real property, fee owned, or at any time hereafter acquired tangible and intangible assets of each Loan Party (including Equity Interests, intercompany debt, accounts, inventory, equipment, investment property, contract rights, intellectual property in the United States of America, other general intangibles, Material Real Property and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction);

(d) subject to limitations and exceptions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, to the extent a security interest in and Mortgages on any Material Real Property are required pursuant to clause (c) above or under Sections 6.11 or 6.13 (each, a “ Mortgaged Property ”), the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, together with evidence such Mortgage has been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each party thereto, in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien (subject only to Liens described in clause (ii) below) on the property and/or rights described therein in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and evidence that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that if a mortgage

 

11


tax will be owed on the entire amount of the indebtedness evidenced hereby, then the amount secured by the Mortgage shall be limited to 100% of the fair market value of the property at the time the Mortgage is entered into if such limitation results in such mortgage tax being calculated based upon such fair market value), (ii) fully paid American Land Title Association Lender’s policies of title insurance (or marked-up title insurance commitments having the effect of policies of title insurance) on the Mortgaged Property naming the Collateral Agent as the insured for its benefit and that of the Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns (the “ Mortgage Policies ”) issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in form and substance and in an amount reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (not to exceed 100% of the fair market value of the real properties covered thereby), insuring the Mortgages to be valid subsisting first priority Liens on the property described therein, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 and other Liens reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, each of which shall (A) to the extent reasonably necessary, include such coinsurance and reinsurance arrangements (with provisions for direct access, if reasonably necessary) as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (B) contain a “tie-in” or “cluster” endorsement, if available under applicable law ( i.e. , policies which insure against losses regardless of location or allocated value of the insured property up to a stated maximum coverage amount), and (C) have been supplemented by such endorsements as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (including endorsements on matters relating to usury, first loss, last dollar, zoning, contiguity, doing business, non-imputation, public road access, variable rate, environmental lien, subdivision, mortgage recording tax, separate tax lot, revolving credit and so-called comprehensive coverage over covenants and restrictions, to the extent such endorsements are available in the applicable jurisdiction at commercially reasonable rates), (iii) opinions of local counsel to the Loan Parties in states in which the Mortgaged Properties are located, with respect to the enforceability and perfection of the Mortgages and any related fixture filings, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (iv) no later than three Business Days prior to the date on which a Mortgage is executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property on which any “building” (as defined in the Flood Insurance Laws) is located, duly executed and acknowledged by the appropriate Loan Parties, together with evidence of flood insurance as and to the extent required under Section 6.07(c) hereof; and

(e) after the Closing Date, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not then a Guarantor and not an Excluded Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor and signatory to this Agreement pursuant to a joinder agreement in accordance with Sections 6.11 or 6.13 and a party to the Collateral Documents in accordance with Section 6.11; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any Subsidiary of the Borrower that Guarantees the 5 5/8% Senior Notes, the Opco Senior Notes or any Junior Financing or any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing shall be a Guarantor hereunder for so long as it Guarantees such Indebtedness.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary:

(A) the foregoing definition shall not require, unless otherwise stated in this clause (A), the creation or perfection of pledges of, security interests in, Mortgages on, or the

 

12


obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions with respect to, (i) in excess of 65% of the Equity Interests of any direct Foreign Subsidiary of a Loan Party or a Domestic Subsidiary substantially all of whose assets consist of Equity Interests and/or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are treated as controlled foreign corporations within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code, (ii) any property or assets owned by any Foreign Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (iii) any lease, license or agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Law, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition, (iv) any interest in fee-owned real property (other than Material Real Properties), (v) Excluded Contracts, Excluded Equipment and any interest in leased real property (including any requirement to deliver landlord waivers, estoppels and collateral access letters), (vi) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title except to the extent perfection of a security interest therein may be accomplished by filing of financing statements in appropriate form in the applicable jurisdiction under the Uniform Commercial Code, (vii) Margin Stock and Equity Interests of any Person other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, (viii) any trademark application filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the basis of the Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s “intent to use” such mark and for which a form evidencing use of the mark has not yet been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, to the extent that granting a security interest in such trademark application prior to such filing would impair the enforceability or validity of such trademark application or any registration that issues therefrom under applicable federal Law, (ix) the creation or perfection of pledges of, or security interests in, any property or assets that would result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as determined in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower and communicated in writing delivered to the Collateral Agent, (x) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent a security in any such license, franchise, charter or authorization is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the Uniform Commercial Code and other applicable Law, (xi) pledges and security interests prohibited or restricted by applicable Law (including any requirement to obtain the consent of any governmental authority or third party), (xii) all commercial tort claims in an amount less than $10.0 million, (xiii) accounts, property and other assets pledged pursuant to a Qualified Securitization Financing, (xiv) letter of credit rights, except to the extent constituting a support obligation for other Collateral as to which perfection of the security interest in such other Collateral is accomplished solely by the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement (it being understood that no actions shall be required to perfect a security interest in letter of credit rights, other than the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement), (xv) any particular assets if, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the burden, cost or consequences of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance is excessive in relation to the benefits to be obtained therefrom by the Lenders under the Loan Documents and (xvi) proceeds from any and all of the foregoing assets described in clauses (i) through (xv) above to the extent such proceeds would otherwise be excluded pursuant to clauses (i) through (xv) above, except to the extent perfection can be achieved by filing a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement;

 

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(B) (i) the foregoing definition shall not require control agreements with respect to any cash, deposit accounts or securities accounts; (ii) no actions in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or required by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of the U.S., including any intellectual property registered in any non-U.S. jurisdiction, or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction) and (iii) except to the extent that perfection and priority may be achieved by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code with respect to the Borrower or a Guarantor, the Loan Documents shall not contain any requirements as to perfection or priority with respect to any assets or property described in this clause (B);

(C) the Administrative Agent in its discretion may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in, and Mortgages on, or obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions with respect to, particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date) or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition where it reasonably determines in writing, in consultation with the Borrower, that the creation or perfection of security interests and Mortgages on, or obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions, or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition cannot be accomplished without undue delay, burden or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents; provided that the Collateral Agent shall have received on or prior to the Closing Date (i) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in appropriate form for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party, and (ii) any certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Equity Interests of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) accompanied by instruments of transfer and stock powers undated and endorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Collateral Agent or its counsel); and

(D) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

Collateral Documents ” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, each of the Mortgages, collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, intellectual property security agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 4.01, Section 6.11 or Section 6.13, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Commitment ” means a Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Extension Series, Other Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Refinancing Series, Series B- 1 Term Commitments, Series B- 2 Term Commitments, Incremental Term Commitment or Refinancing Term Commitment of a given Refinancing Series as the context may require.

 

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Committed Loan Notice ” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. ).

Company Parties ” means the collective reference to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the Borrower, and “ Company Party ” means any one of them.

Compensation Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(c)(ii).

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1 .

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(1) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than with respect to clauses (h) and (k)) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(a) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital gains of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, federal, state, franchise and similar taxes (such as the Delaware franchise tax, the Pennsylvania capital tax, Texas margin tax and provincial capital taxes paid in Canada) 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) and the net tax expense associated with any adjustments made pursuant to clauses (1) through (15) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”; plus

(b) Fixed Charges for such period (including (x) net losses on Swap Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (y) bank fees and other financing fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus amounts excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense as set forth in clauses (1)(q) through (y) in the definition thereof); plus

(c) the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense and capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Financing of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and Capitalized Software Expenditures of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; plus

(d) the amount of any restructuring charges or reserves, equity-based or non-cash compensation charges or expenses including any such charges or expenses arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights, retention charges (including charges or expenses

 

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in respect of incentive plans), start-up or initial costs for any project or new production line, division or new line of business, integration costs or other business optimization expenses or reserves including, without limitation, costs or reserves associated with improvements to IT and accounting functions, integration and facilities opening costs or any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions and investments and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities; plus

(e) any other non-cash charges, including any write-offs or write-downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period ( provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Borrower may elect not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (B) to the extent the Borrower elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

(f) the amount of any non-controlling interest or minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary; plus

(g) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, advisory fees and other fees (including termination fees) and indemnities and expenses paid or accrued in such period under the Investor Management Agreement (and related agreements or arrangements) or otherwise to the Investors to the extent otherwise permitted under Section 7.08; plus

(h) the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions taken, committed to be taken or expected in good faith to be taken no later than twenty four (24) months after the end of such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being determined and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided , that such cost savings and synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (it is understood and agreed that “ run-rate ” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions); plus

(i) the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets to any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; plus

(j) any costs or expense incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock

 

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subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interest of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interest) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of Cumulative Credit; plus

(k) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (2) below for any previous period and not added back; plus

(l) any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations;

(2) decreased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(a) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period and any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase Consolidated EBITDA in such prior period; plus

(b) any net income from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations;

There shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “ Acquired Entity or Business ”) and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “ Converted Restricted Subsidiary ”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (B) for the purposes of the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition”, compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.11 and the calculation of Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio and Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) as specified in a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer and delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent. There shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of or, closed or classified as 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) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “ Sold Entity or Business ”)

 

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and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each a “ Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary ”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition.

Consolidated First Lien Net Debt ” means Consolidated Total Net Debt minus the sum of (i) the portion of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt that is not secured by any Lien on property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the portion of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt that is secured by Liens on property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, which Liens are expressly subordinated or junior to the Liens securing the Obligations.

Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Net Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (1) consolidated interest expense of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (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 Swap 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 Swap Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (q) any additional interest owing pursuant to the registration rights agreements with respect to the 5 5/8% Senior Notes, the Opco Senior Notes or other securities, (r) costs associated with obtaining Swap Obligations, (s) 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 the Transactions or any acquisition, (t) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (u) any “additional interest” or “liquidated damages” with respect to other securities for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, (v) amortization or expensing of deferred financing fees, amendment and consent fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and discounted liabilities, (w) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and any other fees related to the Transactions, the Spin-Off Transaction or any acquisitions after the Closing Date, (x) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Financing, (y) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities and any prepayment premium or penalty) and (z) interest expense attributable to a parent entity resulting from push-down accounting; plus

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

(3) interest income of the Borrower 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 the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided , however , that, without duplication,

(1) any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), charges or expenses (including relating to the Spin-Off Transaction or any multi-year strategic initiatives), Transaction Expenses, restructuring and duplicative running costs, relocation costs, integration costs, facility consolidation and closing costs, severance costs and expenses, one-time compensation charges, costs relating to pre-opening, opening and conversion costs for facilities, losses, costs or cost inefficiencies related to facility or property disruptions or shutdowns, signing, retention and completion bonuses, costs incurred in connection with any strategic initiatives, transition costs, costs incurred in connection with acquisitions and non-recurring product and intellectual property development, other business optimization expenses (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs and new systems design, retention charges, system establishment costs and implementation costs) and operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded;

(2) 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;

(3) any net after-tax effect of gains or losses on disposal, abandonment or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, as applicable, shall be excluded;

(4) any net after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees, expenses and charges relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments or the sale or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business shall be excluded;

(5) the net income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments (other than Excluded Contributions) that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(6) 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 (other than restrictions in this Agreement), unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into Cash Equivalents) to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

 

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(7) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP (including in the inventory (including any impact of changes to inventory valuation policy methods, including changes in capitalization of variances), property and equipment, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items thereof) resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition or joint venture investment or the amortization or write-off or write-down of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

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

(9) 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 and investments recorded using the equity method 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;

(10) any equity-based or non-cash compensation charge or expense including any such charge or expense arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, profits interests or other rights or equity or equity-based incentive programs (“equity incentives”), any one-time cash charges associated with the equity incentives or other long-term incentive compensation plans (including under the deferred compensation arrangements of the Borrower or Holdings), roll-over, acceleration, or payout of Equity Interests by management, other employees or business partners of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, shall be excluded;

(11) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, recapitalization, investment, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering and issuance of the 5 5/8% Senior Notes, the Opco Senior Notes and other securities and the syndication and incurrence of any Facility), issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of the 5 5/8% Senior Notes, the Opco Senior Notes and other securities and any Facility) and including, in each case, any such transaction consummated on or prior to the Closing 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 or consummated (including, for the avoidance of doubt the effects of expensing all transaction related expenses in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 805), shall be excluded;

(12) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted within twelve months after the Spin-Off Date that are so required to be established or adjusted as a result of the Spin-Off Transactions (or within twenty four months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established as a result of such acquisition) in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of modifications of accounting policies shall be excluded;

 

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(13) any expenses, charges or losses to the extent covered by insurance or indemnity and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer or indemnifying party and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of the insurable or indemnifiable event (net of any amount so added back in any prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), shall be excluded;

(14) any non-cash compensation expense resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 718, Compensation Stock Compensation , shall be excluded;

(15) the following items shall be excluded:

(a) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Swap Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging ,

(b) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Swap Obligations for currency exchange risk) and any other foreign currency translation gains and losses, to the extent such gain or losses are non-cash items,

(c) any adjustments resulting for the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 460, Guarantees , or any comparable regulation,

(d) 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, and

(e) earn-out and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments; and

(16) reserves established for the benefit of landlords of leased hotel properties for the acquisition of capitalized assets and equipment at such properties shall be excluded; and

(17) if such Person is treated as a disregarded entity or partnership for U.S. federal, state and/or local income tax purposes for such period or any portion thereof, the amount of distributions actually made to any direct or indirect parent company of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 7.06(i)(iii) shall be included in calculating Consolidated Net Income as though such amounts had been paid as taxes directly by such Person for such period.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower 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 acquisition, investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement.

Consolidated Total Net Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, in an amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a

 

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consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Attributable Indebtedness, and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments, minus the aggregate amount of all cash and Cash Equivalents on the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; provided that Consolidated Total Net Debt shall not include Indebtedness (i) in respect of letters of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder; provided that any unreimbursed amount under commercial letters of credit shall not be counted as Consolidated Total Net Debt until three Business Days after such amount is drawn, (ii) in respect of Qualified Securitization Financings and (iii) of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that obligations under Swap Contracts do not constitute Consolidated Total Net Debt.

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period.

Consolidated Working Capital ” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, Current Assets at such date of determination minus Current Liabilities at such date of determination; provided that increases or decreases in Consolidated Working Capital shall be calculated without regard to any changes in Current Assets or Current Liabilities as a result of (a) any reclassification in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and noncurrent or (b) the effects of purchase accounting.

Contract Consideration ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “ Excess Cash Flow .”

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Affiliate.”

Converted Restricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Covenant Termination Event ” has the meaning set forth in Article VII.

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness ” means (a) Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, (b) Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, (c) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt or (d) other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, in each case, issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, repurchase, retire or refinance, in whole or part, existing Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans (or Revolving Credit Commitments), or any then-existing Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (“ Refinanced

 

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Debt ”); provided that (i) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness has a maturity no earlier, and, in the case of Refinancing Term Loans, a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater, than the Refinanced Debt, (ii) such Indebtedness shall not have a greater principal amount than the principal amount of the Refinanced Debt plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and reasonable fees and expenses associated with the refinancing, (iii) the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (except as otherwise provided in clause (ii) above and with respect to pricing, premiums, fees, rate floors and optional prepayment or redemption terms) are substantially identical to, or (taken as a whole) are no more favorable to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness, than those applicable to the Refinanced Debt being refinanced (except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness) ( provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirement of this clause (iii) shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy such requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a description of the basis upon which it disagrees)), and (iv) such Refinanced Debt shall be repaid, repurchased, retired, defeased or satisfied and discharged, all accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties in connection therewith shall be paid, and all commitments thereunder terminated, on the date such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained.

Credit Extension ” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Cumulative Credit ” means, at any date, an amount, not less than zero in the aggregate, determined on a cumulative basis equal to, without duplication:

(a) the greater of (x) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period from the first day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower during which the Closing Date occurred to and including the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit and (y) the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount at such time, plus

(b) the cumulative amount of the cash and Cash Equivalent proceeds (other than Excluded Contributions) from (i) the sale of Equity Interests (other than any Disqualified Equity Interests and other than any Designated Equity Contribution) of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time (including upon exercise of warrants or options) which proceeds have been contributed as common equity to the capital of the Borrower, (ii) the common Equity Interests of the Borrower (or Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) (other than Disqualified Equity Interests of the Borrower and other than any Designated Equity Contribution) issued upon conversion of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the Obligations) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower owed to a Person other than a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party, in each case, not previously applied for a purpose other than use in the Cumulative Credit (including, for the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of Section 7.03(m)(y)); plus

 

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(c) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the common capital (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary and other than any Designated Equity Contribution) of the Borrower received in cash and Cash Equivalents after the Closing Date (other than Excluded Contributions), excluding any such amount that has been applied in accordance with Section 7.03(m)(y); plus

(d) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower in cash and Cash Equivalents from:

(A) the sale (other than to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any minority investments, or

(B) any dividend or other distribution by an Unrestricted Subsidiary or received in respect of any minority investment (except to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income and excluding Excluded Contributions), or

(C) any interest, returns of principal payments and similar payments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary or received in respect of any minority investments (except to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income), plus

(e) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, the fair market value of the Investments of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) so long as such Investments were originally made pursuant to Sections 7.02(i)(iv)(2) or 7.02(n)(y), plus

(f) to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income or Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount, as applicable, an amount equal to any returns in cash and Cash Equivalents (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Investments made pursuant to Sections 7.02(i)(iv)(2) or 7.02(n)(y), minus

(g) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to make Investments pursuant to Sections 7.02(i)(iv)(2) or 7.02(n)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time, minus

(h) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to pay dividends or make distributions pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time, minus

(i) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to make payments or distributions in respect of Junior Financings pursuant to Section 7.13(a)(iv)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time.

Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount ” means, at any date, an amount, not less than zero in the aggregate, determined on a cumulative basis equal to the aggregate cumulative sum

 

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of the Retained Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, less the amount of Excess Cash Flow of Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent and for so long as such Excess Cash Flow is excluded from Excess Cash Flow prepayments pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(xi), for all Excess Cash Flow Periods ending after the Closing Date and prior to such date.

Current Assets ” means, with respect to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all assets (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as current assets at such date of determination, other than amounts related to current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits (but excluding assets held for sale, loans (permitted) to third parties, pension assets, deferred bank fees and derivative financial instruments).

Current Liabilities ” means, with respect to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as current liabilities at such date of determination, other than (a) the current portion of any Indebtedness, (b) accruals of Consolidated Interest Expense (excluding Consolidated Interest Expense that is past due and unpaid), (c) accruals for current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits, (d) accruals of any costs or expenses related to restructuring reserves, and (e) any Revolving Credit Exposure or Revolving Credit Loans.

Debt Fund Affiliate ” means any fund managed by, or under common management with GSO Capital Partners LP, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund L.P. or Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies L.P. and (ii) any fund managed by GSO Debt Funds Management LLC, Blackstone Debt Advisors L.P., Blackstone Distressed Securities Advisors L.P., Blackstone Mezzanine Advisors L.P. or Blackstone Mezzanine Advisors II L.P., and (iii) any other Affiliate of Holdings that is a bona fide debt fund or an investment vehicle that is engaged in the making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

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

Default Rate ” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.0% per annum; provided that with respect to the overdue principal or interest in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan, plus 2.0% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender whose acts or failure to act, whether directly or indirectly, cause it to meet any part of the definition of “Lender Default.”

 

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Designated Equity Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(2).

Discount Range ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Discount Range Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Discount Range Prepayment Notice ” means a written notice of a Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(C) substantially in the form of Exhibit M -4 .

Discount Range Prepayment Offer ” means the irrevocable written offer by a Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit M -5 , submitted in response to an invitation to submit offers following the Auction Agent’s receipt of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice.

Discount Range Prepayment Response Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Discount Range Proration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(3).

Discounted Prepayment Determination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Discounted Prepayment Effective Date ” means in the case of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offer or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offer, five (5) Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date or the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, as applicable, in accordance with Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1), Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1) or Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1), respectively, unless a shorter period is agreed to between the Borrower and the Auction Agent.

Discounted Term Loan Prepayment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(A).

Disposed EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA (and in the component definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries) or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any sale or issuance of Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith; provided that “ Disposition ” and “ Dispose ” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by Holdings of any of its Equity Interests to another Person.

 

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Disqualified Equity Interests ” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments and the termination or expiration of all outstanding Letters of Credit (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized, backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer)), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments and the expiration or termination of all outstanding Letters of Credit (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized, backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer)), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) 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 ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Disqualified Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Schedule 1.01B .

Distressed Person ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event.”

Distribution Agreement ” means the Distribution Agreement, to be dated on or prior to the Spin-Off Date, containing substantially the terms described in the Offering Memorandum, by and among Holdings, PHRI and HGVI, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders when taken as whole, as compared to the Distribution Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

Dollar Denominated Loan ” means any Loan incurred in Dollars.

Dollar Denominated Letter of Credit ” means any Letter of Credit incurred in Dollars.

Dollar Equivalent ” means, with respect to an amount of an Approved Currency other than Dollars, the amount of Dollars which could be purchased with the amount of the applicable

 

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Approved Currency involved in such computation at (x) the spot exchange rate as shown in the Wall Street Journal on the Business Day of any such determination (or on such other basis as is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) or (y) if the provisions of the foregoing clause (x) is not applicable, the “official” exchange rate (if applicable) or the spot exchange rate for the applicable Approved Currency in question calculated by the Administrative Agent (each such exchange rate, the “ Spot Exchange Rate ”); provided that (i) for purposes of (x) determining compliance with Sections 2.01(b) and 2.03(a) and (y) calculating fees pursuant to Section 2.09(a), the Dollar Equivalent of any amounts denominated in a currency other than Dollars shall be calculated on the Closing Date and revalued on the first Business Day of each Interest Period using the Spot Exchange Rate, (ii) at any time during a calendar month, if the Revolving Credit Exposure (for the purposes of the determination thereof, using the Dollar Equivalent as recalculated based on the Spot Exchange Rate therefor on the respective date of determination pursuant to this exception) would exceed 90.0% of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders, then in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders, the Dollar Equivalent shall be reset based upon the Spot Exchange Rates on such date, which rates shall remain in effect until the last Business Day of such calendar month or such earlier date, if any, as the rate is reset pursuant to this proviso and (iii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, at any time that a Default or an Event of Default then exists, the Administrative Agent may revalue the Dollar Equivalent of any amounts outstanding under the Loan Documents in a currency other than Dollars in its reasonable discretion using the Spot Exchange Rates therefor.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Effective Yield ” means, as to any Loans of any Class, the effective yield on such Loans, taking into account the applicable interest rate margins, any interest rate floors or similar devices and all fees, including upfront or similar fees or OID (amortized over the shorter of (x) the original stated life of such Loans and (y) the four years following the date of incurrence thereof) payable generally to Lenders making such Loans, but excluding arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees or other fees payable to any lead arranger (or its affiliates) in connection with the commitment or syndication of such Indebtedness.

Eligible Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(a).

 

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Employee Matters Agreement ” means the Employee Matters Agreement, to be dated on or prior to the Spin-Off Date, by and among Holdings, PHRI and HGVI, substantially on the terms described in the Offering Memorandum, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the Employee Matters Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Engagement Letter ” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Engagement Letter dated October 24, 2013, among the Borrower, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time.

Environment ” means indoor air, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, land surface, subsurface strata and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

Environmental Laws ” means any applicable Law relating to pollution, protection of the Environment and natural resources, pollutants, contaminants, or chemicals or any toxic or otherwise hazardous substances, wastes or materials, or the protection of human health and safety as it relates to any of the foregoing, including any applicable provisions of CERCLA.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of investigation and remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of or relating to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of, or liability under or relating to any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

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

Equity Interests ” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing (including through convertible securities).

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan

 

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subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or a notification or determination that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing by the PBGC of a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, respectively, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) appointment of a trustee to administer any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) with respect to a Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302, 303 or 304 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (g) any Foreign Benefit Event; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Eurocurrency Rate ” means, (a) for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in any Approved Currency other than euros or Australian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“ LIBOR ”) or such comparable or successor rate which is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period for deposits in such Approved Currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that to the extent that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing provision of this definition, the “Eurocurrency Rate” with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Approved Currency other than euros shall be the interest rate per annum, determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average of the rates per annum at which deposits in such Approved Currency are offered for such relevant Interest Period to major banks in the London interbank market in London, England at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period, (b) for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in euros, the rate per annum appearing on Reuters Page EURIBOR-01 (or any successor page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Brussels time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period, as determined by the Administrative Agent; provided that if such rate is not shown on Reuters Page EURIBOR-01 (or any successor page), the “Eurocurrency Rate” applicable to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in euros shall be interest rate per annum, determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average of the rates per annum at which deposits in euros are offered for such relevant Interest Period to prime banks in the Eurozone interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Brussels time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period and (c) for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Australian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Bank Bill Swap Reference Rate Bid Rate (“ BBSY ”) or a comparable or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published by Reuters (or such other commercially available source providing BBSY quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Melbourne, Australia time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period; provided that (x) solely

 

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with respect to the Series B-1 Term Loans, the Eurocurrency Rate shall be deemed to not be less than 1.00% per annum and (y)  otherwise, if the Eurocurrency Rate is negative, it shall be deemed to be 0.00%.

Eurocurrency Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate.

euro ” means the single currency of participating member states of the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.

Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.

Excess Cash Flow ” means, for any period, an amount equal to (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period, (ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, (iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term accounts receivable of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of purchase accounting), and (iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Dispositions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than sales in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of (i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges included in clauses (1) through (17) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”, (ii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of intellectual property to the extent not expensed and Capitalized Software Expenditures accrued or made in cash or accrued during such period, to the extent that such Capital Expenditures or acquisitions were financed with internally generated cash or borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and were not made by utilizing the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount, (iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (including (A) the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Leases, (B) the amount of any scheduled repayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07, and (C) any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) to the extent required due to a Disposition that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase but excluding (X) all other voluntary and mandatory prepayments of Term Loans and all prepayments and repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and (Y) all prepayments in respect of any other revolving credit facility, except in the case of clause (Y) to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder), to the extent financed with internally generated cash, (iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, (v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term accounts receivable of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period or the application of purchase accounting), (vi) cash payments by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness, (vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Investments and

 

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acquisitions made by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period pursuant to Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(a) or (c)) to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed with internally generated cash or the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans and were not made by utilizing the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount, (viii) the amount of Restricted Payments paid during such period pursuant to Section 7.06(i) (clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) only) or Section 7.06(g) to the extent such Restricted Payments were financed with internally generated cash or the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans, (ix) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period, (x) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness, (xi) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “ Contract Consideration ”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to acquisitions that constitute Investments permitted under this Agreement or Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of intellectual property to the extent not expected to be consummated or made, plus any restructuring cash expenses, pension payments or tax contingency payments that have been added to Excess Cash Flow pursuant to clause (a)(ii) above required to be made, in each case during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower following the end of such period; provided that to the extent the aggregate amount of internally generated cash not utilizing the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of intellectual property during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, (xii) the amount of cash taxes paid in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, (xiii) cash expenditures in respect of Swap Contracts during such fiscal year to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, and (xiv) any payment of cash to be amortized or expensed over a future period and recorded as a long-term asset. Notwithstanding anything in the definition of any term used in the definition of Excess Cash Flow to the contrary, all components of Excess Cash Flow shall be computed for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

Excess Cash Flow Period ” means each fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, but in all cases for purposes of calculating the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount shall only include such fiscal years for which financial statements and a Compliance Certificate have been delivered in accordance with Sections 6.01(a) and 6.02(a) and for which any prepayments required by Section 2.05(b)(i) (if any) have been made (it being understood that the Retained Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for any Excess Cash Flow Period shall be included in the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount regardless of whether a prepayment is required by Section 2.05(b)(i)).

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

Excluded Contract ” means, at any date, any rights or interest of the Borrower or any Guarantor under any agreement, contract, license, instrument, document or other general intangible (referred to solely for purposes of this definition as a “ Contract ”) to the extent that such Contract by the terms of a restriction in favor of a Person who is not the Borrower or any Guarantor, or any requirement of law, prohibits, or requires any consent or establishes any other condition for or would

 

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terminate because of an assignment thereof or a grant of a security interest therein by the Borrower or a Guarantor; provided that (i) rights under any such Contract otherwise constituting an Excluded Contract by virtue of this definition shall be included in the Collateral to the extent permitted thereby or by Section 9-406 or Section 9-408 of the Uniform Commercial Code and (ii) all proceeds paid or payable to any of the Borrower or any Guarantor from any sale, transfer or assignment of such Contract and all rights to receive such proceeds shall be included in the Collateral.

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

(1) contributions to its common equity capital;

(2) dividends, distributions, fees and other payments (A) from Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any of their Subsidiaries, (B) received in respect of any minority investments and (C) from any joint ventures that are not Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(3) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Borrower) of Equity Interest (other than Disqualified Equity Interests and preferred stock) of the Borrower; in each case to the extent designated as Excluded Contributions by the Borrower.

Excluded Equipment ” means, at any date, any equipment or other assets of the Borrower or any Guarantor which is subject to, or secured by, a Capitalized Lease Obligation or a purchase money obligation if and to the extent that (i) a restriction in favor of a Person who is not the Parent, the Borrower or a Subsidiary contained in the agreements or documents granting or governing such Capitalized Lease Obligation or purchase money obligation prohibits, or requires any consent or establishes any other conditions for or would result in the termination of such agreement or document because of an assignment thereof, or a grant of a security interest therein, by the Borrower or any Guarantor and (ii) such restriction relates only to the asset or assets acquired by the Borrower or any Guarantor with the proceeds of such Capitalized Lease Obligation or purchase money obligation and attachments thereto, improvements thereof or substitutions therefor; provided that all proceeds paid or payable to any of the Borrower or any Guarantor from any sale, transfer or assignment or other voluntary or involuntary disposition of such assets and all rights to receive such proceeds shall be included in the Collateral to the extent not otherwise required to be paid to the holder of any Capitalized Lease Obligations or purchase money obligations secured by such assets.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower or a Guarantor, (b) any Subsidiary of a Guarantor that does not have total assets in excess of 1.0% of Total Assets, individually or in the aggregate with all other Subsidiaries excluded via this clause (b), (c) [reserved], (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law or Contractual Obligations existing on the Closing Date (or, in the case of any newly acquired Subsidiary, in existence at the time of acquisition but not entered into in contemplation thereof) from guaranteeing the Obligations or if guaranteeing the Obligation would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained), (e) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, the burden or cost or other consequences (including any material adverse tax consequences) of providing a Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (f) any

 

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direct or indirect Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower, (g) any not-for-profit Subsidiaries, (h) any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (i) any Securitization Subsidiary or Subsidiary of a Securitization Subsidiary, (j) any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary substantially all of the assets of which consist of the Equity Interests of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code, (k) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary and (l) any captive insurance subsidiaries (such Subsidiaries are listed on Schedule 1.01D) .

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation, or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (i) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving effect to Section 11.12 and any other applicable agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all applicable guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties), at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (ii) in the case of a Swap Obligation that is subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act, because such Guarantor is a “financial entity,” as defined in section 2(h)(7)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and the Approved Counterparty applicable to such Swap Obligations. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to the Swap for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Existing Credit Agreement ” means this Agreement as of the Amendment No. 1 3 Effective Date prior to giving effect to Amendment No. 1 3 .

Existing Revolver Tranche ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Existing Term Loan Tranche ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Expiring Credit Commitment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(g).

Extended Revolving Credit Commitments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Extended Term Loans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Extending Revolving Credit Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extending Term Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extension ” means the establishment of an Extension Series by amending a Loan pursuant to Section 2.16 and the applicable Extension Amendment.

 

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Extension Amendment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(d).

Extension Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extension Request ” means any Term Loan Extension Request or a Revolver Extension Request, as the case may be.

Extension Series ” means any Term Loan Extension Series or a Revolver Extension Series, as the case may be.

Facility ” means the Series B-1 Term Loans, Series B-2 Term Loans, a given Class of Incremental Term Loans, a given Refinancing Series of Refinancing Term Loans, a given Extension Series of Extended Term Loans, the Revolving Credit Facility, a given Class of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, a given Refinancing Series of Other Revolving Credit Commitments, a given Extension Series of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as the context may require.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code), as of the Closing Date (and any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury Regulations or other official administrative guidance promulgated thereunder and any intergovernmental agreements entered into in connection with the implementation thereof.

Federal Funds 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 on such day, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds 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 (b) if no such rate is so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the rate charged to the Administrative Agent on such day for such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent; provided that if such rate as determined above is negative, it shall be deemed to be 0.00%.

Financial Covenant Event of Default ” has the meaning provided in Section 8.01(b).

Financing Transactions ” means the issuance of the Opco Senior Notes and the guarantees thereof on the Issue Date (as defined in the Opco Senior Notes Indenture), the establishment of the Series B-2 Term Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) on the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, the repayment or refinancing of a certain amount of Series B-1 Term Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) and indebtedness of certain Subsidiaries of PHRI with a portion of the proceeds of the Opco Senior Notes (in each case as described in the Offering Memorandum), and the payment of any fees or expenses incurred or paid in connection therewith.

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J-1 (which agreement in such form or with immaterial changes thereto the Collateral

 

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Agent is authorized to enter into) among Holdings, the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, the Collateral Agent and one or more collateral agents or representatives for the holders of Indebtedness that is permitted under Section 7.03 to be, and intended to be, secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA for such period to the Fixed Charges for such period. In the event that the Borrower 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 Equity Interests 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 Equity Interests or preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided , however , that the pro forma calculation of Fixed Charges shall not give effect to any Indebtedness being incurred on such date (or expected to be incurred thereafter) pursuant to Section 7.03.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, Dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (including the Spin-Off Transaction) (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Borrower 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 (including the Spin-Off Transaction) (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated 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 Borrower 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 (including the Spin-Off Transaction) 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 (including the Spin-Off Transaction) had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period;

(2) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of preferred stock during such period; and

(3) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Equity Interests during such period.

 

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Flood Insurance Laws ” means, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

Foreign Benefit Event ” means, with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan, (a) the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable law or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from applicable governmental authority or (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments.

Foreign Currency Denominated Loan ” means any Loan incurred in any Approved Foreign Currency.

Foreign Currency Denominated Letter of Credit ” means any Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency.

Foreign Disposition ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(xi).

Foreign Pension Plan ” means any benefit plan that under applicable Law is required to be funded through a trust or other funding vehicle other than a trust or funding vehicle maintained exclusively by a Governmental Authority.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets ” means the total assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP in good faith by a Responsible Officer.

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

Fund ” means 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 the ordinary course.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time; provided , however , that (i) if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders

 

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request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith, (ii) GAAP shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC Topic 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value,” as defined therein, and Indebtedness shall be measured at the aggregate principal amount thereof, and (iii) the accounting for operating leases and financing or capital leases under GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date (including, without limitation, Accounting Standards Codification 840) shall apply for the purposes of determining compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, including the definition of Capitalized Leases and obligations in respect thereof.

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Granting Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guaranteed Obligations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01.

 

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Guarantors ” means, collectively, (i) Holdings, (ii) Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., (iii) the wholly owned Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower (other than any Excluded Subsidiary), (iv) those wholly owned Domestic Subsidiaries that issue a Guaranty of the Obligations after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.11 or otherwise, at the option of the Borrower, issues a Guaranty of the Obligations after the Closing Date and (v) solely in respect of any Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement to which the Borrower is not a party, the Borrower, in each case, until the Guaranty thereof is released in accordance with this Agreement.

Guaranty ” means, collectively, the guaranty of the Obligations by the Guarantors pursuant to this Agreement.

Hazardous Materials ” means all materials, pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, compounds, constituents, substances or wastes, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, radon gas, pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, or toxic mold that are regulated pursuant to, or which could give rise to liability under, applicable Environmental Law.

HGVI ” means Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., a Delaware corporation.

HOC ” means Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Holdings ” means Parent, if it is the direct parent of the Borrower, or, if not, any Domestic Subsidiary of Parent that directly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower and issues a Guarantee of the Obligations and agrees to assume the obligations of “Holdings” pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents pursuant to one or more instruments in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Honor Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Identified Participating Lenders ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(3).

Identified Qualifying Lenders ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Immaterial Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.

Incremental Amendment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(f).

Incremental Commitments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Facility Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d).

Incremental Lenders ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Loan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Incremental Loan Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

 

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Incremental Revolving Credit Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Revolving Credit Loan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Incremental Term Commitments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Term Loan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Indebtedness ” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all outstanding letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) trade accounts and accrued expenses payable in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (iii) accruals for payroll and other liabilities accrued in the ordinary course);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;

(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;

if and to the extent that the foregoing would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with GAAP; provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower appearing upon the balance sheet of the Borrower solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded; and

(h) to the extent not otherwise included above, all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness 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 a joint venturer, except to the extent

 

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such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise expressly limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Net Debt, (B) in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business and (C) exclude obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Financing, operating leases or sale lease-back transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations). The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness 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 Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose hereunder as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

Indemnified Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Indemnified Taxes ” means, with respect to any Agent or any Lender, all Taxes other than (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income, however denominated, and franchise (and similar) Taxes imposed in lieu of net income Taxes by a jurisdiction (A) as a result of such recipient being organized in or having its principal office (or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office) in such jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof), or (B) as a result of any other connection between such Lender or Agent and such jurisdiction other than any connections arising from executing, delivering, being a party to, engaging in any transactions pursuant to, performing its obligations under, receiving payments under, or enforcing, any Loan Document, (ii) Taxes attributable to the failure by any Agent or Lender to deliver the documentation required to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(d), (iii) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax, imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (i) above, (iv) in the case of any Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 3.07), any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is in effect on the date such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, or designates a new Lending Office, except to the extent such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled immediately prior to the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment) to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01, (v) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, and (vi) any U.S. federal backup withholding imposed as a result of a failure by a Lender that is a United States person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code to deliver the form described in Section 3.01(d)(i). For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this definition shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.

Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Information ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.08.

Initial Revolving Borrowing ” means one or more borrowings of Revolving Credit Loans on the Closing Date; provided that, without limitation, Letters of Credit may be issued on the Closing Date to backstop or replace letters of credit, guarantees and performance or similar bonds outstanding on the Closing Date (including deemed issuances of Letters of Credit under this Agreement resulting from existing issuers of letters of credit outstanding on the Closing Date agreeing to become L/C Issuers under this Agreement).

 

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Initial Term Loans ” means the term loans made by the Lenders on the Closing Date to the Borrower under this Agreement in an aggregate principal amount of $7,600,000,000.

Intellectual Property Security Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Intercompany Note ” means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit I .

Intercreditor Agreements ” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, collectively, in each case to the extent in effect.

Interest Payment Date ” means, (a) as to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Interest Period ” means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter or, to the extent agreed by each Lender of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, twelve months or, to the extent agreed by the Administrative Agent, less than one month thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(ii) any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period having a duration of less than one month) that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of Indebtedness of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person excluding, in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany

 

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loans, advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment at any time shall be the amount actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

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 or loans are not then rated by Moody’s or S&P, an equivalent rating by any other nationally recognized statistical rating agency.

Investor Management Agreement ” means an agreement among the Borrower and/or Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent entity of Holdings) and Affiliates of (or management entities associated with) one or more of the Investors, as in effect from time to time and as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders; provided that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in Section 7.08 or otherwise, any management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees payable in arrears by the Borrower and/or Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed 2.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal year.

Investors ” means one or more investment funds, investment partnerships or managed accounts controlled or managed by The Blackstone Group L.P. or one of its Affiliates (other than any portfolio operating companies).

IP Rights ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17.

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

Joint Bookrunners ” means (i) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, in their respective capacities as joint bookrunners under this Agreement and under Amendment No. 1 and , (ii) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in their respective capacities as joint bookrunners under Amendment No. 2 , and (iii)  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC in their respective capacities as joint bookrunners under Amendment No. 3 .

Junior Financing ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.13(a).

Junior Financing Documentation ” means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J-2 hereto (which agreement in such form or with immaterial changes thereto the Collateral Agent is authorized to enter into) between the Collateral Agent and one or more collateral

 

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agents or representatives for the holders of Permitted Ratio Debt issued or incurred pursuant to Sections 7.03 (q) or (s) that are intended to be secured on a basis junior to the Obligations. Wherever in this Agreement, an Other Debt Representative is required to become party to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if the related Indebtedness is the initial Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to be secured by a Lien on a basis junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, then the Borrower, Holdings, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the Other Debt Representative for such Indebtedness shall execute and deliver the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Latest Maturity Date ” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any Refinancing Term Loan, any Refinancing Term Commitment, any Extended Term Loan, any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, any Incremental Term Loans, any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments or any Other Revolving Credit Commitments, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

Laws ” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents, orders, decrees, injunctions or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

L/C Advance ” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement. All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.

L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the applicable Honor Date or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

L/C Credit Extension ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Disbursement ” means any payment made by an L/C Issuer pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

L/C Issuer ” means Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, any other Revolving Credit Lender listed on Schedule 1.01A as an L/C Issuer and any other Lender that becomes an L/C Issuer in accordance with Sections 2.03(k) or 10.07(k), in each case, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. If there is more than one L/C Issuer at any given time, the term L/C Issuer shall refer to the relevant L/C Issuers.

L/C Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 2.03(l). For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

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Lead Arrangers ” means (i) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers under this Agreement and under Amendment No. 1 and , (ii) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers under Amendment No. 2 and (iii) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers under Amendment No. 3 .

Lender ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as the context requires, includes an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender.”

Lender Default ” means (i) the refusal (which may be given verbally or in writing and has not been retracted) or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any incurrence of revolving loans or reimbursement obligations required to be made by it, which refusal or failure is not cured within two Business Days after the date of such refusal or failure; (ii) the failure of any Lender to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two business days of the date when due, unless subject to a good faith dispute; (iii) a Lender has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations, or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations, under the Revolving Credit Facility or under other agreements generally in which it commits to extend credit; (iv) a Lender has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with its funding obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility; or (v) a Lender has admitted in writing that it is insolvent or such Lender becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event or a Bail-in Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender Default has occurred under any one or more of clauses (i) through (v) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and the applicable Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.17(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each L/C Issuer, each Swing Line Lender and each Lender.

Lender-Related Distress Event ” means, with respect to any Lender or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender (each, a “ Distressed Person ”), as the case may be, a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any Debtor Relief Law, or a custodian, conservator, receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person or its assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided that a Lender-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interests in any Lender or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof, so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United

 

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States 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 or agreements made with such Lender.

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit ” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder. A Letter of Credit may be issued in any Approved Currency.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Issuance Request ” means a letter of credit request substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $150,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

LIBOR ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate.”

License Agreements ” means the License Agreement, to be dated on or prior to the Spin-Off Date, containing substantially the terms described in the Offering Memorandum, by and between Holdings and HGVI, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the License Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to Real Property, and any Capitalized Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Term Loan, a Revolving Credit Loan or a Swing Line Loan (including any Incremental Term Loan and any extensions of credit under any Revolving Commitment Increase).

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Collateral Documents, (iv) each Intercreditor Agreement to the extent then in effect, (v) each Letter of Credit Issuance Request and (vi) any Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Amendment or Extension Amendment.

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

Management and Franchise Agreements ” means, collectively, each hotel management agreement and/or franchise agreement to be entered into by and between Holdings and PHRI and/or one or more Subsidiaries of Holdings or PHRI, containing substantially the terms described in the

 

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Offering Memorandum, pursuant to which Holdings and/or its Subsidiaries shall provide management and/or franchise services or licenses in respect of hotels owned or leased by PHRI and/or its Subsidiaries as set forth therein, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to such hotel management agreement and/or franchise agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Management Stockholders ” means the members of management of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries who are investors in Holdings or any direct or indirect parent thereof.

Margin Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Regulation U issued by the FRB.

Market Capitalization ” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of Holdings on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common Equity Interests on the principal securities exchange on which such common Equity Interests are traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

Master Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

Material Adverse Effect ” means a (a) material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) material adverse effect on the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform any of their payment obligations under any Loan Document to which the Borrower or any of the Loan Parties is a party; or (c) material adverse effect on the rights and remedies available to the Lenders or any Agent under any Loan Document.

Material Real Property means any fee owned real property located in the United States that is owned by any Loan Party where the greater of (x) the cost and (y) the net book value for such real property is in excess of $25,000,000 (at the Closing Date or, with respect to real property acquired after the Closing Date, at the time of acquisition, in each case, as reasonably estimated by the Borrower in good faith, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt any real property owned in connection with the timeshare business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries).

Maturity Date ” means (i )  with respect to the Series B-1 Term Loans, the date that is seven years after the Closing Date, (ii ) with respect to the Series B-2 Term Loans, October 25, 2023, ( iii ii ) with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, the date that is five years after the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, ( iv iii ) with respect to any tranche of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Extension Request accepted by the respective Lender or Lenders, ( v iv ) with respect to any Refinancing Term Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment and ( vi v ) with respect to any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment; provided , in each case, that if such date is not a Business Day, then the applicable Maturity Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.

 

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Moody s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Mortgage Policies ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Mortgaged Property ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Mortgages ” means collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, hypothecs and mortgages made by the Loan Parties in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent with such terms and provisions as may be required by the applicable Laws of the relevant jurisdiction, and any other mortgages executed and delivered pursuant to Sections 6.11 and 6.13, in each case, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Sections 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding six years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Proceeds ” means:

(a) 100% of the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Disposition or Casualty Event, net of the direct costs relating to such Disposition or Casualty Event, 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 customary fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses and 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 principal, premium, if any, and interest on amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien (other than a Lien that ranks pari passu with or subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations) on such assets and required (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents) to be paid (and is timely repaid) as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to the foregoing) associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Borrower 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 (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event occurring on the date of such reduction); provided that in the case of any Disposition or Casualty Event by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Proceeds thereof attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrower or a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary may be deducted from such Net Proceeds; provided further that if no Default exists, the Borrower may reinvest any

 

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portion of such proceeds in assets useful for its business (which shall include any Investment permitted by this Agreement) within 12 months of such receipt and such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not, within 12 months of such receipt, so reinvested or contractually committed to be so reinvested (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 12-month period but within such 12-month period are contractually committed to be used, then upon the termination of such contract or if such Net Proceeds are not so used within 18 months of initial receipt, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such termination or expiry without giving effect to this proviso; it being further understood that such proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds notwithstanding any investment notice if there is a Specified Default at the time of a proposed reinvestment unless such proposed reinvestment is made pursuant to a binding commitment entered into at a time when no Specified Default was continuing); provided , further , that no proceeds realized in a single transaction or series of related transactions shall constitute Net Proceeds (x) unless such proceeds shall exceed $150,000,000 and (y) the aggregate net proceeds excluded under clause (x) exceeds $275,000,000 in any fiscal year (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of such amount in clauses (x) or (y) shall constitute Net Proceeds under this clause (a)), and

(b) 100% of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness, net of all taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof and fees (including investment banking fees and discounts), commissions, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such incurrence, issuance or sale.

For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be disregarded.

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(d).

Non-Debt Fund Affiliate ” means any Affiliate of the Investors other than (a) Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings, (b) any Debt Fund Affiliates and (c) any natural person.

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

Non-Expiring Credit Commitment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(g).

Non-Extension Notice Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Not Otherwise Applied ” means, with reference to any amount of Net Proceeds of any transaction or event, that such amount (a) was not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (b) was not previously (and is not concurrently being) applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Loan Documents where such permissibility was or is (or may have been) contingent on receipt of such amount or utilization of such amount for a specified purpose and (c) was not utilized pursuant to Section 8.05. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any application of such amount as contemplated by (b) above.

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

 

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Obligations ” means all (x) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding and (y) obligations of any Loan Party arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and of their Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include (a) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit fees, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement shall be secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Collateral Documents and the Guaranty only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and guaranteed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations of any Guarantor shall in no event include any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.

OFAC ” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Offered Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Offered Discount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Offering Memorandum ” means the offering memorandum, dated August 8, 2016, relating to the sale of the Opco Senior Notes.

OID ” means original issue discount.

Opco Senior Notes ” means $1,000,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the 4.250% senior unsecured notes due 2024 issued by Hilton Escrow Issuer LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Hilton Escrow Issuer Corp., a Delaware corporation, as co-issuers, pursuant to the Opco Senior Notes Indenture.

Opco Senior Notes Documents ” means the Opco Senior Notes Indenture and the other transaction documents referred to therein (including the related guarantees, the notes, the escrow agreement and the registration rights agreements) and the related purchase agreement.

“Opco Senior Notes Indenture ” means the Indenture for the Opco Senior Notes, dated as of August 18, 2016, among Hilton Escrow Issuer LLC and Hilton Escrow Issuer Corp. as the co-issuers, the guarantors listed party thereto from time to time and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

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Organization Documents ” means (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.

Other Applicable Indebtedness ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(ii).

Other Debt Representative ” means, with respect to any series of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

Other Revolving Credit Commitments ” means one or more Classes of revolving credit commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Revolving Credit Loans ” means one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Outstanding Amount ” means (a) with respect to the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding Principal Amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the aggregate outstanding Principal Amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes thereto as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Overnight Rate ” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the Federal Funds Rate and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in such currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.

Ownership Business ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Distribution Agreement.

 

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Ownership Capitalization ” means the transactions which upon consummation thereof will result in HOC holding directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the assets and operations of the Borrower other than (x) the Ownership Business and (y) the Timeshare Business.

Parent ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).

Participating Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(2).

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA 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(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six years.

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit H hereto or any other form reasonably approved by the Collateral Agent, as the same shall be supplemented from time to time.

Permitted Acquisition ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(i).

Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception ” means, with respect to any Incremental Term Loans, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Ratio Debt and any Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03 (g) or (q) permitted to be incurred hereunder, that up to $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness (the “ Specified Debt ”) may have a maturity date that is earlier than and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than the Latest Maturity Date of any Term Loans outstanding at the time such Specified Debt is incurred or issued.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt ” means any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Notes and any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Loans.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Loans ” means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of secured loans incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more tranches of loans under this Agreement; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Loan Parties or (iii) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness does not mature or have scheduled amortization or payments of principal (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and a customary acceleration right after an event of default) on or prior to the date that is the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or issued.

 

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Permitted First Priority Refinancing Notes ” means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Loan Parties, (iii) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness does not mature or have scheduled amortization or payments of principal (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and a customary acceleration right after an event of default) on or prior to the date that is the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or issued, (iv) the security agreements relating to such Indebtedness are substantially the same as or more favorable to the Loan Parties than the Collateral Documents (with such differences as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and (v) an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to each Intercreditor Agreement. Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Holders ” means each of (x) the Investors and (y) the Management Stockholders ( provided that if the Management Stockholders own beneficially or of record more than fifteen percent (15%) of the outstanding voting stock of Holdings in the aggregate, they shall be treated as Permitted Holders of only fifteen percent (15%) of the outstanding voting stock of Holdings at such time).

Permitted Intercompany Activities ” means any transactions between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (for the avoidance of doubt, including Unrestricted Subsidiaries) that are entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower are necessary or advisable in connection with the ownership or operation of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, (i) payroll, cash management, purchasing, insurance and hedging arrangements; (ii) management, technology and licensing arrangements; and (iii) HHonors and similar customer loyalty and rewards programs.

Permitted Other Debt Conditions ” means that such applicable debt (i) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, does not mature or have scheduled amortization payments of principal or payments of principal and is not subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligations (except customary asset sale or change of control provisions that provide for the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations), in each case on or prior to the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (ii) is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors, and (iii) to the extent secured, the security agreements relating to such Indebtedness are substantially the same as or more favorable to the Loan Parties than the Collateral Documents (with such differences as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

Permitted Ratio Debt ” means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and to the use of the proceeds thereof (but without netting the proceeds thereof) (i) no Event of Default shall be continuing or result therefrom and (ii) (x) if such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than 3.75 to 1.00 and (y) if such

 

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Indebtedness is secured on a junior basis to the Facilities, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than 6.15 to 1.00; provided that, such Indebtedness shall (A) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, in the case of clause (x) above, have a maturity date that is after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, and in the case of clause (y) above, have a maturity date that is at least ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, in the case of clause (x) above, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facilities and, in the case of clause (y) above, shall not be subject to scheduled amortization prior to maturity, (C) if such Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed on a secured basis by a Loan Party, be subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if the Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, be (x) in the form of debt securities and (y) subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (D) have terms and conditions (other than pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions) that in the good faith determination of the Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrower than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) ( provided that a certificate of the Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in this clause (D) delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements of this clause (D), shall be conclusive unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a description of the basis upon which it disagrees)); provided , further , that any such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (x) or (y) above by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(q) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding 4.25% of Total Assets, in each case determined at the time of incurrence.

Permitted Refinancing ” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e) and subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, (c) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (d) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is Junior Financing, (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced

 

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or extended, (ii) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended and (iii) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended was subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, the holders of such modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended Indebtedness (if such Indebtedness is secured) or their representative on their behalf shall become party to such Intercreditor Agreement.

Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt ” means Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness constituting secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of second lien (or other junior lien) secured notes or second lien (or other junior lien) secured loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness may be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is junior to the Liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,” (iii) an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Second Priority Representative” thereunder, and (iv) such Indebtedness meets the Permitted Other Debt Conditions. Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt ” means Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of unsecured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes or loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and (ii) meets the Permitted Other Debt Conditions.

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

PHRI ” means Park Hotels & Resorts Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Platform ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

Pledged Debt ” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Pledged Equity ” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Post-Acquisition Period ” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the first anniversary of the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.

 

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Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum determined from time to time by Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City and notified to the Borrower.

Principal Amount ” means (i) the stated or principal amount of each Dollar Denominated Loan or Dollar Denominated Letter of Credit or L/C Obligation with respect thereto, as applicable, and (ii) the Dollar Equivalent of the stated or principal amount of each Foreign Currency Denominated Loan and Foreign Currency Denominated Letter of Credit or L/C Obligation with respect thereto, as the context may require.

Pro Forma Adjustment ” means, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of (a) actions taken during such Post-Acquisition Period for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and factually supportable cost savings or (b) any additional costs incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, in each case in connection with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (i) at the election of the Borrower, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $25,000,000, and (ii) so long as such actions are taken during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period; provided, further, that any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, for such Test Period.

Pro Forma Basis ”, “ Pro Forma Compliance ” and “ Pro Forma Effect ” mean, with respect to compliance with any test hereunder, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction”, shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating

 

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expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment; provided, further , that when calculating the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of (i) the definition of “Applicable Rate”, (ii) the Applicable ECF Percentage and (iii) determining actual compliance (and not Pro Forma Compliance or compliance on a Pro Forma Basis) with Section 7.11, the events that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period shall not be given pro forma effect.

Pro Rata Share ” means, with respect to each Lender, at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitments and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans of such Lender under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Facility or Facilities and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time; provided that, in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, if such Commitments have been terminated, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Public Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Guarantor that, at the time the relevant Guaranty (or grant of the relevant security interest, as applicable) becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation, has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or otherwise constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and which may cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” with respect to such Swap Obligation at such time by entering into an agreement pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act.

Qualified Equity Interests ” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

Qualified IPO ” means the issuance by Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings of its common Equity Interests in an underwritten primary public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering).

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

Qualified Securitization Financing ” means (a) any timeshare loan backed notes (such as Hilton Grand Vacations Trust 2013-A) and similar facilities, (b) any revolving non-recourse timeshare notes credit facility (such as the receivables loan agreement, dated May 9, 2013, among Hilton Grand Vacations Trust I LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as paying agent, a commercial paper conduit lender, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and Bank of America, N.A., as committed lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent) and similar facilities and (c) any other Securitization Financing of a Securitization Subsidiary that meets the

 

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following conditions: (x) the board of directors of the Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Securitization Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and the Securitization Subsidiary and (y) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower). The grant of a security interest in any Securitization Assets of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) to secure Indebtedness under this Agreement prior to engaging in any Securitization Financing shall not be deemed a Qualified Securitization Financing.

Qualifying Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Rating Agencies ” means Moody’s and S&P.

Rating Categories ” means:

(1) with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and

(2) with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories).

Ratings Improvement ” means, with respect to a Change of Control, the obtaining of a rating of the Loans, taking into account the applicable transaction, representing an increase in the rating of the Loans by either Moody’s or S&P by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between Rating Categories, but not including ratings outlook changes) from the applicable rating in effect as of the Closing Date. In determining whether the rating of the Loans has increased by one or more gradations, gradations within Ratings Categories, namely + or - for S&P, and 1, 2, and 3 for Moody’s, will be taken into account; for example, in the case of S&P, a rating change either from BB to BB+ or from B+ to BB- will constitute an increase of one gradation.

Real Property ” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned or leased by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Refinanced Debt ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness.

Refinancing ” means the repayment in full of all third party Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries existing prior to the consummation of the Transactions (other than existing financing or capital leases and letters of credit and any Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 7.03(b) ) with the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans, the Revolving Credit Loans, the 5 5/8% Senior Notes and the termination and release of all commitments, security interests and guarantees in connection therewith.

 

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Refinancing Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrower, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Additional Refinancing Lender and (d) each Lender that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans incurred pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section 2.15.

Refinancing Series ” means all Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans that are established pursuant to the same Refinancing Amendment (or any subsequent Refinancing Amendment to the extent such Refinancing Amendment expressly provides that the Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Refinancing Series) and that provide for the same Effective Yield and, in the case of Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Term Commitments, amortization schedule.

Refinancing Term Commitments ” means one or more Classes of Term Commitments hereunder that are established to fund Refinancing Term Loans of the applicable Refinancing Series hereunder pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment.

Refinancing Term Loans ” means one or more Classes of Term Loans hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(d).

Registered Equivalent Notes ” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in an offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act of 1933, substantially identical notes (having the same guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing or migrating in into, onto or through the Environment.

Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

Repricing Transaction ” means the prepayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement of all or a portion of the Series B-2 Term Loans with the incurrence by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any debt financing having an effective interest cost or weighted average yield (with the comparative determinations to be made by the Administrative Agent consistent with generally accepted financial practices, after giving effect to, among other factors, margin, interest rate floors, upfront or similar fees or original issue discount, but excluding the effect of any arrangement, structuring, syndication or other fees payable to any lead arranger (or its affiliates) in connection with the commitment or syndication of such debt financing, and without taking into account any fluctuations in the Eurocurrency Rate) that is less than the effective interest cost or weighted average yield (as determined by the Administrative Agent on the same basis) of such Series B-2 Term Loans so repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced, including without limitation, as may be effected through any amendment to this Agreement relating to the interest rate for, or weighted average yield of, such Term Loans or the incurrence of any Replacement Term Loans, in each case other than in connection with a Change of Control or Transformative Acquisition.

 

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Request for Credit Extension ” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, continuation or conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Issuance Request, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

Required Class  Lenders ” means, with respect to any Class on any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (i) the outstanding Loans under such Class and (ii) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility; provided that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Class Lenders.

Required Facility Lenders ” mean, as of any date of determination, with respect to any Facility, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (a) the Total Outstandings under such Facility (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, as applicable, under such Facility being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility; provided that the unused Commitments of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings under such Facility held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Facility Lenders; provided , further , that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Facility Lenders.

Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders; provided , further , that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Required Revolving Credit Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Revolving Credit Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

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Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other similar officer of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Retained Percentage ” means, with respect to any Excess Cash Flow Period (a) 100% minus (b) the Applicable ECF Percentage with respect to such Excess Cash Flow Period.

Reversion Date ” has the meaning set forth in Article VII.

Revolver Extension Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Revolver Extension Series ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Revolving Commitment Increase ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Revolving Credit Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type, in the same Approved Currency, and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

Revolving Credit Commitment ” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b), (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate Principal Amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.01A under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitments” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (including Section 2.14). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders shall be $1,000,000,000 on the Closing Date, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Exposure ” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, the sum of the amount of the outstanding Principal Amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount of the L/C Obligations and the Swing Line Obligations at such time.

 

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Revolving Credit Facility ” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

Revolving Credit Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time or, if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated, Revolving Credit Exposure.

Revolving Credit Loans ” means any Revolving Credit Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(b), Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, Other Revolving Credit Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Loans, as the context may require.

Revolving Credit Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Revolving Credit Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Revolving Credit Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrower.

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

Same Day Funds ” means immediately available funds.

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Hedge Agreement ” means any Swap Contract permitted under Article VII that is entered into by and between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Approved Counterparty.

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, any Approved Counterparty party to a Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement, the Supplemental Agents and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.02.

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

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

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 Financing.

Securitization Financing ” means any of one or more receivables or securitization financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to

 

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time, the obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in Securitization Assets to, or for the benefit of, either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells its or grants a security interests in Securitization Assets to, or for the benefit of, a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

Securitization Subsidiary ” means (i) each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01E and (ii) any Subsidiary formed for the purpose of, and that solely engages only in one or more Qualified Securitization Financing and other activities reasonably related thereto.

Security Agreement ” means the Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G , dated as of the Closing Date, among Holdings, the Borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Borrower and the Collateral Agent.

Security Agreement Supplement ” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Senior Notes Documents ” means the Senior Notes Indenture and the other transaction documents referred to therein (including the related guarantee, the notes, the notes purchase agreement and the registration rights agreements).

“Senior Notes Indenture ” means the Indenture for the 5 5/8% Senior Notes, dated as of October 4, 2013, among Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC and Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp. as the issuers, the guarantors listed therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Series B Term Loans means any Series B-1 Term Loan and any Series B-2 Term Loan.

Series B- 1 2 Term Commitment ” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make a Series B- 1 2 Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a), in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term Lender’s name in Schedule 1.01A under the caption “Series B- 1 2 Term Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (including Section 2.14).

Series B- 1 2 Term Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Series B- 1 2 Term Commitment or a Series B- 1 2 Term Loan at such time.

Series B-1 Term Loans means an Initial Term Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a) of the Existing Credit Agreement that has been converted into Series B-1 Term Loans pursuant to Section  3 of Amendment No.  1.

Series B-2 Term Commitment means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make a Series B-2 Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a), in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term Lender s name in Schedule 1.01A under the caption Series B-2 Term Commitment or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (including Section  2.14).

 

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Series B-2 Term Lender means, at any time, any Lender that has a Series B-2 Term Commitment or a Series B-2 Term Loan at such time.

Series B-2 Term Loans ” means an Initial a Series B-2 Term Loan (as defined in and made pursuant to Section 2.01(a) of the Existing Credit Agreement ) that has been converted into Series B-2 Term Loans amended by and increased pursuant to Section  3 of Amendment No.  1 3 .

Similar Business ” means (1) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, and any reasonable extension thereof, or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged or propose to be engaged on the Closing Date.

Sold Entity or Business ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Solicited Discount Proration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice ” means a written notice of the Borrower of Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(D) substantially in the form of Exhibit M -6 .

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer ” means the irrevocable written offer by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit M -7 , submitted following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Solvent ” and “ Solvency ” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

SPC ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).

Specified Default ” means a Default under Section 8.01(a), (f) or (g).

 

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Specified Discount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).

Specified Discount Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).

Specified Discount Prepayment Notice ” means a written notice of the Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(B) substantially in the form of Exhibit M-8 .

Specified Discount Prepayment Response ” means the irrevocable written response by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit M -9 , to a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice.

Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).

Specified Discount Proration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(3).

Specified Equity Contribution ” means any cash contribution to the common equity of Holdings and/or any purchase or investment in an Equity Interest of Holdings other than Disqualified Equity Interests.

Specified Guarantor ” means any Guarantor that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 11.12).

Specified Representations ” means those representations and warranties made by the Borrower in Sections 5.01(b)(ii), 5.02(a), 5.02(b)(i), 5.02(b)(iii) (to the extent such conflict has not resulted in a Material Adverse Effect (as such term or similar definition is defined in the main transaction agreement governing the applicable Permitted Acquisition), 5.04, 5.13, 5.18, 5.20 and 5.21).

Specified Transaction ” means any Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, Incremental Term Loan or Revolving Commitment Increase in respect of which the terms of this Agreement require any test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect”; provided that a Revolving Commitment Increase, for purposes of this “Specified Transaction” definition, shall be deemed to be fully drawn.

Spin-Off Date ” means the date on which the Spin-Off Transaction is consummated , which was January 3, 2017 .

Spin-Off Transaction ” means, collectively, the transactions, substantially on the terms described in the Offering Memorandum, which upon consummation thereof, will result in (a) PHRI holding directly or indirectly all or substantially of the Ownership Business and (b) HGVI holding directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the Timeshare Business, and which will be completed by the distribution by Holdings to its stockholders of shares of each of PHRI and HGVI on a pro rata basis, and all related transactions, including the Ownership Capitalization and the Financing Transactions.

Spot Exchange Rate ” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “ Dollar Equivalent.

 

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Sterling ” and “ £ ” mean freely transferable lawful money of the United Kingdom (expressed in pounds sterling).

Stockholders Agreement ” means the Stockholders Agreement, to be dated on or prior to the Spin-Off Date, containing substantially the terms described in the Offering Memorandum, by and among Holdings, HGVI, the Blackstone Entities (as defined therein) and the other parties thereto, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the Stockholders Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Submitted Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Submitted Discount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which (i) a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, (ii) more than half of the issued share capital is at the time beneficially owned or (iii) the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, any entity that is owned at a 50.0% or less level (as described above) shall not be a “Subsidiary” for any purpose under this Agreement, regardless of whether such entity is consolidated on Holdings’ or any Restricted Subsidiary’s financial statements.

Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any Guarantor other than Holdings.

Successor Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(d).

Supplemental Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.14(a) and “ Supplemental Agents ” shall have the corresponding meaning.

Swap ” means, any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swap Contract ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

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Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap.

Swap Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Swing Line Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Facility ” means the swing line loan facility made available by the Swing Line Lenders pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Lender ” means Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

Swing Line Loan Notice ” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

Swing Line Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the Swing Line Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-3 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Swing Line Lender resulting from the Swing Line Loans.

Swing Line Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Swing Line Loans outstanding.

Swing Line Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Commitments.

Tax Group ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.06(i).

Tax Matters Agreement ” means the Tax Matters Agreement, to be dated on or prior to the Spin-Off Date, containing substantially the terms described in the Offering Memorandum, by and among Holdings, PHRI and HGVI and the other parties thereto, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the Tax Matters Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).

 

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Term Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term Loans of the same Class and Type and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

Term Commitment ” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make a Term Loan to the Borrower hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loan to be made by such Term Lender under this Agreement, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Term Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, (ii) an Incremental Amendment, (iii) a Refinancing Amendment or (iv) an Extension.

Term Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Term Commitment or a Term Loan at such time.

Term Loans ” means any Series B-1 Term Loan, Series B-2 Term Loan or any Incremental Term Loan, Refinancing Term Loan or Extended Term Loan designated as a “Term Loan”, as the context may require.

Term Loan Extension Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Term Loan Extension Series ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Term Loan Increase ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Term Loan Standstill Period ” has the meaning provided in Section 8.01(b).

Term Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Term Lender resulting from the Term Loans of each Class made by such Term Lender.

Terminated Covenants ” has the meaning set forth in Article VII.

Test Period ” means, for any date of determination under this Agreement, the latest four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date and/or for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, as applicable.

Threshold Amount ” means $225,000,000.

Timeshare Business ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Distribution Agreement.

Timeshare Disposition ” means any future direct or indirect sale, transfer or other disposition of all or a portion of the timeshare business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, all or substantially all of the assets thereof (for the avoidance of doubt, including a sale, transfer or other disposition of Equity Interests of any Person owning such assets, so long as substantially all of the assets of such Person consists of such assets).

 

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Total Assets ” means the total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of Holdings delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) or (b).

Total Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Transaction Agreements ” means collectively, the Distribution Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the License Agreement, the Management and Franchise Agreements, the Stockholders Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement and each other instrument or agreement to be entered into in connection with the Spin-Off Transaction.

Transaction Expenses ” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Investors, Parent, the Borrower or any of its (or their) Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions related to the Facilities and any original issue discount or upfront fees), the Investor Management Agreement (to the extent accrued on or prior to the Closing Date), this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transactions ” means, collectively, (a) the funding of the Initial Term Loans and any Initial Revolving Borrowing on the Closing Date and the execution and delivery of Loan Documents entered into on the Closing Date, (b) the Refinancing, (c) the issuance of the 5 5/8% Senior Notes and (d) the payment of Transaction Expenses.

Transferred Guarantor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.10.

Transformative Acquisition ” means any acquisition or Investment by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is either (a) not permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or Investment or (b) if permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or Investment, would not provide the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under this Agreement for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as determined by the Borrower acting in good faith.

Transition Services Agreement ” means the Master Transition Services Agreement, to be dated on or prior to the Spin-Off Date, containing substantially the terms described in the Offering Memorandum, by and among Holdings, PHRI and HGVI, as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the Transition Services Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification.

Treasury Services Agreement ” means any agreement between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Approved Counterparty relating to treasury, depository, credit card, debit card, stored value cards, purchasing or procurement cards and cash management services or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds or any similar services.

Type ” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

 

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Unaudited Financial Statements ” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013 and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the year to date period ended March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013.

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

United States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of America.

United States Tax Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibits K-1, K-2, K-3 and K-4 hereto, as applicable.

Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (i) each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01F , (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the board of managers of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14 subsequent to the Closing Date and (iii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

USA PATRIOT Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 10756, as amended or modified from time to time.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

wholly owned ” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) director’s qualifying shares and (y) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Law) are owned by such Person and/or by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Yen ” and “ ¥ ” mean lawful money of Japan.

Yield Differential ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(e)(iii).

 

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SECTION 1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.

With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(f) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

SECTION 1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio and Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

SECTION 1.04 Rounding.

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding up if there is no nearest number).

 

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SECTION 1.05 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.

Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by the Loan Documents; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

SECTION 1.06 Times of Day.

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

SECTION 1.07 Timing of Payment or Performance.

When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

SECTION 1.08 Cumulative Credit Transactions.

If more than one action occurs on any given date the permissibility of the taking of which is determined hereunder by reference to the amount of the Cumulative Credit immediately prior to the taking of such action, the permissibility of the taking of each such action shall be determined independently and in no event may any two or more such actions be treated as occurring simultaneously.

ARTICLE II

The Commitments and Credit Extensions

SECTION 2.01 The Loans.

(a) The Term Borrowings . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in Amendment No.  1 3 , (i) each Lender holding a Series B-2 Term Commitment Lender (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) consenting to Amendment No. 3 has severally agreed to convert all or a portion of continue its existing Initial Term Loans as of the Amendment No.  1 Effective Date into, and the Indebtedness so converted shall remain outstanding as, a Series B-2 Term Loan Series B-2 Term Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) as Series B-2 Term Loans (as defined herein, after giving effect to Amendment No. 3) in an aggregate principal amount equal to such Lender s its Amended Series B-2 Term Commitments Commitment (as defined in Amendment No. 3) on the Amendment No.  1 3 Effective Date and , (ii) each Series B-1 Term Lender holding Initial Term Loans on the Amendment No.  1 Effective Date that have not been converted (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) executing Amendment No. 3 as a “Continuing Series B-2 Term Lender” has seve rally agreed to convert all of its existing Series B-1 Term Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement ) to Series B-2 Term Loans shall be deemed, upon the effectiveness of Amendment No.  1, to have converted all such outstanding Initial Term Loans into, and the Indebtedness so converted shall remain outstanding as, (as defined herein, after giving effect to Amendment No. 3) in an aggregate principal amount equal to its New Series B- 1 2 Term Loans Commitment (as defined in Amendment No. 3) on the Amendment No.  1 3 Effective Date and (iii) the

 

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Incremental Term Lender (as defined in Amendment No. 3) has agreed to make Series B-2 Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to its New Series B-2 Term Commitment (as defined in Amendment No. 3) on the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

(b) The Revolving Credit Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans denominated in an Approved Currency to the Borrower from its applicable Lending Office (each such loan, a “ Revolving Credit Loan ”) from time to time as elected by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.02, on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date with respect to such Revolving Credit Lender’s applicable Revolving Credit Commitment, in an aggregate Principal Amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time; provided that after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b). Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

SECTION 2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Term Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, and (ii) one (1) Business Day before the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided that the notice referred to in subclause (i) above may be delivered no later than one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date in the case of initial Credit Extensions denominated in Dollars. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Except as provided in Section 2.14(a), each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of (A) if such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in Dollars, $2,000,000, or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (B) if such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in Sterling, £1,000,000, or a whole multiple of £500,000 in excess thereof, (C) if such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in euros, €2,000,000, or a whole multiple of €1,000,000 in excess thereof, (D) if such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in Australian Dollars, A$2,000,000, or a whole multiple of A$1,000,000 in excess thereof and (E) if such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in Yen, ¥2,000,000,000, or a whole multiple of ¥1,000,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c), 2.04(c), 2.14(a) or the last sentence of this paragraph, each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan

 

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Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Term Borrowing of a particular Class, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Term Loans of any Class or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term Loans of a Class or Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted, (v) in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing, the relevant Approved Currency in which such Revolving Credit Borrowing is to be denominated and (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify an Approved Currency of a Loan in a Committed Loan Notice, such Loan shall be made in Dollars. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as or converted to (x) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, Base Rate Loans or (y) in the case of any Loan denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the Approved Currency having an Interest Period of one month, as applicable. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or one-month Eurocurrency Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. No Loan may be converted into or continued as a Loan denominated in another Approved Currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original Approved Currency or reborrowed in another Approved Currency.

(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount (and Approved Currency) of its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. The Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent by wire transfer of such funds in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan unless the Borrower pays the amount due, if any, under Section 3.05 in connection therewith. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may require that no Loans in any Approved Currency may be converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency be prepaid, or redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurocurrency Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Prime Rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the announcement of such change.

 

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(e) After giving effect to all Term Borrowings, all Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen (15) Interest Periods in effect.

(f) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

SECTION 2.03 Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment. (i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in any agreement entered into between Borrower and the applicable L/C Issuer, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date to issue Letters of Credit at sight denominated in any Approved Currency for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower and to amend, renew or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit and (B) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. In addition, (x) the face amount of outstanding Letters of Credit issued by any L/C Issuer shall not exceed such L/C Issuer’s Applicable L/C Fronting Sublimit and (y) in the case of the Revolving Credit Lender acting as the L/C Issuer with respect to any Letter of Credit, unless such Revolving Credit Lender shall agree otherwise in its sole discretion, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure plus (without duplication) the aggregate face amount of outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer shall not exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(ii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or direct that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder);

 

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(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless (1) each Appropriate Lender has approved of such expiration date or (2) the L/C Issuer thereof has approved of such expiration date and the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations in respect of such requested Letter of Credit has been cash collateralized or backstopped pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Revolving Credit Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws binding upon such L/C Issuer;

(E) the L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency; or

(F) any Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

(iii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(iv) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and any Letter of Credit Issuance Request (and any other document, agreement or instrument entered into by such L/C Issuer and the Borrower or in favor of such L/C Issuer) pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to each L/C Issuer.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit. (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Issuance Request, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or his/her delegate or designee. Such Letter of Credit Issuance Request must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York

 

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City time) at least two Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be; or, in each case, such other date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Issuance Request shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (a) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (b) the amount thereof; (c) the relevant Approved Currency in which such Letter of Credit is to be denominated; (d) the expiry date thereof; (e) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (f) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (g) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (h) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Issuance Request shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the relevant L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Issuance Request from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the relevant L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the relevant L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a number of days (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) prior to the last day of such twelve month period to be agreed upon by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Borrower at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the relevant L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.

(iv) Promptly after issuance of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

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(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations. (i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify promptly the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in such Approved Currency, unless the L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Company of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time), in the case of a drawing in Dollars, or 2:00 p.m. (London time) (or, if earlier, 9:00 a.m. New York city time), in the case of a drawing in an Approved Foreign Currency, on (1) the next Business Day immediately following any payment by an L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit that the Borrower receives notice thereof (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing in the relevant Approved Currency; provided that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with a Revolving Credit Borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility or a Swing Line Borrowing under the Swing Line Facility in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Revolving Credit Borrowing or Swing Line Borrowing, as applicable. In the event that (x) a drawing denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency is to be reimbursed in Dollars pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.03(c)(i) and (y) the Dollar amount paid by the Borrower, whether on or after the Honor Date, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in the applicable Approved Foreign Currency equal to the drawing, the Borrower agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the L/C Issuer for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase the Approved Currency in the full amount of the drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof) (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as applicable, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Appropriate Lenders and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii) Each Appropriate Lender (including any Lender acting as an L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer in Dollars at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided

 

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for under this Agreement of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Appropriate Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan that is a Base Rate Loan or Eurocurrency Rate Loan, as applicable, to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall promptly remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer in Dollars.

(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as applicable, because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest (which begins to accrue upon funding by the L/C Issuer) at the Default Rate for Revolving Credit Loans. In such event, each Appropriate Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iv) Until each Appropriate Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. A certificate of the relevant L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(d) Repayment of Participations. (i) If, at any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement hereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Appropriate Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing.

(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by it and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Loan Party may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the relevant L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

 

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(v) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from the Guaranty or any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of any Loan Party in respect of such Letter of Credit;

(vi) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Approved Foreign Currency to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally; and

(vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party;

provided that the foregoing shall not excuse any L/C Issuer from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such L/C Issuer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.

(f) Role of L/C Issuers. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Lenders holding a majority of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Issuance Request. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 2.03(e); provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit, in each case as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

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(g) Cash Collateral. If (i) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, (ii) any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Lenders holding a majority of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, require the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02 or (iii) an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) occurs and is continuing, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such Event of Default or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, as the case may be), and shall do so not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time on (x) in the case of the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii), (1) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice thereof, if such notice is received on such day prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time or (2) if clause (1) above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice and (y) in the case of the immediately preceding clause (iii), the Business Day on which an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) occurs or, if such day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately succeeding such day. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). For purposes hereof, “ Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant L/C Issuer and the Appropriate Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances (“ Cash Collateral ”) pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Appropriate Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Revolving Credit Lenders of the applicable Facility, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in a Cash Collateral Account and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents as directed by the Borrower. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are expressly subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the Cash Collateral Account, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the then Outstanding Amount of such L/C Obligations and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Borrower. To the extent any Event of Default giving rise to the requirement to Cash Collateralize any Letter of Credit pursuant to this Section 2.03(g) is cured or otherwise waived by the Required Lenders, then so long as no other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all Cash Collateral pledged to Cash Collateralize such Letter of Credit shall be refunded to the Borrower.

 

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(h) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility (in accordance with their Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement) a Letter of Credit fee in Dollars for each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement equal to the Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit if such maximum amount increases periodically pursuant to the terms of such Letter of Credit); provided , however , any Letter of Credit fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Pro Rata Shares allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.17(a)(iv), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be due and payable in Dollars on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in any Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by such Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it equal to 0.125% per annum of the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit if such maximum amount increases periodically pursuant to the terms of such Letter of Credit). Such fronting fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fees shall be due and payable in Dollars on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within ten (10) Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.

(j) Conflict with Letter of Credit Issuance Request. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the terms hereof shall control.

(k) Addition of an L/C Issuer. A Revolving Credit Lender may become an additional L/C Issuer hereunder pursuant to a written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer.

(l) Letter of Credit Amounts . Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit

 

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in effect at such time; provided , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

(m) Reporting . Each L/C Issuer will report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each calendar month, the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the last Business Day of the preceding calendar month (and on such other dates as the Administrative Agent may request), (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance or amendment, and the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and such L/C Issuer shall advise the Administrative Agent on such Business Day whether such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred and whether the amount thereof changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer makes any L/C Disbursement, the date and amount of such L/C Disbursement and (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse an L/C Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such L/C Issuer on such day, the date and amount of such failure.

(n) Provisions Related to Letters of Credit in respect of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments . If the Letter of Credit Expiration Date in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments occurs prior to the expiry date of any Letter of Credit, then (i) if consented to by the L/C Issuer which issued such Letter of Credit, if one or more other tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of which the Letter of Credit Expiration Date shall not have so occurred are then in effect, such Letters of Credit for which consent has been obtained shall automatically be deemed to have been issued (including for purposes of the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Credit Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and (d)) under (and ratably participated in by Lenders pursuant to) the Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of such non-terminating tranches up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of the unutilized Revolving Credit Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be so reallocated) and (ii) to the extent not reallocated pursuant to immediately preceding clause (i), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.03(g). Upon the maturity date of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Letters of Credit may be reduced as agreed between the L/C Issuers and the Borrower, without the consent of any other Person.

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

SECTION 2.04 Swing Line Loans.

(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, in its capacity as Swing Line Lender, agrees to make loans in Dollars to the

 

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Borrower (each such loan, a “ Swing Line Loan ”), from time to time on any Business Day during the period beginning on the Business Day after the Closing Date and until the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Swing Line Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided that, after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect; provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the requested borrowing date and shall specify (i) the principal amount to be borrowed, which principal amount shall be a minimum of $500,000 (and any amount in excess of $500,000 shall be in integral multiples of $100,000) and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any Swing Line Loan Notice (by telephone or in writing), the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Revolving Credit Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. New York City time on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.04 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Swing Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing Line Loan at a time when a Revolving Credit Lender is a Defaulting Lender unless the Swing Line Lender has entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to it and the Borrower to eliminate the Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the

 

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Defaulting Lender’s or Defaulting Lenders’ participation in such Swing Line Loans, including by Cash Collateralizing, or obtaining a backstop letter of credit from an issuer reasonably satisfactory to the Swing Line Lender to support, such Defaulting Lender’s or Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Swing Line Loans.

(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans. (i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes such Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Credit Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving Credit Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by the Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the

 

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Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) (but not to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations. (i) At any time after any Revolving Credit Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.

(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Base Rate Loan, Eurocurrency Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

(g) Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments . If the maturity date shall have occurred in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments (the “ Expiring Credit Commitment ”) at a time when another tranche or tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments is or are in effect with a longer maturity date (each a “ Non-Expiring Credit Commitment ” and collectively, the “ Non-Expiring Credit Commitments ”), then with respect to each outstanding Swing Line Loan, if consented to by the applicable Swing Line Lender, on the earliest occurring maturity date such Swing Line Loan shall be deemed reallocated to the tranche or tranches of the Non-Expiring Credit Commitments on a pro rata basis; provided that (x) to the extent that the amount of such reallocation would cause the aggregate credit exposure to exceed the aggregate amount of such Non-Expiring Credit Commitments, immediately prior to such reallocation the amount of Swing Line Loans to be reallocated equal to such excess shall be repaid or Cash Collateralized and (y) notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall still be obligated to pay Swing Line Loans allocated to the Revolving Credit Lenders holding the Expiring Credit Commitments at the maturity date of the Expiring Credit Commitment or if the Loans have been accelerated prior to the maturity date of the Expiring Credit Commitment.

 

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Upon the maturity date of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Swing Line Loans may be reduced as agreed between the Swing Line Lender and the Borrower, without the consent of any other Person.

SECTION 2.05 Prepayments.

(a) Optional. (i) The Borrower may, upon, subject to clause (iii) below, written notice to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty (subject to Section 2.05(a)(iv); provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (B) one (1) Business Day prior to any prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (2) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a minimum Principal Amount of $2,000,000, or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (3) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum Principal Amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire Principal Amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon to such date, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. In the case of each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a), the Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Borrowing or Borrowings and, subject to the pro rata application within any Class of Loans, any Class to be repaid, and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares or other applicable share as provided for under this Agreement ; provided that no Series B-2 Term Loans may be optionally prepaid prior to the date on which the Series B-1 Term Loans are repaid in full, unless such optional prepayment is accompanied by at least a pro rata optional prepayment of such Series B-1 Term Loans. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower may prepay Series B-1 Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(i) without any requirement to prepay Series B-2 Term Loans . .

(ii) The Borrower may, upon, subject to clause (iii) below, written notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. noon New York City time on the date of the prepayment, and (2) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum Principal Amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, subject to the payment of any amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.05, the Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Sections 2.05(a)(i) or 2.05(a)(ii) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Facility, which refinancing shall not

 

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be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed. Each prepayment of any Class of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied in an order of priority to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.07(a) as directed by the Borrower and, absent such direction, shall be applied in direct order of maturity to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.07(a).

(iv) In the event that, on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Amendment No. 1 3 Effective Date, the Borrower (x) prepays, refinances, substitutes or replaces any Series B-2 Term Loans pursuant to a Repricing Transaction (including, for avoidance of doubt, any prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iv) that constitutes a Repricing Transaction), or (y) effects any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable Term Lenders, (I) in the case of clause (x), a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series B-2 Term Loans so prepaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced and (II) in the case of clause (y), a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series B-2 Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendment. If, on or prior to the six month anniversary of the Closing Amendment No.  3 Effective Date, any Term Lender in respect of any Series B-2 Term Loans that is a Non-Consenting Lender and is replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) in connection with any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, such Term Lender (and not any Person who replaces such Term Lender pursuant to Section 3.07(a)) shall receive its pro rata portion (as determined immediately prior to it being so replaced) of the prepayment premium or fee described in the preceding sentence. Such amounts shall be due and payable on the date of effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction.

(v) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and no proceeds of Revolving Credit Borrowings are applied to fund any such repayment, any Company Party may prepay the outstanding Term Loans (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be automatically and permanently canceled immediately upon such prepayment) (or Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries may purchase such outstanding Loans and immediately cancel them) on the following basis:

(A) Any Company Party shall have the right to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers (any such prepayment, the “ Discounted Term Loan Prepayment ”), in each case made in accordance with this Section 2.05(a)(v); provided that no Company Party shall initiate any action under this Section 2.05(a)(v) in order to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment unless (I) at least ten (10) Business Days shall have passed since the consummation of the most recent Discounted Term Loan Prepayment as a result of a prepayment made by a Company Party on the applicable Discounted Prepayment Effective Date; or (II) at least three Business Days shall have passed since the date the Company Party was notified that no Term Lender was willing to accept any prepayment of any Term Loan at the Specified Discount, within the Discount Range or at any discount to par value, as applicable, or in the case of Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers, the date of any Company Party’s election not to accept any Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

(B) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Specified Discount Prepayment

 

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Notice; provided that (I) any such offer shall be made available, at the sole discretion of the Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Term Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis ( provided that no such offer in respect of the Series B-2 Term Loans shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) prior to the date on which the Series B-1 Term Loans are repaid in full, unless such offer is accompanied by at least a pro rata offer in respect of the Series B-1 Term Loans)  ( II) any such offer shall specify the aggregate principal amount offered to be prepaid (the “ Specified Discount Prepayment Amount ”) with respect to each applicable tranche, the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the specific percentage discount to par (the “ Specified Discount ”) of such Term Loans to be prepaid (it being understood that different Specified Discounts and/or Specified Discount Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)), (III) the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such offer shall remain outstanding through the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Specified Discount Prepayment Notice and a form of the Specified Discount Prepayment Response to be completed and returned by each such Term Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “ Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date ”).

(2) Each Term Lender receiving such offer shall notify the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date whether or not it agrees to accept a prepayment of any of its applicable then outstanding Term Loans at the Specified Discount and, if so (such accepting Lender, a “ Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender ”), the amount and the tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans to be prepaid at such offered discount. Each acceptance of a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by a Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender shall be irrevocable. Any Term Lender whose Specified Discount Prepayment Response is not received by the Auction Agent by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept the applicable Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment.

(3) If there is at least one Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender, the relevant Company Party will make a prepayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this paragraph (B) to each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender in accordance with the respective outstanding amount and tranches of Term Loans specified in such Lender’s Specified Discount Prepayment Response given pursuant to subsection (2) above; provided that if the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans accepted for prepayment by all Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders exceeds the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount, such prepayment shall be made pro rata among the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts accepted to be prepaid by each such Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “ Specified Discount Proration ”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within three Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such offer, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date and (III) each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender of the Specified Discount Proration, if

 

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any, and confirmation of the principal amount, tranche and Type of Term Loans of such Lender to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the Company Party and such Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(C) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time solicit Discount Range Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of such Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Term Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the relevant Term Loans (the “ Discount Range Prepayment Amount ”), the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the maximum and minimum percentage discounts to par (the “ Discount Range ”) of the principal amount of such Term Loans with respect to each relevant tranche of Term Loans willing to be prepaid by such Company Party (it being understood that different Discount Ranges and/or Discount Range Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)), (III) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by a Company Party shall remain outstanding through the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Discount Range Prepayment Notice and a form of the Discount Range Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “ Discount Range Prepayment Response Date” ). Each Term Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer shall be irrevocable and shall specify a discount to par within the Discount Range (the “ Submitted Discount ”) at which such Lender is willing to allow prepayment of any or all of its then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable tranche or tranches and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans (the “ Submitted Amount ”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Submitted Discount. Any Term Lender whose Discount Range Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount to their par value within the Discount Range.

(2) The Auction Agent shall review all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received on or before the applicable Discount Range Prepayment Response Date and shall determine (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the Applicable Discount and Term Loans to be prepaid at such Applicable Discount in accordance with this subsection (C). The relevant Company Party agrees to accept on the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, in the order from the Submitted Discount that is the largest discount to par to the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par, up to and including the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range (such Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range being referred to as the “ Applicable Discount ”) which yields a

 

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Discounted Term Loan Prepayment in an aggregate principal amount equal to the lower of (I) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount and (II) the sum of all Submitted Amounts. Each Term Lender that has submitted a Discount Range Prepayment Offer to accept prepayment at a discount to par that is larger than or equal to the Applicable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Submitted Amount (subject to any required proration pursuant to the following subsection (3)) at the Applicable Discount (each such Term Lender, a “ Participating Lender ”).

(3) If there is at least one Participating Lender, the relevant Company Party will prepay the respective outstanding Term Loans of each Participating Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer at the Applicable Discount; provided that if the Submitted Amount by all Participating Lenders offered at a discount to par greater than the Applicable Discount exceeds the Discount Range Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the relevant Term Loans for those Participating Lenders whose Submitted Discount is a discount to par greater than or equal to the Applicable Discount (the “ Identified Participating Lenders ”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Participating Lenders in accordance with the Submitted Amount of each such Identified Participating Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “ Discount Range Proration ”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within five (5) Business Days following the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such solicitation, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount and tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Participating Lender of the aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Participating Lender of the Discount Range Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the relevant Company Party and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(D) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time solicit Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of such Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Lender with respect to any Class of Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate amount of the Term Loans (the “ Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount ”) and the tranche or tranches of Term Loans the Borrower is willing to prepay at a discount (it being understood that different Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of

 

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this Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)), (III) the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by a Company Party shall remain outstanding through the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice and a form of the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Term Lenders (the “ Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date ”). Each Term Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer shall (x) be irrevocable, (y) remain outstanding until the Acceptance Date, and (z) specify both a discount to par (the “ Offered Discount ”) at which such Term Lender is willing to allow prepayment of its then outstanding Term Loan and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Term Loans (the “ Offered Amount ”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Offered Discount. Any Term Lender whose Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount.

(2) The Auction Agent shall promptly provide the relevant Company Party with a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received on or before the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. Such Company Party shall review all such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers and select the largest of the Offered Discounts specified by the relevant responding Term Lenders in the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers that is acceptable to the Company Party (the “ Acceptable Discount ”), if any. If the Company Party elects to accept any Offered Discount as the Acceptable Discount, then as soon as practicable after the determination of the Acceptable Discount, but in no event later than by the third Business Day after the date of receipt by such Company Party from the Auction Agent of a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers pursuant to the first sentence of this subsection (2) (the “ Acceptance Date ”), the Company Party shall submit an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice to the Auction Agent setting forth the Acceptable Discount. If the Auction Agent shall fail to receive an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice from the Company Party by the Acceptance Date, such Company Party shall be deemed to have rejected all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

(3) Based upon the Acceptable Discount and the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, within three Business Days after receipt of an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice (the “ Discounted Prepayment Determination Date ”), the Auction Agent will determine (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans (the “ Acceptable Prepayment Amount ”) to be prepaid by the relevant Company Party at the Acceptable Discount in accordance with this Section 2.05(a)(v)(D). If the Company Party elects to accept any Acceptable Discount, then the Company Party agrees to accept all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, in the order from largest Offered Discount to smallest Offered Discount, up to and including the Acceptable Discount. Each Term Lender that has submitted a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer with an Offered Discount that is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Offered Amount (subject to any required pro rata reduction pursuant to the following sentence) at the Acceptable Discount (each such Lender, a “ Qualifying Lender ”). The Company Party will prepay outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (D) to each Qualifying Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the

 

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tranches specified in such Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer at the Acceptable Discount; provided that if the aggregate Offered Amount by all Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount exceeds the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the Term Loans for those Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount (the “ Identified Qualifying Lenders ”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Qualifying Lenders in accordance with the Offered Amount of each such Identified Qualifying Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “ Solicited Discount Proration ”). On or prior to the Discounted Prepayment Determination Date, the Auction Agent shall promptly notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and Acceptable Prepayment Amount comprising the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Acceptable Discount, and the Acceptable Prepayment Amount of all Term Loans and the tranches to be prepaid to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Qualifying Lender of the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Acceptable Discount on such date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Qualifying Lender of the Solicited Discount Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to such Company Party and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to such Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(E) In connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the Company Parties and the Term Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may require as a condition to any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the payment of customary fees and expenses from a Company Party in connection therewith.

(F) If any Term Loan is prepaid in accordance with paragraphs (B) through (D) above, a Company Party shall prepay such Term Loans on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. The relevant Company Party shall make such prepayment to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and all such prepayments shall be applied to the remaining principal installments of the relevant tranche of Loans on a pro rata basis across such installments. The Term Loans so prepaid shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the par principal amount so prepaid up to, but not including, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. Each prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) shall be paid to the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, and shall be applied to the relevant Loans of such Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share. The aggregate principal amount of the tranches and installments of the relevant Term Loans outstanding shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the tranches of Term Loans prepaid on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment. In connection with each prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v), the relevant Company Party shall waive any right to bring any action against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, in connection with any such Discounted Term Loan Prepayment.

 

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(G) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Term Loan Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to procedures consistent with the provisions in this Section 2.05(a)(v), established by the Auction Agent acting in its reasonable discretion and as reasonably agreed by the Borrower.

(H) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 2.05(a)(v), each notice or other communication required to be delivered or otherwise provided to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) shall be deemed to have been given upon Auction Agent’s (or its delegate’s) actual receipt during normal business hours of such notice or communication; provided that any notice or communication actually received outside of normal business hours shall be deemed to have been given as of the opening of business on the next Business Day.

(I) Each of the Company Parties and the Term Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may perform any and all of its duties under this Section 2.05(a)(v) by itself or through any Affiliate of the Auction Agent and expressly consents to any such delegation of duties by the Auction Agent to such Affiliate and the performance of such delegated duties by such Affiliate. The exculpatory provisions pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to each Affiliate of the Auction Agent and its respective activities in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment provided for in this Section 2.05(a)(v) as well as activities of the Auction Agent.

(J) Each Company Party shall have the right, by written notice to the Auction Agent, to revoke in full (but not in part) its offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and rescind the applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Notice, Discount Range Prepayment Notice or Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice therefor at its discretion at any time on or prior to the applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date (and if such offer is revoked pursuant to the preceding clauses, any failure by such Company Party to make any prepayment to a Lender, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 or otherwise).

(b) Mandatory. (i) Within five (5) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the Borrower shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(ix) below, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to (A) the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements minus (B) the sum of (1) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans made during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (including the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans prepaid pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v) during such time) and (2) all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due to the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments, in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (1) and (2), to the extent such prepayments are funded with the internally generated cash and, without duplication of any deduction from Excess Cash Flow in any prior period.

(ii) If (x) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower Disposes of any property or assets (other than any Disposition of any property or assets permitted by Sections 7.05 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (k), (l), (m) (except to the extent such property is subject to a Mortgage), (o), (p), (q), (s) or (t)), or (y) any Casualty Event occurs, which results in the realization

 

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or receipt by the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary of Net Proceeds, the Borrower shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(ix) below, on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds, subject to clause (b)(xi) below, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received; provided that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower is required to offer to repurchase any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt (or any Permitted Refinancing thereof that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations) pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with the Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event (such Indebtedness required to be offered to be so repurchased, “ Other Applicable Indebtedness ”), then the Borrower may apply such Net Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness at such time); provided, further, that (A) the portion of such Net Proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such Net Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such Net Proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii) shall be reduced accordingly and (B) to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof.

(iii) [Reserved].

(iv) If the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness not prohibited under Section 7.03 (excluding Section 7.03(t)), the Borrower shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(ix) below an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds.

(v) If for any reason the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures at any time exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of the termination of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments on the Maturity Date with respect thereto), the Borrower shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(v) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans such aggregate Outstanding Amount exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect.

(vi) Except with respect to Loans incurred in connection with any Refinancing Amendment, Term Loan Extension Request, Revolver Extension Request or any Incremental Amendment (which may be prepaid on a less than pro rata basis in accordance with its terms), (A) each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied ratably to each Class of Term Loans then outstanding ( provided that (i) any prepayment of Term Loans with the Net Proceeds of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be applied solely to each applicable Class of Refinanced Debt, and (ii) any Class of Incremental Term Loans may specify that one or

 

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more other Classes of Term Loans and Incremental Term Loans may be prepaid prior to such Class of Incremental Term Loans ; provided, further , that the Borrower may elect to apply prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) (i) to the Series B-1 Term Loans until such Series B-1 Term Loans are repaid in full, prior to any prepayment of Series B-2 Term Loans, and (ii) to Series B-2 Term Loans if accompanied by at least a pro rata prepayment of Series B-1 Term Loans ); (B) with respect to each Class of Term Loans, each prepayment pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied to the scheduled installments of principal thereof following the date of prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(a) in direct order of maturity; and (C) each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares of such prepayment.

(vii) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) at least four (4) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the contents of the Borrower’s prepayment notice and of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the prepayment.

(viii) Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be made together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of Section 2.05(b), so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.05(b), prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit the amount of any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder into a Cash Collateral Account until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05(b). Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05(b).

(ix) Term Opt-out of Prepayment . With respect to each prepayment of Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (A) each Lender of Term Loans will have the right to refuse such offer of prepayment by giving written notice of such refusal to the Administrative Agent within one (1) Business Day after such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of such offer of prepayment (and the Borrower shall not prepay any Term Loans of such Lender on the date that is specified in clause (B) below), (B) the Borrower will make all such prepayments not so refused upon the fourth Business Day after delivery of notice by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(vii) and (C) any prepayment refused by Lenders of Term Loans may be retained by the Borrower.

(x) In connection with any mandatory prepayments by the Borrower of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b), such prepayments shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable Class or Classes 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 2.05(b)(ix), then, with respect to such mandatory

 

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prepayment, the amount of such mandatory prepayment within any tranche of Term Loans shall be applied first to Term Loans of such tranche that are Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Term Loans of such tranche that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.05.

(xi) Foreign Dispositions . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.05, (i) to the extent that any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Disposition by a Foreign Subsidiary (“ Foreign Disposition ”) or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, the portion of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.05 but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation to the United States (the Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law to permit such repatriation), and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that, in each case, would otherwise be required to be used to make an offer of prepayment pursuant to Sections 2.05(b)(i) or 2.05(b)(ii), is permitted under the applicable local law, such repatriation will be immediately effected and such repatriated Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05 and (ii) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition or Foreign Subsidiary Excess Cash Flow would have material adverse tax cost consequences with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary; provided that in the case of this clause (ii), on or before the date on which any such Net Proceeds so retained would otherwise have been required to be applied to reinvestments or prepayments pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or any such Excess Cash Flow would have been required to be applied to prepayments pursuant to Section 2.05(b), the Borrower applies an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow to such reinvestments or prepayments, as applicable, as if such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been received by the Borrower rather than such Foreign Subsidiary, less the amount of additional taxes that would have been payable or reserved against if such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been repatriated (or, if less, the Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that would be calculated if received by such Foreign Subsidiary).

SECTION 2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Optional. The Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the unused Commitments of any Class, or from time to time permanently reduce the unused Commitments of any Class, in each case without premium or penalty; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000, or any whole multiple of $1,000,000, in excess thereof or, if less, the entire amount thereof and (iii) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The amount of any such Commitment reduction shall not otherwise be applied to the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit unless otherwise specified by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the applicable Facility, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.

 

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(b) Mandatory. The Series B-1 Term Commitment and Series B-2 Term Commitment of each Term Lender of each Class shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the conversions or deemed conversions of Term Loans of such Class as set forth in Section 2.01(a). The Revolving Credit Commitment of each Class shall automatically and permanently terminate on the Maturity Date with respect to such Class of Revolving Credit Commitments.

(c) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Appropriate Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused portions of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit or the unused Commitments of any Class under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.07). All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

SECTION 2.07 Repayment of Loans.

(a) Term Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Term Lenders, (i) with respect to Series B- 1 Term Loans, on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first full quarter after the Closing Date, an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Series B-1 Term Loans outstanding on the Closing Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section  2.05, and it being understood that as of the Amendment No.1 Effective Date, as a result of the application of prepayments prior to such date, the amount of repayments required by this clause (i)  shall be zero), (ii) with respect to Series B- 2 Term Loans, on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with September June 30, 2016 2017 , an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Series B-2 Term Loans outstanding on the Amendment No.  1 3 Effective Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.05) and ( iii ii ) on the applicable Maturity Date for the Series B-1 Term Loans and the Series B-2 Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Series B- 1 Term Loans and Series B- 2 Term Loans , respectively, outstanding on such date. In the event any Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans are made, such Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be repaid by the Borrower in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment with respect thereto and on the applicable Maturity Date thereof.

(b) Revolving Credit Loans . The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders on the applicable Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facilities of a given Class the aggregate principal amount of all of its Revolving Credit Loans of such Class outstanding on such date.

(c) Swing Line Loans . The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date five (5) Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility (although Swing Line Loans may thereafter be reborrowed, in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, if there are one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Commitments which remain in effect).

 

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SECTION 2.08 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan (other than a Swing Line Loan) shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans.

(b) During the continuance of a Default under Section 8.01(a), the Borrower shall pay interest on past due amounts owing by it hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws; provided that no interest at the Default Rate shall accrue or be payable to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. Accrued and unpaid interest on such amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

SECTION 2.09 Fees.

In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(h) and (i):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender under each Facility in accordance with its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement, a commitment fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate with respect to Revolving Credit Loan commitment fees, times the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment for the applicable Facility exceeds the sum of (A) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans for such Facility and (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations for such Facility; provided that any commitment fee accrued with respect to any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrower so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, except to the extent that such commitment fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrower prior to such time; and provided , further , that no commitment fee shall accrue on any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. The commitment fee on each Revolving Credit Facility shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Commitments, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date during the first full fiscal quarter to occur after the Closing Date and on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Commitments. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if

 

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there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Agent).

SECTION 2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.

All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the Prime Rate shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days, or three hundred and sixty-six (366) days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred and sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness.

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c), as agent for the Borrower, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records and, in the case of the Administrative Agent, entries in the Register, evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

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(c) Entries made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to Sections 2.11(a) and (b), and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Sections 2.11(a) and (b), shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, absent manifest error; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 2.12 Payments Generally.

(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to an Approved Foreign Currency, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments and in Same Day Funds not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder in an Approved Foreign Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in such Approved Foreign Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. (London time) (or, if earlier, 9:00 a.m. New York city time) on the dates specified herein. If, for any reason, the Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Approved Foreign Currency, the Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Approved Foreign Currency payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Appropriate Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after the time specified above shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, if any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

(c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds, then:

(i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made

 

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available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the applicable Overnight Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing; and

(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment (including, without limitation, failure to fund participations in respect of any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan), such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “ Compensation Period ”) at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount (including, without limitation, failure to fund participations in respect of any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan) forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV or in the applicable Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation.

(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(g) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the

 

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Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 8.04. If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law), but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

SECTION 2.13 Sharing of Payments.

If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement as in effect from time to time (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant permitted hereunder. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.13 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

 

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SECTION 2.14 Incremental Credit Extensions.

(a) Incremental Commitments . The Borrower may at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent (an “ Incremental Loan Request ”), request (A) one or more new commitments which may be in the same Facility as any outstanding Term Loans of an existing Class of Term Loans (a “ Term Loan Increase ”) or a new Class of term loans (collectively with any Term Loan Increase, the “ Incremental Term Commitments ”) and/or (B) one or more increases in the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments (a “ Revolving Commitment Increase ”) or the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (any such new commitments, collectively with any Revolving Commitment Increases, the “ Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments ” and the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, collectively with any Incremental Term Commitments, the “ Incremental Commitments ”), whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders.

(b) Incremental Loans . Any Incremental Commitments effected through the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments or new Term Loans made on an Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be designated a separate Class of Incremental Commitments for all purposes of this Agreement. On any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which any Incremental Term Commitments of any Class are effected (including through any Term Loan Increase), subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions in this Section 2.14, (i) each Incremental Term Lender of such Class shall make a Loan to the Borrower (or any Loan Party organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof) (an “ Incremental Term Loan ”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Commitment of such Class and (ii) each Incremental Term Lender of such Class shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Term Commitment of such Class and the Incremental Term Loans of such Class made pursuant thereto. On any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class are effected through the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (including through any Revolving Commitment Increase), subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions in this Section 2.14, (i) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender of such Class shall make its Commitment available to the Borrower (or any Loan Party organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, that may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof) (when borrowed, an “ Incremental Revolving Credit Loan ” and collectively with any Incremental Term Loan, an “ Incremental Loan ”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class and (ii) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender of such Class shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class and the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans of such Class made pursuant thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incremental Term Loans may have identical terms to any of the Term Loans and be treated as the same Class as any of such Term Loans.

(c) Incremental Loan Request . Each Incremental Loan Request from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall set forth the requested amount, the Approved Currency and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments. Incremental Term Loans may be made, and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments may be provided, by any existing Lender (but each existing Lender will not have an obligation to make any Incremental Commitment, nor will the Borrower have any obligation to approach any existing lenders to provide any Incremental Commitment) or by any other bank or other financial institution (any such other bank or other financial institution being called an “ Additional Lender ”) (each such existing Lender or Additional Lender providing such, an “ Incremental Revolving Credit Lender ” or “ Incremental Term Lender ,” as applicable, and, collectively, the “ Incremental Lenders ”); provided that (i) the Administrative Agent, each Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer shall have consented (not to be

 

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unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Lender’s or Additional Lender’s making such Incremental Term Loans or providing such Revolving Commitment Increases to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, to such Lender or Additional Lender, (ii) with respect to Incremental Term Commitments, any Affiliated Lender providing an Incremental Term Commitment shall be subject to the same restrictions set forth in Section 10.07(l) as they would otherwise be subject to with respect to any purchase by or assignment to such Affiliated Lender of Term Loans and (iii) Affiliated Lenders may not provide Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments.

(d) Effectiveness of Incremental Amendment . The effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment, and the Incremental Commitments thereunder, shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (the “ Incremental Facility Closing Date ”) of each of the following conditions:

(i) (x) if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, or (y) if otherwise, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments;

(ii) after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, the conditions of Sections 4.02(i) and (ii) shall be satisfied (it being understood that all references to “the date of such Credit Extension” or similar language in such Section 4.02 shall be deemed to refer to the effective date of such Incremental Amendment); provided that if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, (x) the reference in 4.02(i) to the accuracy of the representations and warranties shall refer to the accuracy of the representations and warranties that would constitute Specified Representations 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;

(iii) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.11 if such covenant is then in effect, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the Incremental Facility Closing Date and the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, as if any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, available under such Incremental Commitments had been outstanding on the last day of such fiscal quarter of the Borrower for testing compliance therewith, and, in each case (x) with respect to any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, assuming a borrowing of the maximum amount of Loans available thereunder, and (y) without netting the cash proceeds of any such Incremental Loans;

(iv) each Incremental Term Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $20,000,000 and shall be in an increment of $1,000,000 ( provided that such amount may be less than $20,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in the next sentence) and each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000 and shall be in an increment of $1,000,000 ( provided that such amount may be less than $5,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in the next sentence);

(v) the aggregate amount of the Incremental Term Loans and the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall not exceed the sum of (A) $1,500,000,000 less the aggregate

 

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principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(q) at or prior to such time plus (B) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans and voluntary commitment reductions of Revolving Credit Commitments prior to or simultaneous with the Incremental Facility Closing Date (excluding voluntary prepayments of Incremental Term Loans and voluntary commitment reductions of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, to the extent such Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments were obtained pursuant to clause (C) below), plus (C) additional amounts so long as the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, as if any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, available under such Incremental Commitments had been outstanding on the last day of such period, and, in each case (x) with respect to any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, assuming a borrowing of the maximum amount of Loans available thereunder, and (y) without netting the cash proceeds of any such Incremental Loans, does not exceed 3.75 to 1.00; and

(vi) such other conditions as the Borrower, each Incremental Lender providing such Incremental Commitments and the Administrative Agent shall agree.

(e) Required Terms . The terms, provisions and documentation of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Commitments or the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be, of any Class shall be as agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments, and except as otherwise set forth herein, to the extent not identical to the Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, each existing on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, shall be reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent (it being understood that to the extent any financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of any Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Commitments or the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to the extent that such financial maintenance covenant is also added for the benefit of any corresponding existing Facility). In any event:

(i) the Incremental Term Loans:

(A) shall rank pari passu in right of payment and of security with the Revolving Credit Loans and the Term Loans,

(B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, shall not mature earlier than the Latest Maturity Date of any Term Loans outstanding at the time of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans,

(C) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Series B-2 Term Loans,

(D) shall have an Applicable Rate, and subject to clauses (e)(i)(B) and (e)(i)(C) above and clause (e)(iii) below, amortization determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Term Lenders, and

 

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(E) the Incremental Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory prepayments of Term Loans hereunder, as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment.

(ii) the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be identical to the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Revolving Credit Loans, other than the Maturity Date and as set forth in this Section 2.14(e)(ii); provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.14 or otherwise:

(A) any such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall rank pari passu in right of payment and of security with the Revolving Credit Loans and the Term Loans,

(B) any such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall not mature earlier than the Latest Maturity Date of any Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at the time of incurrence of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments,

(C) the borrowing and repayment (except for (1) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), (2) repayments required upon the maturity date of the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and (3) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments (subject to clause (E) below)) of Loans with respect to Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments after the associated Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date,

(D) subject to the provisions of Sections 2.03(n) and 2.04(g) to the extent dealing with Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit which mature or expire after a maturity date when there exists Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments with a longer maturity date, all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with Commitments in accordance with their percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date (and except as provided in Section 2.03(n) and Section 2.04(g), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier maturity date with respect to Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued),

(E) the permanent repayment of Revolving Credit Loans with respect to, and termination of, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments after the associated Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, except that the Borrower shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such Class on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class,

(F) assignments and participations of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, and

 

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(G) any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments may constitute a separate Class or Classes, as the case may be, of Commitments from the Classes constituting the applicable Revolving Credit Commitments prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date.

(iii) the amortization schedule applicable to any Incremental Loans and the All-In Yield applicable to the Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans of each Class shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable new Lenders and shall be set forth in each applicable Incremental Amendment; provided , however , that with respect to any Loans under Incremental Term Loan Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments made on or prior to the date that is 12 months after the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, if the All-In Yield applicable to such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be greater than the applicable All-In Yield payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as amended through the date of such calculation with respect to Series B-2 Term Loans by more than 50 basis points per annum (the amount of such excess, the “ Yield Differential ”) then the interest rate (together with, as provided in the proviso below, the Eurocurrency or Base Rate floor) with respect to the Series B-2 Term Loans shall be increased by the applicable Yield Differential; provided, further that, if any Incremental Term Loans include a Eurocurrency or Base Rate floor that is greater than the Eurocurrency or Base Rate floor applicable to the Series B-2 Term Loans, such differential between interest rate floors shall be included in the calculation of All-In Yield for purposes of this clause (iii) but only to the extent an increase in the Eurocurrency or Base Rate Floor applicable to the existing Series B-2 Term Loans would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect thereunder, and in such case the Eurocurrency and Base Rate floors (but not the Applicable Rate) applicable to the Series B-2 Term Loans shall be increased to the extent of such differential between interest rate floors.

(f) Incremental Amendment . Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall become Commitments (or in the case of an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment to be provided by an existing Revolving Credit Lender, an increase in such Lender’s applicable Revolving Credit Commitment), under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “ Incremental Amendment ”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, any Loan Party organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, that may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof (if any), each Incremental Lender providing such Commitments and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Loan Party, Agent or Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14. The Borrower (or any Loan Party organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, that may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof) will use the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, unless it so agrees.

(g) Reallocation of Revolving Credit Exposure . Upon any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments are effected through an increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.14, (a) if the increase relates to the Revolving Credit Facility, each of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall assign to each of the Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders, and each of the Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders shall purchase from each of the Revolving Credit Lenders, at the principal amount thereof, such interests in the Incremental

 

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Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such Incremental Facility Closing Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Credit Loans will be held by existing Revolving Credit Lenders and Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments after giving effect to the addition of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments to the Revolving Credit Commitments, (b) each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Credit Commitment and each Loan made thereunder shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Revolving Credit Loan and (c) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender shall become a Lender with respect to the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and all matters relating thereto. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing and prepayment requirements in Sections 2.02 and 2.05(a) of this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

(h) This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.15 Refinancing Amendments.

(a) On one or more occasions after the Closing Date, the Borrower may obtain, from any Lender or any other bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with this Section 2.15 (each, an “ Additional Refinancing Lender ”) ( provided that (i) the Administrative Agent, each Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Lender’s or Additional Refinancing Lender’s making such Refinancing Term Loans or providing such Other Revolving Credit Commitments to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, to such Lender or Additional Refinancing Lender, (ii) with respect to Refinancing Term Loans, any Affiliated Refinancing Lender providing an Refinancing Term Loans shall be subject to the same restrictions set forth in Section 10.07(l) as they would otherwise be subject to with respect to any purchase by or assignment to such Affiliated Lender of Term Loans and (iii) Affiliated Lenders may not provide Other Revolving Credit Commitments), Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of any Class of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans (or unused Revolving Credit Commitments) then outstanding under this Agreement, in the form of Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, or Other Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.15 or otherwise, (1) the borrowing and repayment (except for (A) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Other Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), (B) repayments required upon the maturity date of the Other Revolving Credit Commitments and (C) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments (subject to clause (3) below)) of Loans with respect to Other Revolving Credit Commitments after the date of obtaining any Other Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Revolving Credit Commitments, (2) subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(n) and 2.04(g) to the extent dealing with Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit which mature or expire after a maturity date when there exist Other Revolving Credit Commitments with a longer maturity date, all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with Commitments in accordance with their percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments (and except as provided in Section 2.03(n) and Section 2.04(g), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier maturity date with respect to Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued), (3) the permanent repayment of Revolving Credit Loans with respect to, and termination of,

 

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Other Revolving Credit Commitments after the date of obtaining any Other Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Revolving Credit Commitments, except that the Borrower shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such Class on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class and (4) assignments and participations of Other Revolving Credit Commitments and Other Revolving Credit Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans.

(b) The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) customary legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.

(c) Each issuance of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness under Section 2.15(a) shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (x) not less than $20,000,000 and (y) an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto and (ii) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the provisions and intent of the third paragraph of Section 10.01 (without the consent of the Required Lenders called for therein) and (iii) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.15, and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Refinancing Amendment.

SECTION 2.16 Extension of Term Loans; Extension of Revolving Credit Loans.

(a) Extension of Term Loans . The Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Term Loans of a given Class (each, an “ Existing Term Loan Tranche ”) be amended to extend the scheduled maturity date(s) with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so amended, “ Extended Term Loans ”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. In order to establish any Extended Term Loans, the Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Term Loan Tranche) (each, a “ Term Loan Extension Request ”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees payable) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche and (y) be identical to the Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans are to be amended, except that: (i) all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of

 

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principal of the Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (ii) the Effective Yield with respect to the Extended Term Loans (whether in the form of interest rate margin, upfront fees, original issue discount or otherwise) may be different than the Effective Yield for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Term Loans); and (iv) Extended Term Loans may have call protection as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Lenders thereof; provided that no Extended Term Loans may be optionally prepaid prior to the date on which the Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans were amended are repaid in full, unless such optional prepayment is accompanied by at least a pro rata optional prepayment of such Existing Term Loan Tranche; provided , however , that (A) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time a Term Loan Extension Request is delivered to Lenders, (B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, in no event shall the final maturity date of any Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date of any then existing Term Loans hereunder, (C) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof shall be no shorter (other than by virtue of amortization or prepayment of such Indebtedness prior to the time of incurrence of such Extended Term Loans) than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Existing Term Loan Tranche, (D) any such Extended Term Loans (and the Liens securing the same) shall be permitted by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements (to the extent any Intercreditor Agreement is then in effect), (E) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing and (F) any Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory repayments or prepayments hereunder, in each case as specified in the respective Term Loan Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to any Term Loan Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, a “ Term Loan Extension Series ”) of Extended Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Term Loans amended from an Existing Term Loan Tranche may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Term Loan Extension Series with respect to such Existing Term Loan Tranche. Each Term Loan Extension Series of Extended Term Loans incurred under this Section 2.16 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $20,000,000.

(b) Extension of Revolving Credit Commitments . The Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Class (each, an “ Existing Revolver Tranche ”) be amended to extend the Maturity Date with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Revolving Credit Commitments (any such Revolving Credit Commitments which have been so amended, “ Extended Revolving Credit Commitments ”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. In order to establish any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, the Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Revolver Tranche) (each, a “ Revolver Extension Request ”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments to be established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Revolver Tranche (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees payable) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Revolver Tranche and (y) be identical to the Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche from which

 

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such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments are to be amended, except that: (i) the Maturity Date of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be delayed to a later date than the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Existing Revolver Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (ii) the Effective Yield with respect to extensions of credit under the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (whether in the form of interest rate margin, upfront fees, commitment fees, original issue discount or otherwise) may be different than the Effective Yield for extensions of credit under the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Existing Revolver Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments); and (iv) all borrowings under the applicable Revolving Credit Commitments ( i.e ., the Existing Revolver Tranche and the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Revolver Extension Series) and repayments thereunder shall be made on a pro rata basis (except for (I) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings) and (II) repayments required upon the Maturity Date of the non-extending Revolving Credit Commitments); provided , further , that (A) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time a Revolver Extension Request is delivered to Lenders, (B) in no event shall the final maturity date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Revolver Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date of any other Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder, (C) any such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (and the Liens securing the same) shall be permitted by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements (to the extent any Intercreditor Agreement is then in effect) and (D) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing. Any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments amended pursuant to any Revolver Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, a “ Revolver Extension Series ”) of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments amended from an Existing Revolver Tranche may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Revolver Extension Series with respect to such Existing Revolver Tranche. Each Revolver Extension Series of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments incurred under this Section 2.16 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000.

(c) Extension Request . The Borrower shall provide the applicable Extension Request at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, are requested to respond, and shall agree to such procedures, if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.16. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Tranche amended into Extended Term Loans or any of its Revolving Credit Commitments amended into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, pursuant to any Extension Request. Any Lender holding a Loan under an Existing Term Loan Tranche (each, an “ Extending Term Lender ”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to such Extension Request amended into Extended Term Loans and any Revolving Credit Lender (each, an “ Extending Revolving Credit Lender ”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche subject to such Extension Request amended into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, shall notify the Administrative Agent (each, an “ Extension Election ”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the amount of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Revolving Credit Commitments under

 

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the Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, which it has elected to request be amended into Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable (subject to any minimum denomination requirements imposed by the Administrative Agent). In the event that the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, in respect of which applicable Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, shall have accepted the relevant Extension Request exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, requested to be extended pursuant to the Extension Request, Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, subject to Extension Elections shall be amended to Extended Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, on a pro rata basis (subject to rounding by the Administrative Agent, which shall be conclusive) based on the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, included in each such Extension Election.

(d) Extension Amendment . Extended Term Loans and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be established pursuant to an amendment (each, an “ Extension Amendment ”) to this Agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Extending Term Lender or Extending Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, providing an Extended Term Loan or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable, thereunder, which shall be consistent with the provisions set forth in Sections 2.16(a) or (b) above, respectively (but which shall not require the consent of any other Lender). The effectiveness of any Extension Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Extension Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to an Extension Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, incurred pursuant thereto, (ii) modify the scheduled repayments set forth in Section 2.07 with respect to any Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to an Extension Election to reflect a reduction in the principal amount of the Term Loans thereunder in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to the applicable Extension (with such amount to be applied ratably to reduce scheduled repayments of such Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.07), (iii) modify the prepayments set forth in Section 2.05 to reflect the existence of the Extended Term Loans and the application of prepayments with respect thereto, (iv) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the provisions and intent of the second paragraph of Section 10.01 (without the consent of the Required Lenders called for therein) and (v) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.16, and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Extension Amendment.

 

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(e) No conversion of Loans pursuant to any Extension in accordance with this Section 2.16 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.17 Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Adjustments . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments . That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 10.01.

(ii) Reallocation of Payments . Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Swing Line Loan or Letter of Credit; fourth , as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, that Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.17(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees . That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit fees as provided in Section 2.03(h).

 

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(iv) Reallocation of Pro Rata Share to Reduce Fronting Exposure . During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each Non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.04, the Pro Rata Share of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations shall be computed without giving effect to the Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided that (i) each such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and (ii) the aggregate obligation of each Non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Credit Commitment of that Non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of that Lender. Subject to Section 10.23, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share (without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE III

Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

SECTION 3.01 Taxes.

(a) Except as provided in this Section 3.01, any and all payments made by or on account of the Borrower (the term Borrower under Article III being deemed to include any Subsidiary for whose account a Letter of Credit is issued) or any Guarantor under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or withholdings (including backup withholding) or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority including interest, penalties and additions to tax (collectively “ Taxes ”), except as required by applicable Law. If the Borrower, any Guarantor or other applicable withholding agent shall be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum

 

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payable under any Loan Document to any Agent or any Lender, (A) to the extent the Tax in question is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by the Borrower or such Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01), each of such Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (B) the applicable withholding agent shall make such deductions, (C) the applicable withholding agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (D) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment (or, if receipts or evidence are not available within thirty (30) days, as soon as possible thereafter), if the Borrower or any Guarantor is the applicable withholding agent, shall furnish to such Agent or Lender (as the case may be) the original or a copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence reasonably acceptable to such Agent or Lender.

(b) In addition, each Loan Party agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise, property, intangible or mortgage recording taxes, or charges or levies of the same character, imposed by any Governmental Authority, which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document (including additions to tax, penalties and interest related thereto) excluding, in each case, such amounts that result from an Agent or Lender’s Assignment and Assumption, grant of a participation, transfer or assignment to or designation of a new applicable Lending Office or other office for receiving payments under any Loan Document (collectively, “ Assignment Taxes ”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes result from a connection that the Agent or Lender has with the taxing jurisdiction other than the connection arising out of the Loan Documents or the transactions therein, except for such Assignment Taxes resulting from assignment or participation that is requested or required in writing by the Borrower (all such non-excluded Taxes described in this Section 3.01(b) being hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”).

(c) Each Loan Party agrees to indemnify each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes payable by such Agent or such Lender and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability prepared in good faith by such Agent or Lender (or by an Agent on behalf of such Lender), accompanied by a written statement thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of such amounts shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Each Lender shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with any documentation prescribed by Law certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under the Loan Documents. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders such documentation obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, deliver promptly to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the applicable withholding agent) or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its inability to do so. Unless the applicable withholding agent has received forms or other documents satisfactory to it indicating that payments under any Loan Document to or for a Lender are not subject to withholding Tax or are subject to such Tax at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or other applicable withholding agent shall withhold amounts required to be withheld by applicable Law

 

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from such payments at the applicable statutory rate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (d), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this clause (d) that such Lender is not legally able to deliver. Without limiting the foregoing:

(i) Each Lender that is a United States person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement two properly completed and duly signed original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from federal backup withholding.

(ii) Each Lender that is not a United States person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement whichever of the following is applicable:

(A) two properly completed and duly signed original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, and such other documentation as required under the Code,

(B) two properly completed and duly signed original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(C) in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (a) a United States Tax Compliance Certificate and (b) two properly completed and duly signed original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor form), or

(D) to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, Form W-8IMY and/or any other required information from each beneficial owner, as applicable ( provided that if the Lender is a partnership, and one or more beneficial partners of such Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of such partner).

(iii) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA and, as necessary, to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.01(d)(iii), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.

 

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(e) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3.01 and Section 3.04(a) shall, if requested by the Borrower, use its reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office (or take any other measures reasonably requested by the Borrower) if such a change or other measures would reduce any such additional amounts (including any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue) and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, result in any unreimbursed cost or expense or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

(f) If any Lender or Agent receives a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by any Loan Party pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit such refund to such Loan Party (but only to the extent of indemnification or additional amounts paid by such Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such refund); provided that such Loan Party, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agrees promptly to return such refund (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant taxing authority) to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority. This section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other person.

(g) For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this Section 3.01 shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.

(h) For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) the Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

SECTION 3.02 Illegality.

If any Lender determines that any 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loans (whether denominated in Dollars or any other Approved Currency), or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies, or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all applicable Eurocurrency Rate 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or promptly, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted and all amounts due, if any, in connection with such prepayment or conversion under Section 3.05. Each Lender 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.

 

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SECTION 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.

If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan in a given Approved Currency, or that the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan in such Approved Currency does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, or that deposits in the applicable Approved Currency in which such proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan is to be denominated are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for the applicable amount and the Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan in the applicable Approved Currency, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected Approved Currency shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in the affected Approved Currency or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request, if applicable, into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loan in the amount specified therein.

SECTION 3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

(a) If any Lender reasonably determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, in each case after the Closing Date, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Eurocurrency Rate Loans or (as the case may be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.04(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, or any Taxes excluded from the definition of Indemnified Taxes under exceptions (i)(B) through (vi) thereof or (ii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c)) and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining the Eurocurrency Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligations to make any Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, then from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for all purposes under this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued; provided that to the extent any increased costs or reductions are incurred by any Lender as a result of any requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or pursuant to

 

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Basel III after the Closing Date, then such Lender shall be compensated pursuant to this Section 3.04 only if such Lender imposes such charges under other syndicated credit facilities involving similarly situated borrowers that such Lender is a lender under.

(b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the Closing Date, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such demand.

(c) The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves, capital or liquidity with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrower equal to the actual costs of such reserves, capital or liquidity allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio, capital or liquidity requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of any Eurocurrency Rate Loans of the Borrower, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan; provided the Borrower shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or cost from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or cost shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.

(e) If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.04, then such Lender will, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 3.04(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Sections 3.04(a), (b), (c) or (d).

SECTION 3.05 Funding Losses.

Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense actually incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrower on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan;

 

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(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrower on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower, including any loss or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained; or

(c) any failure by the Borrower to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a difference currency.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for the applicable currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

SECTION 3.06 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.

(a) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III shall deliver a certificate to the Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(b) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section 3.04, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or, if applicable, to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans (or, if such conversion is not possible, repaid) on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Sections 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

 

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(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans (if possible), and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Sections 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of any of such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans pursuant to this Section 3.06 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by other Lenders under the applicable Facility are outstanding, if applicable, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurocurrency Rate Loans under such Facility and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments for the applicable Facility.

SECTION 3.07 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.

(a) If at any time (i) the Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments described in Section 3.01 (with respect to Indemnified Taxes) or 3.04 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make any Eurocurrency Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at its sole cost and expense, on ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, (x) replace such Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clause (i) or, with respect to a Class vote, clause (iii)) to one or more Eligible Assignees; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided, further, that (A) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 (with respect to Indemnified Taxes), such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Eligible Assignees shall have agreed to, and shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of, the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents; or (y) terminate the Commitment of such Lender or L/C Issuer (in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clause (i) or clause (iii)), as the case may be, and (1) in the case of a Lender (other than an L/C Issuer), repay all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Lender relating to the Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date and (2) in the case of an L/C Issuer, repay all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such L/C Issuer relating to the Loans and participations held by the L/C Issuer as of such termination date and cancel or backstop on terms satisfactory to such L/C Issuer any Letters of Credit issued by it; provided that in the case of any such termination of a Non-Consenting Lender such termination shall be sufficient (together with all other

 

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consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents and such termination shall be in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clause (i) or, with respect to a Class vote, clause (iii).

(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(x) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s applicable Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans in respect thereof, and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, (B) all obligations of the Borrower owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans, Commitments and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender to such assigning Lender concurrently with such Assignment and Assumption and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, delivery to the assignee Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrower, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. In connection with any such replacement, if any such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such replacement within five (5) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender, then such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on the part of the Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (including the furnishing of a backup standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the depositing of cash collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to each such outstanding Letter of Credit and the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.09.

(d) In the event that (i) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested that the Lenders consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of each Lender, each affected Lender or each affected Lender of a certain Class in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 or all the Lenders with respect to a certain Class of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders (or, in the case of a consent, waiver or amendment involving all affected Lenders of a certain Class, the Required Class Lenders as applicable) have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “ Non-Consenting Lender .”

SECTION 3.08 Survival.

All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

SECTION 4.01 Conditions to Initial Credit Extension.

The obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or pdf copies or other facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:

(i) a Committed Loan Notice in accordance with the requirements hereof;

(ii) executed counterparts of this Agreement;

(iii) each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 1.01C required to be executed on the Closing Date as indicated on such schedule, duly executed by each Loan Party thereto, together with:

(A) certificates, if any, representing the Pledged Equity referred to therein accompanied by undated stock or membership interest powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt indorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Collateral Agent or its counsel); and

(B) evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Collateral Documents as of the Closing Date or that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(iv) [Reserved];

(v) such certificates of good standing (to the extent such concept exists) from the applicable secretary of state of the state of organization of each Loan Party, certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date;

(vi) an opinion from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York counsel to the Loan Parties;

(vii) a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Borrower (after giving effect to the Transactions) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit  E-2 ;

 

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(viii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(i) and (ii);

(ix) the Perfection Certificate, duly completed and executed by the Loan Parties; and

(x) copies of a recent Lien and judgment search in each jurisdiction reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Loan Parties.

(b) The Closing Fees and all fees and expenses due to the Lead Arrangers and their Affiliates required to be paid on the Closing Date and (in the case of expenses) invoiced at least three Business Days before the Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower) shall have been paid from the proceeds of the initial funding under the Facilities.

(c) Prior to or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Extensions, the Borrower shall have received at least $1,500,000,000 in gross cash proceeds from the issuance of the 5 5/8% Senior Notes, which proceeds shall have been, or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Extensions shall be, released from escrow, if applicable.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that prior to or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Extensions (i) the Refinancing has been consummated and (ii) the 8% Quarterly Interest Bonds due 2031 issued by Hilton Worldwide, Inc. have been called for redemption.

(e) The Lead Arrangers shall have received the Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements.

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received at least 3 days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Borrower and the Guarantors required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act that has been requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least 10 days prior to the Closing Date.

(g) Prior to or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Extensions, Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower shall have collectively received (i) at least $3,500,000,000 in gross cash proceeds from commercial mortgage backed securities financings and (ii) at least $525,000,000 in gross cash proceeds from a mortgage loan secured by the property known as the Waldorf-Astoria New York, in each case substantially on the terms disclosed to the Lead Arrangers prior to the Closing Date.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.03(b), for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, 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 or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

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SECTION 4.02 Conditions to All Credit Extensions.

The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and other than a Request for Credit Extension for an Incremental Facility which shall be governed by Section 2.14(d)) including on the Closing Date is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(i) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in Article V and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(ii) No Default shall exist or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.

(iii) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(i) and (ii) (or, in the case of a Request for Credit Extension for an Incremental Facility, the conditions specified in Section 2.14(d)) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V

Representations and Warranties

The Borrower and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors party hereto represent and warrant to the Agents, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders at the time of each Credit Extension that:

SECTION 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.

Each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) in the case of the Loan Parties, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws, orders, writs and injunctions and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case, referred to in clause (a) (other than with respect to the Borrower), (b)(i) (other than with respect to the Borrower), (c), (d) and (e), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention.

The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transactions, are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, (a) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and (b) do not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.01), or require any payment to be made under (x) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, or (iii) violate any applicable Law; except with respect to any conflict, breach or contravention or payment (but not creation of Liens) referred to in clause (b)(ii)(x), to the extent that such violation, conflict, breach, contravention or payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.

No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transactions, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (i) filings, recordings and registrations with Governmental Authorities necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (except to the extent not required to be obtained, taken, given or made or be in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement) and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.04 Binding Effect.

This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity, (ii) the need for filings, recordations and registrations necessary to create or perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties and (iii) the effect of foreign Laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges, if any, of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries.

SECTION 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) (i) The Audited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the periods covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

 

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(ii) The Unaudited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the periods covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

(b) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income and cash flow of Holdings and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such forecasts, it being understood that actual results may vary from such forecasts and that such variations may be material.

(c) Since June 30, 2013, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) As of the Closing Date, none of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has any Indebtedness or other obligations or liabilities, direct or contingent (other than (i) the liabilities reflected on Schedule 5.05, (ii) obligations arising under the Loan Documents or under the Senior Notes Documents or Opco Senior Notes Documents and (iii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business that, either individually or in the aggregate, have not had nor could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

SECTION 5.06 Litigation.

Except as set forth on Schedule 5.06 , there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.07 [Reserved].

SECTION 5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens; Real Property; Management Agreements and Franchise Agreements.

(a) The Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all Real Property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except as set forth on Schedule 5.08 hereto and except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes and Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and except where the failure to have such title or other interest could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) As of the Closing Date, Schedule 8 to the Perfection Certificate dated as of the Closing Date contain a true and complete list of each Material Real Property owned by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date.

(c) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) none of the management agreements or franchise agreements relating to Real Property owned or leased by any Loan Party requires or will require any Loan Party to pay any material property improvement plan fees or charges or requires or will require any Loan Party to renovate, update, upgrade, repair, enhance, or improve such Real Property as a result of the Transactions, and (ii) all management agreements and franchise agreements, to which any Loan Party is a party, relating to Real Property are in full force and effect and no consent is required in connection with any such agreements for the consummation of the Transactions, except as shall have been obtained prior to the Closing Date.

SECTION 5.09 Environmental Matters.

Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09(a) or except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Each Loan Party and its respective properties and operations are and, other than any matters which have been finally resolved, have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which includes obtaining, maintaining and complying with all applicable Environmental Permits required under such Environmental Laws to carry on the business of the Loan Parties;

(b) the Loan Parties have not received any written notice that alleges any of them is in violation of or potentially liable under any Environmental Laws and none of the Loan Parties nor any of the Real Property owned, leased, operated or licensed to a franchisee (subject to, in the case of such franchised Real Property not managed by the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries or their Affiliates, the knowledge of the Borrower) by any Loan Party or Subsidiary is the subject of any claims, investigations, liens, demands, or judicial, administrative or arbitral proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under or relating to any Environmental Law;

(c) there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any Real Property or facilities currently or formerly owned, leased, operated or licensed to a franchisee (subject to, in the case of such franchised Real Property not operated by the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries or their Affiliates, the knowledge of the Borrower) by any Loan Party or Subsidiary, or arising out of the conduct of the Loan Parties that could reasonably be expected to require investigation, remedial activity or corrective action or cleanup by, or on behalf of, any Loan Party or Subsidiary or could reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liability;

(d) there are no facts, circumstances or conditions arising out of or relating to the Loan Parties or any of their respective operations or any facilities currently or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, formerly owned, leased, operated or licensed to a franchisee (subject to, in the case of such franchised Real Property not operated by the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries or their Affiliates, the knowledge of the Borrower) by any of the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries, that could reasonably be expected to require investigation, remedial activity or corrective action or cleanup by, or on behalf of, any Loan Party or Subsidiary or could reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liability; and

 

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(e) the Borrower has made available to the Administrative Agent all environmental reports, studies, assessments, audits, or other similar documents containing information regarding any Environmental Liability that are in the possession or control of the Borrower or any Loan Party or Subsidiary.

SECTION 5.10 Taxes.

Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns required to be filed, and have paid all Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, that are due and payable (including in their capacity as a withholding agent), except those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted. Except as described on Schedule 5.10, there is no proposed Tax deficiency or assessment known to any Loan Parties against the Loan Parties that would, if made, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11(a) or as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan maintained by a Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and other federal or state Laws.

(b) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred during the six year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (iv) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.11(b), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) With respect to each Pension Plan, the adjusted funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 901 of the Code), as determined by the applicable Pension Plan’s Enrolled Actuary under Sections 436(j) and 430(d)(2) of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance promulgated thereunder (“AFTAP”), would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.” Neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to a Plan that is, or is expected to be, in at-risk status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code) in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.12 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.

As of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions), no Loan Party has any material Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.12, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such

 

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material Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and all Equity Interests owned by a Loan Party in such material Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents and (ii) any Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01. As of the Closing Date, Schedules 1(a) and 10 to the Perfection Certificate (a) set forth the name and jurisdiction of each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and (b) set forth the ownership interest of the Borrower and any other Guarantor in each material wholly owned Subsidiary, including the percentage of such ownership.

SECTION 5.13 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) The Borrower is not engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings or drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System.

(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 5.14 Disclosure.

To the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, no report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party (other than projected financial information, pro forma financial information and information of a general economic or industry nature) to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (when taken as a whole), in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading. With respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Borrower represents that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.

SECTION 5.15 Labor Matters.

Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect as of the Closing Date (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Laws, (c) the Borrower and the other Loan Parties have complied with all applicable labor laws including work authorization and immigration and (d) all payments due from the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on account of employee health and welfare insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the relevant party.

SECTION 5.16 [Reserved].

 

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SECTION 5.17 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries own, license or possess the right to use all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, licenses, technology, software, know-how database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, such IP Rights do not conflict with the rights of any Person, except to the extent such failure to own, license or possess or such conflicts, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The business of any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate any IP Rights held by any Person except for such infringements, misappropriations and violations, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the IP Rights, is filed and presently pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, presently threatened in writing against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Except pursuant to licenses and other user agreements entered into by each Loan Party in the ordinary course of business, as of the Closing Date, all registrations listed in Schedule 9 to the Perfection Certificate are valid and subsisting, except, in each case, to the extent failure of such registrations to be valid and subsisting could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.18 Solvency.

On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

SECTION 5.19 Subordination of Junior Financing; First Lien Obligations.

The Obligations are “Senior Debt,” “Senior Indebtedness,” “Guarantor Senior Debt” or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any Junior Financing Documentation.

SECTION 5.20 OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA.

(a) To the extent applicable, each of Holdings and its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, the International Emergency Economic Powers 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 legislation or executive order relating thereto and (ii) the USA PATRIOT Act.

(b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, any director, officer, employee, agent or controlled affiliate of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is currently the subject of any Sanctions, nor is the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in any country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions.

 

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(c) No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower (i) in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or (ii) for the purpose of financing any activities or business of or with any Person that, at the time of such financing, is the subject of any Sanctions.

SECTION 5.21 Security Documents.

(a) Valid Liens. Each Collateral Document delivered pursuant to Section 4.01 and Sections 6.11 and 6.13 will, upon execution and delivery thereof, be effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent intended to be created thereby and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 5 to the Perfection Certificate and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent possession or control by the Collateral Agent is required by the Security Agreement), the Liens created by the Collateral Documents (other than the Mortgages) shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in (to the extent intended to be created thereby), all right, title and interest of the grantors in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing financing statements, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder.

(b) PTO Filing; Copyright Office Filing . When the Intellectual Property Security Agreements are properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, to the extent such filings may perfect such interests, the Liens created by the Security Agreement shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in Patents and Trademarks (each as defined in the Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Copyrights (as defined in the Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Copyright Office, as the case may be, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to establish a Lien on registered Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights acquired by the grantors thereof after the Closing Date).

(c) Mortgages . Upon recording thereof in the appropriate recording office, each Mortgage is effective to create, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable perfected Liens on, and security interest in, all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Properties thereunder and the proceeds thereof, subject only to Liens permitted hereunder, and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 5 to the Perfection Certificate dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of any Mortgage executed and delivered after the date thereof in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.11 and 6.13, when such Mortgage is filed in the offices specified in the local counsel opinion delivered with respect thereto in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.11 and 6.13), the Mortgages shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than Liens permitted by hereunder.

Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 5.21) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to (A) the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of

 

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any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign Law or (B) the pledge or creation of any security interest, or the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest to the extent such pledge, security interest, perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

ARTICLE VI

Affirmative Covenants

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements) hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized or a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer is in place), then from and after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 6.01 Financial Statements.

(a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of Ernst & Young LLP or any other independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit other than a going concern qualification resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Facilities occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered;

(b) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, and statements of stockholders’ equity for the current fiscal quarter and consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) [reserved]; and

 

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(d) Deliver to the Administrative Agent with each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b) above, supplemental financial information necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of Holdings and the Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) or (B) Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that with respect to clauses (A) and (B), (i) to the extent such information relates to a parent of Holdings, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of Ernst & Young LLP or any other independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and, except as permitted in Section 6.01(a), shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 and Sections 6.02(b) and (c) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the Borrower’s website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent; and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and, in the case of documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions ( i.e. , soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a) to the Administrative Agent; provided , however , that if such Compliance Certificate is first delivered by electronic means, the date of such delivery by electronic means shall constitute the date of delivery for purposes of compliance with Section 6.02(a). Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

SECTION 6.02 Certificates; Other Information.

Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

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(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary files with the SEC or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 6.02(b) may be satisfied as long as such filing is publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR website;

(c) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material requests or material notices received by any Loan Party (other than in the ordinary course of business) or material statements or material reports furnished to any holder of debt securities (other than in connection with any board observer rights) of any Loan Party or of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any Senior Notes Documents, Opco Senior Notes Documents or any Junior Financing Documentation and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof, in a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(d) together with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), (i) in the case of annual Compliance Certificates only, a report setting forth the information required by sections describing the legal name and the jurisdiction of formation of each Loan Party and the location of the chief executive office of each Loan Party of the Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such report, (ii) a description of each event, condition or circumstance during the last fiscal quarter covered by such Compliance Certificate requiring a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.05(b) and (iii) a list of each Subsidiary of the Borrower that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a Securitization Subsidiary or an Excluded Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or confirmation that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such list; and

(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders ( i.e. , Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “ Public Lender ”). The Borrower hereby agrees to make all Borrower Materials that the Borrower intends to be made available to Public Lenders clearly and conspicuously designated as “PUBLIC.” By

 

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designating Borrower Materials as “PUBLIC”, the Borrower authorizes such Borrower Materials to be made available to a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor,” which is intended to contain only information that is either publicly available or not material information (though it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.” The Borrower agrees that (i) any Loan Documents, (ii) any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 and (iii) any Compliance Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) will be deemed to be “public-side” Borrower Materials and may be made available to Public Lenders.

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 communications that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.

SECTION 6.03 Notices.

Promptly after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor has obtained knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) of the filing or commencement of any action, suit, litigation or proceeding, whether at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Authority, (i) against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries thereof that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) with respect to any Loan Document.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (x) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Sections 6.03(a), (b) or (c) (as applicable) and (y) setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 6.04 Payment of Obligations.

Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable in the normal conduct of its business, all its obligations and liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, (i) to the extent any such Tax is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (ii) if such failure to pay or discharge such obligations and liabilities would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except (x) in a transaction permitted by Sections 7.04 or 7.05 and (y) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Restricted Subsidiary and (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing where applicable in the relevant jurisdiction), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in the case of (a) (other than with respect to the Borrower) or (b), (i) to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Article VII or clause (y) of this Section 6.05.

SECTION 6.06 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, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material tangible or intangible properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and fire, casualty or condemnation excepted.

SECTION 6.07 Maintenance of Insurance.

(a) Generally . Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

(b) Requirements of Insurance . All such insurance shall (i) provide that no cancellation, material reduction in amount or material change in coverage thereof shall be effective until at least 10 days (or, to the extent reasonably available, 30 days) after receipt by the Collateral Agent of written notice thereof (the Borrower shall deliver a copy of the policy (and to the extent any such policy is cancelled or renewed, a renewal or replacement policy) or other evidence thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, or insurance certificate with respect thereto) and (ii) name the Collateral Agent as mortgagee (in the case of property insurance) or additional insured on behalf of the Secured Parties (in the case of liability insurance) or loss payee (in the case of property insurance) (it being understood that, absent an Event of Default, any proceeds of any such property insurance shall be delivered by the insurer(s) to the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and applied in accordance with this Agreement), as applicable.

(c) Flood Insurance . With respect to each Mortgaged Property, obtain flood insurance in such total amount as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may from time to time reasonably require, if at any time the area in which any material improvements located on any Mortgaged Property is designated a “flood hazard area” in any Flood Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency), and otherwise comply with the National Flood Insurance Program as set forth in the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended from time to time. Following the Closing Date, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent annual renewals of each flood insurance policy or annual renewals of each force-placed flood insurance policy, as applicable. In connection with any amendment to this

 

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Agreement pursuant to which any increase, extension, or renewal of Loans is contemplated, the Borrower shall cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent for any Mortgaged Property, a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination, duly executed and acknowledged by the appropriate Loan Parties, and evidence of flood insurance, as applicable.

SECTION 6.08 Compliance with Laws.

Comply with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.09 Books and Records.

Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied and which reflect all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that certain Foreign Subsidiaries 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).

SECTION 6.10 Inspection Rights.

Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants (subject to such accountants’ customary policies and procedures), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year and only one (1) such time shall be at the Borrower’s expense; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.10, none of the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall 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) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or (iii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work-product.

 

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SECTION 6.11 Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors.

At the Borrower’s expense, take all action either necessary or as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied, including:

(a) Upon (x) the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary (in each case, other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by the Borrower, (y) any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary or (z) the designation in accordance with Section 6.14 of an existing direct or indirect wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) as a Restricted Subsidiary:

(i) within sixty (60) days after such formation, acquisition, cessation or designation, or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion:

(A) cause each such Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) joinders to this Agreement as Guarantors, Security Agreement Supplements, intellectual property security agreements, Mortgages, a counterpart of the Intercompany Note, each Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable, and other security agreements and documents (including, with respect to such Mortgages, the documents listed in Section 6.13), as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (consistent with the Mortgages, Security Agreement and other security agreements in effect on the Closing Date), in each case granting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(B) cause each such Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (and the parent of each such Domestic Subsidiary that is a Guarantor) to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) and intercompany notes (to the extent certificated) that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank;

(C) take and cause such Restricted Subsidiary and each direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to take whatever action (including the recording of Mortgages, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and intellectual property security agreements, and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates) as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative of the Collateral Agent designated by it) valid and perfected Liens to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, within sixty (60) days after such request (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of an opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, of counsel for the Loan Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to such matters set forth in this Section 6.11(a) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

 

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(iii) as promptly as practicable after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent with respect to each Material Real Property, any existing title reports, abstracts or environmental assessment reports, to the extent available and in the possession or control of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that there shall be no obligation to deliver to the Administrative Agent any existing environmental assessment report whose disclosure to the Administrative Agent would require the consent of a Person other than the Loan Parties or one of their respective Subsidiaries, where, despite the commercially reasonable efforts of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries to obtain such consent, such consent cannot be obtained; and

(iv) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, within sixty (60) days after such request (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion), deliver to the Collateral Agent any other items necessary from time to time to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with respect to perfection and existence of security interests with respect to property of any Guarantor acquired after the Closing Date and subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, but not specifically covered by the preceding clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) or clause (b) below.

(b) Not later than ninety (90) days after the acquisition by any Loan Party of any Material Real Property as determined by the Borrower (acting reasonably and in good faith) (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion) that is required to be provided as Collateral pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, which property would not be automatically subject to another Lien pursuant to pre-existing Collateral Documents, cause such property to be subject to a Lien and Mortgage in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and take, or cause the relevant Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, in each case to the extent required by, and subject to the limitations and exceptions of, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

SECTION 6.12 Compliance with Environmental Laws.

Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, comply, and take all commercially reasonable actions to cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain, maintain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and, in each case to the extent the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries are required by Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, remedial or other corrective action necessary to address Hazardous Materials at any property or facility in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws.

SECTION 6.13 Further Assurances.

Promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more

 

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effectively the purposes of any Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents, to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement. If the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent reasonably determines that it is required by applicable Law to have appraisals prepared in respect of the Real Property of any Loan Party subject to a mortgage constituting Collateral, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent appraisals that satisfy the applicable requirements of the Real Estate Appraisal Reform Amendments of FIRREA.

SECTION 6.14 Designation of Subsidiaries.

The Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis, with the covenant set forth in Section 7.11 if then in effect, and, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any such designation, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating such compliance and (iii) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purpose of any Senior Notes Documents, Opco Senior Notes Documents or any Junior Financing, as applicable. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and (ii) a return on any Investment by the Borrower in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such designation of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary.

SECTION 6.15 Maintenance of Ratings.

In respect of the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause each Facility to be continuously rated (but not any specific rating) by S&P and Moody’s and (ii) maintain a public corporate rating (but not any specific rating) from S&P and a public corporate family rating (but not any specific rating) from Moody’s.

 

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ARTICLE VII

Negative Covenants

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements) which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized or a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer is in place), then from and after the Closing Date:

SECTION 7.01 Liens.

Neither the Borrower nor the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01(b) and any modifications, replacements, renewals, refinancings or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, and (B) proceeds and products thereof, and (ii) the replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, is permitted by Section 7.03;

(c) Liens for Taxes that are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;

(d) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, sublandlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens that secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than forty-five (45) days or if more than forty-five (45) days overdue, that are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;

(e) (i) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(f) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including (i) those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations and (ii) letters of credit and bank guarantees required or requested by any Governmental Authority in connection with any contract or Law) incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects affecting Real Property, and any exceptions on the Mortgage Policies issued in connection with the Mortgaged Properties, that do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

 

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(i) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

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

(k) 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 commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of Law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institution’s general terms and conditions;

(l) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(g), (i) and (n) or, to the extent related to any of the foregoing, Section 7.02(r) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(m) Liens (i) in favor of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party securing permitted intercompany Indebtedness and (ii) in favor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(n) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business permitted by this Agreement;

(p) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements under Section 7.02;

(q) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial 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;

(r) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off or rights of pledge (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of

 

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the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

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

(t) ground leases in respect of Real Property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

(u) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e); provided that (i) such Liens are created within 365 days of the acquisition, construction, repair, lease or improvement of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber property (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such property) other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such assets) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(v) Liens on property (i) of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (ii) that does not constitute Collateral, which Liens secure Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 7.03;

(w) 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 (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14), in each case after the Closing Date (other than Liens on the Equity Interests of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) 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 subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require, 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 (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03(g);

(x) (i) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use regulations by Governmental Authorities with which the normal operation of the business complies, and (ii) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(y) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or similar filings;

 

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

(aa) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by clauses (u) and (w) of this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property, other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (B) proceeds and products thereof, and (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03 (to the extent constituting Indebtedness);

(bb) [Reserved];

(cc) Liens with respect to property or assets of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing obligations in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed 2.0% of Total Assets, in each case determined as of the date of incurrence;

(dd) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.03(q) or 7.03(s); provided that the representative of the holders of each such Indebtedness becomes party to (i) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Senior Representative” (as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the liens securing the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Second Priority Representative” (as defined in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement);

(ee) Liens on the Collateral securing obligations in respect of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness constituting Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing); provided that (x) any such Liens securing any Permitted Refinancing in respect of such Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt are subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) any such Liens securing any Permitted Refinancing in respect of such Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt are subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(ff) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;

(gg) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to secure the performance of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

(hh) Liens on the Securitization Assets arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; and

(ii) Liens with respect to property or assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including accounts receivable or other revenue streams and other rights to payment and any other assets related thereto) in connection with a property manager’s obligations in respect of hotel collection accounts, operating accounts and reserve accounts.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consensual Liens shall exist on Equity Interests that constitute Collateral other than pursuant to clauses (a), (dd) and (ee) above.

SECTION 7.02 Investments.

Neither the Borrower nor the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly, make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in assets that were Cash Equivalents when such Investment was made;

(b) loans or advances to officers, directors, managers and employees of any Loan Party (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent thereof directly from such issuing entity ( provided that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Borrower in cash as common equity) and (iii) for any other purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii); provided that the aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time under clause (iii) above shall not exceed $25,000,000;

(c) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that will, upon such Investment become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any Investment made by any Person that is not a Loan Party in any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (c) shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans;

(d) Investments 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, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Investments (excluding loans and advances made in lieu of Restricted Payments pursuant to and limited by Section 7.02(m) below) consisting of transactions permitted under Sections 7.01, 7.03 (other than 7.03(c) and (d)), 7.04 (other than 7.04(c), (d) and (e)), 7.05 (other than 7.05(e)), 7.06 (other than 7.06(e) and (i)(iv)) and 7.13, respectively;

(f) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.02(f) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof and (ii) existing on the Closing Date by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and any modification, renewal or extension thereof; provided that the amount of the original Investment is not increased except by the terms of such Investment as of the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;

(g) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03;

(h) promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05;

(i) any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of a Person, or any Equity Interests in a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or a division or line of business of a Person (or any

 

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subsequent Investment made in a Person, division or line of business previously acquired in a Permitted Acquisition), in a single transaction or series of related transactions, if immediately after giving effect thereto: (i) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in Pro Forma Compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.11 if the covenant set forth in Section 7.11 is then in effect after giving effect to such acquisition or Investment and any related transactions; (ii) any acquired or newly formed Restricted Subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness except for Indebtedness otherwise permitted by Section 7.03; (iii) to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (A) the property, assets and businesses acquired in such purchase or other acquisition shall constitute Collateral and (B) any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary, Securitization Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary) shall become a Guarantor, in each case, in accordance with Section 6.11, and (iv) the aggregate amount of Investments made in Persons that do not become Loan Parties shall not exceed at any time outstanding the sum of (1) 2.0% of Total Assets and (2) so long as the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date is at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis, the Cumulative Credit at such time (any such acquisition, a “ Permitted Acquisition ”);

(j) [Reserved];

(k) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of UCC Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and UCC Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(l) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(m) loans and advances to the Borrower and any other direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other loans, advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to such parent in accordance with Sections 7.06(g), (h) or (i);

(n) other Investments (including for Permitted Acquisitions pursuant to Section 7.02(i)(iv)) in an aggregate amount outstanding pursuant to this clause (n) (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write downs or write offs thereof) at any time not to exceed (x) 4.0% of Total Assets (in each case, net of any return in respect thereof, including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) plus (y) so long as the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date is at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis, the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (y);

(o) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(p) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower);

(q) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a Person merged or amalgamated or consolidated into the Borrower or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.04 after the Closing Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(r) Investments made by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the extent such Investments are financed with the proceeds received by such Restricted Subsidiary from an Investment in such Restricted Subsidiary contemplated pursuant to Section 7.02(i)(iv) or permitted under Section 7.02(n);

(s) Investments constituting the non-cash portion of consideration received in a Disposition permitted by Section 7.05;

(t) Guarantees by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(u) (i) Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good faith determination of the Borrower are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Financing (including any contribution of replacement or substitute assets to such subsidiary) or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;

(v) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (v) 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 (until such proceeds are converted to Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of $1,000,000,000 and 8.00% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that any Investment made by any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (v) shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans;

(w) any Investment in a Similar Business taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (w) that are at that time outstanding not to exceed 4.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (w) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (c) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (w);

(x) Permitted Intercompany Activities, the Spin-Off Transaction and related transactions;

 

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(y) Investments in joint ventures of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date;

(z) Investments in joint ventures of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (z) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed 2.0% of Total Assets (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(aa) Investments that are made in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received (less any Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(p)); and

(bb) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Investments in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 4.00 to 1.00.

SECTION 7.03 Indebtedness.

Neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness of any Loan Party under (i) the Loan Documents, (ii) the Senior Notes Documents in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,500,000,000 and, in the case of this clause (ii), any Permitted Refinancing thereof and (iii) the Opco Senior Notes Documents in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,000,000,000 and, in the case of this clause (iii), any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(b) (i) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.03(b) and any Permitted Refinancing thereof and (ii) Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the Closing Date and any refinancing thereof with Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a principal amount that does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the intercompany Indebtedness so refinanced; provided that (x) any amount owed by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to a Loan Party shall be evidenced by an Intercompany Note and (y) all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Person or Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be unsecured and subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to an Intercompany Note;

(c) Guarantees by the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower otherwise permitted hereunder; provided that (A) no Guarantee of any 5 5/8% Senior Notes, Opco Senior Notes or any Indebtedness constituting Junior Financing shall be permitted unless such guaranteeing party shall have also provided a Guarantee of the Obligations on the terms set forth herein and (B) if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated to the Obligations, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness;

(d) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (or issued or transferred to any direct or indirect parent of a Loan Party which is substantially contemporaneously transferred to a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of a

 

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Loan Party) to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.02; provided that all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Person or Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be evidenced by an Intercompany Note and any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party is subordinated in right of payment to the Loans (for the avoidance of doubt, any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be deemed to be expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Loans unless the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide otherwise);

(e) (i) Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness (including Capitalized Leases) financing an acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease or improvement of a fixed or capital asset incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or within 365 days after the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease or improvement of the applicable asset in an aggregate amount not to exceed 5.0% of Total Assets, in each case determined at the time of incurrence (together with any Permitted Refinancings thereof) at any time outstanding, (ii) Attributable Indebtedness arising out of sale-leaseback transactions permitted by Section 7.05(m) and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing;

(f) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts designed to hedge against the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s exposure to interest rates, foreign exchange rates or commodities pricing risks incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(g) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition so long as such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided that after giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition and the assumption of such Indebtedness, the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed (x) $100,000,000 at any time outstanding plus (y) any additional amount of such Indebtedness so long (i) if such Indebtedness is secured on a junior basis to the Facilities, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis is no greater than 6.15 to 1.00, (ii) if such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis is no greater than 3.75 to 1.00 or (iii) if such Indebtedness is unsecured, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred 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); provided that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(q), 7.03(s) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding 4.25% of Total Assets, in each case determined at the time of incurrence;

(h) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower permitted by Section 7.06;

 

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(j) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case, constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earnouts) or other similar adjustments;

(k) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder;

(l) obligations in respect of Treasury Services Agreements and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case in connection with deposit accounts;

(m) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount that at the time of, and after giving effect to, the incurrence thereof, would not exceed (x) the greater of $800,000,000 and 4.0% of Total Assets at any time outstanding plus (y) 200% of the cumulative amount of the net cash proceeds and Cash Equivalent proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Excluded Contributions, proceeds of Disqualified Equity Interests, Designated Equity Contributions or sales of Equity Interests to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time (including upon exercise of warrants or options) which proceeds have been contributed as common equity to the capital of the Borrower that has not been applied to incur debt pursuant to this clause (m)(y), to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06 (other than pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(y)), to make Investments pursuant to clause 7.02(n), (v), (w), (y) or (z) or to make prepayments of subordinated indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.13 (other than 7.13(a)(iv)(y));

(n) Indebtedness consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including 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; provided that any reimbursement obligations in respect thereof are reimbursed within 30 days following the incurrence thereof;

(p) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower 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 or consistent with past practice;

(q) Indebtedness incurred on (x) a pari passu basis with the Facilities or (y) junior to the Facilities in an aggregate principal amount, when aggregated with the amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(v)(A) and Section 2.14(d)(v)(B), not to exceed $1,500,000,000; provided that such Indebtedness shall (A) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, in the case of clause (x) above, have a maturity date that is after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, and in the case of clause (y) above, have a maturity date that is at least ninety-one (91) days after the

 

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Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, in the case of clause (x) above, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facilities and, in the case of clause (y) above, shall not be subject to scheduled amortization prior to maturity, (C) if such Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed on a secured basis by a Loan Party, be subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if the Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, be (x) in the form of debt securities and (y) subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (D) have terms and conditions (other than pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions) that in the good faith determination of the Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrower than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) ( provided that a certificate of the Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in this clause (D) delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements of this clause (D), shall be conclusive unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a description of the basis upon which it disagrees)); provided , further , that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(s) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding 4.25% of Total Assets, in each case determined at the time of incurrence;

(r) Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such Letter of Credit;

(s) Permitted Ratio Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(t) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness;

(u) [Reserved];

(v) Indebtedness incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (v) and then outstanding, does not exceed 10% of Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets;

(w) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred 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 such Indebtedness had been incurred and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period and without duplication, Permitted Refinancings of such Indebtedness; provided that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(q) or 7.03(s), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding, 4.25% of Total Assets, in each case determined at the time of incurrence;

 

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(x) Indebtedness arising from Permitted Intercompany Activities; and

(y) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (x) above.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (x) above, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide or classify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents, any Senior Notes Documents and any Opco Senior Notes Documents and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof, will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in Section 7.03(a).

SECTION 7.04 Fundamental Changes.

Neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that:

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with (i) the Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize the Borrower into a new jurisdiction); provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person and such merger does not result in the Borrower ceasing to be a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (ii) one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when any Person that is a Loan Party is merging with a Restricted Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) (i) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (ii) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or the Borrower or any Subsidiary may change its legal form (x) if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interest of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and if not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (y) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary is a Loan Party, any assets or business not otherwise disposed of or transferred in accordance with Sections 7.02 (other than 7.02(e)) or 7.05 or, in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to otherwise owned or conducted by another Loan Party after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution (it being understood that in the case of any change in legal form, a Subsidiary that is a Guarantor will remain a Guarantor unless such Guarantor is otherwise permitted to cease being a Guarantor hereunder);

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then (i) the transferee must be a Guarantor or the Borrower or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Sections 7.02 and 7.03, respectively; and

 

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(d) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that (i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not the Borrower (any such Person, the “ Successor Company ”), (A) the Successor Company 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 Company shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have confirmed that its Guaranty shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Loan Documents, (D) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Security Agreement and other applicable Collateral Documents confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Loan Documents, (E) if requested by the Administrative Agent, each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage (or other instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Loan Documents, and (F) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document preserves the enforceability of this Agreement, the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents and the perfection of the Liens under the Collateral Documents; provided , further , that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement; and

(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom (in the case of a merger involving a Loan Party), any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.11 to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(f) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05; and

(g) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate Permitted Intercompany Activities, the Spin-Off Transaction, the Timeshare Disposition (individually or in the aggregate) and related transactions.

SECTION 7.05 Dispositions.

Neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, make any Disposition, except:

(a) (i) Dispositions of obsolete, worn out or surplus property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outside the ordinary course of business (and for consideration complying with the requirements applicable to Dispositions pursuant to clause (j) below) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000;

 

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(b) Dispositions of inventory or goods (or other assets, including timeshare and residential assets, furniture and equipment) held for sale and immaterial assets (including allowing any registrations or any applications for registration of any immaterial intellectual property to lapse or go abandoned in the ordinary course of business), in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(d) Dispositions of property to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Loan Party, (i) the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party or (ii) if such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 7.02;

(e) to the extent constituting Dispositions, transactions permitted by Sections 7.01, 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(e)), 7.04 (other than Section 7.04(f)) and 7.06;

(f) any conversions of hotel properties into timeshare or residential properties and the sale or other disposition of assets created in such conversions;

(g) Dispositions of Cash Equivalents;

(h) (i) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including the provision of software under an open source license), in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) Dispositions of intellectual property that do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries receives a license or other ownership rights to use such intellectual property;

(i) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Proceeds of such Casualty Event;

(j) Dispositions of property; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no Default exists), no Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition and (ii) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (j) for a purchase price in excess of $150,000,000, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (in each case, free and clear of all Liens at the time received, other than nonconsensual Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Liens permitted by Sections 7.01(a), (f), (k), (p), (q), (r)(i), (r)(ii), (dd) (only to the extent the Obligations are secured by such cash and Cash Equivalents) and (ee) (only to the extent the Obligations are secured by such cash and Cash Equivalents); provided, however , that for the purposes of this clause (j)(ii), the following shall be deemed to be cash: (A) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s (or the Restricted Subsidiaries’, as applicable) most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of Holdings 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 the Borrower and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly

 

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released by all applicable creditors in writing, (B) any securities received by the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition, and (C) aggregate non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the closing of the applicable Disposition for which such non-cash consideration is received) not to exceed 5.00% of Total Assets at any time (net of any non-cash consideration converted into cash and Cash Equivalents);

(k) any Disposition of Securitization Assets (or of the Equity Interests in a Subsidiary, substantially all of the assets of which are Securitization Assets) to a Securitization Subsidiary;

(l) Dispositions or discounts without recourse of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business;

(m) Dispositions of property pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions; provided that the fair market value of all property so Disposed of after the Closing Date shall not exceed $100,000,000;

(n) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower;

(o) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary which owns an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as such Restricted Subsidiary owns no assets other than the Equity Interests of such an Unrestricted Subsidiary) and;

(p) the unwinding of any Swap Contract pursuant to its terms;

(q) 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;

(r) the lapse or abandonment in the ordinary course of business of any registrations or applications for registration of any immaterial IP Rights;

(s) Permitted Intercompany Activities, the Spin-Off Transaction and related transactions; and

(t) the Timeshare Disposition (individually or in the aggregate);

provided that any Disposition of any property pursuant to this Section 7.05 (except pursuant to Sections 7.05(e), (i), (k), (p), (r) and (s) and except for Dispositions from a Loan Party to any other Loan Party) shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition. To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be authorized to take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

 

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SECTION 7.06 Restricted Payments.

Neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower, and other Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Borrower and any other Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests);

(b) the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may declare and make Restricted Payments payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests not otherwise permitted by Section 7.03) of such Person;

(c) the Spin-Off Transaction and the payment of all fees and expenses related thereto;

(d) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 4.00 to 1.00;

(e) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Sections 7.02 (other than 7.02(e) and (m)), 7.04 or 7.08 (other than Sections 7.08(e) or 7.08(j));

(f) repurchases of Equity Interests in the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower 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;

(g) the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary (or of the Borrower or any other such direct or indirect parent thereof) from any future, present or former employee, officer, director, manager or consultant of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary) or any of its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee, manager or director stock option plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, manager, director, officer or consultant of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed $150,000,000 in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $400,000,000 in any calendar year); provided , further , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(i) to the extent contributed to the Borrower, the Net Proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, managers, directors or consultants of Holdings, the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Closing Date, to the extent Net Proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have been Not Otherwise Applied; plus

 

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(ii) the Net Proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries; less

(iii) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clause (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.06(g);

(h) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed, when combined with prepayment of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.13(a)(iv), (x) 3.00% of Total Assets, plus (y) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date is at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis, the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this paragraph;

(i) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower:

(i) to pay its operating costs and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business and attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, Transaction Expenses and any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors, managers or officers of such parent attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ii) the proceeds of which shall be used by such parent to pay franchise Taxes and other fees, Taxes and expenses required to maintain its (or any of its direct or indirect parents’) corporate existence;

(iii) for any taxable period ending after the Closing Date (A) in which the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries is a member of a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax group (a “ Tax Group ”) of which a direct or indirect parent of Borrower is the common parent or (B) in which the Borrower is treated as a disregarded entity or partnership for U.S. federal, state and/or local income tax purposes, to pay U.S. federal, state and local and foreign Taxes that are attributable to the taxable income, revenue, receipts, gross receipts, gross profits, capital or margin of the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries; provided that for each taxable period, the amount of such payments made in respect of such taxable period in the aggregate shall not exceed the amount of such Taxes that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries would have been required to pay if they were a stand-alone Tax Group with the Borrower as the corporate common parent of such stand-alone Tax Group; provided , further , that the permitted payment pursuant to this clause (iii) with respect to any Taxes of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be limited to the amount actually paid with respect to such period by such Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries for the purposes of paying such consolidated, combined unitary or similar Taxes;

(iv) to finance any Investment that would be permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02 if such parent were subject to such Section; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment

 

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shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (B) such parent shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 7.04) of the Person formed or acquired into the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to consummate such Permitted Acquisition or Investment, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.11;

(v) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(vi) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) that is directly attributable to the operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(vii) amounts payable pursuant to (x) the Investor Management Agreement or (y) any of the Transaction Agreements (including, in each case, any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of the Borrower to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement), solely to the extent such amounts are not paid directly by Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

(j) payments made or expected to be made by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of required withholding or similar non-US Taxes with respect to any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options;

(k) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (ii) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

(l) (i) any Restricted Payment by the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to pay listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company which are reasonable and customary and (ii) Restricted Payments not to exceed the sum of (A) up to 6% per annum of the net proceeds received by (or contributed to) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries from the Qualified IPO and (B) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed (x) 3.50% of Market Capitalization, if, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the payment of any such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is greater than 5.50 to 1.00 and (y) 4.75% of Market Capitalization, so long as, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the payment of any such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be less than or equal to 5.50 to 1.00;

(m) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

 

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(n) Restricted Payments that are made with the net proceeds of the Timeshare Disposition; provided that for the most recently ended Test Period immediately preceding the date of such Restricted Payment, after giving effect to the Timeshare Disposition and such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 5.40 to 1.00;

(o) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries), or Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries) owns no assets other than Equity Interests of one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents); and

(p) Restricted Payments that are made (i) in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received (less any Investments made in reliance on Section 7.02(aa)) or (ii) without duplication with clause (i), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired after the Closing Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions.

SECTION 7.07 Change in Nature of Business.

The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business reasonably related, complementary, synergistic or ancillary thereto or reasonable extensions thereof.

SECTION 7.08 Transactions with Affiliates.

Neither the Borrower shall, nor shall the Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $50.0 million, other than (a) loans and other transactions among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Securitization Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or Securitization Subsidiary as a result of such loan or other transaction to the extent permitted under this Article VII, (b) on terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (c) the Transactions and the payment of Transaction Expenses as part of or in connection with the Transactions, (d) so long as no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing, (A) the payment of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction, termination and advisory fees in an aggregate amount pursuant to the Investor Management Agreement and related indemnities and reasonable expenses, or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of Borrower to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement and (B) transactions pursuant to the Transaction Agreements, or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of Borrower to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or

 

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replacement, (e) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06 and Investments permitted under Section 7.02, (f) employment and severance arrangements between the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements in the ordinary course of business, (g) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, officers, employees and consultants of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (h) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.08 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect, (i) customary payments by the Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Investors made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), which payments are approved by the majority of the members of the board of directors or managers or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors or managers of the Borrower, in good faith, (j) payments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any tax sharing agreements with any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, but only to the extent permitted by Section 7.06(i)(iii), (k) the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings to any Permitted Holder or to any former, current or future director, manager, officer, employee or consultant (or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing) of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent thereof, (l) any Disposition of Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing, (m) Permitted Intercompany Activities, the Spin-Off Transaction and any related transaction and the payment of all fees and expenses related thereto, (n) [reserved] or (o) a joint venture which would constitute a transaction with an Affiliate solely as a result of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owning an equity interest or otherwise controlling such joint venture or similar entity.

SECTION 7.09 Burdensome Agreements.

The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that limits the ability of (a) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to make or repay intercompany loans and advances to the Borrower or any Guarantor or (b) any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Lenders with respect to the Facilities and the Obligations or under the Loan Documents; provided that the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations which (i)(x) exist on the Closing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.09) are listed on Schedule 7.09 hereto and (y) to the extent Contractual Obligations permitted by clause (x) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Indebtedness so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided, further, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that are binding on a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14,

 

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(iii) represent Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 7.03, (iv) arise in connection with any Disposition permitted by Sections 7.04 or 7.05 and relate solely to the assets or Person subject to such Disposition, (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 7.02 and applicable solely to such joint venture entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vi) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by such Indebtedness, (vii) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (viii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e), (g) or (m) and to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or to the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring or guaranteeing such Indebtedness, (ix) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (x) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xii) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 and limited to such cash or deposit and (xiii) are customary restrictions contained in any Senior Notes Documents, Opco Senior Notes Documents or any Permitted Refinancing thereof.

SECTION 7.10 Use of Proceeds.

The proceeds of the Term Loans received on the Closing Date, together with the proceeds of the issuance of the 5 5/8% Senior Notes received on the Closing Date shall not be used for any purpose other than for the Transactions. The proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans on the Closing Date, if any, will be used to finance the Transactions and fees and expenses related to the Transactions, for working capital needs and general corporate purposes. After the Closing Date, the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans shall be used for working capital, general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement, including Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments. The Letters of Credit shall be used solely to support obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred for working capital, general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement.

SECTION 7.11 Financial Covenant.

The Borrower will not permit the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of a Test Period to exceed 7.00 to 1.00 ( provided that the provisions of this Section 7.11 shall not be applicable to any such Test Period if on the last day of such Test Period the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and/or Letters of Credit (excluding up to $50,000,000 of Letters of Credit and other Letters of Credit which have been Cash Collateralized or backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer) that are issued and/or outstanding is equal to or less than 30% of the Revolving Credit Facility).

SECTION 7.12 Accounting Changes.

The Borrower shall not make any change in its fiscal year; provided , however , that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.

 

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SECTION 7.13 Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness.

(a) The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest shall be permitted), any subordinated Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03(g) or any other Indebtedness that is or is required to be subordinated, in right of payment or as to Collateral, to the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents (collectively, “ Junior Financing ”) or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, except (i) the refinancing thereof with the Net Proceeds of any Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing and, if such Indebtedness was originally incurred under Section 7.03(g), is permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(g)), to the extent not required to prepay any Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (ii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parents, (iii) the prepayment of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not prohibited by the subordination provisions contained in the Intercompany Note, (iv) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings in an aggregate amount not to exceed, when combined with the amount of Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06(h), (x) 3.00% of Total Assets plus (y) so long as the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date is at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis, the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this paragraph and (v) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 4.00 to 1.00.

(b) The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders any term or condition of any Junior Financing Documentation without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

SECTION 7.14 Permitted Activities.

Holdings shall not engage in any material operating or business activities; provided that the following and activities incidental thereto shall be permitted in any event: (i) its ownership of the Equity Interests of Borrower and activities incidental thereto, (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance), (iii) the performance of its obligations with respect to the Loan Documents, the Senior Notes Documents, the Opco Senior Notes Documents and any other Indebtedness, (iv) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or sale of its Equity Interests, (v) financing activities, including the issuance of securities, incurrence of debt, payment of dividends, making contributions to the capital of the Borrower, guaranteeing the obligations of the Borrower and guaranteeing the obligations of any Securitization Subsidiary in an amount not to exceed $450,000,000, (vi)

 

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participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as owner of the Borrower, (vii) holding any cash incidental to any activities permitted under this Section 7.14, (viii) providing indemnification to officers, managers and directors and (ix) any activities incidental to the foregoing. Holdings shall not incur any Liens on Equity Interests of the Borrower other than those for the benefit of the Obligations or any comparable term in any Permitted Refinancing thereof and Holdings shall not own any Equity Interests other than those of the Borrower.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article VII of this Agreement, if on any date (i) the Loans have an Investment Grade Rating from both of the Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “ Covenant Termination Event ”), then, beginning on such date and continuing at all times thereafter regardless of any subsequent change in the rating of the Loans, Sections 7.03, 7.06 and 7.08 (the “ Terminated Covenants ”) will no longer be applicable to the Loans. Upon and after such Covenant Termination Event, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be entitled to consummate transactions to the extent not prohibited hereunder without giving effect to the Terminated Covenants; provided that the covenants that are not Terminated Covenants shall be interpreted as though the Terminated Covenants continue to be applicable during such period. For illustrative purposes only, even though Section 7.03 will not be in effect during a period, Section 7.01(dd) will be interpreted as though Section 7.03(q) were still in effect during such period.

ARTICLE VIII

Events of Default and Remedies

SECTION 8.01 Events of Default.

Any of the following from and after the Closing Date shall constitute an event of default (an “ Event of Default ”):

(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or, in the case of Section 7.14, Holdings, fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a) or 6.05(a) (solely with respect to the Borrower) or Article VII; provided that a Default as a result of a breach of Section 7.11 (a “ Financial Covenant Event of Default ”) is subject to cure pursuant to Section 8.05; provided , further , that a Financial Covenant Event of Default shall not constitute an Event of Default with respect to any Term Loans unless and until the Revolving Credit Lenders have declared all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable and all outstanding Revolving Credit Commitments to be immediately terminated, in each case in accordance with this Agreement and such declaration has not been rescinded on or before such date (the “ Term Loan Standstill Period ”); or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Sections 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower; or

 

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(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default. Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any, (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an outstanding aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event occurs (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of Swap Agreement, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Swap Agreements), the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (e)(B) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied coverage) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

(i) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05) or as a result

 

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of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent or any Lender or the satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document or the validity or priority of a Lien as required by the Collateral Documents on a material portion of the Collateral; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Commitments), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Loan Document; or

(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or

(k) Collateral Documents. (i) Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01 or Sections 6.11 or 6.13 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof including as a result of a transaction not prohibited under this Agreement) cease to create a valid and perfected Lien, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01, (x) except to the extent that any such perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or any loss thereof results from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents or to file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements and (y) except as to Collateral consisting of Real Property to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied coverage, or (ii) any of the Equity Interests of the Borrower shall for any reason cease to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents; or

(l) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in an aggregate amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(m) Junior Financing Documentation . (i) Any of the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents for any reason shall cease to be (A) “Senior Debt,” “Senior Indebtedness,” “Guarantor Senior Debt” or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any Junior Financing Documentation and (B) “First Lien Obligations” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement under, and as defined in any Junior Financing Documentation or (ii) the subordination provisions set forth in any Junior Financing Documentation shall, in whole or in part, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of any Junior Financing, if applicable.

SECTION 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions (or, if a Financial Covenant Event of Default occurs and is continuing and prior to the expiration of the Term Loan Standstill Period, at the request of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility only, and in such case only with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, Swing Line Loans, and any Letters of Credit):

(i) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

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(ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

(iii) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(iv) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

SECTION 8.03 Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries.

Solely for the purpose of determining whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred under clause (f) or (g) of Section 8.01, any reference in any such clause to any Restricted Subsidiary or Loan Party shall be deemed not to include any Restricted Subsidiary (an “ Immaterial Subsidiary ”) affected by any event or circumstances referred to in any such clause that did not, as of the last day of the most recent completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower, have assets with a fair market value in excess of 2.5% of Total Assets (it being agreed that all Restricted Subsidiaries affected by any event or circumstance referred to in any such clause shall be considered together, as a single consolidated Restricted Subsidiary, for purposes of determining whether the condition specified above is satisfied).

SECTION 8.04 Application of Funds.

After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law):

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such;

 

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Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, and any fees, premiums and scheduled periodic payments due under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings (including to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit), and any breakage, termination or other payments under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth , to the payment of all other Obligations of the Borrower that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, to the Borrower as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.

SECTION 8.05 Borrower’s Right to Cure.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 8.01 or 8.02, if the Borrower determines that an Event of Default under the covenant set forth in Section 7.11 has occurred or may occur, during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period and ending ten (10) Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered hereunder with respect to such fiscal quarter, the Investors may make a Specified Equity Contribution to Holdings (a “ Designated Equity Contribution ”), and the amount of the net cash proceeds thereof shall be deemed to increase Consolidated EBITDA with respect to such applicable quarter; provided that such net cash proceeds (i) are actually received by the Borrower as cash common equity (including through capital contribution of such net cash proceeds to the Borrower) during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period by the Borrower and ending ten (10) Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to such fiscal quarter hereunder and (ii) are Not Otherwise Applied. The parties hereby acknowledge that this Section 8.05(a) may not be

 

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relied on for purposes of calculating any financial ratios other than as applicable to Section 7.11 and shall not result in any adjustment to any baskets or other amounts other than the amount of the Consolidated EBITDA for the purpose of Section 7.11.

(b) (i) In each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in which no Designated Equity Contribution is made, (ii) no more than five Designated Equity Contributions may be made in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement, (iii) the amount of any Designated Equity Contribution shall be no more than the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in Pro Forma Compliance with Section 7.11 for any applicable period and (iv) there shall be no pro forma reduction in Indebtedness with the proceeds of any Designated Equity Contribution for determining compliance with Section 7.11 for the fiscal quarter with respect to which such Designated Equity Contribution was made.

ARTICLE IX

Administrative Agent and Other Agents

SECTION 9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Agents.

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or Participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article IX and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

(c) Each of the Secured Parties hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of (and to hold any security interest created by the Collateral Documents for and on behalf of or on trust for) such Secured Party for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with

 

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such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX (including Section 9.07, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

(d) Each Lender hereby (i) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreements, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements to the extent then in effect, and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement as Collateral Agent and on behalf of such Lender.

(e) Except as provided in Sections 9.09 and 9.11, the provisions of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

SECTION 9.02 Delegation of Duties.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising any rights and remedies thereunder) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral 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 Agent-Related Persons. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Agent-Related Persons of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Facilities as well as activities as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or sub-agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

SECTION 9.03 Liability of Agents.

No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or Participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, any failure to monitor or

 

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maintain any part of the Collateral, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Collateral Documents, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (as applicable) is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (as applicable) shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (as applicable) to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law.

SECTION 9.04 Reliance by Agents.

Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.

SECTION 9.05 Notice of Default.

The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

 

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SECTION 9.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents.

Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to each Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent herein, such Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.

SECTION 9.07 Indemnification of Agents.

Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.07; provided, further, that any obligation to indemnify an L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 9.07 shall be limited to Revolving Credit Lenders only. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.07 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or

 

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legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Loan Parties. The undertaking in this Section 9.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

SECTION 9.08 Agents in Their Individual Capacities.

Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower and its respective Affiliates as though Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch were not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or Swing Line Lender hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrower or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrower or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and its Affiliates shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or a Swing Line Lender, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch in its individual capacity. Any successor to Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall also have the rights attributed to Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch under this paragraph.

SECTION 9.09 Successor Agents.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower and if either the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower may remove such Defaulting Lender from such role upon ten (10) days’ notice to the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent resigns under this Agreement or is removed by the Borrower, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall be consented to by the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(f) or (g) (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in the case of a resignation, and the Borrower, in the case of a removal may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower (in the case of a resignation), 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 Administrative Agent or retiring Collateral Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” or “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor administrative agent or collateral agent and/or Supplemental Agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and the provisions of Sections 10.04 and 10.05

 

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shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s notice of resignation or ten (10) days following the Borrower’s notice of removal, the retiring Administrative Agent’s or the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent or Collateral 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 Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to (a) continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents or (b) otherwise ensure that Section 6.11 is satisfied, the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower or the Collateral Agent) shall be (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law) entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i), 2.09, 10.04 and 10.05) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, curator, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under Sections 2.09, 10.04 and 10.05.

 

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Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

SECTION 9.11 Collateral and Guaranty Matters.

The Lenders irrevocably agree:

(a) that any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document shall be automatically released (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (x) obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements not yet due and payable and (y) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable) and the expiration or termination or cash collateralization of all Letters of Credit, (ii) at the time the property subject to such Lien is Disposed or to be Disposed as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document to any Person other than a Person required to grant a Lien to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents (or, if such transferee is a Person required to grant a Lien to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent on such asset, at the option of the applicable Loan Party, such Lien on such asset may still be released in connection with the transfer so long as (x) the transferee grants a new Lien to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent on such asset substantially concurrently with the transfer of such asset, (y) the transfer is between parties organized under the laws of different jurisdictions and at least one of such parties is a Foreign Subsidiary and (z) the priority of the new Lien is the same as that of the original Lien), (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders or (iv) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Guarantor, upon release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to clause (c) below;

(b) To release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Sections 7.01(u) or (w) (in the case of clause (w), to the extent required by the terms of the obligations secured by such Liens);

(c) That any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of the 5 5/8% Senior Notes, Opco Senior Notes or any Junior Financing;

(d) At the sole option of the Borrower, Parent or any existing entity constituting “Holdings” shall be released from its obligations under the Guaranty if such entity ceases to be the direct parent of the Borrower as a result of a transaction or designation permitted pursuant to the definition thereof and otherwise permitted hereunder, subject to the assumption of obligations of “Holdings” under the Loan Documents by such other Domestic Subsidiary of Parent that directly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower pursuant to the definition thereof; and

 

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(e) the Collateral Agent may, without any further consent of any Lender, enter into (i) a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of holders of Permitted Ratio Debt that is intended to be secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations and/or (ii) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, in each case, where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01. The Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted. Any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Secured Parties.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral 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 Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent will promptly (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as the Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11.

SECTION 9.12 Other Agents; Lead Arrangers and Managers.

None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “joint bookrunner”, “lead arranger”, “co-syndication agent” or “co-documentation agent” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

SECTION 9.13 Withholding Tax Indemnity.

To the extent required by any applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any other authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including, without limitation, because the appropriate form was not delivered or not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall, within 10 days after written demand therefor, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01 and Section 3.04 and without limiting or expanding the obligation of the Borrower to do so) for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Taxes or otherwise, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses and any other out-of-pocket expenses, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally

 

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imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.13. The agreements in this Section 9.13 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this Section 9.13 shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.

SECTION 9.14 Appointment of Supplemental Agents.

(a) It is the purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of any Law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent deems that by reason of any present or future Law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “ Supplemental Agent ” and collectively as “ Supplemental Agents ”).

(b) In the event that the Collateral Agent appoints a Supplemental Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every right, power, privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the Collateral Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental Agent to exercise such rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with respect to such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by such Supplemental Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Collateral Agent or such Supplemental Agent, and (ii) the provisions of this Article IX and of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 that refer to the Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental Agent and all references therein to the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Collateral Agent and/or such Supplemental Agent, as the context may require.

Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, such Loan Party shall execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. In case any Supplemental Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Agent.

 

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ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous

SECTION 10.01 Amendments, Etc.

Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders, or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, and such Loan Party and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that any amendment or waiver contemplated in clauses (g) or (i) below, shall only require the consent of such Loan Party and the Required Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Facility, as applicable; provided, further, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender holding such Commitment (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent or of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce or forgive the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under Sections 2.07 or 2.08 without the written consent of each Lender holding the applicable Obligation (it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest and it being understood that any change to the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in any rate of interest);

(c) reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document (or change the timing of payments of such fees or other amounts) without the written consent of each Lender holding such Loan, L/C Borrowing or to whom such fee or other amount is owed (it being understood that any change to the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in any rate of interest); provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

(d) change any provision of Sections 8.04 or 10.01 or the definition of “Required Revolving Credit Lenders,” “Required Lenders,” “Required Facility Lenders,” “Required Class Lenders” or any other provision specifying the number of Lenders or portion of the Loans or Commitments required to take any action under the Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(e) other than in connection with a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05, release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

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(f) other than in connection with a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) (1) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.02 as to any Credit Extension under one or more Revolving Credit Facilities or (2) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision which directly affects Lenders under one or more Revolving Credit Facilities and does not directly affect Lenders under any other Facility (including any waiver, amendment or modification of Section 7.11 or the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” or the component definitions thereof (but only to the extent of any such component definition’s effect on the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” for the purposes of Section 7.11), in each case, without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Revolving Credit Facility or Facilities (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are affected, with respect to any such Facility, such consent shall be effected by the Required Facility Lenders of such Facility); provided , however , that the waivers described in this clause (g) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders under such Facility or Facilities;

(h) amend, waive or otherwise modify the portion of the definition of “Interest Period” that provides for one, two, three or six month intervals to automatically allow intervals in excess of six months, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby; or

(i) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision (including the availability and conditions to funding under Section 2.14 with respect to Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, under Section 2.15 with respect to Refinancing Term Loans and Other Revolving Credit Commitments and under Section 2.16 with respect to Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and, in each case, the rate of interest applicable thereto) which directly affects Lenders of one or more Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and does not directly affect Lenders under any other Facility, in each case, without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are affected, with respect to any such Facility, such consent shall be effected by the Required Facility Lenders of such Facility); provided , however , that the waivers described in this clause (i) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be;

and provided , further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Issuance Request relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by a Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of such Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; provided , however , that this Agreement may be amended to adjust the borrowing mechanics related to Swing Line Loans with only the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the Borrower so long as the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders are not affected thereby; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall,

 

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unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) Section 10.07(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (v) the consent of Lenders holding more than 50% of any Class of Commitments or Loans shall be required with respect to any amendment that by its terms adversely affects the rights of such Class in respect of payments or Collateral hereunder in a manner different than such amendment affects other Classes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms materially and adversely affects any Defaulting Lender (if such Lender were not a Defaulting Lender) to a greater extent than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement that is for the purpose of adding the holders of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, or Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing and provided that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect, to the interests of the Lenders); provided , further , that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment is delivered in order (x) to correct or cure ambiguities, errors, omissions, defects, (y) to effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature or (z) to fix incorrect cross references or similar inaccuracies in this Agreement or the applicable Loan Document. The Collateral Documents and related documents in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended, supplemented and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects or (iii) to cause such Collateral Documents or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may enter into any Incremental Amendment in accordance

 

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with Section 2.14, Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.15 and Extension Amendment in accordance with Section 2.16 and such Incremental Amendments, Refinancing Amendments and Extension Amendments shall be effective to amend the terms of this Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents, in each case, without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document.

SECTION 10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.

(a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower (or any other Loan Party) or the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender.

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(c)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.

(b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile or other electronic communication. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan Parties, the Agents and the Lenders.

(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent-Related

 

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Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

SECTION 10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

SECTION 10.04 Attorney Costs and Expenses.

The Borrower agrees (a) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including all Attorney Costs, which shall be limited to Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and one local counsel as reasonably necessary in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole) and (b) from and after the Closing Date, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners and each Lender for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, and including all respective Attorney Costs which shall be limited to Attorney Costs of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers (and one local counsel as reasonably necessary in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole)). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid within thirty (30) days of receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail including, if requested by the Borrower and to the extent reasonably available, backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request; provided that with respect to the Closing Date, all amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid on the Closing Date solely to the extent invoiced to the Borrower within three Business Days of the Closing Date. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.04 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, prepayments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements arising from any non-Tax claims.

 

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SECTION 10.05 Indemnification by the Borrower.

The Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors and other representatives of each of the foregoing (collectively the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all liabilities (including Environmental Liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs but limited in the case of legal fees and expenses to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interests of the Lenders, and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of similarly situated affected Indemnitees) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (c) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”) in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) a material breach of any obligations under any Loan Document by such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) any dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than any claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an agent or arranger or any similar role or as a letter of credit issuer or swing line bank under any Facility and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of Holdings, the Borrower, the Investors or any of their Affiliates). No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee, Loan Party or any Subsidiary have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date) (other than, in the case of any Loan Party, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party and for any out-of-pocket expenses); it being agreed that this sentence shall not limit the indemnification obligations of Holdings, the

 

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Borrower or any Subsidiary. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, its directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents are consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within thirty (30) days after written demand therefor (together with backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request); provided , however , that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund the amount of any payment to the extent that there is a final judicial or arbitral determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, prepayments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements arising from any non-Tax claims.

SECTION 10.06 Payments Set Aside.

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any Agent or any Lender exercises its 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 such Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall, to the fullest extent possible under provisions of applicable Law, be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment.

SECTION 10.07 Successors and Assigns.

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (except as permitted by Section 7.04) and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Assignee pursuant to an assignment made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b) (such an assignee, an “ Eligible Assignee ”) and (A) in the case of any Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is an Affiliated Lender, Section 10.07(l), (B) in the case of any Assignee that is Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, Section 10.07(m), or (C) in the case of any Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is a Debt Fund Affiliate, Section 10.07(p), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(f), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(h) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(i) (and any other attempted

 

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assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void); provided , however , that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (x) no Lender may assign or transfer by participation any of its rights or obligations hereunder to (i) any Person that is a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Lender, (ii) a natural Person or (iii) to Holdings, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries (except pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v) or Section 10.07(m)) and (y) no Lender may assign or transfer by participation any of its rights or obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility hereunder without the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld) unless (i) such assignment or transfer is to a Revolving Credit Lender or (ii) an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any assignment of Term Loans or participations in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility unless the Borrower shall have objected thereto within fifteen (15) Business Days after having received written notice thereof. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(f) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (“ Assignees ”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

(A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for (i) any assignment of Term Loans with an aggregate principal amount below $10,000,000 unless the effect of such assignment will result in the Assignee holding more than 1.00% of the Term Loans outstanding at such time, (ii) an assignment of all or any portion of the Term Loans to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (iii) an assignment related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure to a Revolving Credit Lender, (iv) if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing or (v) an assignment of all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l), Section 10.07(m) or Section 10.07(p);

(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment (i) of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (ii) all or any portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l) or Section 10.07(m);

(C) each L/C Issuer at the time of such assignment; provided that no consent of the L/C Issuers shall be required for any assignment not related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure; and

(D) the Swing Line Lender; provided that no consent of the Swing Line Lender shall be required for any assignment not related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure.

 

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(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than an amount of $5,000,000 (in the case of each Revolving Credit Loan), $1,000,000 (in the case of a Term Loan), and shall be in increments of an amount of $1,000,000 (in the case of each Revolving Credit Loan) or $1,000,000 (in the case of Term Loans) in excess thereof ( provided that simultaneous assignments to or from two or more Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.07(b)(ii)(A)), unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents; provided that such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually), together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent); provided that only one such fee shall be payable in the event of simultaneous assignments to or from two or more Approved Funds; and

(C) other than in the case of assignments pursuant to Section 10.07(m), the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire (in which the Assignee shall designate one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Loan Parties and their Affiliates or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws) and all applicable tax forms required pursuant to Section 3.01(d).

This paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis among such Facilities.

In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

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(c) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Sections 10.07(d) and (e), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, (1) other than in connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(m), the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and (2) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (c) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.07(f).

(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption, each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption delivered to it, and each notice of cancellation of any Loans delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.07(m) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans, L/C Obligations (specifying the Unreimbursed Amounts), L/C Borrowings and the amounts due under Section 2.03, owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any Agent and, with respect to such Lender’s own interest only, any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 10.07(d) and Section 2.11 shall be construed so that all Loans are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any related Treasury regulations (or any other relevant or successor provisions of the Code or of such Treasury regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender is an Affiliated Lender nor shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to monitor the aggregate amount of Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders. Upon request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall (i) promptly (and in any case, not less than five (5) Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 10.01) provide to the Administrative Agent, a complete list of all Affiliated Lenders holding Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans at such time and (ii) not less than five (5) Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 10.01, provide to the Administrative Agent, a complete list of all Debt Fund Affiliates holding Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans at such time.

(e) Upon its receipt of, and consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect of the assignee (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and

 

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recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) above, if applicable, and the written consent of the Administrative Agent, if required, and, if required, the Borrower, the Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer to such assignment and any applicable tax forms required pursuant to Section 3.01(d), the Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) accept such Assignment and Assumption and (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).

(f) Any Lender may at any time sell participations to any Person, subject to the proviso to Section 10.07(a) (each, a “ Participant ”), in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that requires the affirmative vote of such Lender. Subject to Section 10.07(g), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(c). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (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 or Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary in connection with an audit or other proceeding 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 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.

(g) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(h) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “ Granting Lender ”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “ SPC ”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) such SPC and the applicable Loan or any applicable part thereof, shall be appropriately reflected in the Participant Register. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and the limitations of such Section), but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement except in the case of Sections 3.01 or 3.04, to the extent that the grant to the SPC was made with the prior written consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have reasonable basis for withholding consent if an exercise by SPC immediately after the grant would result in materially increased indemnification obligations to the Borrower at such time), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (1) any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it and (2) any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

(k) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, respectively; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the relevant L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender shall have identified a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender reasonably acceptable to the Borrower willing to accept

 

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its appointment as successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable. In the event of any such resignation of an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, except as expressly provided above. If an L/C Issuer resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If the Swing Line Lender resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans, Eurocurrency Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).

(l) Any Lender may, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under this Agreement to a Person who is or will become, after such assignment, an Affiliated Lender through (x) Dutch auctions open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) open market purchases on a non-pro rata basis, in each case subject to the following limitations:

(i) the assigning Lender and the Affiliated Lender purchasing such Lender’s Term Loans shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit M-1 hereto (an “ Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption ”);

(ii) Affiliated Lenders will not receive information provided solely to Lenders by the Administrative Agent or any Lender and will not be permitted to attend or participate in conference calls or meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II;

(iii) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held at any one time by Affiliated Lenders shall not exceed 30% of the original principal amount of all Term Loans at such time outstanding (such percentage, the “ Affiliated Lender Cap ”) ; provided that to the extent any assignment to an Affiliated Lender would result in the aggregate principal amount of all Loans held by Affiliated Lenders exceeding the Affiliated Lender Cap, the assignment of such excess amount will be void ab initio ; and

(iv) as a condition to each assignment pursuant to this clause (l), the Administrative Agent shall have been provided a notice in the form of Exhibit M-2 to this Agreement in connection with each assignment to an Affiliated Lender or a Person that upon effectiveness of such assignment would constitute an Affiliated Lender pursuant to which such Affiliated Lender shall waive any right to bring any action in connection with such Term Loans against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such.

Each Affiliated Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it acquires any Person who is also a Lender, and each Lender

 

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agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it becomes an Affiliated Lender. Such notice shall contain the type of information required and be delivered to the same addressee as set forth in Exhibit M-2.

(m) Any Lender may, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and no proceeds of Revolving Credit Borrowings are applied to fund the consideration for any such assignment, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under this Agreement to Holdings or the Borrower through (x) Dutch auctions open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) notwithstanding Sections 2.12 and 2.13 or any other provision in this Agreement, open market purchase on a non-pro rata basis; provided that in connection with assignments pursuant to clause (y) above:

(i) if Holdings is the assignee, upon such assignment, transfer or contribution, Holdings shall automatically be deemed to have contributed the principal amount of such Term Loans, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrower; or

(ii) if the assignee is the Borrower (including through contribution or transfers set forth in clause (i) above), (A) the principal amount of such Term Loans, along with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, so contributed, assigned or transferred to the Borrower shall be deemed automatically cancelled and extinguished on the date of such contribution, assignment or transfer, (B) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans of the remaining Lenders shall reflect such cancellation and extinguishing of the Term Loans then held by the Borrower and (C) the Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such contribution, assignment or transfer of such Term Loans, and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notice, shall reflect the cancellation of the applicable Term Loans in the Register.

(n) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders,” “Required Class Lenders,” or “Required Facility Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders, the Required Class Lenders (in respect of a Class of Term Loans) or the Required Facility Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom unless the action in question affects any Non-Debt Affiliate in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on the other Lenders, or subject to Section 10.07(o), any plan of reorganization pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, no Affiliated Lender shall have any right to consent (or not consent), otherwise act or direct or require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to take (or refrain from taking) any such action and:

(A) all Term Loans held by any Affiliated Lenders shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders, the Required Class Lenders (in respect of a Class of Term Loans) or the Required Facility Lenders have taken any actions; and

(B) all Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether all Lenders have taken any action unless the action in question affects such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on other Lenders.

 

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(o) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, each Affiliated Lender hereby agrees that and each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption shall provide a confirmation that, if a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law shall be commenced by or against the Borrower or any other Loan Party at a time when such Lender is an Affiliated Lender, such Affiliated Lender irrevocably authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent to vote on behalf of such Affiliated Lender with respect to the Term Loans held by such Affiliated Lender in any manner in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, unless the Administrative Agent instructs such Affiliated Lender to vote, in which case such Affiliated Lender shall vote with respect to the Term Loans held by it as the Administrative Agent directs; provided that such Affiliated Lender shall be entitled to vote in accordance with its sole discretion (and not in accordance with the direction of the Administrative Agent) in connection with any plan of reorganization to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat any Obligations held by such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner to such Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Term Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders.

(p) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, all Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans held by Debt Fund Affiliates may not account for more than 50% (pro rata among such Debt Fund Affiliates) of the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans of consenting Lenders included in determining whether the Required Lenders have consented to any action pursuant to Section 10.01.

SECTION 10.08 Confidentiality.

Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information and not to disclose such information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ managers, administrators, directors, officers, employees, trustees, partners, investors, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory authority having or asserting jurisdiction over such Person (including any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any Lender or its Affiliates); provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (c) to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Facilities or market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the Loan Documents; (d) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena

 

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or similar legal process; provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (e) to any other party to this Agreement; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(h), counterparty to a Swap Contract, Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement ( provided that the disclosure of any such Information to any Lenders or Eligible Assignees or Participants shall be made subject to the acknowledgement and acceptance by such Lender, Eligible Assignee or Participant that such Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this Section 10.08 or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, including, without limitation, as agreed in any Borrower Materials) in accordance with the standard processes of the Administrative Agent or customary market standards for dissemination of such type of Information; (g) with the written consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08 or becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than a Loan Party or any Investor or their respective Affiliates (so long as such source is not known to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates to be bound by confidentiality obligations to any Loan Party); (i) to any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any Lender; (j) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries received by it from such Lender) or to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar organization; (k) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder, under any other Loan Document or the enforcement of its rights hereunder or thereunder or (l) to the extent such Information is independently developed by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates; provided that no disclosure shall be made to any Disqualified Lender. In addition, the Agents and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and publicly available information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “ Information ” means all information received from the Loan Parties relating to any Loan Party, its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors or agents, relating to Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or its business, other than any such information that is publicly available to any Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; provided that all information received after the Closing Date from Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed confidential unless such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as not being confidential.

SECTION 10.09 Setoff.

In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and its Affiliates (and the Collateral Agent, in respect of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses payable hereunder) is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being waived by the

 

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Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries) 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) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and such Lender may have. No amounts set off from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.

SECTION 10.10 Interest Rate Limitation.

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 (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If any 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 Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an 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.

SECTION 10.11 Counterparts.

This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.

 

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SECTION 10.12 Integration; Termination.

This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

SECTION 10.13 Survival of Representations and Warranties.

All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

SECTION 10.14 Severability.

If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.14, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.14, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

SECTION 10.15 GOVERNING LAW.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER

 

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NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS AND AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE OR SUPPORT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS , WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES (OTHER THAN TELECOPIER OR OTHER ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION) IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

SECTION 10.16 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 10.16 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

SECTION 10.17 Binding Effect.

This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuers, and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers that each Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers have executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Loan Parties, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in accordance with Section 10.07 (if applicable) and except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.

 

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SECTION 10.18 USA PATRIOT Act.

Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of such Loan Party and other information regarding such Loan Party that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and is effective as to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 10.19 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

(a) In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that (i) the facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof), (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) none of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or the Lenders has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any Agent or Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from, and may conflict with, those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship and (v) the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate. Each Loan Party hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty under applicable law relating to agency and fiduciary obligations.

Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that each Lender, the Lead Arrangers and any affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrower, Holdings, any Investor, any Affiliate thereof or any other person or entity that may do business with or own securities of any of the foregoing, all as if such Lender, the Lead Arrangers or Affiliate thereof were not an Lender or the Lead Arrangers (or an agent or any other person with

 

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any similar role under the Facilities) and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender, the Lead Arrangers, Holdings, the Borrower, any Investor or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Each Lender, the Lead Arrangers and any affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from Holdings, the Borrower, any Investor or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement, the Facilities or otherwise without having to account for the same to any other Lender, the Lead Arrangers, Holdings, the Borrower, any Investor or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Some or all of the Lenders and the Lead Arrangers may have directly or indirectly acquired certain equity interests (including warrants) in Holdings, the Borrower, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof or may have directly or indirectly extended credit on a subordinated basis to Holdings, the Borrower, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof. Each party hereto, on its behalf and on behalf of its affiliates, acknowledges and waives the potential conflict of interest resulting from any such Lender, the Lead Arrangers or an Affiliate thereof holding disproportionate interests in the extensions of credit under the Facilities or otherwise acting as arranger or agent thereunder and such Lender, the Lead Arrangers or Affiliate thereof directly or indirectly holding equity interests in or subordinated debt issued by Holdings, the Borrower, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof.

SECTION 10.20 Electronic Execution of Assignments.

The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based record keeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

SECTION 10.21 Effect of Certain Inaccuracies.

In the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate previously delivered pursuant to Section 6.02 was inaccurate (regardless of whether this Agreement or the Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Rate for any period (an “ Applicable Period ”) than the Applicable Rate applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Borrower shall as soon as practicable deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected financial statement and a corrected Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (ii) the Applicable Rate shall be determined based on the corrected Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, and (iii) the Borrower shall within 15 days after the delivery of the corrected financial statements and Compliance Certificate pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest or fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such Applicable Period. This Section 10.21 shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect to Sections 2.08(b) and 8.01.

SECTION 10.22 Judgment Currency.

If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from the Borrower hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “ specified currency ”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures any Lender could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at such Lender’s New York office on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is

 

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given. The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any Lender hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency; if the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender in the specified currency, the Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Lender against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to such Lender in the specified currency, such Lender agrees to remit such excess to the Borrower.

SECTION 10.23 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto to any Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

ARTICLE XI

Guaranty

SECTION 11.01 The Guaranty.

Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally with the other Guarantors guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety to each Secured Party and their respective successors and assigns, the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, by acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest (including any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of (i) Title 11 of the United States Code after any bankruptcy or insolvency petition under Title 11 of the United States Code and (ii) any other Debtor Relief Laws) on the Loans made by the Lenders to, and the Notes held by each Lender of, the Borrower, and all other Obligations (other than with respect to any Guarantor,

 

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Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor) from time to time owing to the Secured Parties by any Loan Party under any Loan Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement, in each case strictly in accordance with the terms thereof (such obligations being herein collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). The Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree that if the Borrower or other Guarantor(s) shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Guarantors will promptly pay the same in cash, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

SECTION 11.02 Obligations Unconditional.

The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 11.01 shall constitute a guarantee of payment and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, joint and several, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or Guarantor (except for payment in full). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Guarantors hereunder which shall remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above:

(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Guarantors, to the extent permitted by Law, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(ii) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

(iii) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or except as permitted pursuant to Section 11.10 any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(iv) any Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of, an L/C Issuer or any Lender or Agent as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected; or

(v) the release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.10.

The Guarantors hereby expressly waive diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and, to the extent permitted by Law, all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that any Secured Party exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Borrower under this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or against any

 

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other person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantors waive, to the extent permitted by Law, any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension, waiver, termination or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by any Secured Party upon this Guaranty or acceptance of this Guaranty, and the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Guaranty, and all dealings between the Borrower and the Secured Parties shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guaranty. This Guaranty shall be construed as a continuing, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to any right of offset with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations at any time or from time to time held by Secured Parties, and the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Secured Parties or any other person at any time of any right or remedy against the Borrower or against any other person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto. This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Guarantors and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lenders, and their respective successors and assigns, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of this Agreement there may be no Guaranteed Obligations outstanding.

SECTION 11.03 Reinstatement.

The obligations of the Guarantors under this Article XI shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower or other Loan Party in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise.

SECTION 11.04 Subrogation; Subordination.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that until the payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations and the expiration and termination of the Commitments of the Lenders under this Agreement, it shall waive any claim and shall not exercise any right or remedy, direct or indirect, arising by reason of any performance by it of its guarantee in Section 11.01, whether by subrogation or otherwise, against the Borrower or any other Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations. Any Indebtedness of any Loan Party permitted pursuant to Sections 7.03(b)(ii) or 7.03(d) shall be subordinated to such Loan Party’s Obligations in the manner set forth in the Intercompany Note evidencing such Indebtedness.

SECTION 11.05 Remedies.

The Guarantors jointly and severally agree that, as between the Guarantors and the Lenders, the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Notes, if any, may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in Section 8.02) for purposes of Section 11.01, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against the Borrower and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Borrower) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 11.01.

 

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SECTION 11.06 Instrument for the Payment of Money.

Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article XI constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Lender or Agent, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213.

SECTION 11.07 Continuing Guaranty.

The guarantee in this Article XI is a continuing guarantee of payment, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

SECTION 11.08 General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations.

In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate limited partnership or limited liability company law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other Law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Guarantor under Section 11.01 would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under Section 11.01, then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by such Guarantor, any Loan Party or any other person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section 11.11) that is valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in such action or proceeding.

SECTION 11.09 Information.

Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Guaranty, and agrees that none of any Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

SECTION 11.10 Release of Guarantors.

If, in compliance with the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents, (i) all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or property of any Guarantor are sold or otherwise transferred (a “ Transferred Guarantor ”) to a person or persons, none of which is a Loan Party or (ii) any Subsidiary Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary, such Transferred Guarantor shall, upon the consummation of such sale or transfer, be automatically released from its obligations under this Agreement (including under Section 10.05 hereof) and its obligations to pledge and grant any Collateral owned by it pursuant to any Collateral Document and, in the case of a sale of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of the Transferred Guarantor, the pledge of such Equity Interests to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents shall be automatically released, and, so long as the Borrower shall have provided the Agents such certifications or

 

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documents as any Agent shall reasonably request, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall, at such Transferred Guarantor’s expense, take such actions as are necessary to effect each release described in this Section 11.10 in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Collateral Documents.

When all Commitments hereunder have terminated, and all Loans or other Obligation (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements) hereunder which are accrued and payable have been paid or satisfied, and no Letter of Credit remains outstanding (except any Letter of Credit the Outstanding Amount of which the Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized or for which a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer has been put in place), this Agreement and the guarantees made herein shall terminate with respect to all Obligations, except with respect to Obligations that expressly survive such repayment pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Collateral Agent shall, at each Guarantor’s expense, take such actions as are necessary to release any Collateral owned by such Guarantor in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Collateral Documents.

SECTION 11.11 Right of Contribution.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 11.04. The provisions of this Section 11.11 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders, and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders for the full amount guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

SECTION 11.12 Cross-Guaranty.

Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Guarantor as may be needed by such Specified Guarantor from time to time to honor all of its obligations under its Guaranty and the other Loan Documents in respect of any Swap Obligation ( provided, however , that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 11.12 for up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Section 11.12 voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 11.12 shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full and all Commitments have been terminated. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 11.12 constitute, and this Section 11.12 shall be deemed to constitute, an agreement for the benefit of each Specified Guarantor for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE FINANCE LLC,

as Borrower

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC.,

as Holdings

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS],

as a Guarantor

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

1


DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender, L/C Issuer and a Lender

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

2


[                    ],

as a Lender

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

3


[                    ],

as a Lender

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

4


[                    ],

as a Lender

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

5


[                    ],

as a Lender

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

6